Mario Kart 8 Deluxe similar games & best alternatives

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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - mario-kart-8-deluxe_6.avif

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Nintendo Switch • 2017

Should you play it?

What works

  • Huge amount of content including all dlc
  • Accessible yet skillful gameplay
  • Excellent local and online multiplayer
  • Revamped and varied battle mode
  • Smooth performance and vibrant visuals

Things to keep in mind

  • Limited innovation over original wii u version
  • Online matchmaking can be unbalanced
  • Drive assist default setting is controversial
  • Minimal single-player content
  • Some imbalance in character and kart optimization

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

  • Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Collection

  • BallisticNG

  • Mini Motor Racing X

  • Super Indie Karts

  • M64 MKDD Extended

  • Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds

Less violent

Games that feels like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe but with less combat and destruction

  • TrackMania Nations Forever

  • Trackmania United Forever

  • HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™

  • Hill Climb Racing 2

  • KartRider: Drift

  • Zeepkist

More story-driven

Games that feels like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe but with deeper narrative immersion

  • Screamer

  • Nightmare Kart

  • Garfield Kart - Furious Racing

  • Beach Buggy Racing 2: Island Adventure

  • Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks

  • Dino Run

Less social

Games that feels like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe but with less teamwork and cooperation

  • Mario Kart 64

  • Asphalt 8: Airborne

  • FlatOut 2

  • Turbo Golf Racing

  • Stampede: Racing Royale

  • Barji Kart

Choose your own criteria ->

Similarity map

How to use the graph

Similarity map

Each dot is a game placed from its motivation profile relative to this page’s game. Direction shows which motivation differs most; distance along that axis shows how large the gap is.

  • Purple star: this page’s game at the centre — everything is relative to it.
  • Direction: each axis is a main motivational difference vs this game (e.g. more / less competitive).
  • Distance on an axis: how large that difference is (ring scales show +/− points).
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot to preview that game in the panel on the right; click to keep that comparison.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom.

How to read the map This is a polar difference map: direction = which motivation differs, and distance = how much (same units as the sidebar deltas).

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Status, Fellowship, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Fantasy, Intimacy. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Story.

Last update: 05/08/2026