The Starting Grid

These racers are available when you first fire up your copy of Mario Kart 8. They are spread out across the five weight classes, giving players an excellent spread of potential drivers to choose from.

Mario

Weight Class: Medium

Mario sets the example for all Medium-class racers. While the stats say he doesn’t excel in any given category, it also means his weaknesses are not particularly harmful. Like all Medium-class racers, you can make up for his deficiencies quite easily with the right parts!

Luigi

Weight Class: Medium

Luigi is just like his brother, a good middle-of-the-road racer that any player can learn to use effectively. His reputed cowardice doesn’t seem to faze him on the track!

Peach

Weight Class: Light

Taking time out of her busy schedule of stomping Koopas and saving the Sprixie Kingdom, Peach roars back to the racetrack! She’s a bit faster than many other lightweight racers, but it takes her a bit longer to get up to speed.

Daisy

Weight Class: Light

“HI, I’M DAISY!” The exuberant princess from another land is back on the track! She’s a match for Peach and Yoshi in terms of stats, but there’s probably no other racer on the track who’s as happy to be on the starting grid as she is.

Yoshi

Weight Class: Light

Yoshi represents his island well in Mario Kart 8, as a member of the heavier group of lightweights. Fortunately for everyone else on the track, Yoshi doesn’t bring out his egg arsenal to the races!

Toad

Weight Class: Light

Being a loyal retainer to Princess Peach isn’t enough to stop Toad from being extremely competitive on the track. Small even for a lightweight, Toad can squeeze his way into and out of situations that would trip up larger racers!

Koopa

Weight Class: Light

The faithful and ever stompable frontline troopa represents his shelled brothers on the track—and if the Koopa’s lucky, maybe Bowser won’t be upset about it!

Shy Guy

Weight Class: Light

Years have gone by, and still nobody knows what the Shy Guy looks like behind the mask. This tame, though somewhat shy, racing driver isn’t as willing to hide his skills on the track!

Baby Mario

Weight Class: Featherweight

Ask not why Baby Mario is on the track at the same time as Mario—ask yourself if you can beat his super-high acceleration out of every turn. Featherweights like Baby Mario have a serious disadvantage getting caught in the middle of a pack, as they can be easy to push around.

Baby Luigi

Weight Class: Featherweight

Baby Luigi shows no fear on the track, which makes one wonder why he becomes so easily frightened later in life...

Baby Peach

Weight Class: Featherweight

The regal royal infant, Baby Peach showed interest in kart racing well before Bowser-led kidnappings became a part of her daily routine.

Baby Daisy

Weight Class: Featherweight

The happiest baby on the course, Baby Daisy is still a tough customer despite her size disadvantages. She is also a fairly loud customer. Some things you just see coming in someone’s early years.

Bowser

Weight Class: Cruiser

Could the king of all Koopas be anything less than the heaviest racer on the course? Of course not. Cruisers like Bowser easily punch aside any lighter racers without breaking a sweat, though they also have to contend with having a tough time in the corners, along with some abysmal acceleration.

Donkey Kong

Weight Class: Heavy

The first member of the DK crew returns to the track after dealing with a pesky invasion of his home island by some cold-hearted northerners. Among the “light” Heavy racers, Donkey Kong isn’t the absolute fastest, but he’s not as slow to get up to speed, and is a little better in the corners.

Wario

Weight Class: Cruiser

Wario’s desire for more gold and more treasure has brought him back to the track. One of the heaviest and fastest racers in the whole cast, expect to see many records set by players choosing Wario!

Waluigi

Weight Class: Heavy

It’s always Waluigi time.