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Here’s what’s new in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Here’s what’s new in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

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The updated version of Mario Kart 8 coming to the Nintendo Switch will also be the biggest game in the series to date. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will include the entirety of the original game, as well as all of the subsequent downloadable add-ons, along with a number of new features. All told Deluxe will include 42 characters to race as — including the inkling boy and girl from Splatoon — and a total of 48 different tracks.

Other additions include the ability to hold two items simultaneously, a driving assist feature for players new to the series, and returning classic Mario Kart power-ups like a boo ghost to turn you invisible. You can also play the game in split-screen mode with up to four players when using the Switch in television mode. And, as previously announced, you can hook up multiple Switch systems to have a LAN party for up to 12 players.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The area that’s getting the most attention in Deluxe, though, is the battle mode, which will now feature multiple game types, mostly pulled from previous games, that are playable across eight different courses. Here’s how Nintendo describes the battle modes:

Renegade Roundup: Making its debut in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, this new mode has one team trying to capture the other and put them into jail before time runs out. The opposing team must try to escape and can break their own teammates out of prison by pressing a button under the jail cell.

Balloon Battle: In this oldie but goodie, players earn points by popping balloons on the back of their opponents’ karts.

Bob-omb Blast: Originally seen in the Mario Kart: Double Dash game, this mode finds players throwing a barrage of Bob-ombs at opponents.

Coin Runners: By racing across the Battle course, players try to collect the most coins as possible in this fast and frenetic mode introduced in Mario Kart Wii.

Shine Thief: Steal the coveted Shine Sprite and try to hold onto it for a 20 count in this classic multiplayer Battle mode.

You can check out a rundown of everything that’s coming to the game in the video above. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe launches on Switch on April 28th.