5 Easter Eggs in Mario Kart World You Probably Missed

Nintendo has always aimed to hide surprises in full view-and Mario Kart World for the Nintendo Switch 2 is no different. Most people are busy racing through the high-speed chaos of 24-player races or just hitting the open world, but the odd few have spotted some clever, funny Easter eggs that go to give this kart racer an extra dimension.

So here are five of the most little-known ones, ending with a huge twist that turns the world upside down-for-good.

1. Peach's Castle: A Portal into a Mirrored Universe

Perhaps the greatest surprise lies in Peach Stadium's echoes of Peach's Castle. If players manage to scale the structure in a spectacular display of acrobatic driving, entering into the stained-glass mural of Peach, they will be transported into an instantly mirrored world. But then comes the second twist: it is not just the clearing of an image that is at play here.

The disorientation factor is turned up a notch as the tracks begin to behave oddly; shortcuts have taken on a whole new set of rules, and you try to call upon muscle memory, the world suddenly begins to fade away in confusion.

Unlocking this requires dedication-first, complete 40 P Switch missions. Then, gather 10 Peach Medallions; after that, finish every Grand Prix and Knockout Tour. Lastly, defeat the Special Cup on 150CC, and only then does the fabled cutscene finally play.

2. The Playable Strangeness: Pianta Unexpectedness

While most of the racers are out there cavorting and having a grand time as Mario, Peach, and Bowser, few others have discovered a secret cast of characters that include the Moo Moo Meadows Cow and the beloved Pianta from Super Mario Sunshine. The challenge for such notorious racers is hidden behind some very obscure in-game trials.

3. Costume Throwbacks With a Purpose

Outfits like Peach’s Vacation Dress or Toad’s Explorer Gear aren't just cosmetic references to Mario Odyssey or Captain Toad.

Further some skins unlock hidden dialogue with NPCs or at times even permit players to enter some secret open-world locations. For example, Toad’s Explorer's costume will allow you to discover a hidden cave near Jungle that contains rare drops.

4. A Suspicious Floating Yoshi Egg in Yoshi Circuit

Look up in Free Roam mode while drifting through Yoshi Circuit and spot your rare chance of catching the floating Yoshi Egg while it glides high in the sky. Although it appears unreachable, with ample precision and perfect timing, executing a Mega Mushroom jump off the special ramp near the track's vertical loop will get a player right up there.

The reward? A secret race challenge with AI Baby Yoshis as rivals and exclusive kart skins for the winner.

5. Mirror Mode, or Developer Magic

While the online audience debates the mirrored open world as a mere Easter egg or a hard-earned unlockable, what is undeniable is that this is far from any Standard Mirror Mode. Once flipped, it's just not the same anymore: AI racers cruise along new routes, ICCs of coins and medallions are relocated, and even the physics can feel warped a little. It could well be a genius level design or developer tech sorcery, doubtful players are grasping, having to wonder aloud if Nintendo actually mirrored each asset manually or used some more intricate code-level manipulation.

Mario Kart World is a game that rewards exploration as much as it rewards racing skills. Whether you’re hunting down rare costumes or flipping the entire game world, one thing’s for sure, you’ve never played a Mario Kart quite like this.