Gamers go wild for the new Mario Kart 8 tracks – but which one is the best?

MARIO Kart 8 Deluxe has launched eight new tracks that are free with the Booster Course Pack.

Both the new Feather Cup, and Cherry Cup add four courses each, but not all of them are created equally.

As usual, there are a number of courses added from free-to-play mobile game Mario Kart Tour, and this time there is a whole new track just for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Here are the eight newest Mario Kart 8 Deluxe tracks from Wave 5 ranked from worst to best.

8. Los Angeles Lap – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 5

As is usual for Mario Kart DLC, the Cherry Cup comes with courses from Mario Kart Tour, and Los Angeles Lap is the worst of them.

These tracks don’t have laps like most Mario races, and instead continue on.

This works well on bespoke tracks like Mount Wario, but less well on races designed for mobile.

Los Angeles Lap is not the worst track from Mario Kart Tour, but it is the worst of Wave 5.

7. Athens Dash – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 5

This is the Tour track from the Feather Cup and it serves its purpose when the other three tracks are so good.

It still suffers from the same problems though, compounded by the fact that it’s based on a real life city.

Unlike the Mushroom Kingdom, it’s hard to spot real life landmarks to help orientate yourself.

It’s not a terrible track, but these never ending runs are always a struggle in Mirror Mode.

6. Vancouver Velocity – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 5

The final Tour track on the list, it’s natural that it fits somewhere near the bottom.

This one is also part of the Cherry Cup, and the combination of two Tour tracks in the cup make it lacklustre over all.

While this is the best of the Tour tracks, that doesn’t mean that it is actually good.

It may have fared better if it was in a cup that had no other Tour tracks to compound the issue.

5. Sunset Wilds – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 5

Sunset Wilds is one of the best tracks from Mario Kart: Super Circuit originally released on the Game Boy Advance.

Unfortunately, the portable Mario Kart games have never been the series’ strong point, and it only adds to the Cherry Cup’s woes.

This is because it’s much harder to design incredibly intricate tracks when you’re dealing with the restrictions of the hardware and controls.

A track you can definitely have fun with, but not one you will return to often.

4. Daisy Cruiser – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 5

Daisy Cruiser originally appeared as part of Mario Kart: Double Dash for the GameCube, and it is here again in the Feather Cup.

The setting is pretty unique making it visually pretty fun, set aboard a giant cruise ship.

However, the map is a fairly simple figure of eight, and the shortcuts don’t add too much to the techniques needed.

Some might give you a slight edge, but there’s nothing with high risk and reward here.

3. Koopa Cape – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 5

Koopa Cape is the saving grace of the Cherry Cup which is otherwise punctuated by its middling tracks.

Originally from Mario Kart Wii, it has a number of difficult corners and hard jumps you need to make.

This track which goes over roads, sand, and sea gives a lot of variance as you race through.

There are interesting shortcuts you can take, making an overall fun track to race on.

2. Moonview Highway – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 5

Moonview Highway is another excellent track from Mario Kart Wii, and it arrives in the DLC as part of the Feather Cup.

While a fairly plain layout, which is essentially just a loop, it’s the obstacles that make the difference.

Cars are all over the track both facing you and away, and you have to weave between them to hit the speed boosts.

This leads to a thrilling ride where you have to decide whether it’s worth trying to drive into oncoming traffic.

1. Squeaky Clean Sprint – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 5

Squeaky Clean Sprint is the only completely new track which was added to this wave of DLC, and it is also the best.

The queen of the Feather Cup, this track takes place in an oversized bathroom.

You’ll race over towels and sponges, and through full sinks, before eventually being sucked down the bath drain.

As you fly over the giant toilet you’ll find it difficult to not have fun.

Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.