Cloudtop Cruise takes players on an adventure through the clouds. Fluffy white clouds, lush green vines, dark thunderheads, a fleet of airships… there’s so much to look at, so much visual variety, and it feels like something different is going on around every corner of this track.
Welcome to the beautiful Yoshi Valley, a nature reserve dedicated to wild Yoshis. There’s lots of gorgeous scenery to admire here – a lovely grassy meadow, a cascading waterfall, and a rushing river can all be seen as you race around this mountain valley under the late afternoon sun.
Music Park is a whimsical course that takes place on a winding circuit floating in space. As you would expect from the name, pretty much everything on this track is music-themed.
Sherbet Land is a beautiful course covered in a blanket of snow. Fireworks can be seen in the night sky above, along with a dancing, ethereal aurora. Don’t be lulled into complacency, though – the ice is very slippery, and careless driving may result in multi-kart pileups.
Like Mario Kart Stadium, this track feels like it was always meant to be a racetrack. There are large stands full of spectators, huge billboards and spotlights, and Mario Kart TV camera vans filming the action.
Mount Wario is one of a small number of tracks in the game to be divided into three sections rather than three laps. It’s literally all downhill from when you start, a continuous track winding down a mountain.
Welcome to Electrodrome, an ultra-futuristic, neon-lit stadium-turned-nightclub filled with giant mirrorballs, pulsing speakers, and dancing Koopa Troopas and Shy Guys. There are even headbanging techno Piranha Plants… because why not?
Dolphin Shoals is an underwater paradise. In the shallow, sunlit waters, dolphins, manta rays and other aquatic creatures can be seen. There’s even an undersea cave with a gigantic Maw-Ray.
Sunshine Airport is themed – and named after – Super Mario Sunshine. It is located on Isle Delfino, where Super Mario Sunshine took place, and Shrine Sprites can be seen throughout the course.
One of only a small number of Donkey Kong-themed tracks in Mario Kart 8, DK Jungle feels like you’re going on a jungle adventure, as you zoom through deep underbrush, past huge waterfalls, and into an ancient temple.