Mario Kart World vs Kirby Air Riders: which Nintendo Switch 2 racer is better?

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26 Dec 2025, 17:00 · TechRadar

Versus By Harry Padoan published 26 December 2025

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Mario Kart World

Mario Kart World is the clear standout launch title on Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo’s visually stunning kart racer is chock-full of its trademark charm and personality. The new knockout mode also feels like a neat addition, expanding brilliantly on the addictive multiplayer mayhem the series is known for. There are some issues – like the strangely organized character select screen and a Grand Prix format that feels slightly unsure of itself. However, what’s here is an undoubtedly impressive racing game that we hope Nintendo continues to build and improve upon.

Pros

Knockout Tour offers tension-filled fun
A vast, eclectic soundtrack
Simple controls, high skill ceiling

Cons

Grand Prix mode perhaps not as streamlined as Air Riders’ set approach
Unlocking characters is frustratingly random
Messy character select screen

Kirby Air Riders

Kirby Air Riders feels like a combination of Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. at their most chaotic. You’ll have to carefully balance battering rival riders while also out-speeding them, all while mastering seemingly simple controls – controls that actually require significant skill to master. The game is vibrant and visually stimulating, and offers a great line-up of characters. City Trials can feel anticlimactic on occasion, and the story mode is underwhelming. Still, Kirby Air Riders offers the frenetic multiplayer fun I hoped to experience on Switch 2, and stands as a successful oddball racer.

Pros

Unbelievably chaotic, yet addictive gameplay
Fast-paced and visually stimulating
Trade off for using power-ups feels well-balanced

Cons

Not as many courses as Mario Kart World
Other modes can lack payoff and depth
A little more challenging for casual players to pick up

Neither of these titles really needs any introduction. Mario Kart World was a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2. One that was released to controversy for its shake-up of the legendary Grand Prix mode and approach on an open world, but was lauded for its audio-visual flair and frenetic Knockout Tour mode.

Kirby Air Riders, however, came a little later, and surprised many with its bizarre yet rewarding controls and chaotic gameplay. Its stellar technical performance and vast improvements over its GameCube predecessor earned plenty of plaudits, although I, among others, am a little less hot on a few of the game modes.

As someone who has poured countless hours into these games – perhaps too many – I’ve got plenty of opinions about Nintendo’s 2025-released racers. In my view, both of these games are great. They deliver mayhem-infused gameplay, eye-popping visuals, and impressive depth for seemingly simple games. Do they each have issues? Absolutely, and I’ll get into those later.

But which is better? Mario Kart World or Kirby Air Riders? Both stand among the best Nintendo Switch 2 games, so it's a tight race. There can only be one winner, though. So, all that's left to say is: 3... 2... 1... GO!

Two very different approaches

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Arguably, the main differentiator between these two games is their respective control schemes. Mario Kart World keeps it classic; you can accelerate, brake, drift, steer, and use items with specific buttons. But Kirby Air Riders totally breaks the mold. Here, you’ll be endlessly accelerating and use a single button to swallow enemies, use abilities, brake, drift, and more.

Sure, you’ll use the left stick to steer, and the Y button can be pressed for a special attack, but the vast majority of gameplay is centered around a single action button.

I personally reviewed Kirby Air Riders here at TechRadar Gaming, and after spending more than a month with it, I feel that the control scheme works really well. It's surprisingly deep – using the action button can slow you down, but it can also let you obtain or use a power-up. Similarly, drifting will mean you lose a significant amount of speed as you approach corners, but the boost can be well worth the payoff. A lot of the time, the controls are less forgiving than Mario Kart World, but they’re certainly designed with intelligence and care.

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