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10 Hardest Mario Kart Racetracks of All Time (That Aren’t Rainbow Road)

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Back in September 1, 1992, the debut of Super Mario Kart marked the beginning of an incredibly popular series. Fast forward to June 5, 2025, where we will see the next installment, Mario Kart World, launch simultaneously with the Nintendo Switch 2. Throughout its journey, the kart racing franchise has consistently provided endless enjoyment, although some of its tracks certainly challenge a player’s endurance.

Certain tracks within the series exhibit abrupt increases in difficulty or prove excessively difficult overall, leaving players perplexed. For instance, “Rainbow Road” is often recognized as the toughest track, yet there are numerous other challenging ones such as “Donut Plains 3” from Super Mario Kart and “Waluigi Pinball” from Mario Kart DS. It’s puzzling why Nintendo designed these tracks to be so tough; anyone attempting them should brace themselves for a formidable challenge.

Anything Can Happen in This Short Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Track

  • Original Game – Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Initially showcased in the game called “Mario Kart: Double Dash!!“, Baby Park is a notoriously challenging track within any Mushroom Cup of the Mario Kart series. On appearance, it appears simple – an almost featureless oval track that is relatively short, but don’t let its unassuming nature deceive you. This particular course skips the traditional three-lap format in favor of a grueling seven laps instead.

Although Baby Park appears straightforward due to its compact layout, the short track is full of surprises and requires high precision from racers. The limited space means that errors can be costly, as competitors frequently encounter hazards from items scattered around the course. It’s a challenge not only in Baby Park but also in other Mario Kart games where extra items further complicate matters, making the experience even more frustrating at times.

This Mario Kart 7 Track Is Slippery When Wet

  • Original Game – Mario Kart 7

The track called Neo Bowser City debuted in a setting where King Bowser, the villainous ruler, holds sway. This urban landscape, which is bathed in nighttime, seems to follow the aesthetic of a cyberpunk cityscape. Despite the grim yet luxurious atmosphere, it’s always raining here. Remarkably, the layout of this place includes a racetrack-like highway.

Similar to numerous tracks within the series, it boasts a stunning and enjoyable racing experience. Regrettably, navigating Neo Bowser City presents challenges, as several aspects demand careful attention from players. The primary concern is the track’s apparent flooding in certain areas – evident by the numerous puddles capable of sending racers plummeting down to twelfth position.

This Mario Kart Wii Track Rapidly Falls Apart

  • Original Game – Mario Kart Wii

The track known as Grumble Volcano debuted in an unfamiliar location within the Mushroom Kingdom, appearing as a volcanic region in the distant lands. As its name implies, it presents itself as a challenging terrain filled with sharp turns and potential dangers. At first glance, however, it may not seem overly menacing to those who understand how to navigate the track’s tricky corners and avoid hazards that lurk along the way.

As a fan, I find that what sets Grumble Volcano apart is its tendency for parts of the track to deteriorate over three laps. This unpredictable change in terrain forces us to adapt our strategies on the fly, which isn’t simple when sections grow narrow and tricky to navigate. It’s a relief if we can dodge these hazards that keep shifting under our wheels!

Mining for Gold Would Be Easier That This Mario Kart Wii Track

  • Original Game – Mario Kart Wii

The Gold Mine from Wario first appeared in the Flower Cup of the game “Mario Kart Wii.” This track is designed based on what seems to be Wario’s gold mine, operated by the trickster counterpart of Mario. The layout is filled with chaos and peril, suggesting that Wario transformed the mine into a challenging racetrack for himself and his companions to navigate.

As a gamer tackling Mario Kart’s Flower Cup, I must admit, Wario’s Gold Mine proves to be quite the challenge. The lack of railings and the abundance of sharp turns, along with an army of bats in the mine, make maneuvering through this course a real headache. It almost feels like it would be simpler to dig for gold than race through this maze!

The Volcanic Rocks in This Mario Kart: Super Circuit Don’t Help

  • Original Game – Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Lakeside Park, initially introduced, stands as a contrast to Riverside Park from the Mushroom Cup. Much like Riverside Park, it is situated in a lush tropical environment boasting vivid landscapes, and its track design appears more polished than other tracks found in Mario Kart: Super Circuit at first glance.

Unlike Riverside Park, which is relatively straightforward to navigate, Lakeside Park’s track poses a significant challenge. With its steeply banked, tricky turns and labyrinthine design, it’s easy for players to become disoriented. To add to the difficulty, a volcano in the distance occasionally erupts, scattering rocks onto the course, presenting hazards that are tough to dodge.

This Mario Kart DS Track Really Feels Like a Pinball Machine

  • Original Game – Mario Kart DS

Initially, Waluigi Pinball made its debut in an exciting setting. This could be explained as either a track designed for racing that takes inspiration from a pinball machine and features elements of Waluigi or conversely, a pinball machine styled after a race track with Waluigi-themed elements. Essentially, it’s a vibrant and dynamic course replete with challenges typical of a large pinball setup.

Although Waluigi Pinball appears simple at first glance, it’s surprisingly tricky to maneuver. Players often encounter sudden sharp turns and, even more perilously, massive pinballs that unexpectedly roll down, hitting anyone unfortunate enough to be in their path. Sometimes, navigating this game feels as challenging as navigating a real pinball machine.

This Mario Kart 8 Track Has Too Many Obstacles and Hazards for Some Players

  • Original Game – Mario Kart 8

In the game Mario Kart 8, Mount Wario is introduced as part of the Star Cup. This three-part track is one of just two of its kind in the game, with the other being the remake of Rainbow Road from Mario Kart 64. Players start their race at the summit of the mountain named Wario and navigate their way down to a more organized finish line located at the base.

Completing this task might sound simple in theory, but Mount Wario poses numerous challenging obstacles and dangers that can easily derail any racer. Besides the absence of starting rails, competitors must also overcome a narrow river, a confusing loading zone, an overcrowded forest filled with trees, and the equally difficult last section of the track before the finish line.

This Mario Kart 64 Track Will Make Players Stop Complaining About Traffic Jams

  • Original Game – Mario Kart 64

Toad’s Turnpike – a track from the Mario Kart 64 Flower Cup – shares a name that could also suit a road named after Toad, one of Princess Peach’s trusty attendants. However, tonight’s journey along this turnpike encounters unforeseen congestion, leading to more than mere slowdowns.

It’s no shock that the Toad’s Turnpike track can be quite bothersome, particularly in its Mario Kart 64 iteration. Compared to Mario Kart 8, where the roads on Toad’s Turnpike are expanded, making it simpler to snatch items and navigate around other vehicles, it remains a challenge due to the traffic congestion that is particularly problematic in the original Mario Kart 64 version.

Good Luck Trying to Get First Place Here in This Super Mario Kart Track

  • Original Game – Super Mario Kart

In the world of Mario Kart, there’s a track that left an indelible mark on me – Donut Plains 3 from the Special Cup in Super Mario Kart. This track has a unique charm that paved the way for future racetracks in any Mario Kart Special Cup. At first glance, Donut Plains 3 might seem like just another track from the Mushroom and Flower Cups of Super Mario Kart, given its flat, green landscape and apparent simplicity. But looks can be deceiving!

While it might appear simple at first glance, Donut Plains 3 can be surprisingly tough, especially on harder settings. Without careful navigation, you could find yourself in deep water quite often due to the tricky handling of Super Mario Kart.

Don’t Take a Fall for This Mario Kart 64 Track

  • Original Game – Mario Kart 64

Initially appearing in the Special Cup of Mario Kart 64, Yoshi Valley stands out as one of the toughest tracks across all Mario Kart games. This challenging track is often deemed the hardest within Mario Kart 64 itself and among the most difficult in the series, with only Rainbow Roads presenting a greater challenge. What makes it particularly frustrating for racers is that they frequently struggle to keep track of their position.

In Yoshi Valley, the course design is complex and more challenging than your average maze. Players have several options for routes leading to the end point. However, one major issue with Yoshi Valley, particularly in its initial appearance in Mario Kart 64, is the absence of safety rails, making racers vulnerable to potentially disastrous falls if they veer off course.

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2025-05-29 01:54

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