Go Kart Island Races onto Nintendo Switch with Open-World Story Mode This January

Go Kart Island, the latest offering from Ant Workshop and Grumpy Pizza Games, is set to bring a fresh twist to kart racing on Nintendo Switch when it launches worldwide on January 9, 2025.

Developed with a focus on open-world exploration and a robust story mode, Go Kart Island aims to stand out in a highly competitive genre that has long been a Nintendo staple, thanks to franchises like Mario Kart. Go Kart Island immerses players in the adventures of Lachlan the highland cow, who aspires to be crowned Go Kart Champion by winning the elusive BIG RACE.

The story mode offers a humorous twist as players must outmaneuver not just the competition, but also the island’s underhanded mayor, who requires entrants to collect 1,000 coins as a questionable entry fee.

Players will navigate a vibrant, animal-populated open world, using items, mastering driftslides, and boosting through diverse events such as races, time trials, and more. Key features of Go Kart Island on Nintendo Switch include a full-length story campaign, 34 unique events, and over 150 collectables scattered around the open world.

The game’s events offer six variations—including traditional races, time trials, chase sequences, item hunts, and delivery challenges.

Go Kart Island touts a colorful cast of 32 animal characters for players to interact with, challenge, and unlock.

For added replay value, players can aspire to clinch the gold trophy in 84 distinct challenges, each presenting new twists to previously completed events.

Races are further spiced up by usable items, obstacles, and the delightfully quirky fully honkable kart horn. Solo developer Ewan McKenzie, the creative mind behind Go Kart Island, expressed his excitement about the launch: “Bringing my own kart racer to Nintendo Switch is nothing short of a dream come true.

I grew up sketching Mario Kart tracks, and to develop my own title for a Nintendo platform feels surreal.

The idea of integrating an open-world structure began as a hobby project in 2019, but after a career change in late 2024, I took a leap to develop the game full-time.” McKenzie emphasized that the open-world elements were designed to set Go Kart Island apart from other titles in the kart racing space, adding, "I’m thrilled to offer fans the chance to kart as a highland cow protagonist—a unique twist for the Nintendo Switch." Go Kart Island will be available digitally via the Nintendo eShop for $9.99.

With its combination of open-world exploration, story-driven gameplay, and charming animal racers, the title seeks to appeal to both seasoned kart racing enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

For continued coverage and the latest news on Nintendo Switch releases, stay tuned to our updates.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch Kart Ant Workshop Go Kart Island Grumpy Pizza Games Ewan McKenzie