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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe characters: Every DLC, best racers

Olivia Richman
Olivia Richman Published 26/04/2024
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Dry Bowser Mario Kart

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has every Nintendo character you can think of—and more! Want to make sure you have every racer unlocked and ready to race? Here is the complete list of all the characters in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe!

Every Mario Kart 8 Deluxe character

First, let’s share every character you can be in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe! Here’s the full list:

Are any characters unlockable?

All the characters above are available right when you download the game except for one: Gold Mario.

Here is your guide to unlocking Gold Mario in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The key is to get as many coins as possible!

Are any characters DLC?

Yes, on top of the main roster above, there are actually DLC characters as well. Even though fans only expected new courses in each wave of DLC, Nintendo surprised us with characters from past Mario Kart games as well!

Here are the DLC characters:

Which characters are the best?

If you play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe competitively, you’ll realize some characters and Kart builds are superior to others. Based on characters’ stats, a meta has been formed for online racing.

Dry Bowser is currently considered the best racer in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Why? He is pretty fast despite being a heavy character. This means he has great handling and defense as well as the acceleration needed to remain in the lead.

Olivia Richman Olivia Richman
About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

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