Mario Kart World Accessibility Wish List
Mario Kart is going off-road! But how can Nintendo make this Mario Kart more accessible than the last? Find out in this accessibility wish list!
The Mario Kart series holds a special place in the hearts of people across the world as a game that players of all ages can enjoy together thanks to its simple control scheme and basic mechanics. Announcements for its newest iteration, Mario Kart World, show the series taking a "off-road" direction with an open world layout. Below are some of my hopes for accessibility features that can help gamers with disabilities to either continue to enjoy the series or be able to enjoy it for the first time:
Keeping current accessibility features. Its last iteration, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, had many accessibility features baked into the game. These include D-pad support for movement, menus in high contrast colors and easily legible and large font, optional motion controls, haptic feedback, text-based communication with online players, visual signifiers when an item is in use or close by, and the option for auto acceleration and to prevent falling off of ledges. It is because of the d-pad support, auto acceleration, and the option to prevent falling off of ledges that I was able to enjoy this game both before and after becoming disabled, which means the world to me as this is a game that I enjoy playing with my friends often. I hope I and other gamers with disabilities can continue to use these features in the newest generation of Mario Kart games.
Optional auto camera similar to Pokémon Scarlet. Fast paced open world games are very difficult for me to play due to often requiring the use of two joysticks quickly. Not only are there no high-quality joysticks on the market that meet my accessibility needs for fast-paced gameplay, but the option to use two joysticks is not available to all players. The auto camera in Pokémon Scarlet allowed me to enjoy the game with minimal use of the joystick. With Mario Kart being an even faster game than Pokémon, this feature will be the deciding factor of whether I and other gamers can play this game. I hope Nintendo will implement this feature so I and other gamers with disabilities do not have to say goodbye to this beloved franchise.
Better blind accessibility. Xbox’s Forza Motorsport has set the standard in terms of blind accessibility in racing games. I hope that Nintendo can use similar methods, such as optional audio cues to help guide the player to know when another player is close by, to stay on the track or go off of it, and guide them to their destination. This, with the addition to narrated menus, audio descriptions of cutscenes, and additional audio descriptions for obtaining specific items can help people with visual disabilities play this game with their friends and family as well.
Even better accessibility for those with hearing disabilities. From my understanding, Mario Kart is already very accessible to players with hearing impairments due to the many visuals signifying different events in the game, such as arrows pointing in the event of a blue shell, offering text communication with other players online, and glowing rainbow when you have a super star. However, I do not have a hearing disability, and if there are shortcomings in this regard I did not consider, please correct me. A shortcoming that I know for sure is that there is no sign language interpretation for the text in the game. This is not an impossible feat, as Forza Motorsport offers translations for both American Sign Language and British Sign Language. I hope Nintendo will implement this feature with even more sign languages offered, as well as close captioning for other in-game sounds in this new game.
With Nintendo‘s $80 price point for this game, I hope they can use this potentially higher profit margin to better serve disabled players than they have in the past. Honestly, while any AAA game company making an inaccessible game is inexcusable, it would be even more egregious if Nintendo fails to do this for Mario Kart World at a $80 price point given that Forza Motorsport was able to do this at a $70 price point. While I won’t be getting this game at launch given the higher price point and the fact that I am awaiting confirmation that the Switch 2 will support third-party Switch 1 controllers at launch (as I require this compatibility to play at all due to my disability). I look forward to the day where I can give it a test drive for you to see if Nintendo has truly made Mario Kart for everyone, not just able-bodied players. 🙂
Disclaimers:
Everything in this article are my personal experiences and opinions, therefore are not to be taken as facts
I am not sponsored by any companies, manufacturers, creators, or organizations mentioned
Everyone’s situation is different. Accessibility isn't “one size fits all”.
This is not medical advice.
Please talk to a doctor first before making decisions regarding your health and/or engaging in a new activity that may affect your health
If you feel pain or sickness from an activity, please stop and speak with a doctor
If you’re experiencing a medical emergency, please call your local emergency services or, if you are in the USA, 911.
If you’re experiencing a psychiatric emergency, please call your local emergency services or, if you are in the USA, 911 or 988.
For information regarding medical, mental health, and accessibility services in the USA, please contact your insurance company, 211, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA; 1-800-662-4357), or National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI: 1-800-950-6264).