Mario Kart World - Characters
Image: Nintendo Life / Nintendo

Mario Kart World is a massive refresh for the ludicrously popular kart racing franchise, bringing the total number of participants per race up to 24, while moving the action into a fully open world environment in which you drive from one race course to the next.

Quite a few returning favourites from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and beyond have been confirmed, along with a bunch of newbies. Below is a guide on how to unlock every character for Mario Kart World., as well as their weight class.

Mario Kart World Full Character List & How To Unlock

1. Mario

Mario
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Medium

2. Luigi

Luigi
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Medium

3. Peach

Peach
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Medium-light

4. Daisy

Daisy
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Complete the Flower Cup

Weight class: Medium-light

5. Rosalina

Rosalina
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Complete Star Cup

Weight class: Medium-heavy

6. Yoshi

Yoshi
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)\

Weight class: Medium-light

7. Toad

Toad
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Light

8. Koopa Troopa

Koopa Troopa
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Light

9. Bowser

Bowser
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Very heavy

10. Donkey Kong

DK
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Complete Mushroom Cup

Weight class: Heavy

11. Wario

Wario
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

12. Waluigi

Waluigi
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Heavy

13. Pauline

Pauline
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Medium

14. Baby Mario

Baby Mario
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Very light

15. Baby Luigi

Baby Luigi
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Very light

16. Baby Peach

Baby Peach
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Featherweight

17. Baby Daisy

Baby Daisy
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Featherweight

18. Baby Rosalina

Baby Rosalina
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Very light

19. Bowser Jr

Bowser Jr
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Complete Lightning Cup

Weight class: Medium-light

20. Toadette

Toadette
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Light

21. King Boo

King Boo
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Complete Leaf Cup

Weight class: Medium-heavy

22. Birdo

Birdo
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Complete Banana Cup

Weight class: Medium

23. Shy Guy

Shy Guy
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Light

24. Wiggler

Wiggler
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Heavy

25. Dry Bones

Dry Bones
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Very light

26. Lakitu

Lakitu
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Complete Shell Cup

Weight class: Light

27. Nabbit - NEW

Nabbit
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Light

28. Goomba - NEW

Goomba
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Very light

29. Cow - NEW

Cow
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Heavy

30. Hammer Bro - NEW

Hammer Bro
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Medium

31. Coin Coffer - NEW

Coin Coffer
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Transform via Kamek, UFO

Weight class: Medium-light

32. Piranha Plant - NEW

Piranha Plant
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Medium-heavy

33. Conkdor - NEW

Conkdor
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Transform via Kamek, UFO

Weight class: Medium-heavy

34. Chargin' Chuck - NEW

Chargin' Chuck
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Transform via Kamek, UFO

Weight class: Heavy

35. Snowman - NEW

Snowman
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Medium-heavy

36. Sidestepper - NEW

Sidestepper
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Very light

37. Cheep Cheep - NEW

Cheep Cheep
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Transform via Kamek, UFO

Weight class: Very light

38. Rocky Wrench - NEW

Rocky Wrench
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Medium

39. Monty Mole - NEW

Monty Mole
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Medium-light

40. Fish Bone - NEW

Fish Bone
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Transform via Kamek, UFO

Weight class: Very light

41. Dolphin - NEW

Dolphin
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Transform via Kamek, UFO

Weight class: Medium-light

42. Penguin - NEW

Penguin
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Medium

43. Para-Biddybud - NEW

Para-Biddybud
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Featherweight

44. Stingby - NEW

Stingy
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Light

45. Pokey - NEW

Pokey
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: N/A (Available from start)

Weight class: Medium

46. Cataquack - NEW

Cataquack
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Transform via Kamek, UFO

Weight class: Medium-heavy

47. Peepa - NEW

Peepa
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Transform via Kamek, UFO

Weight class: Very light

48. Spike - NEW

Spike
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Transform via Kamek, UFO

Weight class: Very light

49. Pianta - NEW

Pianta
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Transform via Kamek, UFO

Weight class: Heavy

50. Swoop - NEW

Swoop
Image: Nintendo

How to unlock: Transform via Kamek, UFO

Weight class: Featherweight

How do character weight classes work?

Weight classes, like in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, are a hidden stat, and the only way you can tell what class they are is by looking at a kart's stats after you've picked your character. Amazingly, these stats were worked out way back in April by reddit user ItzManu001, but it's not very different from previous games.

Basically, the lighter characters have a much higher acceleration and better handling stats than heavy characters, while the heaviest characters have the best top-speeds. This also all depends on vehicles, and there are downsides to picking a heavy character on a big vehicle, for example.

You can see in our examples below that, in the same kart, Mario and Luigi's stats are identical as they're in the same "class", while Toad's acceleration is higher than both. Bowser, meanwhile, has lower acceleration, but a higher top speed.

At the end of the day, though, you should just play with who you want and who you feel comfortable with!

How do you Transform into Characters with Kamek?

Kamek is a brand new item that's pretty rare, but he's essential if you want to unlock all of the game's characters.

When used, Kamek will summon enemies onto the course and transform all racers in its path into a random character or enemy. If you're not sure how to get Kamek or how it works, we've got a guide that should fully explain Kamek for you.

How do you use the UFO to Unlock Characters?

As of version 1.3.0, you can now use the UFO in Free Roam mode to transform into those NPC characters. It's relatively straightforward to do, too — if you can find a UFO.

Once you spot a UFO, board it by driving underneath it. Then, you need to find the NPC you want to turn into. Use your ability to beam them up and you'll absorb that character, unlocking them in the process!

Mario Kart World Character FAQs

How many playable characters are there?

There are 50 unique playable racers in Mario Kart World — not including costumes. 24 main Mario characters (so the likes of Peach, Yoshi, DK, etc.) and 26 NPC characters and enemies (Pokey, Penguin, Dolphin, etc.).

To start with, you'll have access to 32 characters — 17 from Mario's own friends, and 15 enemies and NPCs. The other 18 you'll need to unlock.

Wait, there are alternate costumes?

There sure are! Lots, in fact. These appear on the character select screen as different 'characters', but we've separated them out into a separate guide on All Costume Unlocks in Mario Kart World.

Will characters from the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass appear?

Again, we're not sure. We'd guess that every character from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will show up, but whether they're included in the base game or will be available as additional DLC is unknown for the time being.

Is Diddy Kong in the game?

See above — so far, nope! At least from what we've seen. Who knows if Nintendo will add him later. Poor Diddy...

Why does Donkey Kong look so different?

Ah, you noticed huh? Yes, Donkey Kong has had a bit of a redesign for this new Mario Kart, seemingly taking some inspiration from his appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, but also putting it more in line with his design in Donkey Kong Bananza, which is due to launch on Switch 2 on 17th July 2025.

So that's the full roster for Mario Kart World so far. Keep an eye out for more guides on the upcoming racer over the coming months as we inch toward its eventual release.