The 50 best Nintendo Switch games right now

Best Nintendo Switch Games #4 – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Developer: Nintendo

Synopsis: We all know what Mario Kart is: Mario racing mayhem on crazy, colorful tracks with a playing field continuously leveled by shells, banana peels, mushrooms, and more RNG nonsense. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe throws the Wii U’s Mario Kart 8, all the DLC, plus new Battle Modes, characters, karts, and items into one pot and presents it in a shiny, visually-upgraded format for your entertainment. Have you always wanted to race as Dry Bowser on an Animal Crossing track in a Legend of Zelda kart? It’s 2017. Get to it.

Why it’s one of the best Nintendo Switch games: Before picking up Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, I struggled to understand why Nintendo felt it would be better to publish a definitive edition of an excellent karting title not nearly enough people got to play initially (due to the Wii U’s weak sales) over working on a new version. But after picking up Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for myself, I realized there was no question. The original Mario Kart 8’s excellence shines through with its brilliant track design and set-up for endless hours of fun (and shouting) racing your friends and family. Much more than racing, Battle Modes provide a new spin on karting that turn the tables on those who typically rush to the front of the pack and ignore those behind. I feel confident that several years down the road, I’ll still be packing up Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to take with me when visiting friends and family, just for one more opportunity at chucking a blue shell and laughing madly.