The newest Mario Kart game, Mario Kart World, is finally here for Nintendo Switch 2.

Our review said that this is the Switch 2’s “day-one killer app backed by an incredible soundtrack, well-rounded roster of characters, and addictive gameplay.”

Let’s talk more about that roster, which is the most impressive ever seen in a Mario Kart game. A total of 50 playable characters are available, featuring 24 main characters from the Super Mario franchise, as well as 26 NPC characters that will put a smile on your face. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate loves to say that “everybody’s here,” but Mario Kart World is giving that a run for its money.

Sadly, not every character is available when you start the game; you’ll have to unlock them as you progress through the title. Our guide on unlocking every character for Mario Kart World will cover who’s available at the start, who you need to unlock, and how to get the job done.

In total, there are 17 main characters and 15 NPC characters available once you boot up the game.

These are available right out of the gate without any requirement to unlock them.

Available Main Characters

Available NPC Characters

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Unlocking Main Characters

In total, seven main characters can be unlocked in Mario Kart World.

Thankfully, it’s a pretty easy process: all you need to do is play the game. Seriously! You’ll unlock a character for every Grand Prix you complete.

Sadly, you won’t unlock characters by playing in the game’s free roam mode. You have to participate in traditional races to unlock every available character.

Unlocking NPC Characters

The playable NPC characters are one of the biggest surprises of Mario Kart World. Everyone knows and loves racing as the Cow already, but plenty of other lovable characters, such as Coin Coffer, Conkdor, and Peepa, are waiting to be unlocked.

Unlocking the 12 NPC characters in Mario Kart World is a little trickier than unlocking the main characters and involves a little bit of chance.

As you’re participating in races, one of the items you’ll encounter is the Kamek item. This will summon Kamek, and he will transform random racers into a specific character based on the course you’re playing on. He’ll also summon obstacles onto the course, so keep an eye out for those.

Let’s review every unlockable NPC character and the course you’ll need to be on when Kamek transforms you.

Some NPC characters can be unlocked on several tracks, as reported by others. This is what I’ve been able to confirm.

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