Mario Kart 9 Could Stand Out With a New Take on DS' Mission Mode

gamerant.com:

There was a lot of buzz online throughout the early weeks of 2022 regarding the potential of Mario Kart 9 being announced. Much of this was the result of rumors suggesting Mario Kart 9 would be a broader Nintendo crossover title akin to Super Smash Bros., building off guest racers like Link in Mario Kart 8. The February 2022 Nintendo Direct instead introduced fans to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's new Booster Course Pass, which will add 48 new courses in waves of six over the next year. It costs $29.99, but will be free for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers.

While this means it's unlikely Mario Kart 9 will be announced until at least 2024, plenty of people are still speculating about what the next iteration in this storied franchise will do to differentiate itself. A more crossover-focused Mario Kart would still work, it's just less appealing than Smash Bros. considering the constraints of designing mechanics for a kart racer. One option might be for Mario Kart 9 to pull from its series' history with elements like the Mario Kart DS Mission Mode, giving it decidedly more single-player content in contrast to 8 Deluxe's increasingly verbose multiplayer races.

Every Game Featured at The February 2022 Nintendo Direct

Mario Kart DS, the aptly titled first and only entry released on the Nintendo handheld in 2005, had a lot of unique attributes. Beyond its use of the dual-screens to give players access to their live race and a map at the same time, Mario Kart DS was the first in the series to feature online connectivity. It could also make use of the DS Download Play feature to let friends connect at a local level without multiple cartridges, and Mario Kart DS officially solidified the format of «retro courses» to expand