Editing Bowser's Castle (Mario Kart 8)

{{italic title|id=yes}}

{{race course infobox

|based_on= [[World 8]]

|image=[[File:MK8-Course-Bowser'sCastle.png|300px]]

|appears_in=''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' ([[List of games by date#2014|2014]])<br>''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' ([[List of games by date#2017|2017]])

|ghost={{ghost|8|Nin★Polly|2:23.872|[[File:MK8 Bowser Icon.png|32px|link=Bowser]][[File:BadwagonBodyMK8.png|32px|link=Badwagon]][[File:StandardTiresMK8.png|32px|link=Standard (tire)|Standard]][[File:MK8ThumbBowserSG.png|32px|link=Super Glider]]}}{{ghost|8DX <small>150cc</small>|Nin★Polly|2:21.980|[[File:MK8 Bowser Icon.png|32px|link=Bowser]][[File:BadwagonBodyMK8.png|32px|link=Badwagon]][[File:StandardTiresMK8.png|32px|link=Standard (tire)|Standard]][[File:MK8ThumbBowserSG.png|32px|link=Super Glider]]}}{{ghost|8DX <small>200cc</small>|Nin★Mark|1:40.953|[[File:MK8 Dry Bowser Icon.png|32px|link=Dry Bowser]][[File:FlameRiderBodyMK8.png|32px|link=Flame Rider]][[File:SlimTiresMK8.png|32px|link=Slim (tire)|Slim]][[File:BowserKiteMK8.png|32px|link=Bowser Kite]]}}

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

|sample=Atsuko Asahi<br>[[File:MK8-Music-BowsersCastle.oga]]<br>Frontrunning<br>[[File:WiiU BowsersCastle Frontrunning.oga]]

'''Bowser's Castle''' is the third course of the [[Special Cup]] in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''. This incarnation is heavily based off the [[Bowser's Castle]] levels from recent ''[[Super Mario (series)|Super Mario]]'' platformers, particularly those seen in ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'', ''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]'', and ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]''. It appears to be themed after a steel foundry, particularly the inside of the castle and the lava that merely resembles a hot molten iron. It also contains more obstacles, such as [[Bowser Statue]]s that shoot lasers (similar to ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''), swinging spiked balls, large rolling boulders, and [[Lava Geyser]]s. One of the most notable features is the [[Bowser Monument|giant, fiery moving statue]] in a shape of Bowser himself that constantly punches the forked road to create ripples on the track.

Several minions of [[Bowser]], such as [[Hammer Bro]]s., [[Fire Bro]]s., [[Boomerang Bro]]s. and [[Dry Bones]], are seen patrolling inside the castle, sometimes cheering for the drivers, while a number of Bowser's [[Airship]]s, taking their design from ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'', albeit without the Bowser figurehead, are seen floating around its exterior. The castle seems larger than most of its previous incarnations and has a more upbeat rock theme for its music, like the ones in ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''.

The course starts in the entrance of the castle. As soon as the drivers enter the castle, they see a statue of Bowser pointing to the right (signaling where to turn), along with several [[Bowser Statue]]s that shoot lasers at the drivers on laps 2 and 3. After a left turn and a right turn, drivers enter an [[anti-gravity]] section. Along the way lies the ramps that the drivers can perform [[Trick]]s on, but with extreme caution, as there lie sets of [[Fire Bar]]s and a [[Spinner]]. After these sections lies the square U-turn that leads to the forked road where the large [[Bowser Monument]] is. Each road curves down and around into a cavernous space with a [[Glide Ramp]] leading out of the castle. [[Lava Geyser]]s gush out from the lava pit and hit drivers that collide with them. There is a slight turn left and then another U-turn, where incoming boulders launched from one of the castle's cannons will attempt to knock over any racers. After these turns lies a split path, one part of which has a ramp, and the finish line. The starting banner on the top features a fiery ''Mario Kart'' logo with a pair of [[Burner]]s going out from above.

During the countdown to the race, the castle's portcullis is seen being raised. This is one of six courses (the others being [[Twisted Mansion]], [[Electrodrome]], [[Mount Wario]], [[Excitebike Arena]], and [[Piranha Plant Cove]]) to have an opening animation during the countdown.{{br|left}}

==Shortcuts==

*Players can use a [[Dash Mushroom|Mushroom]] to boost through the black grass before the finish line.

==''[[Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack]]'' liner notes==

''"In this title, this is actually more like an fortress than a castle - it has a really aggressive feel. For the background music we went for a very direct approach, and you might even think it's a bit too in-your-face. We wanted the music to clearly signal that there is a big bad boss lurking here."''

|Fre=Château de Bowser

|FreM=Bowser's Castle

*This is the only Bowser's Castle course that does not feature any [[Thwomp]]s, excluding the ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'' appearance of the ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'' [[Bowser Castle 1|Bowser]] [[Bowser Castle 2|Castle]] [[Bowser Castle 3|courses]], as all hazards were removed.

[[Category:Volcanic areas]]

[[Category:Bowser's castles]]

[[Category:Mario Kart 8 race courses]]