The evolution of Mario Kart and its place in the world of esports

Super Mario celebrated its 40th birthday this year, after being created by Shigeru Miyamoto all those years ago in Japan. For decades, Mario has been the trailblazer in the world of video games, and it’s seen centuries of 2D, 3D, and now new evolutions of technology. One thing that’s stayed constant throughout all these years of change, is the quirky character in which Mario is, which is – an Italian-American plumber who lives with his brother, Luigi. Through Wii, Nintendo, GameCube and any other consoles we’ve had our hands-on, Mario has emblazoned the screens for people everywhere. Generations know and love him, and his kingdom has grown at a rapid speed.

Something that leveled Mario Bros up was the creation of Mario Kart in 1992, making the fan-favorite updated Mario game 31 years old this year. It speaks volumes when the essence of the game stays the same after all these years; as the same eight players, Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, and more are all the drivers that we get to control. Improved from the original Mario, where we travel across a map and try to free the princess, Mario Kart gets you to race against each other in a spin-off like no other. Creating a whole gaming genre on its own, this go-kart racing game has tried to be replicated by many, but it has never seen competition yet.

Mario Kart has gone on to release over eight editions of the game, with high hopes that Mario Kart 9 will be following soon, into the year 2024. The launch will catapult the go-kart game into the world of eSports even more so, and with The 2023 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe European Championship having already found its qualifiers for the world championships in Japan next year; the world of Esports betting is only getting bigger! Professionals will be flocking to take the top spot in this world championship tournament, so for us sports bet fans, there’s never been a better time for trying out Bitcoin esports betting instead of live cash bets. Bitcoin sports betting is the new evolution of any kind of esports gaming, as it’s all virtually done, and you’re guaranteed higher returns – which means bigger wins, and more excitement!

Whilst we highly anticipate this launch to be the best one yet, let’s take a look at some of the games that made Mario Kart what it is today, how it evolved into one of the greats in eSports and something that you can win money on when it comes to playing your favorite Mario game.

1. 1992, Super Mario Kart

First born in 1992, Super Mario Kart is the first of its kind to be released by Nintendo, in a two-player racing game. Featuring over 20 racecourses, the regular 8 characters we know and love today, and obstacle objects that are still used now. Banana peels we dropped for our competitors were born at this time, and they made history with the new development in what was to come next.

2) 1994, Mario Kart 64

The evolution of 3D came into Mario Kart in the year 94, and so did the ability to play against four players, instead of two. Characters changed, and a few upgrades in terms of visuals, but the concept of the game very much stayed the same.

3) 2003, Mario Kart: Double Dash / Mario Super Circuit

The biggest evolution of the game of Mario Kart crept up in the year of 2003. Double Dash meant that players could play on a handheld version of the game, along with a game cube and other controlled machines. Double Dash also allowed the player to drive the kart, whilst the backseat player could control the release of items. Dynamic duos created a game like no other, and special items for each character were then incorporated.

4) 2005, Mario Kart Arcade

By this year, Mario Kart was now available on all gaming devices, and it was time to incorporate human-sized gaming into the mix. Mario Kart Arcade GP launched across the world, where players were able to play their favorite characters whilst using realistic steering wheels and pedals. Taking the world of virtual reality to new levels, Mario kart entered the world of arcade gaming.

5) 2008 until 2019, Mario Kart 6, 7 and 8

These years Mario Kart welcomed the sixth installment in 2008, into the new era of Nintendo Wii. This allowed players to play over 30 characters that they’ve come to love and play on over 30 racetracks and battles. New devices were launched in these years, which meant VR headsets, steering wheels, and physical abilities to drive were incorporated into the game. The first world tournament entered the realm of eSports in 2015, and 8 years later, tournaments and championships happen all over the world. Esports is framed by Mario Kart, and the long-awaited Mario Kart 9 will only make this space grow. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still the franchise’s biggest success yet, and the one that’s played in professional tournaments, and seeing players win bin in reality.

6) 2020, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit

Though Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a best seller across the globe, the Mario Kart Home Circuit was something that became revolutionary to the game. A new decade called for something big, and the 15th edition of the game featured an actual toy racetrack and sounds in the home. You controlled remote control karts around your home and streamed video from built-in cameras. The cars were controlled by Nintendo Switch and made a big impact on the younger players in the Mario world.

Though this isn’t as strong in the world of eSports as opposed to games like Fortnite, Mario Kart and its dynasty have paved the way for online gaming as we know it. They are the original makers in sports racing with characters, and they will only evolve into bigger things as the world progresses.