Mario Kart World Free Roam Mode: Key Improvements Nintendo Should Consider

Mario Kart World, the latest entry in Nintendo’s iconic racing series, introduced players to the Free Roam mode—a feature heavily spotlighted during the pre-release marketing campaign.

Billed as Mario Kart World’s signature innovation, Free Roam offers an open-world environment distinct from the series' traditional circuit-based structure, designed to deliver a more relaxed, exploratory experience exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.

However, in the months since its launch, fans and critics alike have debated the enduring value and depth of Free Roam, helping to shape the conversation about possible future updates or enhancements. At its core, Free Roam immerses players in vast environments filled with hundreds of collectibles—including 394 P-Switches, 200 Peach Medallions, and ? Block Panels.

These award players with exclusive stickers, a mechanic intended to foster exploration and kart customization.

Yet, as highlighted by long-time Mario Kart enthusiasts, the depth of these rewards remains limited.

While tracking down each collectible can be satisfying for completionists, the primary incentive—stickers for kart decoration—doesn’t always provide enough motivation for wider audiences. Community feedback has zeroed in on the need for more substantial rewards.

A common suggestion is for Nintendo to tie the unlocking of NPC drivers directly to accomplishments within Free Roam, rather than through a randomized Kamek-driven process.

As one engaged player put it, “Assigning specific, unlockable characters to Free Roam world courses would offer players tangible goals—making achievements within these expansive environments far more meaningful.” For example, unlocking characters such as Dolphin at Koopa Troopa Beach or Coin Coffer at Crown City could significantly increase replay value and satisfaction. Another frequently cited concern is the lack of a robust collectible tracker within the in-game map.

Currently, players have no way to reliably monitor which P-Switches or Peach Medallions they have collected outside of manually revisiting locations—a cumbersome process, especially given the sheer number of items.

Stories abound of players spending hours searching for a single missing P-Switch, highlighting a clear opportunity for Nintendo to implement a user-friendly progress tracker, similar to those found in top-tier open-world games.

Such functionality would streamline the completionist journey and address a major accessibility gap. Additionally, players have noted the absence of a comprehensive reward for achieving 100% completion in Free Roam.

Unlike comparable titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which famously acknowledged full collectible completion (however tongue-in-cheek), Mario Kart World offers little recognition—even a basic commemorative sticker or unique unlock could serve as a valuable motivator. Looking ahead, the community encourages Nintendo to consider deeper narrative or structural enhancements for Free Roam.

Beyond improved rewards and tracking, integrating elements like boss battles or story-driven missions within these open spaces could diversify gameplay and sustain long-term player engagement.

While such additions would represent a significant expansion beyond current Free Roam design, the format offers ample untapped potential. Mario Kart World remains a commercial and critical success, with its Free Roam mode representing an ambitious step in the franchise’s evolution on Nintendo Switch.

As player feedback continues to shape post-launch conversations, further updates or features—especially those that reward exploration and achievement—could elevate Free Roam to its full potential. For the latest updates and official information, visit the Mario Kart World website.

Mario Kart Nintendo Switch Mario Kart World Nintendo Mario Switch Free Roam Kart Free Roam mode Peach Medallions P-Switch missions Kamek Toad’s Factory Crown City Koopa Troopa Beach