It’s been a while since I enjoyed a game like this on my phone, even as an Apple Arcade subscriber... I went ahead and ponied up for the Gold Pass about 1 month after starting Mario Kart Tour, and I’ve found that the value for Gold (Almost) made sense, you get access to a couple high level players, karts etc, and the extra loot from every gift box, as well as access to the 200cc courses, but that’s where the advantage stops. If you ever want to ace these courses (5 Star) from this point forward, it’s not so much a matter of your “skill” in play, as much as it is for the advantage gained by high level players, karts and kites that you would only access from the Pipe. Which means you need Rubies and Rubies are expensive and hard to earn without those higher level players... also the frequency of high level “wins” for plays is ridiculous IMO, i have spent over 1000 rubies on the pipes so far and it just feels like you come up short. This is why I chose to Cancel my Gold Pass, reset my profile and delete/uninstall Mario Kart Tour. Although I enjoyed the brief attempt at multi-player, I think I’ll stick to playing MK on my switch for the competitive feel. Maybe I’ll circle back around, but for now, the juice is not worth the squeeze.

My feelings towards this game are sort of a love and hate type of thing. In the beginning I loved it more for nostalgic reason than anything else, but that only lasted but so long. I eventually developed a hate for game bc I realized in order to stay competitive I’d have to spend real money something I was not willing to do, so I stopped playing all together. Fast forward some months later I began playing again, and I dreadfully decided to get the gold pass, and even made a few random purchases on ruby’s, and a couple other small bundles which I admit it got me excited to keep playing again, but eventually it felt stagnant once again only this time it cost me money. I get it they have to make money that’s not really my problem with the game. My problems are one being the whole raffle based spending of your rubies (which you more than likely paid for) the odds you get anything useful are super slim. Two I don’t like how you can’t level up off racing alone, the whole needing point tickets (which are super hard to get) to level up karts,glider’s, and characters that you’ve already earned (or paid for) is just a bit ridiculous. Last the cups are all the same maps just randomized with one new themed course ran again and again paired with the same characters in new outfits. I wish they offered different elements and actual modes of gameplay instead.

I was pretty excited for this game to come out. Mario Kart is one of my favorite Nintendo series. Unfortunately, it’s hard to enjoy. I really only have fun with it one or two days every two weeks, since other than that cups only release once per day. I’m really not a fan of ranked cups, it’s a bit unfair when you’re against people who do the in-app purchases (which are WAY too overpriced). It’s always so hard and repetitive since you’re only playing three tracks over and over. And if you don’t get top row for everything, you’re kind of screwed. It’s especially annoying when you get to higher tiers and it’s way harder to progress, not to mention you go down if you get bottom 10 (which is way too many people, bottom 5 would make more sense). Unfortunately, it’s really the only practical way to get rubies. Tour gifts are way too slow and buying them is way too expensive. (Why the heck does the gold pass cost more than NSO?) To say something positive, it is pretty fun playing new cups and I like how we continuously get new tours. I also think bonus challenges are fun (except maybe smash small Dry bones and mega battles). I’ve been wanting them back in Mario Kart, and it’s cool to see them here. All in all, I feel like this app mostly just wastes my time and I kind of wish I’d never downloaded it. It also really makes me want Mario Kart 9. And it better be on the switch.