Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart 8 is the peak the series had been building toward since the days of the Super Nintendo: a racing game that keeps the carefree item-based gameplay intact while wrapping it in technical polish unlike anything Nintendo's console lineup had seen before. The key new feature is anti-gravity. In certain sections the kart's wheels fold to the side, the vehicle sticks to a wall or ceiling, and the track curls into a loop you drive through upside down. Alongside that, gliding on a hang-glider and underwater driving both return, so a single lap can cycle through several different modes of movement without the player ever losing their bearings.

The controls remain accessible, but the depth sits just below the surface. Drifting has two stages of boost, small hops off ledges grant a brief burst of speed, and from dozens of combinations of body, wheels, and glider you assemble a kart suited to your own style, since every part changes acceleration, top speed, and grip. Colliding with an opponent during an anti-gravity section even grants a small bonus, so it's worth deliberately ramming into rivals in these stretches. The track roster blends brand-new circuits with reworked classics from earlier entries, and several of them rank among the best-designed tracks the series has ever had. Online racing ran reliably, and two major expansions added further cups, including guest characters and tracks from other Nintendo franchises.

Technically, this is the Wii U's showcase title. The game holds a stable frame rate even with two players on screen, and thanks to its work with lighting, reflections, and background detail it looks downright expensive. The soundtrack's orchestral and jazz arrangements, recorded by a live band, rank among the best Nintendo produced at the time. Reviews were exceptionally positive, and Mario Kart 8 became the console's best-selling game, though in absolute numbers it was still limited by the console's modest install base. The expanded Mario Kart 8 Deluxe later grew into one of the best-selling titles ever on Switch. Even today the original Wii U version is completely playable and just as fun in local multiplayer as it was on release day.