Obsessed, addicted or just a geek

In a franchise built on speed, chaos, and choice, Nintendo has just slammed the brakes on one of Mario Kart World’s most beloved workarounds. The latest update has quietly, but significantly, altered how online matchmaking works, and fans are calling foul.

The Trick That Made Online Play Bearable

Until recently, Mario Kart World players had discovered a clever way to bypass the game’s divisive intermission tracks, long, linear segments that connect one course to another. These intermissions often eat into lap counts and feel more like filler than fun.

The workaround? Pick “Random.” This option reliably dropped players into classic three-lap races, skipping the intermission slog entirely. It became the go-to choice in online lobbies, with entire groups defaulting to Random just to get a proper race.

The Update That Changed Everything

Nintendo’s latest patch (Ver. 1.1.2) “adjusted courses selected in ‘Random’”, a vague phrase that, in practice, means Random now includes intermission tracks. The result? Players who once had a reliable escape now find themselves funneled back into the very content they were trying to avoid.

This isn’t just a technical tweak, it’s a philosophical one. Nintendo is effectively saying: You will play the game our way.

Community Reaction: Furious, Frustrated, Fed Up

The backlash has been swift and vocal:

• “They removed the one saving grace of online play,” one player lamented
• Others say the change has “killed” the online mode entirely
• YouTuber PapaGenos summed it up: “Give players options. Don’t force this stuff.”

Even casual players are noticing the shift, with many reporting that the joy of quick, satisfying races has been replaced by tedious transitions and unpredictable pacing.

Review Bombing Hits Metacritic

The frustration has spilled over to Metacritic, where Mario Kart World is now being review bombed. The user score has dropped from around 8.3 to 7.5 in just a few days, with a surge of negative reviews citing the forced intermission tracks as the tipping point.

Some users have gone as far as rating the game 0/10, not because the core gameplay is broken, but to protest Nintendo’s refusal to listen.

User Review Quotes

“This devastating update has cost Mario Kart any and all fun.”
— Hyprawave, Metacritic

“I feel scammed. I bought this game for racing, not for driving through empty roads.”
— Phoenix89CT, Metacritic

“Nintendo is ruining the online experience. Bring back the 3-lap races.”
— User review, TheGamer

Nintendo’s History of Controlling Competitive Play

If the Mario Kart World update feels familiar, that’s because it is. Nintendo has a long-standing pattern of reining in player-discovered mechanics or community-driven preferences, even when those elements become central to competitive play.

A prime example? Wavedashing in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Wavedashing was a movement technique discovered by players shortly after Melee’s release. By air dodging diagonally into the ground, characters could slide while retaining full control, allowing for advanced spacing, combos, and mind games. It became a cornerstone of high-level play.

But Nintendo wasn’t thrilled. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, wavedashing was deliberately removed to make the game more accessible to casual players. This decision sparked years of tension between Nintendo and the competitive Smash community, who saw it as a dismissal of their skill and dedication.

Just like wavedashing, the “Random” course selection trick in Mario Kart World was a player-discovered workaround that enhanced competitive enjoyment. And just like before, Nintendo has stepped in, not to refine it, but to shut it down.

Why This Matters

This isn’t just about track selection, it’s about player agency. Nintendo has a long history of controlling how its games are played, often at the expense of community-driven innovation. From Smash Bros. tournament restrictions to mod takedowns, the pattern is familiar.

In Mario Kart World, the intermission tracks may be a core design feature, but forcing them on players who clearly prefer traditional races feels tone-deaf at best, and antagonistic at worst.

What Could Fix It?

• Separate matchmaking pools: One for intermission-style races, one for classic three-lap formats
• A toggle in settings: Let players opt out of intermissions entirely
• Transparency: Explain the design intent behind the change, and listen to feedback

Final Thoughts

Nintendo’s decision to override player preference in Mario Kart World may seem minor on paper, but it strikes at the heart of what makes online gaming thrive: choice, community, and respect for how people want to play. By removing a workaround that players organically embraced, Nintendo has turned a clever bit of community adaptation into a flashpoint of frustration.

If the company wants to maintain goodwill, especially as it eyes the future of the Mario Kart franchise, it needs to remember that control doesn’t always equal quality. Sometimes, the best course is the one players choose for themselves.

Until next time, stay sharp and keep gaming. Panda out.

References

• Nintendo Life – Of Course Mario Kart World Is Being Review Bombed
• TheGamer – Mario Kart World Is Now Being Review Bombed After Recent Update
• Metro – Mario Kart World Update Nerfs Three-Lap Race Trick
• Shacknews – What Are Intermission Tracks in Mario Kart World?
• GamesRadar – Nintendo Forces Intermission Tracks in Mario Kart World Update
• Nintendo Life – Fans Reckon Nintendo Has “Killed” Mario Kart World With Its Latest Update
• Inverse – The Most Controversial Smash Bros. Mechanic Ever Just Turned 20
• SmashWiki – Wavedash – The Super Smash Bros. Wiki
• Smashboards – Sakurai Confirms Wavedashing Was Intentional