Mario Kart is currently booming on German Twitch. That’s why in the first part of our “Mobile Game of the Month” format we present to you the free version of the racing game for mobile: Mario Kart Tour.
Why are we presenting this game to you? In 2017, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was the last real Mario Kart released on the Nintendo Switch. This game is currently booming on the streaming platform Twitch. German streamers like MontanaBlack or EliasN97 are regularly showcasing the racing game, leading to a kind of second spring. In the last 30 days, Mario Kart ranked 6th among the most popular games in Twitch Germany (via sullygnome)
Viewers are of course thrilled, but you can only play if you own a Nintendo Switch. For all the players who don’t have the console at home, we now present an alternative: Mario Kart Tour for smartphones.
Mario Kart Tour – The free alternative to the Switch game
How to get Mario Kart Tour? The app is available for free in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store. Just make sure you have enough storage space, as the download files are quite large.
- Android users can download it here from the Play Store
- iOS users can download it here from the App Store
Before starting, you need to create or link a Nintendo Account. Only then can you really get started.
These are the contents of the game: Mario Kart Tour is basically the racing game on a mobile device. There are maps that you may already know from other parts of the series, and there you compete against other players. These can be NPCs, online players, or even friends.
Unlike on the console, you drive 2 laps per track here, but you can also attack your opponents with the well-known items. There are rockets, shells, and the dreaded bananas among others. This way, you shoot your opponents and aim for the first place.
You can play in portrait or landscape mode, depending on what you prefer. Your character drives automatically, but you have to steer around corners, where you can also drift to activate a turbo.
There are a variety of modes to choose from. Prominently featured are numerous cups. In doing so, you always have to drive on 4 different maps and earn stars. Once you complete a cup, you proceed to the next cup.
Alternatively, there is the online mode, where you compete against other players from all around the world. You can also create your own room where you can challenge friends.
This is what stands out positively: Mario Kart Tour is basically free, which is really great, as there is quite a lot of variety. You can play different maps, unlock characters, and play against opponents online.
Especially for quick sessions, Mario Kart Tour is convincing, as a quick round is always possible and isn’t overshadowed by Pay2Win.
Generally, Mario Kart Tour offers a lot for a regular mobile game and can be compared to the Switch version in many ways. There is a large selection of tracks, familiar items from the Mario world, and mechanics that you also know from the Switch version. This includes drifting and flying after big jumps, among others.
This is what stands out negatively: A major criticism is the Pay2Win aspect in Mario Kart Tour. To unlock some cups, you need stars that you can earn in the previous cups. However, to unlock all cups, you need so many stars that you either have to complete almost every track perfectly or alternatively spend real money.
In addition, there is also ongoing advertising for the in-game shop. Special offers are meant to encourage you to spend money, and players who want to use all characters have to invest in the tubes, that is, the loot boxes of the game. It also requires a good dose of luck to pull the right characters. Players who invest money usually have better characters that provide more items or speed during races.
Free games often use Pay2Win to finance themselves. An alternative to such items are cosmetic items that provide no gameplay advantage but only change the character’s appearance.
What reviews say: In the respective app stores, the ratings look quite solid:
- Google Play Store: 4.1 out of 5 stars from over 1.9 million ratings
- iOS App Store: 4.5 out of 5 stars from over 60,000 ratings
Generally, the reviews say that while it is a different gaming experience than on the Switch, it is still a lot of fun and is also free to play. The focus of the controls is clearly on the smartphone, and the difficulty level is generally considered fair.
However, the Pay2Win approach is criticized here as well. Those who want to be successful in online matches must grind for a long time and ideally invest money to keep up with other drivers.
Is this a Switch alternative? Definitely! It is not on the same level as the Switch version, and the mobile controls take some practice, but as a free alternative, it should not be underestimated. This way, you can play Mario Kart Tour in between and definitely have fun.
But keep in mind that especially in online mode, the Pay2Win aspect becomes evident again and again. If you can’t live with that, you should mainly play against NPCs, as there you always have a chance even without investing real money.
