Super Mario Kart is a kart racing game developed by Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992. It stands as the game that created the kart racing genre, introducing a formula that countless developers would attempt to copy in the years that followed. Players choose from eight characters drawn from the Mario universe, including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Donkey Kong Jr., Koopa Troopa, and Bowser. Each character carries different stat values across speed, acceleration, and handling, giving players a reason to experiment before settling on a favorite. The game runs on a Mode 7 graphical technique that gives the flat SNES hardware the appearance of a three-dimensional racing surface, scaling and rotating the track tiles to simulate perspective. This visual approach was groundbreaking for its time and helped the game sell over eight million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling titles on the platform.
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Screenshots

0.5 MB · SNES ROMs
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Specifications
| Platform | SNES ROMs |
|---|---|
| Genre | Racing |
| File Size | 0.5 MB |
| Release Year | 1992 |
| Developer | Nintendo EAD |
| Updated | Jun 22, 2026 |
Overview
Super Mario Kart is a kart racing game developed by Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992. It stands as the game that created the kart racing genre, introducing a formula that countless developers would attempt to copy in the years that followed. Players choose from eight characters drawn from the Mario universe, including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Donkey Kong Jr., Koopa Troopa, and Bowser. Each character carries different stat values across speed, acceleration, and handling, giving players a reason to experiment before settling on a favorite. The game runs on a Mode 7 graphical technique that gives the flat SNES hardware the appearance of a three-dimensional racing surface, scaling and rotating the track tiles to simulate perspective. This visual approach was groundbreaking for its time and helped the game sell over eight million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling titles on the platform.
The game offers two primary modes for solo players: Mario Kart GP and Time Trial. Mario Kart GP splits into two cup structures, the Mushroom Cup and Flower Cup in the 50cc and 100cc classes, with the Star Cup and Special Cup unlocking at higher speeds. Players collect coins scattered across tracks to maintain top speed and grab item boxes that dish out shells, banana peels, stars, and other weapons to disrupt rivals. A two-player split-screen Battle Mode lets friends compete to pop each other's balloons on dedicated arena stages, adding a competitive layer beyond the main race circuit. The game features twenty tracks spread across four cups, each with its own obstacles, terrain types, and layout challenges. From the smooth curves of Mario Circuit to the icy roads of Vanilla Lake, the track variety keeps races feeling fresh from start to finish. Super Mario Kart delivers a tight, rewarding experience that holds up as a genuine classic.