A classic course,[1][2][3] formerly known as an Extra Track in Mario Kart: Super Circuit and as a Retro Course from Mario Kart DS to Mario Kart 7,[4] is a course that appears in a Mario Kart game following its introduction. They first appeared in Mario Kart: Super Circuit in Extra Cups, which include the Extra Mushroom, Flower, Lightning, Star, and Special Cups, each containing four courses from Super Mario Kart. Classic courses systematically appear in every Mario Kart game since Mario Kart DS, with the Shell Cup, Banana Cup, Leaf Cup, and Lightning Cup each featuring four classic courses from various games of the series. Starting with the DLC cups in Mario Kart 8, classic courses can appear in the same cup as new courses. The Booster Course Pass DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe consists mostly of classic courses, which are also referred to as Booster Courses.[5]

Starting with Mario Kart DS, classic courses are distinguished by a prefix in their names indicating the game they originate from. These prefixes are mostly abbreviations of the name of the console that the game was released on: "SNES" refers to Super Mario Kart, "N64" to Mario Kart 64, "GBA" to Mario Kart: Super Circuit, "GCN" to Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, "DS" to Mario Kart DS, "Wii" to Mario Kart Wii, "3DS" to Mario Kart 7, and "Tour" to Mario Kart Tour (only for city courses).

Prior to Mario Kart 8, classic courses were often near-identical to their original counterparts, usually only receiving graphical updates, such as expanding the space and blocks in SNES and GBA courses. In Mario Kart DS, however, some classic courses appear to be scaled down in graphics due to limitations of the Nintendo DS. In Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 7, classic courses appear almost identical to their original versions, besides added underwater and gliding sections in the latter game. Starting in Mario Kart 8, most classic courses are completely redesigned with HD graphics, usually featuring newer mechanics such as underwater, gliding, and (except in Mario Kart Tour) anti-gravity. They also tend to feature other new details, including completely new backgrounds or even changes to the track's layout. Additionally, Mario Kart 8 features newly remastered music for all classic courses, whereas classic courses in previous Mario Kart games tend to retain their original music (though they were sometimes altered due to system limitations, primarily for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS). Mario Kart Tour's classic courses vary in similarity to their original versions, and the music is almost always either the original arrangement or from Mario Kart 7, with the only exceptions being the SNES Choco Island courses (which use the Mario Kart DS arrangement), the SNES Ghost Valley courses, GBA Cheep-Cheep Island, and DS Peach Gardens (which use the Mario Kart Wii arrangements), and the non-Bowser's Castle GBA courses excluding Cheep-Cheep Island (which all use new arrangements), although the reused music is less compressed than in previous games.

Race courses

Classic race courses by game

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Cup Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4
Extra Mushroom Cup  
Mario Circuit 1
 
Donut Plains 1
 
Ghost Valley 1
 
Bowser Castle 1
Extra Flower Cup  
Mario Circuit 2
 
Choco Island 1
 
Ghost Valley 2
 
Donut Plains 2
Extra Lightning Cup  
Bowser Castle 2
 
Mario Circuit 3
 
Koopa Beach 1
 
Choco Island 2
Extra Star Cup  
Vanilla Lake 1
 
Bowser Castle 3
 
Mario Circuit 4
 
Donut Plains 3
Extra Special Cup  
Koopa Beach 2
 
Ghost Valley 3
 
Vanilla Lake 2
 
Rainbow Road

Mario Kart DS

Cup Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4
Shell Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Banana Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Leaf Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Lightning Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link

Mario Kart Wii

Cup Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4
Shell Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Banana Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Leaf Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Lightning Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link

Mario Kart 7

Cup Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4
Shell Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Banana Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Leaf Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Lightning Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Cup Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4
Shell Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Banana Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Leaf Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Lightning Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
DLC courses
Cup Course 1 Course 2
Egg Cup  
Template:Classic-link
Triforce Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Crossing Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Bell Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Booster Course Pass courses
Cup Wave Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4
Golden Dash Cup Wave 1
March 18, 2022
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Lucky Cat Cup Wave 1
March 18, 2022
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Ninja Hideaway
Turnip Cup Wave 2
August 4, 2022
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Propeller Cup Wave 2
August 4, 2022
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Rock Cup Wave 3
December 7, 2022
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Moon Cup Wave 3
December 7, 2022
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Merry Mountain
 
Template:Classic-link
Fruit Cup Wave 4
March 9, 2023
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Boomerang Cup Wave 4
March 9, 2023
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link

Mario Kart Tour

Mario Kart Tour features 59 courses from previous entries, being the most of any Mario Kart game, as well as a new reroute of N64 Kalimari Desert named Kalimari Desert 2 which is categorized as a classic course in-game. Courses in Mario Kart Tour are not arranged into set cups like in the other games, as the cups and available courses change between each tour. The courses below are listed alongside their debut tours and dates. All of Mario Kart 7's classic courses also returned in the game. A screenshot of GCN Waluigi Stadium[6] in this game has also been shown, but the course has yet to be featured in a tour.

While Sky-High Sundae was added to this game after it was added to the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass, it is not officially considered a classic course. It has instead been labeled and marketed as a new course in both games.[7]

For a more detailed list of the classic courses in this game, see Mario Kart Tour § Classic.

SNES
Course  
SNES Mario Circuit 1
 
SNES Rainbow Road
 
SNES Mario Circuit 2
 
SNES Choco Island 2
Debut [[Template:Tour1]]
September 25, 2019
[[Template:Tour2]]
October 9, 2019
[[Template:Tour2]]
October 9, 2019
[[Template:Tour2]]
October 9, 2019
Course  
SNES Ghost Valley 1
 
SNES Mario Circuit 3
 
SNES Vanilla Lake 1
 
SNES Donut Plains 1
Debut [[Template:Tour3]]
October 23, 2019
[[Template:Tour4]]
November 6, 2019
[[Template:Tour9]]
January 15, 2020
[[Template:Tour14]]
March 25, 2020
Course  
SNES Choco Island 1
 
SNES Koopa Troopa Beach 2
 
SNES Donut Plains 2
 
SNES Vanilla Lake 2
Debut [[Template:Tour19]]
June 3, 2020
[[Template:Tour21]]
July 1, 2020
[[Template:Tour36]]
January 27, 2021
[[Template:Tour58]]
December 1, 2021
Course  
SNES Ghost Valley 2
 
SNES Donut Plains 3
Debut [[Template:Tour78]]
September 7, 2022
[[Template:Tour81]]
October 19, 2022
N64
Course  
N64 Koopa Troopa Beach
 
N64 Kalimari Desert
 
N64 Frappe Snowland
 
N64 Royal Raceway
Debut [[Template:Tour1]]
September 25, 2019
[[Template:Tour2]]
October 9, 2019
[[Template:Tour9]]
January 15, 2020
[[Template:Tour20]]
June 17, 2020
Course  
N64 Choco Mountain
 
N64 Kalimari Desert 2
 
N64 Yoshi Valley
 
N64 Luigi Raceway
Debut [[Template:Tour22]]
July 15, 2020
[[Template:Tour23]]
July 29, 2020
[[Template:Tour67]]
April 6, 2022
[[Template:Tour78]]
September 7, 2022
GBA
Course  
GBA Bowser's Castle 1
 
GBA Bowser's Castle 2
 
GBA Sunset Wilds
 
GBA Cheep-Cheep Island
Debut [[Template:Tour1]]
September 25, 2019
[[Template:Tour14]]
March 25, 2020
[[Template:Tour30]]
November 4, 2020
[[Template:Tour47]]
June 30, 2021
Course  
GBA Sky Garden
 
GBA Bowser's Castle 3
 
GBA Boo Lake
 
GBA Riverside Park
Debut [[Template:Tour64]]
February 23, 2022
[[Template:Tour77]]
August 24, 2022
[[Template:Tour81]]
October 19, 2022
[[Template:Tour83]]
November 16, 2022
Course  
GBA Snow Land
Debut [[Template:Tour85]]
December 14, 2022
GCN
Course  
GCN Dino Dino Jungle
 
GCN Yoshi Circuit
 
GCN Baby Park
 
GCN Daisy Cruiser
Debut [[Template:Tour1]]
September 25, 2019
[[Template:Tour1]]
September 25, 2019
[[Template:Tour71]]
June 1, 2022
[[Template:Tour75]]
July 27, 2022
Course  
GCN DK Mountain
Debut [[Template:Tour83]]
November 16, 2022
DS
Course  
DS Luigi's Mansion
 
DS Waluigi Pinball
 
DS DK Pass
 
DS Airship Fortress
Debut [[Template:Tour3]]
October 23, 2019
[[Template:Tour3]]
October 23, 2019
[[Template:Tour5]]
November 20, 2019
[[Template:Tour24]]
August 12, 2020
Course  
DS Peach Gardens
 
DS Shroom Ridge
Debut [[Template:Tour84]]
November 30, 2022
[[Template:Tour90]]
February 22, 2023
Wii
Course  
Wii Maple Treeway
 
Wii DK Summit
 
Wii Mushroom Gorge
 
Wii Coconut Mall
Debut [[Template:Tour29]]
October 21, 2020
[[Template:Tour38]]
February 24, 2021
[[Template:Tour65]]
March 9, 2022
[[Template:Tour69]]
May 4, 2022
Course  
Wii Koopa Cape
 
Wii Rainbow Road
Debut [[Template:Tour70]]
May 18, 2022
[[Template:Tour87]]
January 11, 2023
3DS
Course  
3DS Toad Circuit
 
3DS Cheep Cheep Lagoon
 
3DS Rock Rock Mountain
 
3DS Daisy Hills
Debut [[Template:Tour1]]
September 25, 2019
[[Template:Tour1]]
September 25, 2019
[[Template:Tour1]]
September 25, 2019
[[Template:Tour1]]
September 25, 2019
Course  
3DS Shy Guy Bazaar
 
3DS Mario Circuit
 
3DS Neo Bowser City
 
3DS Rainbow Road
Debut [[Template:Tour1]]
September 25, 2019
[[Template:Tour2]]
October 9, 2019
[[Template:Tour2]]
October 9, 2019
[[Template:Tour7]]
December 18, 2019
Course  
3DS Rosalina's Ice World
 
3DS Bowser's Castle
 
3DS Wario Shipyard
 
3DS Piranha Plant Slide
Debut [[Template:Tour33]]
December 16, 2020
[[Template:Tour60]]
December 29, 2021
[[Template:Tour62]]
January 26, 2022
[[Template:Tour74]]
July 13, 2022

Table of classic race courses

Courses highlighted in red have yet to appear as classic courses in a later Mario Kart installment. A dash (–) indicates that the course appears as a new course in its respective game and therefore cannot appear as a classic course in it or, unless noted otherwise, in a previous installment.

Course Super Circuit DS Wii 7 8 / 8 Deluxe Tour
Template:Classic-link      
Template:Classic-link      
Template:Classic-link    
SNES Bowser Castle 1  
Template:Classic-link      
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link      
Template:Classic-link    
SNES Bowser Castle 2  
Template:Classic-link      [a 1]  
SNES Koopa Troopa Beach 1  
Template:Classic-link      
Template:Classic-link    
SNES Bowser Castle 3  
SNES Mario Circuit 4  
Template:Classic-link      
Template:Classic-link      
SNES Ghost Valley 3  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link        
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link    [a 1][a 2]  [a 3]
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link    [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link  
N64 Wario Stadium
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link  
GBA Yoshi Desert
Template:Classic-link    
GBA Lakeside Park
GBA Broken Pier
GBA Bowser's Castle 4
GBA Rainbow Road
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link      
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link    [a 1]
Template:Classic-link  
GCN Mushroom City
Template:Classic-link      
Template:Classic-link    
GCN Wario Colosseum
Template:Classic-link    
GCN Bowser's Castle
GCN Rainbow Road
DS Figure-8 Circuit
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link  [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  [a 1]
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    [a 1]  
DS Bowser Castle
DS Rainbow Road
Wii Luigi Circuit
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    [a 1]  
Wii Toad's Factory
Wii Mario Circuit
Template:Classic-link    [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link[a 4]  [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link  
Wii Daisy Circuit
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link    [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link  
Wii Dry Dry Ruins
Wii Moonview Highway
Wii Bowser's Castle
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link[a 5]  
Template:Classic-link  
3DS Wuhu Loop[a 6]
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link[a 7]  
Template:Classic-link[a 8]  [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link[a 9]    
Template:Classic-link[a 10]  
Template:Classic-link[a 11]    
3DS Maka Wuhu[a 12]
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  [a 1]  
Mario Kart Stadium
Water Park
Sweet Sweet Canyon
Thwomp Ruins
Mario Circuit
Toad Harbor[a 13]
Twisted Mansion
Shy Guy Falls
Sunshine Airport
Dolphin Shoals
Electrodrome
Mount Wario
Cloudtop Cruise
Bone-Dry Dunes[a 14]
Bowser's Castle
Rainbow Road
Excitebike Arena
Dragon Driftway
Mute City
Ice Ice Outpost
Hyrule Circuit
Wild Woods
Animal Crossing
Super Bell Subway
Big Blue
Template:Classic-link  [a 1][a 2] [a 3]
Template:Classic-link  [a 1][a 2] [a 3]
Template:Classic-link  [a 1][a 2] [a 3]
Template:Classic-link  [a 1][a 2] [a 3]
Tour Vancouver Velocity [a 3]
Tour Los Angeles Laps [a 3]
Tour Merry Mountain  [a 1][a 15]
Template:Classic-link  [a 1][a 2] [a 3]
Tour Ninja Hideaway  [a 1][a 15]
Template:Classic-link  [a 1][a 2] [a 3]
Template:Classic-link  [a 1] [a 3]
Template:Classic-link  [a 1] [a 3]
Template:Classic-link  [a 1] [a 3]
Sky-High Sundae [a 1][a 16] [a 16]
Tour Piranha Plant Cove
Yoshi's Island [a 1]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af Appears via the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Booster Course Pass.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g This version of the course combines multiple layouts from a previous appearance.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l In this game, this course has multiple numbered routes.
  4. ^ Known as "DK's Snowboard Cross" in the British English version.
  5. ^ Known as "Cheep Cheep Cape" in the British English version.
  6. ^ Known as "Wuhu Island Loop" in the British English version.
  7. ^ Known as "Melody Motorway" in the British English version.
  8. ^ Known as "Alpine Pass" in the British English version.
  9. ^ Known as "Piranha Plant Pipeway" in the British English version.
  10. ^ Known as "Wario's Galleon" in the British English version.
  11. ^ Known as "Koopa City" in the British English version.
  12. ^ Known as "Wuhu Mountain Loop" in the British English version.
  13. ^ Written as "Toad Harbour" in the British English version.
  14. ^ Written as "Bone Dry Dunes" in the British English version.
  15. ^ a b Unlike other classic courses in this game, this course is not given a console prefix.
  16. ^ a b Officially, this course is considered a new course in both Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Mario Kart Tour.

Battle courses

Classic battle courses by game

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

While no classic battle courses appear in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, unused tilemaps and minimaps exist for all four battle courses from Super Mario Kart. Unlike other courses in the game, which are stored in chunks, these are stored in one piece, the same way Super Mario Kart stores them.[8]

Mario Kart DS

Mario Kart DS is the first game to have classic battle courses. Unlike the classic race courses, these battle courses do not have prefixes denoting their console of origin; future games in the series would change this, having prefixes for classic battle courses in the same manner as race courses.

Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart 7

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart Tour

Table of classic battle courses

Course Super Circuit DS Wii 7 8 Deluxe Tour
Template:Classic-link  
SNES Battle Course 2
SNES Battle Course 3
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
N64 Block Fort  
N64 Double Deck
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    
GBA Battle Course 2
Template:Classic-link  
GBA Battle Course 4
Template:Classic-link    
GCN Nintendo GameCube
GCN Block City
GCN Pipe Plaza  
Template:Classic-link  
GCN Tilt-a-Kart
DS Nintendo DS
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
DS Tart Top
Wii Block Plaza
Wii Delfino Pier
Wii Funky Stadium
Wii Chain Chomp Wheel[b 1]
Wii Thwomp Desert
3DS Honeybee Hive[b 2]
3DS Sherbet Rink
Template:Classic-link  
Battle Stadium
Sweet Sweet Kingdom
Dragon Palace
Lunar Colony
Urchin Underpass
Tour New York Minute B
  1. ^ Known as "Chain Chomp Roulette" in the British English version.
  2. ^ Known as "Honeybee House" in the British English version.

Gallery

Cup emblems

Shell Cup

Banana Cup

Leaf Cup

Lightning Cup

Cup trophies

Shell Cup

Banana Cup

Leaf Cup

Lightning Cup

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese おまけコース[?]
Omake kōsu
Bonus Courses (Mario Kart: Super Circuit)
Chinese 奖励赛道[9]
Jiǎnglì Sàidào
Bonus Circuits (Mario Kart: Super Circuit)
Italian Trofei Retrò[?] Retro Cups

References

  1. ^ Musa, Alexander (May 30, 2014). Mario Kart 8 PRIMA Official Game Guide. The section about the old courses on page 142 is titled "RETURNING CLASSICS".
  2. ^ classic internal name of the folder containing the data about the old courses in Mario Kart Tour
  3. ^ Official North American site of Mario Kart Tour. The old courses are referred to as classic Mario Kart courses. Archived from the original February 27, 2021, 04:04:22 UTC via Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  4. ^ Official European page for Mario Kart 7
  5. ^ Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass: Wave 6. Nintendo AU. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  6. ^ Template:Media link, next to Luigi's left ear
  7. ^ August 10, 2022. Race the new Sky-High Sundae course in the Mario Kart Tour and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe games today! Nintendo.com.
  8. ^ tcrf:Mario Kart: Super Circuit#SNES Battle Courses
  9. ^ From the unreleased iQue version