A reader is impressed by the version of Rainbow Road in Mario Kart World and considers it the ultimate example of the game’s joyful invention.
There is something almost mythic about Rainbow Road, isn’t there? Across generations of Mario Kart titles it has always stood as the final test – a kaleidoscopic gauntlet of speed, skill, and spectacle. But in the latest entry on the Nintendo Switch 2 Rainbow Road isn’t just a track. It’s a love letter to everything the series has ever been, and a breathtaking glimpse into what it dares to become.
From the moment your kart launches off the starting line, you’re not just racing, you’re soaring. The new iteration of Rainbow Road is unreal. Literally unreal. The Switch 2’s graphical power brings this celestial canvas to life in 4K brilliance, with dynamic lighting that reflects off your kart and refracts through the translucent track beneath your wheels. It’s not just beautiful, it’s well… it’s alive!
But Rainbow Road’s beauty isn’t just visual. It’s emotional. There’s a kind of quiet awe that settles in as you drift around a curve and see the track spiral into a double helix of light, or when you launch off a ramp and find yourself weightless, floating through a meteor shower. The music swells with orchestral wonder, blending nostalgic motifs from past games with new, sweeping arrangements that feel both epic and intimate. It’s as if the game is saying, ‘You’ve made it. This is your moment.’
The track design is a masterclass in balance – challenging without being punishing, thrilling without being chaotic – well unless it’s Knockout Tour mode and then everything is chaos! There are anti-gravity sections that twist and loop like roller coasters, zero-friction zones that let you glide, and shortcuts that reward daring over caution. Every lap feels like a dance between control and surrender, where the joy comes not just from winning, but from daring to take on the rhythm of the road.
What makes this version especially joyful is how it embraces the open world spirit of Mario Kart World. You don’t just race on Rainbow Road, you arrive there. After unlocking the Special Cup by completing the game’s other Grand Prix circuits, you’re treated to a cinematic transition that lifts you into orbit. It’s a journey, not just a destination. And once you’re there, the track feels like a culmination of everything you’ve learned – every drift, every boost, every banana dodge leading to this final, glorious ballet in the stars.
There’s also a sense of community woven into the experience. With up to 24-player races. and new multiplayer modes like Knockout Tour, Rainbow Road becomes a shared celebration. You’re not just racing against others, you’re marvelling together. There’s laughter when someone misjudges a jump and sails into the void, cheers when a friend nails a perfect drift, and that collective gasp when the track suddenly inverts and sends everyone spiralling through a wormhole of colour. It’s chaos, yes – but it’s brilliant chaos.
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
And perhaps that’s the heart of it. Rainbow Road on Switch 2 is beautiful not just because of how it looks, but because of how it feels. It captures the essence of play – the wonder, the challenge, the camaraderie. It reminds us that games can be art, that competition can be celebration, and that sometimes, the most meaningful journeys are the ones that take us farthest from the ground.
So, the next time you find yourself on Rainbow Road, don’t just race. Look around. Listen. Feel the hum of the stars beneath your wheels. And remember: this isn’t just a track. It’s a tribute – to imagination, to joy, and to the endless road ahead. Let’s-a go!
By reader BaldB3lper
The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.
You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at [email protected] or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.
MORE: Square Enix should hire the Expedition 33 team for Final Fantasy 17 – Reader’s Feature
MORE: I bought GTA 5 for the third time and it’s still one of the best games ever – Reader’s Feature
MORE: We have to accept the Nintendo Switch 2 is not for hardcore gamers – Reader’s Feature