Summary

  • Mario Kart 8 has a diverse roster of iconic characters, with more still to come, making it a beloved kart racing game.
  • Each character in Mario Kart 8 plays differently based on their weight class and secret bonuses, so personal preference and stats play a role in choosing the best characters.
  • The game's recent update introduced new characters and courses, allowing players to explore different playstyles and kart combos for each character.

Mario invites friends, foes, and cannon fodder to enjoy a friendly competition with one of the best kart racers of all time. Mario Kart 8 has almost been the main entry in the Mario Kart series for a decade, and it’s not only the best Mario Kart maps that make this title so famous, but the fact that the Mario Kart 8-character roster is filled with some iconic characters, with more yet to come.

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Every character plays differently in Mario Kart 8, and every fan has their preference. The best characters in Mario Kart 8 might not be based on personal preference of their character, but on the stats that they have based on their weight class and secret bonuses.

Updated on June 27, 2024, by Jake Fillery: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe features a meta where everyone can be a winner, and as such, a plethora of amazing characters from the Super Mario roster, and beyond, have been included in the game. Whether it's a collab character from another Nintendo franchise or one with extreme staying power, the best Mario Kart 8 characters can easily aid players based on appearance and weight class to make them the greatest kart racer of all time.

20 Kamek

A High-Ranking Koopa Troop With Magical Abilities

Petey Pirhana, Kamek, and Wiggler Racing In Mario Kart 8
  • Best Kart Combo: Sports Coupe / Rollers / Cloud Glider
  • Weight Class: Medium

Featuring a character who has often acted as a thorn in Mario's side through loyalty to none other than Bowser, it's great to see Kamek finally get an invite to race around some wacky tracks. Kamek is no stranger to this series, and their magic has been used many times to mix things up, but now, they can put the wand away and have fun in a kart alongside other iconic characters.

Kamek might not have anything inherently special about their weight class and kart, but their appearance alone warrants their inclusion. This famed Koopa Troop can race around, cackling with every speed boost and person hit with a red shell.

19 Mii (amiibo)

Uniquely Created Characters

mii in mario kart
  • Best Kart Combo: Any
  • Weight Class: Any

The Mii class might not be the most exciting, but they are certainly the most unique. The Mii class has a few grand uses, with one of them being the fact that players can use their Amiibos to grant themselves unique costumes to use for their Miis in Mario Kart 8. Outside of these fun and distinct costumes inspired by other characters, players can design their own Miis.

Miis are creations made specifically by the player, meaning they can bring into the race themselves, their friends, or even their favorite characters across various films, games, and shows. The potential for Miis is limitless, so racing against Mario as one is a great way to keep things fresh.

18 Bowser

Mario's Grandest Rival Brings The Heat, Not The Cheat

king bowser in mario kart
  • Best Kart Combo: Mr. Scooty / Rollers / Bowser Kite
  • Weight Class: Heavy

It's impossible to talk about Mario Kart characters without including Bowser himself, the ultimate rival to Mario. Whilst they seem to hate each other, and Mario constantly foils Bowser's evil schemes to destroy the Mushroom Kingdom and kidnap Princess Peach, it shows how nice Mario is to always invite him to the next friendly competition of a kart race.

Bowser's size and aggression make him hard to knock off the track, and he can nudge smaller characters with ease. He's a fun one to watch with his celebratory fire breath that can intimidate others who are racing near, but at the end of the day, he's here to win fair just like everyone else.

The Hero Of Hyrule Races Into The Scene

link in his hyrule kart
  • Best Kart Combo: Teddy Buggy / Azure Rollers / Paper Glider
  • Weight Class: Heavy

It's always great to see a collab character, especially when it's Nintendo's own brand. Adding Link to the roster of Mario Kart 8 characters is great, as not only does he come with two distinct outfits from his adventures in Hyrule, but he also comes with one of his own tracks and a set of karting items that can make him stand out from the roster.

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Link is a fun character to race with, as the Heavy class is always desirable in the meta. Not only that but his animations and sounds make him charming and fun to play as, since when else will they see the hero of Hyrule himself throw bananas and red shells at Mario characters?

16 Toad

A Friend & Confidant, Toad Proves That Size Doesn't Matter Behind The Wheel

Mario Kart Toad
  • Best Kart Combo: Biddybuggy / Rollers / Animal Crossing Glider
  • Weight Class: Light

Toad exists as one of the characters on the original Mario Kart roster. He's a character as old as Mario and Peach, and will always be there to perhaps not save the day, but aid and celebrate when it is saved. Toad often brings a sense of bravery when the situation must arise, but he's more than happy to simply shriek and cheer Mario on from the side. That is until the go-karts come out.

Toad isn't scared to get behind the wheel and race his friends and enemies, and this light character may be small, but his appearance shouldn't deceive racers, as there are plenty of stellar builds that can have him zoom into first place, as long as a heavy character doesn't bash his kart and knock him off track.

15 Diddy Kong

The Fastest Monkey Behind The Wheel

Diddy Kong in Mario Kart Tour
  • Best Kart Combo: Ink-Striker / Rollers / Flower Glider
  • Weight Class: Medium

Diddy Kong has been absent for far too long in the Mario Kart community. He's an icon and has featured in many of the party games over the years because of his good standing with Mario and of course, his best friend, Donkey Kong. Diddy deserves a spot back in the racing scene, since after all, he had his own racing series once upon a time.

Diddy sports his red shirt and Nintendo cap with flair and gusto, and he shows it all off proudly when he zooms past the competition thanks to his medium class. Hitting boosts is extremely satisfying with Diddy, as he will often cheer and make adorable noises, providing thrills with every ounce of speed.

14 Mario

The Titular Character Is Always Number One

Gameplay screenshot from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
  • Best Kart Combo: Teddy Buggy / Rollers / Cloud Glider
  • Weight Class: Medium

It doesn't seem fair to not include Mario in a game about Mario Kart. The character is an icon and is easily recognizable thanks to his overalls, mustache, red-hat with his initials on it, and of course, his voice. Mario is a very versatile character in the medium class, providing plenty of options for play when it comes to racing across the many tracks of Mario Kart 8.

What makes Mario so fun is how accessible he is, and there's a reason he's on the box art, and the icon of the series itself. It's not called Luigi Kart, and this fan-favorite plumber brings a modest level of cockiness when he inevitably boosts his way into first place.

13 Peachette

Present A Regal Cuteness Thanks To The Crown Mushroom

peachette in mario kart 8
  • Best Kart Combo: Teddy Buggy / Rollers / Cloud Glider
  • Weight Class: Medium

Peachette is a surprising addition, considering it's basically just Toadette with the crown mushroom. Nevertheless, Peachette is a cute choice to add to the game, although a tad wasted for the potential of other characters like Nabbit.

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Peachette is one of the Medium-class characters, so players have a pretty versatile style of play when it comes to using the best karts in Mario Kart 8.

12 Funky Kong

Bring The Funk Back Into The Karting Scene

funky kong mario kart
  • Best Kart Combo: Mr. Scooty / Rollers / Cloud Glider
  • Weight Class: Heavy

Funky Kong returns, although not in the most triumphant of Kong fashions. For Mario Kart Wii, Funky Kong was not only a great pick because of his outrageously cool style, but for the undisputed fact that he had the best stats in Mario Kart, allowing him to pull off some truly impressive feats and race-breaking glitches.

Now, returning after all these years for Mario Kart 8, Funky Kong is a little rusty, but still just as fun. Whilst he may not be the ultimate choice that will dominate the race, his style and flair are still ever present in his character, so it's always fun to bring him along.

11 Petey Piranha

Threaten Others Racers With A Sharp Chomp