Mario Kart's Free Roam: An Open World Adventure with Friends

During today's Mario Kart World Direct, we delved deeper into the game's exciting new Free Roam mode, uncovering details about its multiplayer capabilities and the activities players can enjoy while exploring Mario Kart World's expansive environment.

Although we had the opportunity to go hands-on with Mario Kart World last week, it wasn't until today that we got a comprehensive look at what Free Roam mode truly entails. This innovative feature allows players to freely navigate the vast, Forza Horizon-inspired world map of Mario Kart World. Unlike previous Mario Kart titles where race tracks were isolated and accessible only during races, Mario Kart World integrates these tracks into an open world, enabling players to travel between tracks in specific game modes and explore the areas in between.

In Free Roam mode, when you're not competing in races, you can embark on a mini-adventure. The world is dotted with various hidden collectibles, such as coins and ? panels, though the benefits of collecting these items remain undisclosed. Additionally, you'll find P-Switches throughout the environment, which, when activated, trigger mini-challenges like gathering blue coins.

Moreover, Free Roam mode introduces a Photo Mode, allowing you to capture memorable moments with your racers in diverse poses and angles at any time. And the fun doesn't stop there—Free Roam isn't just for solo players. You can join friends to roam together, snap photos, tackle challenges, or simply enjoy each other's company. The mode supports up to four players on the same system through split-screen, and up to eight players via local wireless play, with two players per system.

Today's Mario Kart World Direct also revealed a wealth of other information, including new characters, courses, and additional modes. To stay updated on all the latest announcements, check out the full coverage right here.