Parents' Guide to

Mario Kart Wii

Game Nintendo Wii 2008
Mario Kart Wii Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Marc Saltzman By Marc Saltzman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 6+

Fun family-friendly game that's hard to put down.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 6+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

See all
age 7+

Based on 38 parent reviews

rsinay
rsinay Parent of 7 and 8-year-old
February 11, 2021
age 7+

Don't do it

I would recommend not to go with this game as like a previous reviewer wrote reading time, outside time playing with siblings will all go away. These games are designed to be addictive i would stay away altogether.
JanvierRain
JanvierRain Adult
March 7, 2013
age 10+

I Can't Stop Playing. It's Too Fun!

I can't seem to stop playing this game, there is such a high feeling of achievement when you pass that Finish Line in first, or reach 8,500 versus ranking for the first time, or beat that hacker when racing online with other players around the world. Developing a winning strategy when playing the game over time, is the best part. There are cups, characters, stars, records, etc. to unlock- you'll never be bored with this game. DOWNSIDE: This game causes people to become overly competitive, especially kids, the game is luck-based, which basically means anything can and will happen; you will get completely DESTROYED on the last lap .5 seconds before the Finish Line- when you were totally confident of a win. You can race live with other people around the World via WFC, (which I must admit, is the most addicting part of the game.) the downside of that is, some of the Mii names people use- are well, extremely inappropriate. Including names with profanity, suggestive nature, and just plain cocky. AND DON'T GET ME STARTED on the folks who hack the game and then play online using their hacks- making the race COMPLETELY un-enjoyable, and causing your versus ranking (basically a Mario Kart Wii social status...no, not really.) to plummet lower than Donkey Kong's speed stats. Although, I do believe that this game builds confidence- it certainly has for me. I didn't believe that I could accomplish very much- then I pretty much mastered the game, and now I'm pretty sure I can master ANYTHING (not just video games) that I put my mind to.
See all 38 parent reviews

What’s It About?

Nintendo Wii gamers with the need for speed won't be disappointed with the much-hyped MARIO KART WII, an incredibly fun and accessible cartoon racing game for kids and kids-at-heart. As with past games in the series, players first choose a familiar Nintendo character – such as Baby Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Toad, or even your own custom-made Mii character – before hopping into a kart car or motorcycle to enter a wild race. The goal of each match is to reach the finish line through speed and cunning use of weapons such as dropping bananas on the track to slip up opponents trailing behind or turning into a rocket for a temporary speed burst.

Mario Kart Wii ships with the small Wii Wheel, which houses the wireless and motion-sensing Wii Remote (sold seperately), so you simply hold this circular controller like a steering wheel to navigate corners while the button can be used to initiate your power-up (such as a weapon). Shake the wheel while you're in the air for a special mid-air move. Players can also choose from three other controller setups, but the wheel is the most intuitive.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (38 ):
Kids say (177 ):

Not only can gamers play against savvy computer-controlled opponents or with up to three others on the same television, but for the first time in the series, you can also log onto the Internet via the free Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and engage in multiplayer games and tournaments for up to 12 players. The end result is a highly enjoyable game for both seasoned fans of the franchise and first-time players. The cartoon arcade action and the fast-paced racing combine to make for a thrilling solo diversion or head-to-head competition that's as easy to pick up as it is hard to put down.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the two new key features –- wireless, motion-sensing control (including the free wheel) and online multiplayer support for 12 gamers -– helps separate this sequel from the past Mario Kart games. Is this enough to move this franchise forward or is it more of the same but with a couple of extra bells and whistles? Also, is it possible for a game to live up to its tremendous hype?

Game Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate