16) Shy Guy Falls
Huzzah! We’ve made it to the halfway point. I guess that means I can be a little more positive from here on out, right? Well, sort of. Shy Guy Falls has a pretty great concept. Racing up and down cascading waterfalls is a thrilling experience that is sadly over too quickly. The rest of the track has you weaving in and out around the cliffside whilst trying your best not to plummet off the edges. At times, it can be a little too frustrating to deal with.
15) Twisted Mansion
The obligatory ghost house track is probably one of the best in recent memory. It has a good mix of anti-gravity, and flying sections, and an underwater section that even I don’t mind. It also has some of the better shortcuts, especially if you’re lucky enough to land a triple mushroom item and abuse the grassy knoll near the end of the track. Just don’t think you have any time to pass under the Boo Knight’s and their giant hammers. You don’t.
14) Thwomp Ruins
An adventurous track that will tickle your inner Indiana Jones… If Indiana Jones used anti-gravity, bananas, and whizzed around temples in a go-kart. Dodging crashing Thwomps and being chased by a giant rolling stone wheel, all adds to the fun of this track. If I had some complaints, it would be that I wish there was a bit more too it. Some secret pathways, tunnels, and more traps would’ve landed this track a higher rank.
13) Moo Moo Meadows
D’awww. Moo Moo Meadows certainly wins the prize for most adorable looking. Racing around a farmyard as dawn breaks is mightily refreshing, and accompanied by an upbeat, string, soundtrack can only make you smile. Although, my one gripe with this stage is the same as it was back on the Wii. The stupid patches of grass near the end of the track. Ooh, frustrating.
12) Cloudtop Cruise
Cloudtop Cruise is definitely one of the more grander tracks in the game. Racing around on a giant beanstalk and flying through sumptuous looking clouds adds a certain monumental feeling to it. I’d say the only downside would be the short air ship section. It’s a little jarring and not as fleshed out as I would like. Nevertheless, the music is absolutely phenomenal, and really solidifies the scale of this track.
11) Mario Kart Stadium
Call me boring if you must, but I actually like the standard grand prix style tracks in the Mario Kart games. Granted, there’s nothing too spectacular about them, but I think they’re great for getting used to the controls, and always offer close races when playing with experts. Mario Kart Stadium is a perfect example of that. It’s easy to navigate, introduces the anti-gravity mechanics well, and it looks spectacular with its vibrant neon colours.
10) Cheep Cheep Beach
What’s this? A largely water-based track starting off the top 10? That can’t be right, surely. Well it is. Aside from Cheep Cheep Beach looking stunning, it’s one of the few tracks that I think uses underwater racing well. It’s not compulsory, you can stay on dry land throughout the whole race if you choose. But you can also use the water as shortcuts to help your way to victory. That’s what I like, Nintendo: choices.
9) GBA Mario Circuit
As I mentioned before, I’m a fan of standard style grand prix tracks in the Mario Kart games. There’s just something so delicious about drifting around the corners and using your skill, rather than luck, to get ahead of the pack. To be honest with you, I don’t really remember Mario Circuit GBA all that well as I’ve only played a small amount of Super Circuit. Nevertheless, this rendition of the classic track is enough for me to rate it highly.
