Mario Kart World Players Are Racing for Last Place—Here’s Why It’s the New Winning Strategy

Mario Kart World is shaking up the racing scene, but not in the way you might expect. Instead of everyone fighting tooth and nail for the top spot, a growing number of players are now embracing a surprising tactic: sandbagging. That means intentionally lagging behind to grab the best items and then making a wild dash for the finish line. With the new 24-player lobbies, this strategy is turning races into absolute chaos!

• Why players are fighting for last place in Mario Kart World
• How sandbagging works and why it’s so effective
• Reactions from the community and YouTubers
• What Nintendo has done about sandbagging in the past
• What this could mean for future updates and Mario Kart on Switch 2

What’s the deal with sandbagging in Mario Kart World?

If you’ve ever played Mario Kart, you know being in first place can be risky. The game loves to reward players at the back with powerful items, while leaders get stuck with bananas and green shells. In Mario Kart World, this classic risk-reward system is being pushed to the limit. With 24 racers on the track, many fans are realizing that hanging back at the start gives you a shot at grabbing a star, lightning, or other game-changing power-ups. Then, it’s all about timing—wait for the perfect moment, use your item, and rocket up the ranks!

Community reactions: Is this fun or just broken?

The sandbagging strategy is dividing the community. Some players, like YouTuber Shortcat, are openly encouraging others to bag their races for better results. In his viral video (over 360,000 views!), he spends 46 minutes showing how it’s done.

Others are less enthusiastic. “He played that race SO SLOW and won?!?!” one viewer commented. “It felt like watching a grandpa play. He didn’t even do anything crazy he just took the two shortcuts. That’s ridiculous, thanks Nintendo.” Another popular creator, JupiterClimb, has shared his own frustrations, saying: “Just absolutely flagrant. Just fully parked, not even trying to play the game.”

Look, I love Mario Kart World, but bagging needs to be nerfed BIG TIME

What is the point playing online when you do better by playing badly??? Here I am throwing 2/3 laps to get an easy win, with others going for the same strat

Only gonna become more common until a patch pic.twitter.com/56vANBBHRG

— JupiterClimb (@JupiterClimb) June 16, 2025

Why is this happening now?

The reason sandbagging is exploding in popularity is simple: Mario Kart World’s huge lobbies make it easier than ever to fall behind and then make a comeback. One player on X (Twitter) even showed themselves going from first to last and back to first in just 20 seconds, calling the whole thing “broken.”
Check out the clip here.

Will Nintendo step in?

It’s not the first time sandbagging has caused controversy. Back in 2023, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe got an update that tried to nerf the tactic by stopping players from grabbing strong items if they stopped or reversed, or if they hit the same item box multiple times. But this patch arrived years after launch. Now, with the live-service approach for Switch 2 on the horizon, many are wondering if Nintendo will take a more active role in balancing the game.

What’s next for Mario Kart World?

For now, sandbagging is here to stay, and players are busy inventing new ways to make the most of it. Some are getting creative with wall-riding and shortcut techniques—even using the feather item for wild jumps (see more here). Others are just having fun with the chaos, waiting for the perfect item before making their move. Still, many hope for updates that will level the playing field and reward skill as much as luck. If you want to see how wild it can get, check out this YouTube Short on how quick recovery times have changed the game.

Final thoughts

Whether you love it or hate it, sandbagging is now a big part of Mario Kart World. Nintendo has a chance to shape the future of the series with upcoming updates and the Switch 2 era. For now, grab your controller, try not to get hit by lightning, and remember: in Mario Kart World, sometimes last place is just the beginning.