One of my wife’s favorite video games is Mario Kart, specifically Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. At least in our circles, she is consistently the best at it. The game originally came out on the Wii U in 2014, but we were introduced to it through the Nintendo Switch version, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which came out a few years later.

Not long ago, we got a Switch 2, Nintendo’s successor to the Switch. One of the nice things about the increased power of the system is that Nintendo has released updates for a number of older Switch games, bringing improved performance, visuals, and sometimes new features. The latest game to receive one, at the start of September 2026, is none other than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

The free Switch 2 update brought with it the ability to play with up to eight (!) players in local split-screen on a single system, along with sharper, higher-resolution visuals and much shorter load times. We’ve started playing the game a little more as a result, and it’s been a blast revisiting an older game that suddenly feels fresh again.

At some point, I think it would be a fascinating exercise to organize a local gaming session where eight players gather around the same screen to race one another with the chaotic energy of Mario Kart. I’m hoping we get the chance to give it a try!

If you have a Switch 2, I highly recommend either picking up Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or coming back to it if you already own it. It’s a surprisingly great way to experience the game again.

#videogames