Mario Kart 8 is the eighth installment of the Mario Kart series , for the Wii U console. The gameplay includes thirty-two circuits (sixteen brand new ones and sixteen retro ones) on which the characters race riding a variety of vehicles like the returning motorcycles or the karts, which can be customized.
The story is not part of the gameplay, but rather takes place before each racing event. Players compete in a tournament to become the champion, with the winner earning their spot on the leaderboard.
Gameplay includes six play modes, featuring a new mode called Mario Kart TV , where you can create your own pictures and videos. The roster includes thirty characters from the Super Mario universe, twenty-one are returning from previous games and nine are new: Baby Rosalina, Wendy O. Koopa, Iggy Koopa, Larry Koopa, Pink Gold Peach, Morton Koopa Jr., Ludwig Von Koopa, Roy Koopa and Lemmy Koopa.
The game also features twenty-one power-ups, including new ones like the Boomerang Flower, the Piranha Plant, the Super Horn and the Eight-crazy. Players must use these power-ups strategically to gain an advantage over their opponents.