Editing 3DS Rainbow Road

|appears_in=''[[Mario Kart 7]]'' ([[List of games by date#2011|2011]])<br>''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'' ([[List of games by date#2014|2014]])<br>''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'' ([[List of games by date#2019|2019]])<br>''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' (''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass|Booster Course Pass]]'', Wave 3) (2022)

|online_play=No longer available ([[Nintendo 3DS|3DS]])<br>Available ([[Nintendo Switch|Switch]])

|sample='''''Mario Kart 7''''' / '''''Mario Kart Tour'''''<br>Normal<br>[[File:MK7 Rainbow Road Theme.oga]]<br>Moon<br>[[File:MK7 Rainbow Road Planet Theme.oga]]<br>'''''Mario Kart 7'''''<br>Frontrunning<br>[[File:3DS_RainbowRoad_Frontrunning.oga]]<br>Moon/frontrunning<br>[[File:3DS_RainbowRoadPlanet_Frontrunning.oga]]<br>'''''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'''''<br>Normal[[File:Switch 3DS RainbowRoad BCP.oga]]<br>Moon<br>[[File:Switch 3DS RainbowRoad Moon BCP.oga]]<br>Frontrunning<br>[[File:Switch 3DS RainbowRoad Frontrunning BCP.oga]]<br>Moon/frontrunning<br>[[File:Switch 3DS RainbowRoad Moon Frontrunning BCP.oga]]

|map=''Mario Kart 7''<br>[[File:MK7 RainbowRoad.png|140px]][[File:Rainbow Road.png|140px]]<br>''Mario Kart Tour''<br>[[File:MKT Map RainbowRoad3DS.png|140px]]<br>''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''<br>[[File:MK8DX 3DS Rainbow Road Map.png|140px]]

'''Rainbow Road''' is the fourth and last course of the [[Special Cup]] in ''[[Mario Kart 7]]''. The course has once again increased in length compared to previous renditions, but still shares a similar theme to its [[Wii Rainbow Road|predecessor]]. Instead of floating above the atmosphere, it now takes place around the [[Moon]], with several small asteroids in the background. As a result, unlike past Rainbow Roads, this incarnation features the player driving on off-road surfaces such as the Moon itself and rings of {{wp|Saturn}}. It is the first Rainbow Road course to contain one lap divided into three sections, being followed by {{classic-link|N64|Rainbow Road}} in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]''. Due to its length, it is one of the longest courses in the ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series, and as such is also one of the longest Rainbow Roads in the series; however, the iteration of Rainbow Road in ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' takes more time to complete, as it is three laps long instead of one.

This Rainbow Road returns as a [[classic course]] in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', debuting in the [[Holiday Tour (2019)|2019 Holiday Tour]]. It is one of only two courses in the game to have three laps or sections (the other being [[GCN Baby Park|GCN Baby Park T]]). It also returns in ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' as the fourth and final course of the [[Moon Cup]] in the ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass|Booster Course Pass]]''.

Along with [[Wuhu Loop]] and [[Maka Wuhu]], Rainbow Road only has one lap instead of three. It is divided into three sections to resemble laps. The truss at the start-and-finish line displays the ''Mario Kart'' logo with dynamic rainbow. The start of the second section has a truss displaying two dynamic rainbow stars. The truss at start of the third section displays three dynamic rainbow stars.

Section two starts off with another sharp turn followed by a [[Glide Ramp|glide ramp]] which leads racers onto the rings of a Saturn-like planet. Players have to dodge holes in the rings before they then come to a section where they can hit some [[Dash Panel|dash panels]] for speed boosts. Players then activate their glider again after hitting the next glide ramp at the end of the rings. Once landing, players take three turns, all loaded with dash panels. Next, there is another wavy road, but this one has holes in it. Once the drivers make it through the wavy road or fall through, they land on the moon, where they need to dodge rolling [[Chain Chomp]]s, and they can trick off of craters. Though there's no water in the moon portion, its low gravity works identically to the physics of driving underwater, so sometimes players can fly far with just one trick.

Section three starts with some conveyor belts that give little boosts, then leads into a [[Turning Floor]] with dash panels and glide ramps at the end. The track splits into two parts, then three, then two, before fusing back into one. This part is filled with ramps that can be used to go through rings for extra speed. If players hit a glide ramp, they have to dodge asteroids, but try to pass through rings at the same time. The track ends with a part that increases in altitude, then decreases again, leading to one small jump facing the [[Finish Line (object)|finish line]].

[[File:MKT 3DS Rainbow Road Scene.jpg|thumb|170px|left|The course in ''Mario Kart Tour'']]

This version of Rainbow Road makes its classic course debut in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', starting with the [[Holiday Tour (2019)|2019 Holiday Tour]]. Various changes have been made to the track - it is noticeably flatter overall, with several turns being far less banked. The start-and-finish truss is now formed by a rainbow arch with a gold half star surrounding it and displays the ''Mario Kart'' logo in cyan. The checkered line is now black and white, instead of magenta, yellow, cyan, and black. The other two trusses for the start of the second and third sections are also formed by a rainbow arch and display three golden stars. The rails on the race track are now formed by golden stars while the rails on the moon are now formed by cyan neon lights. The star-shaped rings are now silver and have disco balls at the corners pointing outwards, like the golden star-shaped ring on the rotating tunnel. The launch rings are now cyan, resembling the dash ring items. The curbs, located on the turn after the start of the second section and at the descending section before the jump to the stretch to the start-and-finish line, have been removed. The series of jumps following the first few turns have been aligned. The part between the mushroom trampoline and the start of the second section is now entirely wavy. At the turn after the start of the second section, the rails are placed on the left side of the track, instead of the right side. The series of turns following the second Glide Ramp have also been made tamer. The boost panel on the wavy section before the moon area has been replaced with a trick ramp. [[Toad (species)|Toads]] in space suits now appear as spectators next to the spaceships and the moon near the first turn is now a blue planet that resembles {{wp|Uranus}}, while {{wp|Jupiter}} replaces the second moon. After the start of the third section, the golden arches are replaced with star-shaped rings. When driving on the boost conveyors, the acceleration sound effect has been removed. The rail at the descending section before the jump to the stretch to the start-and-finish line has been removed. Plus, the jump ramp at the jump has been removed. [[Earth]] is also now visible in the background of the track, and the galaxy has been replaced by the {{wp|Andromeda Galaxy}}. The sun has also been moved to a spot that is visible from the Moon section.  

The course also appears as '''Rainbow Road R''' (reversed), '''Rainbow Road T''' (with ramps), and '''Rainbow Road R/T''' (reversed with ramps). The former two debuted alongside the original in the 2019 Holiday Tour, while the latter debuted in the [[Baby Rosalina Tour]]. In all three variants, the rolling [[Chain Chomp]]s are gone. In the R and R/T variants, the gaps between paths where the path splits are now filled in by [[Kanaami Road]]. In the R variant, the moon section is cut short as racers use a cannon to glide up to the road, and racers can glide over the three platforms towards the end of the track. In the T and R/T variants, the starting line is now located in the split path section, making them two of five courses in ''Mario Kart Tour'' to not start in the same location as the original, the others being [[3DS Rock Rock Mountain|3DS Rock Rock Mountain T]], [[Singapore Speedway|Singapore Speedway R/T]] and [[Athens Dash|Athens Dash R/T]]. Additionally, the Turning Floor and both wavy parts of the road are completely gone. In the T variant, there are several more [[Mushroom Trampoline|mushroom trampolines]], and all three former gliding sections are also gone, but racers instead glide over the moon. In the R/T variant, racers glide over where the Turning Floor was.

===Top-tier and middle-tier items===

 

===Bonus challenges===

<div class="contentbox mw-collapsible mw-collapsed>

{{MKT bonus challenge table|Ring Race|3DS Rainbow Road}}

{{MKT bonus challenge table|Do Jump Boosts|3DS Rainbow Road}}

{{MKT bonus challenge table|Big Reverse Race|3DS Rainbow Road}}

{{MKT bonus challenge table|Goomba Takedown|3DS Rainbow Road}}

{{MKT bonus challenge table|Glider Challenge|3DS Rainbow Road}}

{{MKT bonus challenge table|Steer Clear of Obstacles|3DS Rainbow Road}}

{{MKT bonus challenge table|Vs. Mega|3DS Rainbow Road|char=Metal Mario|lc=y}}

{{MKT bonus challenge table|Smash Small Dry Bones|3DS Rainbow Road}}

{{MKT bonus challenge table|Time Trial|3DS Rainbow Road|3DS Rainbow Road R}}

{{MKT bonus challenge table|Combo Attack|3DS Rainbow Road T}}

{{MKT bonus challenge table|Snap a Photo|3DS Rainbow Road T}}

This version of Rainbow Road makes its home console debut as the fourth and last course of the [[Moon Cup]] in the third wave of the ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass|Booster Course Pass]]'' DLC for ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''. It is based on its appearance and layout in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', albeit with a graphical overhaul, giving the course a neon aesthetic. The rainbow arches on the start-and-finish truss and the truss at the start of the second section are now a complete circle. The start-and-finish checkered line is now blue and cyan. The [[Dash Panel]]s on the Saturn-like planet’s rings now have boost [[Ring (Mario Kart series)|rings]] on top of them. The boost rings and the star-shaped rails are now in the form of the ones in {{classic-link|N64|Rainbow Road}}. The Uranus-like planet is now replaced by {{wp|Neptune}}. The moon section is now in [[anti-gravity]], just like the battle course [[Lunar Colony]]. Alongside {{classic-link|Wii|Koopa Cape}}, it is one of two courses in ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'' to not entirely be set in anti-gravity, but not feature an [[Antigravity Panel]] or [[half-pipe]] to mark the beginning of an anti-gravity section; this is due to anti-gravity being activated as players fall toward the moon. The rainbow tunnel spins more slowly than in past iterations of the course and the star-shaped ring on it is now yellow. The minimap now lacks the holes in the wavy road prior to the moon section. Like {{classic-link|SNES|Rainbow Road}}, when a player approaches the curve on the planet’s rings and the Moon, two and ten green arrow holograms will appear behind the turn and fence respectively, and indicate the direction in which the player must drive. Once the player has made the turn, the arrows will disappear.

{{classic|3DS|Rainbow Road}} is one of two courses to originate from ''Mario Kart 7'' to appear in the third wave of the DLC, alongside {{classic-link|3DS|Rock Rock Mountain}}. Excluding ''[[Mario Kart 8]]''{{'}}s [[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart 8)|Rainbow Road]] theme, which is used in all trailers for the Booster Course Pass, {{classic|3DS|Rainbow Road}} was one of two courses whose music was used for the second trailer for Wave 3, alongside {{classic-link|Wii|Maple Treeway}}.

This Rainbow Road appears in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'' as [[Rainbow Road (stage)|a stage]]. The match takes place on flat platform and is a cruise-type stage similar to [[Mario Circuit (Super Smash Bros. for Wii U)|the stage]] based on [[Mario Circuit (Mario Kart 8)|Mario Circuit]] in the [[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U|Wii U version]]. [[Shy Guy]]s also appear as stage hazards similar to the the Shy Guys from [[Figure-8 Circuit (stage)|Figure-8 Circuit]]. It also has a [[List of trophies in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS|trophy]] in this game.

Like ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''{{'}}s [[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)|Rainbow Road]], the music for this course contains an arrangement of a portion of [[N64 Rainbow Road (theme)|the music]] for ''[[Mario Kart 64]]''{{'}}s [[N64 Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]].<ref>Lukas U (November 29, 2011). [https://youtu.be/R9BrzEdtceU Mario Kart 7 - Senda Arcoiris]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved October 8, 2013.</ref> [[Kenta Nagata]] was a composer for all three games.

 

There are two different variations of the music for {{classic|3DS|Rainbow Road}}. The normal version plays for the majority of the course, while an alternate version plays if the highest placed human player is in the moon portion of the second section. When the third section is reached, as well as speeding the music up like with most courses, it is adjusted so that the end of the music (which is the part based on {{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}'s music) plays first, followed by the usual start of the music. In ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'', if the player returns to the moon section after crossing the entrance to the third section, the music will change to the final lap version of the moon variation of the theme, but only if the final lap theme had already begun in the third section. It is also possible to hear the final lap version of the moon variant in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'' in the T variant (although this is absent in [[Combo Attack]]), since the moon is in the final segment in this version of the track. In ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'', however, there is no moon version of the final lap music.

This course's music also appears in the ''[[Super Smash Bros. (series)|Super Smash Bros.]]'' series as selectable music tracks, both in its original arrangement and as a part of "Rainbow Road Medley". Both are playable on the [[Rainbow Road (stage)|Rainbow Road]] stage in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'', the [[Figure-8 Circuit (stage)|Mario Circuit]] stage in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', and any ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' stage as well as Battlefield, Big Battlefield, Small Battlefield, and Final Destination in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' (as of the version 8.1.0 update for the latter four).

*'''Nintendo Switch News app (US)''':

**''This course first appeared in the Mario Kart™ 7 game on the Nintendo 3DS™ system.''

*'''Nintendo Switch News app (UK)''': '''''Race by starlight in Rainbow Road!'''<br>We'd like to present to you a course released as part of the third wave, which is available now: Rainbow Road.<br>This version of Rainbow Road recreates the course's appearance in the Nintendo 3DS game Mario Kart 7. The path you'll take winds its way through the solar system and even includes a brief sprint across the surface of the Moon. It's pretty easy to fall off the track, so mastering the art of drifting may just be the key to finishing first!''

Rainbow Stage SSB43DS Shy Guy.png|A [[Shy Guy]] drives past [[Fox]] and [[Wii Fit Trainer]].

MKT Icon RainbowRoad3DS RosalinaAurora.png|The course icon

MKT Icon RainbowRoadR3DS ToadAstronaut.png|The course icon of the R variant

MKT Icon RainbowRoadT3DS MarioSatellaview.png|The course icon of the T variant

MKT Icon RainbowRoadRT3DS GoldKoopaFreerunning.png|The course icon of the R/T variant

MKT Baby Daisy Yellow Taxi.jpg|[[Baby Daisy]] gliding in the [[Yellow Taxi]] with the [[Fare Flier]] on the R variant

MKT Rainbow Starchute.jpg|[[Lemmy]] gliding in the [[Soda Jet]] with the [[Rainbow Starchute]]

MKT Gold Tanooki Parafoil.jpg|[[Boomerang Bro]] gliding in the [[Red B Dasher]] with the [[Gold Tanooki Parafoil]] on the R variant

MKT Rosalinas Tricking.jpg|[[Fire Mario|Fire Rosalina]], [[Rosalina|Rosalina (Halloween)]], Rosalina (Aurora), and Mario (Satellaview) tricking on the T variant

MK8D 3DS Rainbow Road Course Icon.png|The course icon

|ChiS=彩虹之路

|ChiSR=Cǎihóng zhī Lù

|ChiS2=彩虹桥

|ChiS2N=''Mario Kart 7''

|ChiS2R=Cǎihóng Qiáo

|ChiS2M=Rainbow Bridge

|FreA=Route arc-en-ciel

|FreAM=Rainbow Road

|FreE=Route Arc-en-ciel

|FreEM=Rainbow Road

|SpaM=Rainbow Path