A brief teaser for a newMario Kartgame was featured as part of the initial trailer for theSwitch 2. This game appeared to utilize a style more reminiscent ofSuper Mario Bros. Wonder, signaling an effort to take the greaterMariofranchise in this new direction.Mario Kart 8(and to a lesser extent,Mario Kart DSbefore it) introduced the idea of non-Mario characters being available in the series.
Due to how popular the series is, its use as a sort of cross-promotional tool seems inevitable. That said, at its core, it should maintain a level of loyalty to the title, and add more characters from the greaterMarioseries, including some who weren’t present inMario Kart 8and its DLC. Although some of these characters have made other playable appearances prior, others would be entirely new to the franchise.
10Donkey Kong Jr.
A Mario Kart Veteran
More casual fans may not realize that Donkey Kong Jr. is actually an inaugural member of theMario Kartseries, predating even Donkey Kong himself. He is one of the eight original racers, and was largely phased out, likely due to the soft-reboot of the Donkey Kong character and his relationship with Mario. The Donkey Kong inDonkey Kong Countryand the eponymous game for the character are two separate Kongs. The Donkey Kong fromCountryis presumed to be the one presently active in the series, while Cranky Kong is presumed to be the original, previously more villainous Donkey Kong. As Cranky is the grandfather of the current Donkey Kong, this likely means Jr. is likely the present DK’s father rather than his son, and it may be weird to communicate this whilst also faithfully portraying the character.
Additionally, a new smaller Kong character currently acts as Donkey Kong’s sidekick, and inDouble Dash, Kong Jr., who originally was supposed to appear, was definitively replaced by Diddy Kong as DK’s designated partner. Nonetheless,Mario Kart Touradded back the fleeting racer, by faithfully restoring him to 16-bit form. This jarring portrayal managed to be both hilarious whilst genuinely acting as a tribute to theMario Kartgame that started it all, and it may be entertaining to see it once more.
9Professor E. Gadd
A Tinkering Inventor
Professor Elvin Gadd is a supporting character in multiple iterations of the series, originating from theLuigi’s Mansionfranchise. He typically assists Luigi in ghost-hunting affairs, saddling him with the inventions needed to succeed in this field. He also appeared in two of theMario and Luigigames, having a fairly memorable role inPartners in Time. Otherwise, he is typically mentioned in passing as an inventor of various machinery, such as the F.L.U.D.D inSuper Mario Sunshine. He will also make small appearances in various otherMariogames himself.
Some of his inventions have even snuck their way into theMario Kartseries. The Poltergust 4000, an upgraded version of the Poltergust 3000 fromLuigi’s Mansion, is a fully functional kart, unlike the other models in the series which merely hunt ghosts. The CPU opponent, Robo Mario, from theMario Kart GPseries, is also an E. Gadd creation. Gadd’s appearance in the series proper would be something of a full circle moment, when one considers his contributions.
8King Bob-Omb
A Beloved Boss
King Bob-Omb, also sometimes known as Big Bob-omb, is a memorable character fromSuper Mario 64, where he debuted as the game’s first boss. As a gigantic living explosive with a memorable design, he has variably appeared as an enemy, hazard, or sometimes merely a background character in the greaterMarioseries. He debuted as a playable character for the first time inMario Kart Tour. In a vein reminiscent of characters like Petey Pirahna and King Boo, King Bob-omb serves as a more memorable, bigger, and playable iteration of a longtimeMarioenemy.
Like Pirahna Plants and Boos, Bob-ombs are also notable, not only within the greaterMarioseries, but also that ofMario Kartitself. That said, they debuted in such a way that maintaining their status as an item/stage hazard makes sense. As a sort of compromise, the beloved Bob-omb monarch making a return to the proper Mario Kart series would be an interesting choice.
7Prince Florian
An Usher of the New Era
Prince Florian is a caterpillar who serves as a supporting character inSuper Mario Bros. Wonder. Atop his crown are beneficial badges that aid the player in their many adventures throughout the game, with him riding atop their back. As there appears to be a looser, more cartoony style associated with the tentatively titledMario Kart 9, it makes sense to have a character from theMariogame that debuted this style present as well.
Florian’s small size and frame could make him an interesting choice as well, allowing him to pair well with certain builds one might otherwise think of as unconventional.
6Mallow
A Magical Cloud Child
Debuting inSuper Mario RPG: Legend of Seven Starsas one of its two playable characters exclusive to the game, Mallow is a unique character. Having previously been the prince of Nimbus Land, he was lost and recovered by the Frog Sage, who raised him as a surrogate grandchild, causing him to be confused about his origin. Mallow later teams up with Mario, becoming his first ally in the game. Eventually, he discovers the truth about himself and, much later, is implied to have resumed being the prince of Nimbus Land.
His memorable character and the recent remaster ofSuper Mario RPGmake Mallow (and by extension, Geno) potentially interesting candidates for a newMario Kart. That being said, if the game’s complex ownership makes it unforeseeable, the series should make an effort to integrate characters from other iterations ofMariogames (such as the various RPGs) into the series.
5King K. Rool
An Iconic Enemy
The main antagonist of the earlier iterations ofDonkey Kong Country, King K. Rool, is still considered by many to be the series' best villain, despite not being present as such in newer games. Nonetheless, his reach extends a bit beyond his point of origin, with him most recently appearing as a playable character inSuper Smash Bros Ultimate. Like a handful of other characters fromDonkey Kong Country, he also has a rogue appearance in oneMariogame, namelyMario Super Sluggers.
Here, him and his underlings, the Kremlings, are technically considered to be a part of the DK Wilds, a team led by his nemesis, Donkey Kong. K. Rool would not only be an iconic character but draw from the extendedMariouniverse in a somewhat interesting way. When one considers the extent of the characters added, some even from other series, it might be interesting to have characters that are technically a part of theMarioseries, but not directly connected to the titular character, a fascinating choice.
4Strawlow
Star Sprite Ambassador
This star sprite is a supporting character in the laterMario and Luigiinstallments. She is a supporting character in three games, and across her various appearances, has aided the likes of Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and even Bowser. She was notably the only character from the greater series to reprise her role inPaper Jam, and is generally classified as an ambassador for the star sprites.
With the revival of the series inBrothership(which she also appears in), it may be interesting to showcase a character who can hearken back toMario and Luigiand partially represent the series inMario Kart.
3The Broodals
Bowser’s Wedding Planners
These evil lunar rabbits were in charge of coordinating Bowser’s wedding. They stole the various treasures from the worlds present inSuper Mario Odyssey, in an effort to enhance his wedding experience. They also clashed with Mario, who fought them every step of the way. While far from the only bosses present in the game, the Broodals nonetheless make quite an impression with their repeated appearances.
Although Mario Odyssey is not exactly a current game, with its window of time more closely associated with the reign of terror that wasMario Kart 8and its extensions, it would be interesting to see a piece of this unique game preserved in the greater series, similar to how Rosalina fromSuper Mario Galaxyarguably outlived her own series.
2Nabbit
A Robbing Rabbit
Nabbit is something of a breakout character, originating fromNew Super Mario Bros. U. In this installment, he is exclusively an enemy robber, who pilfers toad houses, and has to be caught, in exchange for rewards. He was promoted to playable inNew Super Luigi U, replacing Mario in the original game. He has since outlived theUiteration of the series, remaining playable inWonder, and appearing in many spinoff and crossover games.
Despite this, he was not even playable inMario Kart 8 Deluxe. Despite this fact,8 Deluxeand9contain references to the character. It may be possible that he will finally be playable in a mainlineMario Kartgame, especially considering he is already a playable character in multiple otherMariogames. Should Florian not appear, Nabbit would also double as representation for the new era ushered in byWonder.
1Toadsworth
A Long-Lost Ally
Toadsworth was an advisor to Princess Peach, who was a fixture in multiple iterations ofMariogames, starting withSuper Mario Sunshine. He even acted as the chaffeur to the winning racers inDouble Dash. For someone so closely tied to an important character of the series, he mysteriously stopped making appearances without explanation afterMario and Luigi: Dream Team.
With the inclusion of many other, typically interchangeable toads in the series, it may be worth including one of a few who is distinctive from the rest of them, and has had a relatively more significant role in the series.
