The second must buy title for the Nintendo Switch has finally arrived! Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is out and it’s time to start your engines! Most of you are probably quite familiar with the Mario Kart series, some of you might even be owners of Mario Kart 8, so you’re probably thinking why do I need another copy?

Well, if I’m being honest, I was thinking the very same thing. I own Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U and other than Smash Bros. it’s pretty much the only game I played on that console. So why upgrade? Well, for starters, the mobility of the Switch can’t be beat. I’m at the point right now, where if a title comes out for every system and the price point is the same, I’m picking it up for the Switch.

If my wife is watching the TV or if the kids are busy playing Just Dance, I can pop on the Switch and race a couple of tracks.

The game looks great and it has a couple of small, but welcomed improvements. For starters the double item boxes are a nice change. You can stock up on shells, stars, or other items that will help you go the distance. The second addition which was a hit in our household was the smart steering feature.

The Fandaughters hanging out with Luigi

My girls love to play games as well but Mario Kart was kind of difficult for them in the past. When we first played this version, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had improved and were significantly better at the game. Turns out that smart steering is turned on by default. That explained their jump in skill, but it was really awesome to see them enjoying themselves, and to be able to play with them.

All the smart steering in the world still won’t stop them from eating my dust!

Another nice touch is that all of the characters are unlocked (with the exception of Gold Mario) along with the tracks. It’s also nice to have another game where my Amiibos can add something to the game.

Additionally, you can create a Mii from scratch to use or upload a Mii registered to your Amiibos.

The Legend of Gil continues

Well, I can’t resist the need for speed much longer, so I’m going to wrap this up. You might still be asking yourself if you should pick this up. In short, yes. If you don’t own Mario Kart 8 this is definitely worth your time and money, if you have it for the Wii U, I guess it depends on how much you enjoyed that version. Other than a few tweaks, it is pretty much the same game, but if you’re a fan you won’t regret it. If you need another solid game to take on the go, especially those of us that have finally conquered Breath of the Wild, pick it up. Finally, if you like playing games with people and showing off what the Switch can do, Mario Kart fits the bill nicely.

As always, thanks for reading!