Mario Kart 8 Deluxe characters: Every DLC, best racers
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:
- Mario
- Luigi
- Princess Peach
- Princess Daisy
- Toad
- Toadette
- Yoshi
- Bowser
- Bowser Jr.
- Donkey Kong
- Wario
- Waluigi
- King Boo
- Rosalina
- Tanooki Mario
- Cat Peach
- Koopa Troopa
- Shy Guy
- Lakitu
- Metal/Gold Mario
- Pink Gold Peach
- Baby Mario
- Baby Luigi
- Baby Peach
- Baby Daisy
- Baby Rosalina
- Dry Bones
- Dry Bowser
- Lemmy Koopa
- Larry Koopa
- Wendy O. Koopa
- Ludwig Von Koopa
- Iggy Koopa
- Roy Koopa
- Morton Koopa Jr.
- Inkling Girl
- Inkling Boy
- Link
- Male Villager
- Female Villager
- Isabelle
- Mii
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:
- Birdo
- Petey Piranha
- Diddy Kong
- Peachette
- Wiggler
- Kamek
- Funky Kong
- Pauline
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.
- Related: Fastest combo in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
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 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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