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These are the Best Characters in Mario Kart World

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On June 19, 2025

The first rookie mistake you might make in Mario Kart World is thinking winning all comes down to the kart. The driver is just as important as the kart you are using. Some characters are smooth and fast, others are steady and tough to knock around, and a few just handle corners like they were born to drift.

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With a lineup full of familiar faces and a few newer ones, it’s not always clear which characters are actually worth your time. Stats only tell part of the story. What matters more is how they move, how they recover when they get hit, and how they stack up against other opponents.

10

Nabbit

Keeps a Steady Rhythm on Twisty Courses

Nabbit is in the lightweight class, so he gives you fast starts, tight drifting, and quick recovery. But he doesn’t have the strength to hold his ground when bigger drivers crash into him.

Baby Blooper or Mach Rocket karts give a small speed boost and keeps his turning smooth, which helps if you want a little more power without losing control. If you like racing with characters that feel fast, light, and smooth around every corner, Nabbit is a solid choice.

9

Cheep Cheep

Good at Turning and Speeding Up after Getting Hit

Cheep Cheep is a light and quick racer. It’s one of the smaller characters in the game, which makes it really good at turning and speeding up after getting hit. While it won’t outrun the heavy drivers on straight sections, it’s great for weaving through corners, pulling off tricks, and staying in control.

If you use the Baby Blooper kart with him, he gets a little more speed and keeps his smooth driving feel. This combo makes it easier for him to glide around sharp turns and quickly build up boost from drifts. Cheep Cheep is all about smooth control, quick turns, and staying ahead by being sharp and steady. With the right kart, he can be hard to catch.

8

Baby Mario

Fast Handling and Quick Recovery

Baby Mario is one of the smallest and quickest drivers in the game. And because he’s so light, he’s great at speeding up quickly and taking tight corners without much trouble. If you use the Mach Rocket kart with him, you’ll really feel how sharp and quick he can be.

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This setup makes his acceleration and turning even better. It helps him drift easily, grab boost pads, and jump from trick to trick without slowing down. His size also helps here, as he can move through small paths and tight turns without getting stuck or thrown off-track.

7

Koopa Troopa

Great If You Love Smooth, Simple Racing with Tight Control

Koopa Troopa is great if you like smooth, simple racing with tight control. He’s not the fastest on the track, but he’s quick where it counts. He’s not made for long straight tracks where speed rules, but he shines on courses with lots of corners, jumps, and places to drift.

Pairing Koopa Troopa with the Baby Blooper makes him faster, keeps his acceleration high, and helps him turn without slipping out too wide. It’s a strong setup that feels smooth and easy to steer.

6

Lakitu

Great for Taking Tight Turns and Pulling Off Drift Stunts

Lakitu joins Mario Kart World once you finish the Shell Cup. He’s a lightweight driver with stats built for smooth handling and quick recovery. He’s not your guy when it comes to racing in a straight line at high speed, but he’s great at taking tight turns, building drift boosts, and recovering fast if he gets hit.

Like most drivers, the best kart for him is the Baby Blooper. It adds a little more speed while keeping his driving light and responsive. This combo makes it a breeze to drift around corners and pull off tricks while staying in control.

5

Waluigi

For Those Who Like Fast, Tough Racers, But Not So Great at Cornering

Waluigi’s built for strong speed and weight, which means he moves fast and doesn’t get pushed around easily by other racers. He’s good for going fast in straight lines, but not so great when you need to turn quickly or recover after getting hit.

If there’s any kart you should get for Waluigi, it’s the Baby Blooper. This pairing keeps his speed high but also gives him better handling, which helps him move through curves more smoothly. It doesn’t make him light, but it gives him enough control to deal with twisty parts of the track.

4

Toad

Good Acceleration and Smooth Turning

Toad is one of the lightest and fastest-moving characters. Toad is all about speed off the line and smooth turning. If you want a racer that gets back to full speed super fast after slowing down, Toad is your guy. Toad is perfect for those who like to race with control.

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He won’t win with brute force, but if you’re smart with your driving and quick with your turns, he can leave the others in the dust. The Baby Blooper kart gives Toad a small speed boost, which he lacks.

3

Rosalina

Gives You a Bit of Everything, Be it Speed, Power, or Personality

Rosalina’s not light and quick like Toad, and she’s not super heavy like Bowser either. Rosalina falls in the middle, leaning slightly toward the heavier side. She can go fast and stay stable when things get rough, but she won’t bounce back as quickly if she gets hit, and she won’t turn as sharply as lighter racers.

Rosalina joins the race after you finish the Star Cup. It doesn’t matter how well you place or which speed you use. As long as you complete that cup, she becomes available to play. And since she offers a bit of everything, she’s perfect for those looking for balance.

2

Luigi

Brings Enough Speed and Control for Any Track

Luigi doesn’t lean too much toward speed or control, he sits right in the middle, which makes him a safe and reliable choice for almost any track in Mario Kart. He can keep up in a race, bounce back quickly after being hit, and still turn corners well without sliding all over the place.

If you want to boost what Luigi already does well, put him behind the wheel of the Reel Racer kart. With this setup, Luigi becomes fast on the straights and still smooth around curves. Luigi is all about flexibility. He works well with different karts, and brings enough speed and control to tackle almost any track.

1

Bowser

All about Power and Speed

Bowser is one of the most powerful characters you can use. Right from the start, he stands out as a heavyweight driver, which means he’s built for speed and strength. Bowser has a top speed of 65, which is the highest in the game. He’s also

tough to push around, which means if smaller drivers bump into him, they’ll be the ones flying off course, and not Bowser.

To make the most of Bowser’s strengths, put him in the Chargin’ Truck. This kart fits his style perfectly. It boosts his speed and keeps him grounded, especially on long, straight tracks. If you want a little more control while still going fast, the Reel Racer is another great choice. It gives Bowser a bit more help with turning while keeping him quick and strong.