Tracks are themed around locales from the Super Mario series populated with power-ups that help players gain advantages in races.

Both paid and free downloadable content (DLC) was released after its launch, including additional tracks and a new difficulty setting.

It was rereleased on the Nintendo Switch in April 2017 as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,[d] including the DLC, a revamped battle mode and other gameplay alterations.

[11] The signature new feature of Mario Kart 8 is anti-gravity racing, in which certain parts of a course allow racers to drive on walls and ceilings.

[18] In addition to previous DLC, several new characters were introduced in Deluxe, including the Inklings from Splatoon, Bowser Jr., Dry Bones, and King Boo.

[25] The Feather item, reintroduced from previous entries in the series, is exclusive to this mode and allows the player to get a small boost in height when it is activated.

[17] Unlike in previous incarnations, the mode is point-based rather than last-man-standing, meaning that the winner is whoever destroys the most balloons before the match ends.

[33] In North America, Europe, and Australia, players who purchased and registered Mario Kart 8 on Club Nintendo before July 31, 2014, received a download code for a selected Wii U game.

[40] Game updates added features and user experience improvements, such as support for Amiibo figurines, a 200cc difficulty setting, player statistics, and additional Mii outfits.

[43][44][45] Downloadable content for Mario Kart 8 is no longer available to purchase due to the discontinuation of the Nintendo eShop for Wii U.

[46] In March 2023, Nintendo halted online play for Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon due to a security vulnerability.

[54] After the release of the trailer, several internet memes circulated surrounding Donkey Kong appearing to perform a celebratory dab.

[55] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe revamps the battle mode, adds a second item slot, among other minor gameplay improvements.

Prior to the update, the Inkling Girl performed a gesture that consisted of placing her hand on a flexed bicep and pumping her fist into the air.

",[57] though in European and Latin American countries,[58] it was likened to the bras d'honneur, an offensive gesture that can be interpreted as "up your ass", "fuck you", or similar meanings.

[61][62][63] A series of updates in 2018 added compatibility with Nintendo Labo, a toys-to-life kit that uses cardboard to create motion-controlled toys with Joy-Con controllers.

[64] The first update enabled the Toy-Con Motorbike as a controller for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, allowing the player to use the physical throttle, handlebars, and gyroscope present on the Toy-Con Motorbike,[65] while actions like braking, drifting, and item pickups are still performed using the standard controller buttons.

[66] A later update added compatibility for the Toy-Con Car, Pedal, and Key to control actions like braking, drifting, and using the horn on the steering wheel to launch items.

[87] Starting in February 2023, Nintendo added eight more playable characters, all having previously appeared in other Mario Kart games.

[110][h] Overall, reviewers held Mario Kart 8 in high esteem among racing games,[i] but considered Deluxe the definitive version.

[93] The rubber-banding mechanics were criticized,[10][9] though Game Informer said that "fans accepted that pitfall as a series mainstay long ago".

[93] Digital Foundry deemed it "near perfection" with "phenomenal attention to detail", featuring a "magnificent visual package" and "magical playability".

[96][26] GamesTM praised the "incredible" lighting of Deluxe, saying that courses like Rainbow Road and Electrodrome stood out as "fantastic showcases for the Nintendo universe and its creative spirit".

[26] IGN felt that the "great art direction" in Mario Kart 8 and Deluxe was "a major reason" for the graphics remaining "gorgeous".

[10] Eurogamer called the soundtrack "outrageously upbeat", and that Deluxe's "defining moment" was the live band rendition of the Super Mario Kart theme.

Many disliked that additional content for a previous game was being prioritized over a new entry in the series, citing how it had been nearly eight years since Mario Kart 8 first released on the Wii U.

[121] On the other hand, many reviewers felt that the courses that originated in Tour were among the best gameplay-wise,[t] and Ninja Hideaway in particular was praised as a highlight of Wave 1.

[120] The addition of courses that vary every lap was praised by critics, with Nintendo Life wishing it would become a "mainstay" feature of the series.

[140] In its first four days on sale, Mario Kart 8 became the fastest-selling Wii U game, with more than 1.2 million copies sold worldwide.

[161][162][163][164][165] As of November 5, 2024[update], Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold 64.27 million units, making it one of the best-selling games of all time.