How To Unlock All Mario Kart World Characters

Mario Kart World is the marquee launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2, featuring a roster of 50 playable racers, excluding the variants that come with the game's additional costumes. That number may increase in the future, but below you’ll see all the characters in Mario Kart World and how to unlock them.

The major characters, like Donkey Kong and Rosalina, are unlocked by completing specific race cups. Meanwhile, many of the minor characters, like Spike and Rocky Wrench, for example, can only be unlocked mid-race through the Kamek item.

The Kamek item is a purple crystal ball that can transform racers into characters who haven’t yet been unlocked. The item has a small chance of appearing through item blocks, and you can’t be the one to use it. Another racer needs to use the item on you to transform you into a different character. Once you’ve transformed, the character you become will be permanently added to the roster.

Certain courses seem to have higher chances of transforming you into certain characters, so we’ll update this guide with specific locations as we test out more tracks.

If you're looking to learn more about Mario Kart World, you can click the stories below for more information on the Switch 2 launch title:

• Mario Kart World Lets Players Rewind If They Make A Mistake
• Mario Kart World: How Eating Meals And Unlocking Costumes Works
• Battle Mode Is Back In Mario Kart World, Two Minigames Confirmed
• Rainbow Road's Return In Mario Kart World Is All But Confirmed
• Mario Kart World Features Giant Trucks And Boats You Can Use To Dominate Races

For now, the bundle deal that includes the console and Mario Kart World is priced at $500, whereas the console on its own will currently cost you $450. It's worth mentioning that first-party Nintendo games will be much pricier for the Switch 2 generation, so the bundle deal is the better option, as Mario Kart World will sell for $80 by itself.

Mario is part of the default roster.

Luigi is part of the default roster.

Peach is part of the default roster.

Bowser is part of the default roster.

Yoshi is part of the default roster.

Wario is part of the default roster.

Waluigi is part of the default roster.

Complete the Star Cup to unlock Rosalina.

Complete the Flower Cup to unlock Daisy.

Toad is part of the default roster.

Toadette is part of the default roster.

Complete the Mushroom Cup to unlock Donkey Kong.

Baby Mario is part of the default roster.

Baby Luigi is part of the default roster.

Baby Peach is part of the default roster.

Baby Daisy is part of the default roster.

Baby Rosalina is part of the default roster.

Complete the Banana Cup to unlock Birdo.

Complete the Lightning Cup to unlock Bowser Jr.

Cataquack is unlocked through the Kamek item.

Cheep Cheep is part of the default roster.

Charging Chuck is unlocked through the Kamek item.

Dolphin is unlocked through the Kamek item.

Dry Bones is part of the default roster.

Fish Bone is unlocked through the Kamek item.

Goomba is part of the default roster.

Hammer Bro is part of the default roster.

Complete the Leaf Cup to unlock King Boo.

Koopa Troopa is part of the default roster.

Complete the Shell Cup to unlock Lakitu.

Cow is part of the default roster.

Nabbit is part of the default roster.

Pauline is part of the default roster.

Penguin is part of the default roster.

Shy Guy is part of the default roster.

Spike is unlocked through the Kamek item on the Salty Salty Speedway track.

Para-Biddybud is part of the default roster.

Pianta is unlocked through the Kamek item.

Piranha Plant is part of the default roster.

Sidestepper is part of the default roster.

Stingby is part of the default roster.

Peepa is unlocked through the Kamek item.

Monty Mole is part of the default roster.

Pokey is part of the default roster.

Swoop is unlocked through the Kamek item.

Snowman is part of the default roster.

Coin Coffer is unlocked through the Kamek item.

Conkdor is unlocked through the Kamek item.

Rocky Wrench is unlocked through the Kamek item on the Airship Fortress track.

Wiggler is part of the default roster.