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The Mario Kart Series is a major franchise in the Nintendo libraries.
It features many different characters from the Mario series as they race to the finish line on unique and different tracks (compared to other racing titles) as they toss plenty of items at the player and other opponents. The first game in the series was Super Mario Kart for the SNES. The first game in the series to go on Wi-Fi was Mario Kart DS for the Nintendo DS. Since then, every game in the series has had online play in some form.
Games
| Title | Console | Innovation |
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| Super Mario Kart | 
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The first game in the series. The first and only the game to use yellow "?" panels instead of the standard Item Box. |
| Mario Kart 64 | 
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Introduced the series into 3D. Added voices for each character. First game to have item boxes, although they look like rainbow diamond. |
| Mario Kart: Super Circuit | 
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First handheld game. Item boxes start to become a cube box. |
| Mario Kart: Double Dash‼ | 
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Added two players for each kart. The first game not to have any karts that appeared in past games. Also, there are brand new double item boxes. This title is unique as none of the two-character gameplay carried over to the next title. |
| Mario Kart Arcade GP | 
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First arcade Mario Kart game. First game to include third party characters. |
| Mario Kart DS | 
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Added online play. Featured map on bottom screen. Also, first game with retro cups that have previous track games (SNES, N64, GBA and GCN), not counting the SNES tracks in Mario Kart: Super Circuit. There are brand new 2 items in rainbow box (Blooper & Bullet Bill). |
| Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 |
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Added Tamagotchi as a playable character. Karts look slightly similar. |
| Mario Kart Wii | 
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Included Wii Wheel, 12 players online (and with AI). The first Mario Kart game to have bikes. First game to include Miis. Controls change when using different Wii controllers. Introduced new 3 items (Thundercloud, POW Block & Mega Mushroom), all of which were only found in this title. |
| Mario Kart 7 | 
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The first and only Mario Kart game with autostereoscopic 3D functionality. Introduced mechanics such as the ability to hang-glide in the air, and race underwater. Players can customize their kart's frame, wheels and hang-glider. Included 3 new items (Lucky 7, Fire Flower & Super Leaf). |
| Mario Kart Arcade GP DX |
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Third arcade Mario Kart game. Includes Don from the Taiko no Taitsujin series. Incorporates Mario Kart 7's glider and underwater mechanic |
| Mario Kart 8 |   |
Introduced the anti-gravity mechanic. Bikes from Mario Kart Wii, gliding and underwater features from Mario Kart 7 returned. First Mario Kart game in HD, and introduced ATVs as a vehicle type, though they differ little from karts. New Items were introduced again, such as the Crazy 8, Super Horn, and Boomerang Flower. |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | 
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An expanded port of Mario Kart 8. Includes all the courses and racers from the original plus new racers in the form of the Inklings and returning racers like Bowser Jr. and King Boo. It also features the return of proper battle arenas and a few classic power-ups like the Feather and Boo. |
History
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The Wii Wheel was packed in with Mario Kart Wii.
The Mario Kart series debuted on the SNES with the release of Super Mario Kart. The game is considered the foundation of the Kart genre, which has spawned hundreds of video games, most of which star popular characters such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Mega Man and Mickey Mouse.
The next installment appeared on the Nintendo 64, thus introducing the series to an improved 3D engine and various new characters such as Donkey Kong and Wario. The series' first handheld game was with Mario Kart: Super Circuit, and Mario Kart: Double Dash!! brought two characters for each kart. Probably the most dramatic update to the series was with Mario Kart DS, which allowed players to compete online with each other. Pac-Man and a few other Namco characters appeared in the first and second arcade Mario Kart video games, and the Wii Wheel is included with Mario Kart Wii. Underwater racing and air gliding were introduced in Mario Kart 7, and anti-gravity was introduced in Mario Kart 8.
Playable Characters
| Character | Weight | Games | |||||||||||
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| SMK | MK64 | MKSC | MKDD | MKGP | MKDS | MKWii | MKGP2 | MK7 | MKGPDX | MK8 | MK8D | ||
| Mario | Medium | 
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| Luigi | Medium |
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| Princess Peach | Medium & Small |
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| Yoshi | Medium & Small |
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| Toad | Small |
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| Bowser | Large |
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| Donkey Kong | Large | 
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| Wario | Large |
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| Koopa Troopa | Small |
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| Waluigi | Medium & Large |
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| Princess Daisy | Medium |
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| Donkey Kong Jr. | Large |
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| Baby Mario | Small |
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| Baby Luigi | Small |
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| Bowser Jr. | Small & Medium |
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| Diddy Kong | Small & Medium |
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| Koopa Paratroopa | Small |
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| Toadette | Small |
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| Birdo | Medium |
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| Dry Bones | Small |
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| Petey Piranha | Large |
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| King Boo | Large |
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| R.O.B. | Large |
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| Pac-Man | Medium |
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| Ms. Pac-Man | Medium |
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| Blinky | Medium |
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| Shy Guy | Small |
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| Mametchi | Small |
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| Baby Daisy | Small |
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| Baby Peach | Small |
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| Dry Bowser | Large |
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| Funky Kong | Large |
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| Rosalina | Large |
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| Mii | Various |
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| Metal Mario | Large |
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| Lakitu | Small |
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| Wiggler | Medium |
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| Honey Queen | Heavy |
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| Don | Featherweight |
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| Morton Koopa Jr. |
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| Ludwig von Koopa |
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| Larry Koopa |
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| Wendy O. Koopa |
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| Lemmy Koopa |
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| Roy Koopa |
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| Iggy Koopa |
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| Baby Rosalina |
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| Pink Gold Peach | Large |
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| Link |
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| Tanooki Mario |
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| Cat Peach |
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| Villager |
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| Isabelle |
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| Inkling Boy |
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| Inkling Girl |
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| Gold Mario |
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