Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Pass – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Pass

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game2022

94%

WISE Score

85%

IGDB

48 more tracks of pure, unadulterated chaos that’ll have your kids and your grandma screaming at the TV in the best way possible.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Pass

game

2022

94%

WISE Score

85%

IGDB

48 more tracks of pure, unadulterated chaos that’ll have your kids and your grandma screaming at the TV in the best way possible.

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Where to Play

Nintendo

Screenwise Verdict

Look, if you own a Nintendo Switch, this is basically mandatory equipment. It’s the ultimate 'I have 15 minutes before dinner' or 'the cousins are over and we need to keep them busy' solution.

While some of the earlier tracks in the pass looked a little 'mobile game-y' compared to the base game, the later waves are gorgeous and include some of the best designs in the series. It’s safe, it’s high-quality, and it’s one of the few games where a 6-year-old actually has a fighting chance against an adult. It’s not 'brain rot'—it’s a social engine that actually gets people talking and competing in the same room.

Age Fit

Best for ages 4 to 99. If they can hold a controller, the assist features make it playable. If they’re an adult, the 200cc mode provides plenty of challenge.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It’s the gold standard for family-friendly competition. The tone is bright, the characters are iconic, and it captures that rare 'everyone on the couch laughing' energy without any mean-spiritedness.

Imaginative

While it's a racing game at its core, the track designs—especially the ones based on real-world cities like Singapore and Berlin—are creative and visually dense. It doesn't offer 'building' tools, but it sparks plenty of 'what if' conversations about the Mario universe.

Safe

Nintendo keeps a tight lid on things. No open voice chat with strangers, no predatory loot boxes, and no 'pay-to-win' mechanics. You buy the pass, you get the tracks. Period.

Enriching

Beyond the obvious hand-eye coordination, it’s a masterclass in risk-reward decision making and emotional regulation. Learning to lose to a blue shell at the finish line is a genuine character-building moment for a seven-year-old.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Effectively doubles the size of the best racing game ever made for a very reasonable price.
Includes 'Smart Steering' which allows even the youngest toddlers to stay on the track and actually compete.
Brings back classic tracks from the 90s and 2000s, giving parents a massive hit of nostalgia while playing with their kids.
Local 4-player split-screen is the perfect antidote to 'iPad isolation' during playdates.

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What to Watch For

The 'Blue Shell' frustration is real. If your kid has a hard time with 'unfair' losses, expect some pouting.
Online play can get incredibly sweaty. If they venture into regional or global rooms, they will likely get crushed by people who haven't stopped playing since 2017.

Conversation Starters

"Which real-world city from the game should we visit for a real vacation?"
"If you could design a Mario Kart track based on our neighborhood, what would the obstacles be?"
"Is it better to be in first place early on, or stay in the middle to get better items?"
"How do you feel when someone hits you with a shell right at the end? How do we handle that 'Mario Kart Rage'?"

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