Why Mario Kart World Will Never Win Game of the Year—Even If It’s Perfect
Mario Kart World might be a huge hit for Nintendo and a flagship launch title for Switch 2, but when it comes to the Game of the Year awards, it’s simply not in the race—even if it was flawless. Why? Let’s take a closer look at how genre bias still shapes the biggest prizes in gaming and what it means for racing fans everywhere.
- Why Mario Kart World isn’t likely to win Game of the Year
- How genre bias affects The Game Awards nominations
- Examples from Mario Kart 8 and Forza Horizon 5
- The broader issue of racing (and other genres) missing out
Mario Kart World’s launch: Big event, small GOTY chances
With the recent release of Switch 2, all eyes turned to Mario Kart World. Nintendo’s top studio, Entertainment Planning & Development, delivered a sequel to one of the best-selling games in history. You’d think that alone would be enough to land a Game of the Year nod. But even with strong reviews—currently sitting at 87 on Metacritic and 86 on Opencritic—it just doesn’t stand a chance in the main category.
Genre bias: Racing games always left behind
The truth is, racing games rarely, if ever, get nominated for Game of the Year. The Game Awards jury has a clear preference: action-adventures and RPGs, especially those with deep stories, dominate the nominations. Sports, fighting, sim, strategy, and racing games are almost never in the conversation, no matter how good they are or how much critics love them.
Mario Kart 8 and Forza Horizon 5: The proof is in history
Take Mario Kart 8. When it launched on Wii U in 2014—the very first year for The Game Awards—it scored well with critics (88 on Metacritic), winning in the Best Family and Best Sports/Racing categories. But it didn’t get a Game of the Year nomination. Notably, even Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS, with a higher Metascore of 92, was overlooked.
Another case in point: Forza Horizon 5. In 2021, it was one of the best-reviewed games (over 90 on Metacritic) in a year with relatively weak competition. Logically, it should have been a front runner. Yet, it wasn’t even nominated. Instead, the GOTY went to It Takes Two, a co-op adventure title.
Mario Kart World reviews: Good, but not enough
Mario Kart World has received solid reviews, but not quite at the level of Forza Horizon 5. Critics appreciate the ambitious open world, but not everyone is sold on how it’s implemented. The lack of early press access may have contributed to the slower, somewhat mixed response.
What’s next for Nintendo’s GOTY hopes?
If Nintendo wants another big GOTY win like they had with Breath of the Wild, the hopes might now rest with upcoming titles like Donkey Kong Bananza or Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Family-friendly platformers got a boost last year with Astro Bot’s win, and Metroid Dread was a previous nominee, so there’s still a chance for Nintendo to break through—but not with Mario Kart World.
The big picture: Is it time to rethink genre bias?
Ultimately, even if Mario Kart World had scored a 96 and wowed everyone, it probably still wouldn’t make the GOTY shortlist. Some argue racing games are too niche, but with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe selling over 68 million copies, that argument falls flat. It seems the critical community just doesn’t see racing, fighting, or sim games as true artistic contenders.
The real question: Shouldn’t all genres have a fair shot at the top prize? Maybe it’s time to challenge that old assumption—because everyone plays Mario Kart, and greatness comes in many forms.
