Mario Kart World: Nintendo Clarifies 'Open World' Terminology for Switch 2's Major Racer

Nintendo’s Mario Kart series remains one of the most celebrated franchises in gaming, and the anticipation surrounding Mario Kart World for Nintendo Switch 2 highlights the company’s continued innovation in game design.

With its expansive, seamlessly explorable map, Mario Kart World brings a fresh dimension to the racing genre.

However, Nintendo is drawing a clear line when it comes to the terminology used to describe the game’s structure, choosing not to label it as an 'open world,' instead embracing the term 'Free Roam.' Background and Developer Insight Mario Kart World, developed by Nintendo’s in-house team, is the latest entry launching for Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5.

The new installment boasts what fans have referred to as an 'open world' design, allowing players to freely explore a vast, interconnected map.

Nonetheless, Nintendo is steering the narrative carefully about the game’s categorization. In a recent interview with The Washington Post, Kosuke Yabuki, the series’ producer, addressed this decision.

'Within development, we don’t use the term “open world.” For us, it feels somewhat ambiguous,' Yabuki explained.

Instead, Nintendo prefers the term 'Free Roam' to more accurately describe Mario Kart World’s design style.

Yabuki elaborated that while the new map is extensive and interconnected, the team wanted to preserve certain traditional Mario Kart elements, such as classic circuit courses.

'This approach allows us to integrate beloved courses from previous entries and reinvent them for Mario Kart World,' he said. Map Size and Gameplay Details The scale of Mario Kart World’s map has garnered significant attention.

Industry journalists have begun to quantify its size in real gameplay terms.

For instance, Stephen Totilo of Game File reported that it took him over ten minutes to drive across the world map; similarly, Giovanni Colantonio of Digital Trends clocked in a traversal time of approximately nine minutes.

This level of exploration marks a significant evolution from the segmented tracks that defined prior Mario Kart titles on Nintendo platforms. Other Feature Clarifications In terms of speed options, Yabuki confirmed that the 200cc racing mode—a fan-favorite for seasoned players—will not be available at Mario Kart World’s launch.

While the team acknowledges community interest, the mode may be considered for a future update, focusing for now on optimizing the core experience and Free Roam adventure. Launch Details and Platforms Mario Kart World is scheduled for release on Thursday, June 5, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Players can expect a blend of all-new Free Roam exploration, remastered legacy tracks, and tight integration with the online Nintendo eShop ecosystem at launch.

As with previous series milestones, Mario Kart World is set to further elevate Nintendo’s storied racing legacy. Stay tuned for further updates, post-launch content plans, and hands-on gameplay impressions as the release date approaches.

Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart Nintendo Switch Mario Kart World Nintendo Mario Switch 2 Switch Free Roam Kart Kosuke Yabuki Yabuki Washington Post Stephen Totilo Game File Digital Trends Giovanni Colantonio