Editing Mario Kart 7

{{FA}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox
|image=[[File:Mario-Kart-7-Box-Art.jpg|250px]]<br>'''United States box cover'''
|developer=[[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development|Nintendo EAD]]<br>[[Nintendo SPD|Nintendo SPD Group No. 3]]<br>[[Retro Studios]]
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|released='''Retail'''<br>{{released|Japan|December 1, 2011|Europe|December 2, 2011|Australia|December 3, 2011|USA|December 4, 2011|South Korea|May 31, 2012|HK|September 28, 2012|ROC|September 28, 2012|China|December 7, 2012}}'''Nintendo eShop'''<br>{{released|Europe|October 4, 2012|Australia|October 4, 2012|USA|October 18, 2012|Japan|November 1, 2012}}
|genre=[[Mario Kart (series)|Racing]]
|modes=Single player, local multiplayer (up to 8 players), online multiplayer
|ratings={{ratings|cero=a|pegi=3|esrb=e|dejus=l|usk=0|acb=g}}
|platforms=[[Nintendo 3DS]]
|media={{media|3ds=1|3dsdl=1}}
|input={{input|3ds=1|3dstilt=1}}
}}
'''''Mario Kart 7''''' is a racing game developed by [[Nintendo EAD]] and [[Retro Studios]] for the [[Nintendo 3DS]]. It is the ninth installment of the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]] overall, the seventh in the main series (hence the game's title), and the third on a handheld console. This is the second (the first was ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'') installment in the ''Mario'' series overall (excluding crossover installments) to be localized to Dutch, Portuguese, and Russian. Additionally, it is also the first ''Mario Kart'' game to be developed by more than one video game developer, Nintendo EAD and Retro Studios, and the second ''Mario Kart'' to have a different video game developer (not including the ''Mario Kart Arcade GP'' series), the first being ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''.

The main new feature of this installment is the hang gliding and underwater driving which allows racers to glide through the air and race in underwater sections of the new and old tracks. Kart customization is also introduced instead of racing in pre-made karts like previous titles. In the game, players are able to exchange [[Ghost (Mario Kart)|Ghost]] data and play online in multiplayer mode. Players can also receive Ghost data via SpotPass and race against other player's Ghosts from around the world. Nintendo stated that the game brings "a bunch of new elements" to the ''Mario Kart'' series.

''Mario Kart 7'' is the first [[Mario (franchise)|''Mario'' game]] to use the [[Nintendo Network]] service as it offers the ability to create custom communities, which would then become one of the features of the service. Once Nintendo introduced retail games that could be downloaded via the Nintendo eShop, ''Mario Kart 7'' was released in 2012 for the eShop, where it requires 635.38 MB (5,083 blocks) to download.

==Gameplay==
===Features===
[[File:LakituRaceKalimariDesertMK7.jpg|220px|thumb|One of the gameplay mechanics in ''Mario Kart 7'' is racing in [[First-Person View|first-person views]]. By pressing {{button|3ds|Padup}}, the player can activate the view and then {{button|3ds|tilt}} the system to steer.]]
''Mario Kart 7'' features the standard gameplay present in preceding games in the series, with the gameplay style being very close to that of ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''. Players compete for gold trophies in the eight Grand Prix cups, consisting of four [[Nitro Cup]]s and four [[Retro Cup]]s, a returning feature from ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' and ''Mario Kart Wii''. Along with Grand Prix, Time Trials and Battle Modes also return. Time Trials have players race on tracks to set records, as well as race against their own or other racers' ghosts. Battle Mode features two different modes; Balloon Battle and Coin Runners, the latter returning from ''Mario Kart Wii''. Players can set their own rules for Battle Mode, choosing CPU difficulty, which items will appear or team games. Online races and battles return, allowing up to 8 players to race or battle using the Nintendo Network online service. Players can also create custom communities, which can be accessed by other players via codes.

''Mario Kart 7'' also has some new features. Players can now use hang-gliders which are used for navigating through the air, and propellers to drive underwater. In addition, players now assemble their own karts, rather than select preset karts as in previous games. It is possible to select the kart's body, wheels, and glider, although some parts need to be unlocked before they can be used, mainly through collecting coins during races. ''Mario Kart 7'' returns to the traditional eight-driver race like in previous installments, instead of the total of twelve as seen in ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''. It is also compatible with both SpotPass and StreetPass. 

In this new installment of the ''Mario Kart'' series, [[coin]]s make a prominent return. Coins have not been featured in this way in the recent ''Mario Kart'' games since ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''. Coins are to be found along a race track, and can be underwater, on the road, or in the air. Collecting coins on different tracks will allow the player to unlock vehicle parts used for customization. The option to select classic ''Mario Kart'' tracks is also available again in this game. 

Similar to preceding games, an overall "game ranking" of ★, ★★, or ★★★ is shown next to the player's nationality flag if the player has earned the designated ratings in all cups and in all classes. The overall ranking can also be seen while participating at a Grand Prix. The game shows the overall ranking at the results of the last course ''before'' the overall results of the last cup being shown.

Among other gameplay mechanics is the vehicle's behavior in the courses. Each element to assemble the vehicle has a function that grants an advantage on certain courses. In other words, speed and handling alter if the player is driving through land, underwater, or in the air. Gliders also provide speed and duration for the vehicle when airborne and can be controlled using the {{button|3ds|Stick}}. Players can tilt the {{button|3ds|Stick}} either up or down to fall quickly or gently, respectively. Additionally, when driving underwater, the kart's handling, speed, and drifting can considerably change compared to when driving on land. 

This ''Mario Kart'' installment also introduces the option to race and battle in a first-person view. This function allows the player to watch the race and battle from the character's perspective and can race by {{button|3ds|tilt}} the system. In first-person view, the player can also see the vehicle's steering wheel in front of the character with an [[emblem]] on it. The gyroscope, which gives the player the ability to steer the kart in first-person mode by tilting the {{button|3ds|Stick}}, can be enabled or disabled by going to the Mario Kart Channel, going to the player's Mii icon on the bottom right, going to "Settings", and lastly selecting "Use" or "Don't Use" when going to "Gyro Sensor". 

In a minor note, an extra track with beats is added to the course's music if the player gets ahead in first place at top speed (''frontrunning''). This track fades when the player slows down via braking, going off-road, or getting hit by an item. This happens only in 100cc, 150cc and Mirror class.

Motorbikes, which made their first appearance in ''Mario Kart Wii'', do not return in the game. [[Trick]]s, which were also introduced in ''Mario Kart Wii'', still return and can be used with Gliders for more speed. The manual for the game refers to tricks as Jump Boosts. The Single Player version of VS mode from the other ''Mario Kart'' games and the mission mode from ''Mario Kart DS'' are also removed.

===Controls===
* {{button|3ds|A}}/{{button|3ds|Y}}: Accelerate / [[Rocket Start]] (press and hold when the countdown shows '''2''' before the race starts)
* {{button|3ds|B}}: Brake / Reverse
* {{button|3ds|Stick}}: Steer / Auto [[Drift]]
* {{button|3ds|R}}: [[Hop (Mario Kart)|Hop]] / Manual Drift / Perform [[Trick|trick]]s in midair.
* {{button|3ds|L}}/{{button|3ds|X}}: Use item
* {{button|3ds|Stylus}}: Switch map view
* {{button|3ds|start}}: Pause / Resume
* {{button|3ds|home}}: Display HOME Menu
* {{button|3ds|Padup}}: First-Person View
* {{button|3ds|tilt}}: Steer / Auto Drift (First-person view only)
* {{button|3ds|Pad}} (except up): Third-Person View

===Modes===
====Grand Prix====
[[File:MK73.png|thumb|200px|right|The game's main option mode.]]
As usual in the ''Mario Kart'' series, ''Mario Kart 7'' has the Grand Prix, where a single player has to compete against computer-controlled opponents in order to obtain the trophies of the eight cups in the game. The Grand Prix has three engine classes: 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc. The higher the engine class, the harder the races will be against the opponents. In this mode, by beating the first cups available, the user unlocks the other cups as well as new elements such as the kart's parts (by collecting coins in each race) or a new playable character. By completing all the engine classes available at the start, the player unlocks the Mirror class.

A notable change featured in the game is the point system given to the racers after a race in Grand Prix mode. It is similar to ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'', but racers who place below third get an extra point. Also, 4th place is not a losing place, similar to ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'', and ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''. Below is a chart of the point spread comparison between these seven games:
{| border="1" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 align="center" style="background:#fffcfc;text-align:center;color:black" width=84%
|-
! colspan=13 style="background:#fff5f5" width=84% | Point Spread Comparisons (GP)
|-
! style="background:#fff7f7" width=14% | !! style="background:#fff7f7" width=4% | 1st !! style="background:#fff9f9" width=4% | 2nd !! style="background:#fff9f9" width=4% | 3rd !! style="background:#fff7f7" width=4% | 4th !! style="background:#fff7f7" width=4% | 5th !! style="background:#fff9f9" width=4% | 6th !! style="background:#fff9f9" width=4% | 7th !! style="background:#fff7f7" width=4% | 8th !! style="background:#fff7f7" width=4% | 9th !! style="background:#fff7f7" width=4% | 10th !! style="background:#fff7f7" width=4% | 11th !! style="background:#fff7f7" width=4% | 12th
|-
|'''''Super Mario Kart'' <br> ''Mario Kart 64'' <br> ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''''' ||style="background:#096"| 9 ||style="background:#CF0"| 6 ||style="background:#CF0"| 3 ||style="background:#CF0"|1||0||0||0||0||-||-||-|| -
|-
|'''''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' <br> ''Mario Kart DS''''' ||style="background:#096"| 10 ||style="background:#CF0"| 8 ||style="background:#CF0"|6||4||3||2||1||0||-||-||-||-
|-
|'''''Mario Kart Wii''''' ||style="background:#096"| 15 ||style="background:#CF0"| 12 ||style="background:#CF0"| 10 ||style="background:#CF0"| 8 ||style="background:#CF0"|7||6||5||4||3||2||1||0
|-
|'''''Mario Kart 7''''' ||style="background:#096"| 10 ||style="background:#CF0"| 8 ||style="background:#CF0"|6||style="background:#CF0"|5||4||3||2||1||-||-||-||-
|-
| colspan=13 style="text-align:justify;font-size:smaller;" | <span style="background:#096">Grove-green bg signifies victory results (great clapping, character(s) cheering), best after-race music</span><br><span style="background:#CF0">Yellow-limegreen bg signifies moderate results (mild clapping, moderate character reaction), same music in Wi-Fi as winner (different in MKDS GP)</span><br>Normal bg signifies losing results, losing music; - means not available<br>In ''Super Mario Kart'', and ''Mario Kart Super Circuit'', 5th or worse forces the player to retry the race. If the racer fares this badly four times, the Grand Prix must be started over.  In ''Mario Kart 64'', 5th or worse forces the player to retry the race, but without the restrictions on how many times the player can retry a race.  Starting with ''Mario Kart: Double Dash'' to recent installments including this one, the Grand Prix normally goes forth.
|}

====Time Trials====
Time Trials allows the player to complete all the laps of a race course in the fastest time possible. ''Mario Kart 7'' saves the player's records, and a Ghost for the combo that he or she used. Through Nintendo Network connection, the player can exchange his or her Ghosts to other players, compare their records, and even compete with their Ghosts. Up to seven Ghosts can be raced against at the same time, making it an 8-player race.

====VS====
In Versus Mode, players can customize the races selecting personally the order of the racecourses and change other settings, such as setting the computer difficulty, the requirements to win the races, and the engine class of the player's and computer players' karts. Unlike in ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', this mode is no longer available in Single Player mode. In Download Play, the players that do not have the ''Mario Kart 7'' game card in their handhelds play as [[Shy Guy]], like in ''Mario Kart DS'', and are unable to customize their kart.
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan=9 | '''Point Spread'''
|-
! Number of Players !! 1st !! 2nd !! 3rd !! 4th !! 5th !! 6th !! 7th !! 8th
|-
| '''2 players''' || 3 || 1 || - || - || - || - || - || -
|-
| '''3 players''' || 4 || 2 || 1 || - || - || - || - || -
|-
| '''4 players''' || 5 || 3 || 2 || 1 || - || - || - || -
|-
| '''5 players''' || 6 || 4 || 3 || 2 || 1 || - || - || -
|-
| '''6 players''' || 7 || 5 || 4 || 3 || 2 || 1 || - || -
|-
| '''7 players''' || 9 || 7 || 5 || 4 || 3 || 2 || 1 || -
|-
| '''8 players''' || 10 || 8 || 6 || 5 || 4 || 3 || 2 || 1
|}

====Battle====
In Battle Mode, the player can select one of the two types of battles available in ''Mario Kart 7'' and one of the six battle courses that appear in this mode. There are three new courses, and the remaining three are from previous installments in the series.

=====Balloon Battle=====
[[File:Balloon Battle - MK7.png|thumb|left|Free-for-all Balloon Battle]]
Racers compete by popping their opponents' balloons to gain points in a time limit of two minutes. All racers start with three balloons and must use the items from the Item Boxes to take away a balloon from their opponents. Hitting a rival is worth a point. Players who lose all of their balloons will have half of their points deducted.  Up to three points can be taken away, and the player re-spawns with three balloons.
{{br}}

=====Coin Runners=====
[[File:Coin Runners MK7.png|thumb|Team Coin Runners]]
In Coin Runners (Coin Battle in the PAL region), racers collect the Coins scattered in the battle course within the time limit of two minutes. The racer that has the most Coins at the end wins. Racers can use the items to hit their opponents and make them drop a maximum of three coins that they have collected. Unlike in ''Mario Kart Wii'', only up to ten coins can be held at once. Coins collected in this mode do not count toward the coin total to unlock kart parts.
{{br}}

===Online Multiplayer===
With the Nintendo 3DS's online capabilities, players can look for other users for online play, local or global range. Players can choose a worldwide competition to race against other users that are connected, race with friends that were met via StreetPass, or play in communities formed by users with customized rules for the races. Just like in ''Mario Kart Wii'', ''Mario Kart 7'' has the ''Mario Kart Channel'' that shows updates of online activity automatically through the SpotPass and StreetPass modes. With StreetPass, the users can exchange their Miis, Ghost Data from Time Trials, players' names, and information of communities, while the user will only receive Ghost Data from other users and community recommendations via SpotPass.

====VR====
When players take part in online races or battles, points are added to or removed from their VR (short for VS Rating) based on their finishing position. The main purpose of VR is determining the skill of players, to match them with players of a similar skill level. Players start with 1000 VR (rather than 5000 VR, as in ''Mario Kart Wii''). Online play in Communities does not use the VR system. Also, a player's VR counts for both races and battles, as opposed to ''Mario Kart Wii'' with races affecting VR, and battles affecting BR (Battle Rating).

=====Names in other languages=====
{{foreign names
|Spa=PC / Puntos de carreras
|SpaM=Race Points
|Ger=RP / Rennpunkte
|GerM=Race Points
|Dut=RP / Racepunten
|DutM=Race Points
|Ita=PC / Punti Corsa
|ItaM=Race Points
|Fra=PC / Points course
|FraM=Race Points
|Por=PO / Pontos Obtidos
|PorM=Earned Points
|Rus=ИР / Игровой Рейтинг
|RusR=IR / Igrovoy Reyting
|RusM=Play Rating
}}

==Characters==
[[File:MK7 endscreen.png‎|thumb|right|The seventeen playable characters.]]
''Mario Kart 7'' includes 17 total drivers (eight starting drivers and nine unlockable drivers). Each driver is categorized into any of five weight classes: '''Feather''' being the lightest, followed by '''Light''', '''Medium''', '''Cruiser''', and finally '''Heavy'''. This is the only game in the main ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series to have [[Wario]] as an unlockable character (Wario is also unlockable in ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]''). The player's Mii never appears as a CPU driver, but Miis the player has obtained via StreetPass for this game's Mario Kart Channel can rarely appear as a CPU driver during the standard Grand Prix mode.

On a side note, with the exception of [[Donkey Kong]], all of the starting characters were the same as in ''[[Super Mario Kart]]''; featuring [[Koopa Troopa]] as a starting driver.
{{br}}

===Starting drivers===
<gallery>
Mario MK7.png|[[Mario]]<br>'''<span style="color:green">Medium</span>'''
Luigi MK7.png‎|[[Luigi]]<br>'''<span style="color:green">Medium</span>'''
Peach MK7.png|[[Princess Peach|Peach]]<br>'''<span style="color:dodgerblue">Light</span>'''
Yoshi MK7.png‎|[[Yoshi]]<br>'''<span style="color:dodgerblue">Light</span>'''
Bowser MK7.png|[[Bowser]]<br>'''<span style="color:red">Heavy</span>'''
Donkey MK7.png‎|[[Donkey Kong]]<br>'''<span style="color:purple">Cruiser</span>'''
Toad MK7.png|[[Toad]]<br>'''<span style="color:gold">Feather</span>'''
Koopa MK7.png|[[Koopa Troopa]]<br>'''<span style="color:gold">Feather</span>'''
</gallery>

===Unlockable drivers===
<gallery>
Daisy MK7.png|[[Princess Daisy|Daisy]]<br>'''<span style="color:dodgerblue">Light</span>'''
Wario MK7.png|[[Wario]]<br>'''<span style="color:red">Heavy</span>'''
Rosalina MK7.png|[[Rosalina]]<br>'''<span style="color:purple">Cruiser</span>'''
Metal Mario MK7.png|[[Metal Mario (character)|Metal Mario]]<br>'''<span style="color:red">Heavy</span>'''<br>''New Driver''
Shy Guy MK7.png|[[Shy Guy]]*<br>'''<span style="color:gold">Feather</span>'''<br> ''First time as a fully playable character''
Honey Queen MK7.png|[[Honey Queen]]<br>'''<span style="color:red">Heavy</span>'''<br>''New Driver''
Wiggler MK7.png|[[Wiggler]]<br>'''<span style="color:purple">Cruiser</span>'''<br>''New Driver''
Lakitu MK7.png|[[Lakitu]]<br>'''<span style="color:gold">Feather</span>'''<br>''New Driver''
Mii MK7.png|[[Mii]]<br>'''<span style="color:green">Medium</span>'''
</gallery>
<sub>*While this is Shy Guy's first appearance as a selectable playable character, players without a card using Download Play are restricted to an alternate colored Shy Guy.</sub>
====Unlocking criteria====
{|border=1 cellpadding=3 align=center style=background:#fff7f7;text-align:center;width:30%;border-collapse:collapse
|-
!width=10%|Character
!width=20%|Criteria
|-
!Daisy 
|Win 150cc Mushroom Cup 
|-
!Wario
|Win 150cc Flower Cup 
|-
!Rosalina 
|Win 150cc Star Cup 
|-
!Metal Mario
|Win 150cc Special Cup 
|-
!Shy Guy
|Win 150cc Shell Cup 
|-
!Honey Queen
|Win 150cc Banana Cup 
|- 
!Wiggler
|Win 150cc Leaf Cup 
|-
!Lakitu
|Win 150cc Lightning Cup 
|-
!Mii
|Successfully complete all cups in any class
|}

===Character statistics===
:''For the in-game tables from which these values were derived and for the tables to translate those values into the actual statistics used by the game, see [[Mario Kart 7 in-game statistics]].''

Contrarily to what happens in ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', where characters have their own statistics bonuses that don't always coincide with the statitics of the vehicles, in ''Mario Kart 7'', beside determining the size of the body frame, characters have the same statistics as kart parts, and all characters are grouped into weight class that share the values of said statistics. The in-game units used for the statistics of both the selected driver and kart parts, called ''points'', are summed for each statistics, giving a number out of 20 called ''Level'', presented by the game's vehicle customization menu in bars whose values range from 0.75 to 5.5 out of 6, with increments of 0.25. In general, lighter characters have high values of Acceleration, Handling, and Off-Road, while heavier characters have high values of Speed and Weight. In this table the Level shown is the one obtained when using standard parts (Standard Kart, Standard Tires, Super Gldier) with each driver.

{|border="1" cellpadding="3" style="background:#f5f5f5;text-align:center;width:94%;border-collapse:collapse;margin-bottom:5px;" align=center
|-
!colspan="14" bgcolor="#9c9c9c"|Character Stats
|-
!width="20%" bgcolor="#dedede" rowspan="2" colspan="2"|Weight Class
!width="24%" bgcolor="#dedede" colspan="3"|Speed
!width="6%" bgcolor="#dedede" rowspan="2"|Acceleration
!width="6%" bgcolor="#dedede" rowspan="2"|Weight
!width="24%" bgcolor="#dedede" colspan="3"|Handling
!width="6%" bgcolor="#dedede" rowspan="2"|Off-Road
!width="6%" bgcolor="#dedede" rowspan="2"|Mini-Turbo 
!width="6%" bgcolor="#dedede" rowspan="2"|Stability
!width="6%" bgcolor="#dedede" rowspan="2"|Drift
|-
!width="6%" bgcolor="#dedede"|Land
!width="6%" bgcolor="#dedede"|Water
!width="6%" bgcolor="#dedede"|Air
!width="6%" bgcolor="#dedede"|Land
!width="6%" bgcolor="#dedede"|Water
!width="6%" bgcolor="#dedede"|Air
|- bgcolor="beige"
!<span style="border-bottom: 1px dotted; color:gold">Feather</span>
![[File:ToadMKW.png|link=Toad|32x32px]][[File:KoopaTroopa-MKWii-Icon.png|link=Koopa Troopa|32x32px]][[File:ShyGuyIcon-MK7.png|link=Shy Guy|32x32px]][[File:LakituIcon-MK7.png|link=Lakitu|32x32px]]<br />
|3
|3
|4
|4
|2.25
|3
|2.5
|2.25
|4 
|2.75
|1.75
|4.25
|- bgcolor="#CCFFFF"
!<span style="border-bottom: 1px dotted; color:dodgerblue">Light</span>
![[File:PeachMKW.png|link=Princess Peach|32x32px]][[File:DaisyMKW.png|link=Princess Daisy|32x32px]][[File:Yoshi-MKWii-Icon.png|link=Yoshi|32x32px]]<br />
|3.25
|3
|4
|3.5
|2.75
|3
|2.5
|2.25
|3.75
|2.5
|1.75
|3.25
|- bgcolor="honeydew"
!<span style="border-bottom: 1px dotted; color:green">Medium</span>
![[File:MarioMKW.png|link=Mario|32x32px]][[File:LuigiMKW.png|link=Luigi|32x32px]][[File:Mii MK8.png|link=Mii|32x32px]]<br />
|3.5
|2.75
|4
|3
|3.25
|2.75
|2.25
|2
|3.75
|2.5
|1.75
|3.25
|- bgcolor="thistle"
!<span style="border-bottom: 1px dotted; color:purple">Cruiser</span>
![[File:DonkeyKongMKW.png|link=Donkey Kong|32x32px]][[File:RosalinaMKW.png|link=Rosalina|32x32px]][[File:WigglerIcon-MK7.png|link=Wiggler|32x32px]]<br />
|3.75
|2.5
|4
|2.5
|3.75
|2.5
|2
|1.75
|3.75 
|2.25
|1.75
|2.25
|- bgcolor="MistyRose"
!<span style="border-bottom: 1px dotted; color:red">Heavy</span>
![[File:BowserMKW.png|link=Bowser|32x32px]][[File:WarioMKW.png|link=Wario|32x32px]][[File:MetalMarioIcon-MK7.png|link=Metal Mario (character)|32x32px]][[File:QueenBeeIcon-MK7.png|link=Honey Queen|32x32px]]<br />
|4
|2.5
|4
|2
|4.25
|2.5
|2
|1.75
|3.5 
|2.25
|1.75
|2.25
|}

===Rival order===
Much like in ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', all playable characters have a rival order, the order CPU drivers finish at the end of the race. However, unlike in ''Super Mario Kart'', it is more simplified, as two characters are set instead of single characters followed by another single character, etc..

Each character's rivals will never change; for example, Bowser will always appear in a Grand Prix if the player is playing as Mario. However, if a set character is supposed to be unlockable, the set character is replaced by a default character until the unlockable character can be used. That will make the default character a third rival that occasionally appears in the race. The only exception to this is Wario, who does not have a third rival due to both of his main rivals being starting characters.

{| border=1 style="text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse" width=70% align=center
|- 
|- bgcolor=#dedede
!width="6%" bgcolor="#dedede"|Character
!width="6%" bgcolor="#dedede"|Rivals
!width="6%" bgcolor="#dedede"|Third Rival
|-
|[[File:MarioMKW.png|link=Mario|32x32px]]
|[[File:MetalMarioIcon-MK7.png|link=Metal Mario (character)|32x32px]][[File:BowserMKW.png|link=Bowser|32x32px]] 
|[[File:PeachMKW.png|link=Princess Peach|32x32px]] 
|-
|[[File:LuigiMKW.png|link=Luigi|32x32px]]
|[[File:DaisyMKW.png|link=Princess Daisy|32x32px]] [[File:MarioMKW.png|link=Mario|32x32px]] 
|[[File:Yoshi-MKWii-Icon.png|link=Yoshi|32x32px]]
|-
|[[File:PeachMKW.png|link=Princess Peach|32x32px]] 
|[[File:LakituIcon-MK7.png|link=Lakitu|32x32px]] [[File:DonkeyKongMKW.png|link=Donkey Kong|32x32px]] 
|[[File:ToadMKW.png|link=Toad|32x32px]]
|-
|[[File:Yoshi-MKWii-Icon.png|link=Yoshi|32x32px]]
|[[File:WigglerIcon-MK7.png|link=Wiggler|32x32px]] [[File:ToadMKW.png|link=Toad|32x32px]]  
|[[File:DonkeyKongMKW.png|link=Donkey Kong|32x32px]]
|-
|[[File:BowserMKW.png|link=Bowser|32x32px]]
|[[File:MarioMKW.png|link=Mario|32x32px]] [[File:RosalinaMKW.png|link=Rosalina|32x32px]] 
|[[File:LuigiMKW.png|link=Luigi|32x32px]]
|-
|[[File:DonkeyKongMKW.png|link=Donkey Kong|32x32px]]
|[[File:WarioMKW.png|link=Wario|32x32px]] [[File:KoopaTroopa-MKWii-Icon.png|link=Koopa Troopa|32x32px]] 
|[[File:BowserMKW.png|link=Bowser|32x32px]]
|-
|[[File:ToadMKW.png|link=Toad|32x32px]]
|[[File:RosalinaMKW.png|link=Rosalina|32x32px]] [[File:PeachMKW.png|link=Princess Peach|32x32px]] 
|[[File:KoopaTroopa-MKWii-Icon.png|link=Koopa Troopa|32x32px]] 
|-
|[[File:KoopaTroopa-MKWii-Icon.png|link=Koopa Troopa|32x32px]] 
|[[File:Yoshi-MKWii-Icon.png|link=Yoshi|32x32px]] [[File:ShyGuyIcon-MK7.png|link=Shy Guy|32x32px]]  
|[[File:LuigiMKW.png|link=Luigi|32x32px]]
|-
|[[File:DaisyMKW.png|link=Princess Daisy|32x32px]]
|[[File:PeachMKW.png|link=Princess Peach|32x32px]] [[File:WarioMKW.png|link=Wario|32x32px]] 
|[[File:LuigiMKW.png|link=Luigi|32x32px]]
|-
|[[File:WarioMKW.png|link=Wario|32x32px]]
|[[File:LuigiMKW.png|link=Luigi|32x32px]] [[File:MarioMKW.png|link=Mario|32x32px]] 
|None
|-
|[[File:RosalinaMKW.png|link=Rosalina|32x32px]]
|[[File:QueenBeeIcon-MK7.png|link=Honey Queen|32x32px]] [[File:PeachMKW.png|link=Princess Peach|32x32px]] 
|[[File:ToadMKW.png|link=Toad|32x32px]]
|-
|[[File:MetalMarioIcon-MK7.png|link=Metal Mario (character)|32x32px]]
|[[File:BowserMKW.png|link=Bowser|32x32px]] [[File:RosalinaMKW.png|link=Rosalina|32x32px]] 
|[[File:MarioMKW.png|link=Mario|32x32px]] 
|-
|[[File:ShyGuyIcon-MK7.png|link=Shy Guy|32x32px]]
|[[File:ToadMKW.png|link=Toad|32x32px]] [[File:LakituIcon-MK7.png|link=Lakitu|32x32px]] 
|[[File:KoopaTroopa-MKWii-Icon.png|link=Koopa Troopa|32x32px]] 
|-
|[[File:QueenBeeIcon-MK7.png|link=Honey Queen|32x32px]]
|[[File:KoopaTroopa-MKWii-Icon.png|link=Koopa Troopa|32x32px]] [[File:MetalMarioIcon-MK7.png|link=Metal Mario (character)|32x32px]]
|[[File:Yoshi-MKWii-Icon.png|link=Yoshi|32x32px]]
|-
|[[File:WigglerIcon-MK7.png|link=Wiggler|32x32px]]
|[[File:ShyGuyIcon-MK7.png|link=Shy Guy|32x32px]] [[File:Yoshi-MKWii-Icon.png|link=Yoshi|32x32px]]
|[[File:BowserMKW.png|link=Bowser|32x32px]]
|-
|[[File:LakituIcon-MK7.png|link=Lakitu|32x32px]] 
|[[File:DonkeyKongMKW.png|link=Donkey Kong|32x32px]] [[File:QueenBeeIcon-MK7.png|link=Honey Queen|32x32px]] 
|[[File:MarioMKW.png|link=Mario|32x32px]]
|-
|[[File:Mii MK8.png|link=Mii|32x32px]]
|[[File:BowserMKW.png|link=Bowser|32x32px]][[File:MetalMarioIcon-MK7.png|link=Metal Mario (character)|32x32px]]
|[[File:MarioMKW.png|link=Mario|32x32px]]
|}

===Body frame===
Depending on the character, the kart body that's chosen may appear bigger or smaller. This affects how big of a target that character's kart will be; for example, smaller body frames are harder to hit. The character's weight determines the body Frame size, Metal Mario being the only exception, as he's medium size despite being a heavy character.

{|border=1 cellpadding=3 style=background:#f5f5f5;width:40%;text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse align=center
|-bgcolor="#9c9c9c"
!colspan=2|Body Frame
|-bgcolor="#dedede"
!width=10%|Size 
!width=30%|Characters
|-bgcolor="#ededed"
!Small
|[[File:KoopaTroopa-MKWii-Icon.png|link=Koopa Troopa|32x32px]] [[File:LakituIcon-MK7.png|link=Lakitu|32x32px]] [[File:ShyGuyIcon-MK7.png|link=Shy Guy|32x32px]] [[File:ToadMKW.png|link=Toad|32x32px]]
|-bgcolor="#ededed"
!Medium
|[[File:DaisyMKW.png|link=Princess Daisy|32x32px]] [[File:LuigiMKW.png|link=Luigi|32x32px]] [[File:MarioMKW.png|link=Mario|32x32px]] [[File:PeachMKW.png|link=Princess Peach|32x32px]] [[File:Yoshi-MKWii-Icon.png|link=Yoshi|32x32px]] [[File:MetalMarioIcon-MK7.png|link=Metal Mario|32x32px]] [[File:Mii MK8.png|link=Mii|32x32px]]
|-bgcolor="#ededed"
!Large
|[[File:BowserMKW.png|link=Bowser|32x32px]] [[File:DonkeyKongMKW.png|link=Donkey Kong|32x32px]] [[File:QueenBeeIcon-MK7.png|link=Honey Queen|32x32px]] [[File:RosalinaMKW.png|link=Rosalina|32x32px]] [[File:WarioMKW.png|link=Wario|32x32px]] [[File:WigglerIcon-MK7.png|link=Wiggler|32x32px]] 
|-bgcolor="ededed"
|}

===Background Characters===
These characters appear in the background of certain stages and do not affect the racers in any way.
{|
|
*[[Birdo (species)|Birdo]]s
*[[Boo]]s
*[[Lakitu]]
*[[Maw-Ray]]s
*[[Mii]]s
|
*[[Monty Mole]]s
*[[Pianta]]s
*[[Shy Guy]]s
*[[Toad (species)|Toad]]s
*[[Waluigi]] (cameo as a statue)
|}

===Hazards and Obstacles===
These characters and features serve as hazards on tracks and can directly affect racers if hit.
{|border="1" cellpadding="3" style="background:#f5f5f5;text-align:left;border-collapse:collapse;margin-bottom:5px;width:100%;" align=center
|-
!colspan="3" bgcolor="#9c9c9c" align=center|Characters and elements
|-
!width="15%" bgcolor="#dedede" align=center|Character/element
!width="20%" bgcolor="#dedede" align=center|Location
!width="65%" bgcolor="#dedede" align=center|Description
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Banzai Bill.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Banzai Bill]]
|align=center|[[Airship Fortress|<small>DS</small> Airship Fortress]]
|Banzai Bills are fired from a cannon near the starting straightaway of the track. They fly along the straight path in different positions based on where they were fired. They disappear once they hit the road where the starting line is located.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Barrel.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Barrel]]
|align=center|[[Wario Shipyard]]<br>[[DK Jungle (Mario Kart)|DK Jungle]]
|Barrels are scattered around the track and can be broken by players. Once broken, a [[Banana]], a [[Mushroom]], a [[Green Shell]], or a [[Star]] may fly out. In Time Trials, the barrels cannot be broken.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Big Wiggler.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Big Wiggler]]
|align=center|[[Maple Treeway|<small>Wii</small> Maple Treeway]]
|Two Big Wigglers walk around the top of the tree section of the track. Racers simple bounce off of them rather than wiping out.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Board.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Board (Super Mario 3D Land)|Board]]
|align=center|[[Piranha Plant Slide]]
|Boards can be broken by players by racing into them. There are two board shapes; Goomba shaped boards and bush shaped boards. Two bush shaped boards are located in off-road sections near the end of the track.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Boulder.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Boulder]]
|align=center|[[Rock Rock Mountain]]<br>[[Maka Wuhu]]
|Boulders fall from mountain tops and roll down the track, flipping over any racer that hits them. They are destroyed upon hitting walls.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Bouncing Note.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Bouncing Note]]
|align=center|[[Music Park]]
|Bouncing Notes jump at regular intervals near the end of the track. Players can do tricks off the ground when the Bouncing Notes land, however players can also be flattened if a Bouncing Note lands on them. During the final lap, their bouncing is faster.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Bumper.jpg|100px]]<br>Bumper
|align=center|[[Waluigi Pinball (course)|<small>DS</small> Waluigi Pinball]]
|Bumpers are located on the pinball table section of the track and will bump racers back when they collide with them. Pinballs will also ricochet off of bumpers.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Car.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Car (obstacle)|Car]]
|align=center|[[Wuhu Loop]]<br>[[Coconut Mall|<small>Wii</small> Coconut Mall]]
|Cars travel across the road of the entire track, causing players to flip over if hit. In Coconut Mall, cars are located in the parking lot and drive back and forth along the area.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Cheep Cheep.jpg|80px]]<br>[[Cheep Cheep]]
|align=center|[[Cheep Cheep Lagoon]]<br>[[Koopa Cape|<small>Wii</small> Koopa Cape]]
|Cheep Cheeps swim in various water sections of the track, lightly bouncing back racers who hit them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Chomp.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Chomp]]
|align=center|[[Rainbow Road (3DS)|Rainbow Road]]
|Chomps appear on the moon segment of the track, rolling around in circles. Two Chomps also roll off of the craters on the surface, causing them to jump off of them and float in the air for a short time. Colliding with one will flip a racer over.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Clampy.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Clampy]]
|align=center|[[Cheep Cheep Lagoon]]<br>[[Daisy Cruiser|<small>GCN</small> Daisy Cruiser]]
|Clampies appear in the first underwater segment of the track, opening and closing their mouths at regular intervals. Coins and Item Boxes can appear in an open Clampy, but if a racer is caught when a Clampy is closing its mouth, they will spin out.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Crate.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Crate]]
|align=center|[[Airship Fortress|<small>DS</small> Airship Fortress]]
|Crates are scattered inside the airship of the track and act identically to Barrels. A Banana, a Mushroom, a Green Shell, or a Star may fly out when broken, but will stop a racer in the process. Crates cannot be broken in Time Trial mode.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Dinosaur.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Dinosaur]]
|align=center|[[Dino Dino Jungle|<small>GCN</small> Dino Dino Jungle]]
|The dinosaur appears near the track's center, occupying the bridge section after the cave and the ground below the bridge. The dinosaur's feet stomp the lower section, flattening racers in a similar manner to a Thwomp. The dinosaur's head does not spin a racer out, rather blocks their path.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Fish Bone.jpg|80px]]<br>[[Fish Bone]]
|align=center|[[Wario Shipyard]]
|Fish Bone appear near the track's beginning and swim through the first tunnel. Hitting one will simply bounce a racer back.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Flipper.jpg|100px]]<br>Flipper
|align=center|[[Waluigi Pinball (course)|<small>DS</small> Waluigi Pinball]]
|Flippers appear at the pinball table section of the track, specifically at the bottom of the table. They hit any pinball back across the table and will hit racers if they get too close.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Frogoon.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Frogoon]]
|align=center|[[DK Jungle (Mario Kart)|DK Jungle]]
|Frogoons hop across the track in the jungle section before the giant temple. Colliding with one will cause the racer to spin out.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Grand Goomba.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Grand Goomba]]
|align=center|[[Mario Circuit (3DS)|Mario Circuit]]<br>[[Piranha Plant Slide]]<br>[[Mushroom Gorge|<small>Wii</small> Mushroom Gorge]]<br>[[Koopa Cape|<small>Wii</small> Koopa Cape]]
|Grand Goombas appear on various tracks, replacing regular Goombas on Retro Tracks. They act in the same way they did in past installments, slowly waddling back and forth on certain parts of the track.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Icicle.jpg|60px]]<br>Icicle
|align=center|[[Rosalina's Ice World]]
|Icicles behave in an identical way to crates and barrels, slowing the player's vehicle speed upon impact. Items do not fly out of icicles when they break and icicles cannot be broken in Time Trial mode.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Lava Bubble.jpg |80px]]<br>[[Lava Bubble]]
|align=center|[[Bowser Castle 1|<small>GBA</small> Bowser Castle 1]]
|Lava Bubbles jump out of the lava between the ramps near the end of the track, causing players who hit them to spin out.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Goat.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Goat|Mountain goat]]
|align=center|[[Daisy Hills]]
|Mountain goats roam around the mountainous areas of the track, wiping out racers who collide with them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Oil Slick.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Oil Slick]]
|align=center|[[Mario Circuit 2|<small>SNES</small> Mario Circuit 2]]
|Oil Slicks appear on various parts of the track, causing racers to spin out if they race over them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Penguin.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Penguin]]
|align=center|[[Rosalina's Ice World]]<br>[[Sherbet Rink]]
|Penguins appear around the icy pond section of Rosalina's Ice World, on both the land and in the water. In both instances, players will simply bounce off of them if they collide with them. On Sherbet Rink, Penguins roam around the track as a whole.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Pinball.jpg|100px]]<br>Pinball
|align=center|[[Waluigi Pinball|<small>DS</small> Waluigi Pinball]]
|Pinballs roll across various sections of the track, causing racers to flip over when hit. On the pinball table, pinballs can be hit by flippers and bounce of the bumpers scattered across the table.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Pipe.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Pipe]]
|align=center|[[Toad Circuit]]<br>[[Mario Circuit 2|<small>SNES</small> Mario Circuit 2]]
|Pipes appear as stationary obstacles and are usually scattered on off road sections. Players will come to a complete stop if they collide with them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Piranha Plant.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Piranha Plant]]
|align=center|[[Music Park]]<br>[[Piranha Plant Slide]]
|Piranha Plants will attempt to bite any racer that drives near them. In Music Park, they appear on either sides of the track and occasionally swap positions. In Piranha Plant Slide, they are completely stationary and will turn back and forth regularly to attack racers.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Puddle.jpg|100px]]<br>Puddle
|align=center|[[Neo Bowser City]]
|Puddles appear at the end of the track and function identically to Oil Slicks. They can be avoided by jumping over them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Rocket Engine.jpg|70px]]<br>[[Rocket Engine]]
|align=center|[[Airship Fortress|<small>DS</small> Airship Fortress]]
|Rocket Engines appear within the airship of the track, moving back and forth along the track. Racers will spin out if they drive through the fire.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Rocky Wrench.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Rocky Wrench]]
|align=center|[[Airship Fortress|<small>DS</small> Airship Fortress]]<br>[[Battle Course 1 (GBA)|<small>GBA</small> Battle Course 1]]
|Rocky Wrenches pop out of the ground and will flip over racers who hit them. Players can also do tricks off of their manhole covers when they peak out from the ground.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Screaming Pillar.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Screaming Pillar]]
|align=center|[[DK Jungle (Mario Kart)|DK Jungle]]
|Screaming Pillars are completely stationary obstacles and will stop a racer if they collide with them. They occasionally let out screams that will push racers back if they are in range.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Shy Guy.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Flying Shy Guy]]
|align=center|[[Shy Guy Bazaar]]
|Shy Guys fly about on carpets at the gliding section of the track. They will block any racer who collides with them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Sidestepper.jpg|80px]]<br>[[Sidestepper]]
|align=center|[[Cheep Cheep Lagoon]]<br>[[Koopa Troopa Beach|<small>N64</small> Koopa Beach]]<br>[[Palm Shore|<small>DS</small> Palm Shore]]
|Sidesteppers move back and forth along parts of the track, causing any racer who hits them to spin out.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Snowball.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Snowball]]
|align=center|[[DK Pass|<small>DS</small> DK Pass]]
|Snowballs appear on DK Pass and function identically to Boulders or Pinballs. They roll down the mountain and fall off the track, flipping over racers who collide with them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Snowman.jpg|80px]]<br>[[Snowman]]
|align=center|[[DK Pass|<small>DS</small> DK Pass]]
|Snowmen appear at the end of the track and function in the same way as they did in past installments, causing racers who hit them to flip over.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Stingby.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Stingby]]
|align=center|[[Honeybee Hive]]
|Several Stingbies fly around the battle stage, spinning out racers who hit them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Super Thwomp.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Super Thwomp]]
|align=center|[[Rainbow Road (SNES)|<small>SNES</small> Rainbow Road]]
|Super Thwomps appear throughout the track, wiping out racers who hit them. When they hit the ground, they cause ripples in the track, which can be trick jumped off of.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Swooper.jpg|80px]]<br>[[Swoop]]
|align=center|[[Rock Rock Mountain]]
|Swoops appear in the cave section of the track, slowing racers down if they hit them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Thwomp.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Thwomp]]
|align=center|[[Bowser's Castle (3DS)|Bowser's Castle]]<br>[[Bowser Castle 1|<small>GBA</small> Bowser Castle 1]]
|Thwomps act identically as they did in past installments, stopping racers who hit them and flattening them if they fall on them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Tiki Goon.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Tiki Goon]]
|align=center|[[DK Jungle (Mario Kart)|DK Jungle]]
|Tiki Goons move back and forth along the track, pausing at the track's edges before moving the other way. Colliding with one will cause the player to spin out.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Train.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Train]]
|align=center|[[Kalimari Desert|<small>N64</small> Kalimari Desert]]
|Two trains follow an oval track around the center of the race track. Players will flip over if they hit the train or their carriages. 
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Vase.jpg|80px]]<br>Vase
|align=center|[[Shy Guy Bazaar]]
|Vases function identically to Barrels and Crates, stopping racers and letting a Banana, a Mushroom, a Green Shell, or a Star as they break. Some vases also move around the area and do not release items if hit. Vases cannot be broken in Time Trail mode.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Walking Tree.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Walking Tree]]
|align=center|[[Luigi's Mansion (course)|<small>DS</small> Luigi's Mansion]]
|Walking Trees walk around set paths at the end of the track. They function just like normal trees and will stop a racer completely when hit.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Water Geyser.jpg|80px]]<br>Water Geyser
|align=center|[[Dino Dino Jungle|<small>GCN</small> Dino Dino Jungle]]
|Water Geysers appear in both the cave section and near the end of the track, erupting at regular intervals. Racers are flipped over if they hit an erupting geyser. Players can do tricks off of geysers if they are inactive.
|}

==Items==
:''To know the probability of obtaining each item when an Item Box is opened in the various modes, see [[Mario Kart 7 item probability distributions]].''

Many classic items make a return in ''Mario Kart 7''. The game introduces three new items &ndash; the [[Fire Flower]], the [[Super Leaf]], and the [[Lucky Seven]]. The [[Thunder Cloud]], [[POW Block]], and [[Mega Mushroom]] from ''Mario Kart Wii'' are absent from the game. The [[Fake Item Box]] from previous installments is also absent, along with [[Boo]]. Similar to its predecessors, players receive items by driving through an [[Item Box]] found on courses. When players drive through an Item Box, the Item Roulette will select an item. In addition to Item Boxes, [[Coin]]s can be found on the track. Players can collect the coins by driving through them. Picking up a coin increases a player's top speed. If players collect ten coins, their kart is at maximum speed and cannot gain additional coins. Players lose coins if they get hit by an item or fall in a pit. Collecting a certain amount of coins unlocks vehicle parts to select them in the vehicle's customization menu. Also, unlike in its predecessor, the item warning sound will only play if a [[Spiny Shell (blue)|Spiny Shell]] or a [[Bullet Bill]] is approaching.

One prominent change to the classic items is that the Spiny Shell now has been redesigned into a wingless form, similar to the one found in ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' and having a new sound effect. Its overall behavior is also changed as well; the shell now flies lower to the ground and is able to hit other racers on its path. In addition, the explosion is noticeably less powerful compared to previous installments.

===Items found on tracks===
<center>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Image
!Name
!align="center"|Description
|-
|[[File:Itembox MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Item Box]]
|Item Boxes give players items.
|-
|[[File:Mk7 coin.jpg|100px]]
|[[Coin]]
|Players receive a small boost and an increase to their top speed. A maximum of 10 can be carried at one time.
|}
</center>

===Items received from Item Boxes===
<center>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Image
!Name
!align="center"|Description
|-
|[[File:Banana - Mario Kart 7.png|100px]]
|[[Banana]]
|Players that run over Bananas spin out.
|-
|[[File:Mk7 bananas.jpg|100px]]
|[[Triple Bananas]]
|Gives the player three Bananas that trail behind the kart. They can then be dropped or thrown one by one.
|-
|[[File:Green Shell MK7.jpg|100px]]
|[[Green Shell]]
|Travels in a straight line and bounces off walls. Knocks over the player it hits.
|-
|[[File:Mk7 triplegreenshell.jpg|100px]]
|[[Triple Green Shells]]
|Three Green Shells that protect the player from incoming attacks by rotating around its kart. They can then be thrown one by one.
|-
|[[File:Mk7 redshell.jpg|100px]]
|[[Red Shell]]
|Chases after the closest player in front of the player and knocks it over. Throwing it backwards will make it travel in a straight line, like a Green Shell.
|-
|[[File:Mk7 tripleredshells.jpg|100px]]
|[[Triple Red Shells]]
|Three red shells that protect the player from incoming attacks by rotating around its kart. They can then be thrown one by one. CPU players can't get this item in Grand Prix and VS modes, unless the item settings are set to Shells Only.
|-
|[[File:MK7-Spiny-Shell.png|100px]]
|[[Spiny Shell (blue)|Spiny Shell]]
|Chases after the player in the lead, then explodes on it. It will also knock over anything that is on its path.
|-
|[[File:Mk7 bob-omb.jpg|100px]]
|[[Bob-omb]]
|After being thrown or dropped, it explodes after a moment or when a player comes too close, knocking over anything in its blast radius. It will also chase after players that comes by.
|-
|[[File:Mk7_supermushroom.jpg|100px]]
|[[Mushroom]]
|Gives the player a speed boost.
|-
|[[File:Mk7_triplemushrooms.jpg|100px]]
|[[Triple Mushrooms]]
|Same effect as the Mushroom. It can be used three times.
|-
|[[File:Mk7_goldenmushroom.jpg|100px]]
|[[Golden Mushroom]]
|Same effect as the Mushroom. It can be used at will, but only for a moment after the first use.
|-
|[[File:MK7_Bullet_Bill.png|100px]]
|[[Bullet Bill]]
|Transforms the player into a Bullet Bill, which rockets down the entire track at high speeds on auto-pilot for a time that is determined by the player's current position. The Bullet Bill is invincible and can knock over items, course hazards and other players, which makes them lose any item in their possession.
|-
|[[File:Blooper_MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Blooper]]
|Sprays ink on all the players ahead of the user and reduces their visibility. The ink will go away after a moment or when the player receives a boost from a Mushroom or a Boost Pad.
|-
|[[File:Mariokart7_lightning.jpg|100px]]
|[[Lightning]]
|Causes all players, except the user, to drop their item, shrink, and have their kart's top speed reduced for a moment, the effect being longer for the players that are leading the race. They can also get squashed by normal-sized players.
|-
|[[File:Mk7_star.jpg‎|100px]]
|[[Star]]
|The player obtains total invincibility for a moment and is able to knock over everything in its path including items, course obstacles and other players, making them lose their current item. In addition, the player receives a speed boost and the ability to drive off-road without losing any speed.
|-
|[[File:FireFlower-MK7.jpg|100px]]
|[[Fire Flower]]<br>''New Item''
|Allows the player to throw fireballs that bounces off walls and cause other players to spin out of control on impact. Up to three fireballs are allowed at a time per player, throwing a fourth one will make the oldest one disappear. If ten fireballs are used, this item wears off immediately.
|-
|[[File:SuperLeaf-MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Super Leaf]]<br>''New Item''
|Gives the player's kart a tail that can be used to deflect items, knock over opponents and collect coins. The tail will disappear after a moment or if the player is hurt.
|-
|[[File:MK7_Lucky7.png|100px]]
|[[Lucky Seven]]<br>''New Item''
|Surrounds the player with seven items that rotates around its kart. The player receives a Mushroom, Banana, Green Shell, Red Shell, Blooper, Bob-omb, and a Star. CPU players can't get this item, unless only one type of item is chosen.
|}
</center>

==Courses==
''Mario Kart 7'' introduces 32 courses that include 16 new courses and 16 retro courses, which include two courses from ''Super Mario Kart'', three from ''Mario Kart 64'', one from ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'', two from the ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'', four from ''Mario Kart DS'', and four from ''Mario Kart Wii''. It also features three new battle stages, and three Retro ones. Only the [[Mushroom Cup]] and [[Shell Cup]], as well as the battle courses, are available from the start, but upon unlocking them they are available for all game modes, and not just for that specific [[Mario Kart (series)#Engine Class|Engine Class]], unlike past installments. A new feature of ''Mario Kart 7'' is that three of the courses &ndash; Wuhu Loop, Maka Wuhu, and Rainbow Road &ndash; have three sections each, with each section counting as one lap. The following charts show the American English names of the tracks, with their PAL variants in italics. Like in ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'', the retro tracks' width have been shortened, except the DS retro courses, which have been widened.

===New courses===
{| width=65% border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse" align=center cellpadding=5
|- bgcolor=#fff7f7
![[File:MK7-MushroomCup.png|50px]]<br>[[Mushroom Cup]]
![[File:MK7-FlowerCup.png|50px]]<br>[[Flower Cup]]
![[File:MK7-StarCup.png|50px]]<br>[[Star Cup]]
![[File:MK7-SpecialCup.png|50px]]<br>[[Special Cup]]
|- align=center
|[[File:Toad Circuit.png|150px]]<br>[[Toad Circuit]]<br> <br>
|[[File:Wuhu Loop.png|150px]]<br>[[Wuhu Loop]]<br><small>''Wuhu Island Loop''</small>
|[[File:PPS2.png|150px]]<br>[[Piranha Plant Slide]]<br><small>''Piranha Plant Pipeway''</small>
|[[File:DKJungle.png|150px]]<br>[[DK Jungle (Mario Kart)|DK Jungle]]<br> <br>
|- align=center
|[[File:Daisyhills.png|150px]]<br>[[Daisy Hills]]<br> <br>
|[[File:MariocircuitMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[Mario Circuit (3DS)|Mario Circuit]]<br> <br>
|[[File:Wariogalleon.png|150px]]<br>[[Wario Shipyard]]<br><small>''Wario's Galleon''</small>
|[[File:RosalinaIceWorld.png|150px]]<br>[[Rosalina's Ice World]]<br> <br>
|- align=center
|[[File:Cheepcheeplagoon.png|150px]]<br>[[Cheep Cheep Lagoon]]<br><small>''Cheep Cheep Cape''</small>
|[[File:MusicPark.png|150px]]<br>[[Music Park]]<br><small>''Melody Motorway''</small>
|[[File:NeoBowserCity.png|150px]]<br>[[Neo Bowser City]]<br><small>''Koopa City''</small>
|[[File:BowserCastleMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[Bowser's Castle (3DS)|Bowser's Castle]]<br> <br>
|- align=center
|[[File:ShyGuyBazaar.png|150px]]<br>[[Shy Guy Bazaar]]<br> <br>
|[[File:RockRockMountain.png|150px]]<br>[[Rock Rock Mountain]]<br><small>''Alpine Pass''</small>
|[[File:Wuhumountainloop.png|150px]]<br>[[Maka Wuhu]]<br><small>''Wuhu Mountain Loop''</small>
|[[File:RainbowroadMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[Rainbow Road (3DS)|Rainbow Road]]<br> <br>
|}

===Retro courses===
{| width=65% border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse" align=center cellpadding=5
|- bgcolor=#fff7f7
![[File:MK7-ShellCup.png|50px]]<br>[[Shell Cup]]
![[File:MK7-BananaCup.png|50px]]<br>[[Banana Cup]]
![[File:MK7-LeafCup.png|50px]]<br>[[Leaf Cup]]
![[File:MK7-LightningCup.png|50px]]<br>[[Lightning Cup]]
|- align=center
|[[File:LuigiracewayMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[Luigi Raceway|<small>N64</small> Luigi Raceway]]<br> <br>
|[[File:KoopaTroopaBeachMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[Koopa Troopa Beach|<small>N64</small> Koopa Beach]]<br><small>''N64 Koopa Troopa Beach''</small>
|[[File:KalimariDesertMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[Kalimari Desert|<small>N64</small> Kalimari Desert]]<br> <br>
|[[File:KoopaCapeMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[Koopa Cape|<small>Wii</small> Koopa Cape]]<br> <br>
|- align=center
|[[File:GBA Bowser Castle 1.jpg|150px]]<br>[[Bowser Castle 1 (GBA)|<small>GBA</small> Bowser Castle 1]]
|[[File:MK7-SFC-MC.png|150px]]<br>[[Mario Circuit 2|<small>SNES</small> Mario Circuit 2]]
|[[File:DKPassMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[DK Pass|<small>DS</small> DK Pass]]
|[[File:DinoDinoJungleMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[Dino Dino Jungle|<small>GCN</small> Dino Dino Jungle]]
|- align=center
|[[File:MushroomGorgeMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[Mushroom Gorge|<small>Wii</small> Mushroom Gorge]]
|[[File:Wii Coconut Mall.png|150px]]<br>[[Coconut Mall|<small>Wii</small> Coconut Mall]]
|[[File:DaisyCruiserMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[Daisy Cruiser (course)|<small>GCN</small> Daisy Cruiser]]
|[[File:AirshipFortressMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[Airship Fortress|<small>DS</small> Airship Fortress]]
|- align=center
|[[File:LuigiMansionMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[Luigi's Mansion (race course)|<small>DS</small> Luigi's Mansion]]
|[[File:MK7-DS-WP.png|150px]]<br>[[Waluigi Pinball (course)|<small>DS</small> Waluigi Pinball]]
|[[File:MapleTreewayMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[Maple Treeway|<small>Wii</small> Maple Treeway]]
|[[File:SNES MK7.png|150px]]<br>[[Rainbow Road (SNES)|<small>SNES</small> Rainbow Road]]
|}

===Battle stages===
{| width=35% border=1; style="border-collapse:collapse" align=center cellpadding=5
|-
! colspan=13 width=35% | [[File:MK7-BattleMode.png|50px]]
|- bgcolor=#fff7f7 width=20%
!New Stages
!Retro Stages
|- align=center
|[[File:Honey Bee House.png|150px]]<br>[[Honeybee Hive]]<br><small>''Honeybee House''</small>
|[[File:Battlecourse1gbaMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[Battle Course 1 (GBA)|<small>GBA</small> Battle Course 1]]<br> <br>
|- align=center
|[[File:SherbetRink1.jpg|150px]]<br>[[Sherbet Rink]]
|[[File:BigDonutMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[Big Donut|<small>N64</small> Big Donut]]
|- align=center
|[[File:WuhuTownOverview.jpg|150px]]<br>[[Wuhu Town]]
|[[File:DS Palm Shore.png|150px]]<br>[[Palm Shore|<small>DS</small> Palm Shore]]
|}
{{br}}

==Vehicle customization==
[[File:MK7 Bolt Buggy Garage.png|frame|The vehicle customization menu allows the player to build his or her own kart, choosing the body, the tires, and the glider. Here, the player has selected [[Bowser]] as the character, the [[Bolt Buggy]] [[kart]], the [[Monster (tire)|Monster]] [[tire]]s, and the [[Parafoil|Paraglider]] [[glider]].]]
''Mario Kart 7'' introduces the option to personalize the player's vehicle before getting to the race. The player can select the body, the tires, and the glider to build the desired kart. By collecting many [[coin]]s from the races in Grand Prix mode, the player can unlock a new body, a new set of tires, or a new glider to use. It is possible to acquire a maximum of ten coins in a race. As the user chooses the parts, the stats may vary according to the parts' combination, and the vehicle will work better in particular situations. 

===Vehicle parts and stats===
:''For the in-game tables from which these values were derived and for the tables to translate those values into the actual statistics used by the game, see [[Mario Kart 7 in-game statistics]].''

Each part affects each kart's stats differently. There are 17 kart bodies, 10 tires, and 7 gliders for a grand total of 1,190 kart combinations. The stats are in units, called ''points'', that are out of 20, in each stat the points of the parts and of the driver are summed to give a number, called ''Level'', that will determine the actual values of the corresponding in-game stats. The Level is presented by the game's customization menu as ranging from 0.75 to 5.5 with increments of 0.25. However, only the Speed, Acceleration, Weight, Handling, and Off-Road stats are shown in said menu. The following is a list of the stats presented as difference with respect to the stats of standard parts (Standard Kart, Standard Tires, Super Glider), it shows the American kart names. If the kart has a different name in PAL regions, the PAL name will be put in parentheses under the American name. All kart parts are sorted based on how they're ordered in-game, starting with the standard parts.

{|border=1 cellpadding=3 style=background:#f5f5f5;text-align:center;width:100%;border-collapse:collapse align=center
|-
!colspan=13 bgcolor="#9c9c9c"|Vehicle Part Stats
|-
!colspan=13 bgcolor="#b8b8b8"|
==== Karts ====
|-
!width=15% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Kart
!width=10% colspan="3" bgcolor="#dedede"|Speed
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Acceleration
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Weight
!width=10% colspan="3" bgcolor="#dedede"|Handling
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Off-Road
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Mini-Turbo
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Stability
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Drift
|-
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Land
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Water
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Air
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Land
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Water
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Air
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Toad-Standard Kart.png|75px]]<br>[[Standard Kart#Mario_Kart_7|Standard]]*
| colspan="13" rowspan="1"|0
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Gold Kart.png|75px]]<br>[[Gold Standard#Mario_Kart_7|Gold Standard]]****<br><small>''(Gold Kart)''</small>
| +0.25
| 0
| -0.25
| -0.25
| +0.25
| 0
| 0
| 0
| -0.25
| -0.25
| 0
| -0.25
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Royal Ribbon.png|75px]]<br>[[Birthday Girl]]**/***<br><small>''(Royal Ribbon)''</small>
| -0.5
| +0.5
| +0.5
| +0.5
| -0.25
| +0.5
| +0.25
| +0.25
| -0.25
| +0.5
| 0
| +0.25
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Bumble V.png|75px]]<br>[[Bumble V]]
| 0
| 0
| +0.5
| +0.5
| -0.25
| -0.5
| 0
| +0.25
| +0.25
| +1.5
| 0
| +0.25
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Growlster.png|75px]]<br>[[Bruiser]]<br><small>''(Growlster)''</small>
| +0.5
| -0.5
| -0.25
| -0.25
| +0.25
| -0.5
| 0
| 0
| 0
| +0.5
| 0
| -0.25
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Soda Jet.png|75px]]<br>[[Soda Jet]]
| +0.25
| -0.5
| +0.5
| +0.25
| -0.25
| 0
| 0
| +0.25
| -0.25
| +0.5
| 0
| +0.25
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 B Dasher.png|75px]]<br>[[B Dasher|B Dasher]]
| +0.5
| -0.5
| 0
| -0.5
| 0
| +0.25
| 0
| 0
| -0.25
| 0
| 0
| 0
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Egg 1.png|75px]]<br>[[Egg 1|Egg 1]]
| -0.25
| +1.5
| +0.5
| +0.5
| -0.25
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| +0.5
| 0
| +0.25
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Barrel Train.png|75px]]<br>[[Barrel Train]]
| +0.25
| -0.75
| -0.25
| 0
| +0.25
| -0.5
| 0
| 0
| 0
| +1.5
| 0
| -0.25
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Tiny Tug.png|75px]]<br>[[Tiny Tug]]
| -0.5
| +1.5
| -0.25
| 0
| +0.25
| 0
| +0.5
| 0
| +0.25
| -0.5
| 0
| -0.25
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Cact-X.png|75px]]<br>[[Cact-X]]
| -0.25
| +0.5
| -0.25
| -0.25
| 0
| +0.25
| 0
| 0
| +0.25
| -0.5
| 0
| 0
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Koopa Clown.png|75px]]<br>[[Koopa Clown]]
| 0
| 0
| 0
| -0.25
| 0
| +0.5
| +0.25
| +0.25
| -0.25
| +1.5
| 0
| 0
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Cloud 9.png|75px]]<br>[[Cloud 9]]
| -0.5
| +1
| +0.5
| +0.25
| -0.25
| +0.5
| +0.5
| +0.25
| 0
| +0.5
| 0
| +0.25
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Zucchini.png|75px]]<br>[[Zucchini]]<br><small>''(Gherkin)''</small>
| +0.5
| -0.5
| -0.25
| -0.25
| 0
| -0.25
| 0
| 0
| 0
| -0.5
| 0
| 0
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Blue Seven.png|75px]]<br>[[Blue Seven]]
| +0.5
| 0
| -0.25
| -0.5
| +0.25
| -0.25
| 0
| 0
| 0
| -0.5
| 0
| -0.25
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Bolt Buggy.png|75px]]<br>[[Bolt Buggy]]
| +0.25
| -0.5
| -0.25
| -0.5
| +0.25
| -0.25
| 0
| 0
| +0.25
| 0
| 0
| -0.25
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Pipe Frame.png|75px]]<br>[[Pipe Frame]]*
| -0.25
| +1
| +0.5
| +0.25
| -0.25
| 0
| +0.25
| +0.25
| +0.25
| +0.5
| 0
| +0.25
|-
!colspan=13 bgcolor="#b8b8b8"|

==== Tires ====
|-
!width=15% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Tire
!width=10% colspan="3" bgcolor="#dedede"|Speed
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Acceleration
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Weight
!width=10% colspan="3" bgcolor="#dedede"|Handling
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Off-Road
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Mini-Turbo
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Stability
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Drift
|-
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Land
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Water
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Air
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Land
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Water
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Air
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Standard.png|50px]]<br>[[Standard (tire)|Standard]]<br><small>''(Normal)''</small>
| colspan="13" rowspan="1"|0
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Gold Tires.png|50px]]<br>[[Gold Tires]]****<br><small>''(Gold Wheels)''<br><small>
| +1
| -1
| 0
| -0.5
| +0.5
| -1.25
| 0
| -1
| -2.5
| 0
| 0
| -1
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Roller.png|50px]]<br>[[Roller]]
| -0.75
| +1
| +1
| +0.75
| -1
| +2
| +1.25
| +1
| -1.25
| +1
| +1
| -1
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Slim.png|50px]]<br>[[Slim (tire)|Slim]]
| -0.25
| 0
| 0
| +0.25
| -0.25
| +1.25
| +1.25
| 0
| -1.25
| -1
| +1
| +1
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Slick.png|50px]]<br>[[Slick]]
| +1
| -1
| 0
| -0.25
| +0.25
| -1.25
| -1.25
| 0
| -2.5
| 0
| 0
| +1
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Sponge Wheels.png|50px]]<br>[[Sponge]]
| -0.25
| -1
| +1
| +0.5
| -0.75
| 0
| -1.25
| +1
| 0
| 0
| 0
| +1
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Mushroom Wheels.png|50px]]<br>[[Mushroom (tire)|Mushroom]]
| +0.25
| 0
| 0
| -0.25
| -0.5
| +1.25
| 0
| 0
| -1.25
| 0
| 0
| -1
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Wood.png|50px]]<br>[[Wood]]<br><small>''(Wooden)''</small>
| -0.5
| +1
| +1
| +0.5
| -0.5
| +1.25
| +2.5
| +1
| 0
| -1
| +1
| +1
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Red Monster.png|50px]]<br>[[Red Monster]]
| +0.75
| -1
| 0
| -0.5
| +0.75
| -1.25
| -1.25
| -1
| +1.25
| +0.25
| -1
| -1
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Monster.png|50px]]<br>[[Monster (tire)|Monster]]
| +0.75
| -1
| 0
| -0.75
| +1
| -1.25
| -1.25
| -1
| +1.25
| 0
| -1
| 0
|-
!colspan=13 bgcolor="#b8b8b8"|

==== Gliders ====
|-
!width=15% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Glider
!width=10% colspan="3" bgcolor="#dedede"|Speed
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Acceleration
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Weight
!width=10% colspan="3" bgcolor="#dedede"|Handling
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Off-Road
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Mini-Turbo
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Stability
!width=10% rowspan="2" bgcolor="#dedede"|Drift
|-
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Land
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Water
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Air
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Land
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Water
!bgcolor="#dedede"|Air
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:Superglider.png|75px]]<br>[[Super Glider]]*
| colspan="13" rowspan="1"|0
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Gold Glider.png|75px]]<br>[[Gold Glider]]****
| colspan="13" rowspan="1"|0
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Peach Parasol.png|75px]]<br>[[Peach Parasol (glider)|Peach Parasol]]**
| 0
| 0
| -3
| +0.25
| -0.25
| 0
| 0
| +2
| 0
| +0.25
| 0
| -0.25
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Flower Glider.png|75px]]<br>[[Flower Glider]]
| 0
| 0
| -3
| +0.25
| -0.25
| 0
| 0
| +2
| 0
| +0.25
| 0
| -0.25
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Beast Glider.png|75px]]<br>[[Beast Glider]]<br><small>''(Ghastly Glider)''</small>
| colspan="13" rowspan="1"|0
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Swoop.png|75px]]<br>[[Swooper (glider)|Swooper]]<br><small>''(Swoop)''</small>
| 0
| 0
| -1.5
| +0.25
| -0.25
| 0
| 0
| +1
| 0
| +0.25
| 0
| -0.25
|-
! bgcolor="#ededed"|[[File:MK7 Paraglider.png|75px]]<br>[[Parafoil|Paraglider]]<br><small>''(Parafoil)''</small>
| 0
| 0
| -1.5
| +0.25
| -0.25
| 0
| 0
| +1
| 0
| +0.25
| 0
| -0.25
|-
!colspan=13 bgcolor="#dedede"|*Changes color, depending on the character.<br />**Changes color, only when used by female characters, excluding [[Princess Peach]] and female [[Mii]]'s.<br />***Male or gender-indeterminate CPU drivers never drive on the Birthday Girl body.<br />****CPU drivers never drive with Gold parts, except for Miis obtained via StreetPass from this game's Mario Kart Channel, if they are equipped.
|-
|}
{{br}}

===Unlocking criteria===
The only parts that are already unlocked are the [[Kart#Mario Kart 7|Standard]] kart, the [[Standard (tire)|Standard]] tires, the [[Super Glider]], and four random parts. Unlocking a different kart part requires a certain total of coins collected from every race in Grand Prix. Once the player has reached that amount, a random kart part is unlocked. The only exceptions to this rule are the gold parts and the Beast Glider.

====Random parts====
Players can unlock random parts by collecting the following coin values:

{|
|
*50
*100
*150
*200
*250
*300
|
*400
*500
*600
*700
*800
*900
|
*1,000
*1,200
*1,400
*1,600
*1,800
*2,000
|
*2,500
*3,000
*3,500
*4,000
*4,500
|}

====Special parts==== 
{|border=1 cellpadding=1 align=center style=background:#fff7f7;text-align:center;width:100%;border-collapse:collapse
|-
!Part
!Standard Criteria 
!Coin Criteria
|-
!Gold Standard
|Reach 10,000 VR.
|Collect 20,000 coins.
|- 
!Gold Tires 
|Obtain a minimum of one star ranking in all cups of every engine class.
|Collect 15,000 coins.
|- 
!Gold Glider 
|Reach 100 StreetPass hits.
|Collect 10,000 coins.
|-
!Gold Steering Wheel 
|Race in 100 races using gyro-controls in at least 80% of them.
|N/A
|-
!Beast Glider
|N/A
|Collect 5,000 coins. Its amount will decrease if players unlock kart parts via the StreetPass feature.
|}

==Ghosts==
Just like in ''Mario Kart Wii'', ''Mario Kart 7'' has '''Normal Staff [[Ghost (Mario Kart)|Ghosts]]''' and '''Expert Staff Ghosts''', which appear in the Time Trials game mode.<ref name="ghost">http://www.gamefaqs.com/3ds/997822-mario-kart-7/faqs/63593</ref> The Normal Staff Ghosts are available at the start, but when the player gets a time higher than the Normal Staff Ghost of a track, the Expert Staff Ghost of the same track will be unlocked.

===Normal Staff Ghosts===
{| border=1 style="text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse" width=70% align=center
|- bgcolor=#fff7f7
!width=15% rowspan=2|Course
!width=10% rowspan=2|Staff Name
!width=5% rowspan=2|Time
!width=10% rowspan=2|Character
!width=30% colspan=3|Vehicle Combination
|- bgcolor=#fff7f7
!width=10%|Body
!width=10%|Tires
!width=10%|Glider
|-
!Toad Circuit
|Nin★KATIE
|01:35.135
|Toad
|Standard
|Standard
|Super Glider
|-
!Daisy Hills
|Nin★Terui♪
|02:06.351
|Daisy
|Birthday Girl
|Roller
|Peach Parasol
|-
!Cheep Cheep Lagoon
|Nin★Gonta♪
|01:53.758
|Peach
|Birthday Girl
|Roller
|Peach Parasol
|-
!Shy Guy Bazaar
|Ret★TEAGUE
|02:31.167
|Shy Guy
|Standard
|Roller
|Super Glider
|-
!Wuhu Loop
|Ret★Bryan
|01:44.287
|Peach
|Standard
|Sponge
|Peach Parasol
|-
!Mario Circuit
|Nin★Miki★
|02:25.001
|Mario
|Standard
|Standard
|Super Glider
|-
!Music Park
|Nin★wtnbt
|02:19.336
|Rosalina
|Birthday Girl
|Roller
|Super Glider
|-
!Rock Rock Mountain
|Nin★Morimo
|02:35.105
|Wiggler
|Standard
|Red Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!Piranha Plant Slide
|Nin★tBando
|02:20.186
|Lakitu
|Standard
|Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!Wario Shipyard
|Nin★Miyamo
|02:26.268
|Wario
|Bolt Buggy
|Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!Neo Bowser City
|Ret★Chuck
|02:11.032
|Metal Mario
|Standard
|Standard
|Super Glider
|-
!Maka Wuhu
|Ret★Reed
|01:50.607
|Yoshi
|Bumble V
|Sponge
|Paraglider
|-
!DK Jungle
|Ret★Derek
|02:24.040
|Donkey Kong
|Bolt Buggy
|Red Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!Rosalina's Ice World
|Ret★RLingo
|02:25.784
|Rosalina
|Standard
|Sponge
|Paraglider
|-
!Bowser's Castle
|Ret★Matt M
|02:34.815
|Bowser
|Standard
|Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!Rainbow Road
|Nin★Takamu
|02:10.090
|Honey Queen
|Birthday Girl
|Slim
|Peach Parasol
|-
!<small>N64</small> Luigi Raceway
|Nin★McCoy
|02:04.317
|Luigi
|Standard
|Slick
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>GBA</small> Bowser Castle 1
|Nin★Hayata
|01:31.030
|Bowser
|Pipe Frame
|Standard
|Beast Glider
|-
!<small>Wii</small> Mushroom Gorge
|Nin★Kataok
|02:02.292
|Toad
|Cloud 9
|Mushroom
|Paraglider
|-
!<small>DS</small> Luigi's Mansion
|Nin★Konno
|02:09.982
|Luigi
|Zucchini
|Slim
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>N64</small> Koopa Beach
|Ret★Amanda
|01:54.274
|Koopa Troopa
|Pipe Frame
|Standard
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>SNES</small> Mario Circuit 2
|Nin★ITRO-S
|01:28.106
|Mario
|Pipe Frame
|Standard
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>Wii</small> Coconut Mall
|Ret★Thomas
|02:30.117
|Honey Queen
|Standard
|Slim
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>DS</small> Waluigi Pinball
|Ret★Bill
|02:44.372
|Wario
|Standard
|Slick
|Swooper
|-
!<small>N64</small> Kalimari Desert
|Nin★Nishim
|02:01.932
|Shy Guy
|Cact-X
|Wood
|Swooper
|-
!<small>DS</small> DK Pass
|Ret★Sean
|02:35.045
|Donkey Kong
|Barrel Train
|Wood
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>GCN</small> Daisy Cruiser
|Nin★Dai8
|01:49.564
|Daisy
|Pipe Frame
|Sponge
|Peach Parasol
|-
!<small>Wii</small> Maple Treeway
|Nin★Asakaw
|02:53.560
|Wiggler
|Standard
|Wood
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>Wii</small> Koopa Cape
|Ret★Quinn
|02:49.046
|Koopa Troopa
|Standard
|Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>GCN</small> Dino Dino Jungle
|Nin★iwaco
|02:29.837
|Yoshi
|Egg 1
|Roller
|Paraglider
|-
!<small>DS</small> Airship Fortress
|Nin★OBSHNN
|02:23.323
|Metal Mario
|Zucchini
|Slick
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>SNES</small> Rainbow Road
|Nin★YABUKI
|01:34.459
|Lakitu
|Pipe Frame
|Slim
|Super Glider
|-
|}

===Expert Staff Ghosts===
{| border=1 style="text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse" width=70% align=center
|- bgcolor=#fff7f7
!width=15% rowspan=2|Course
!width=10% rowspan=2|Staff Name
!width=5% rowspan=2|Time
!width=10% rowspan=2|Character
!width=30% colspan=3|Vehicle Combination
|- bgcolor=#fff7f7
!width=10%|Body
!width=10%|Tires
!width=10%|Glider
|-
!Toad Circuit
|Nin★ishi
|01:26.632
|Toad
|Standard
|Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!Daisy Hills
|Nin★SASAKI
|01:51.111
|Daisy
|Birthday Girl
|Sponge
|Super Glider
|-
!Cheep Cheep Lagoon
|Nin★Tkdr
|01:42.011
|Peach
|Tiny Tug
|Roller
|Peach Parasol
|-
!Shy Guy Bazaar
|Ret★RWO
|02:14.714
|Shy Guy
|Pipe Frame
|Monster
|Paraglider
|-
!Wuhu Loop
|Nin★nkm
|01:32.854
|Peach
|Pipe Frame
|Slick
|Peach Parasol
|-
!Mario Circuit
|Nin★raba
|02:10.018
|Mario
|B Dasher
|Slick
|Super Glider
|-
!Music Park
|Nin★Masa
|02:07.511
|Rosalina
|Soda Jet
|Roller
|Paraglider
|-
!Rock Rock Mountain
|Nin★Hiroma
|02:19.149
|Wiggler
|Standard
|Mushroom
|Flower Glider
|-
!Piranha Plant Slide
|Nin★JIKU
|02:06.540
|Lakitu
|Cloud 9
|Sponge
|Paraglider
|-
!Wario Shipyard
|Nin★syun1
|02:12.313
|Wario
|Bruiser
|Slim
|Beast Glider
|-
!Neo Bowser City
|Ret★Matt M
|01:58.996
|Metal Mario
|Blue Seven
|Monster
|Paraglider
|-
!Maka Wuhu
|Nin★Chucky
|01:39.361
|Yoshi
|Standard
|Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!DK Jungle
|Ret★Dupree
|02:10.777
|Donkey Kong
|Standard
|Wood
|Swooper
|-
!Rosalina's Ice World
|Ret★Dax
|02:13.091
|Rosalina
|Zucchini
|Red Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!Bowser's Castle
|Ret★Tom
|02:15.244
|Bowser
|Bruiser
|Red Monster
|Beast Glider
|-
!Rainbow Road
|Nin★Asakur
|01:52.077
|Honey Queen
|Bumble V
|Standard
|Flower Glider
|-
!<small>N64</small> Luigi Raceway
|Nin★miyakw
|01:52.206
|Luigi
|Pipe Frame
|Slick
|Paraglider
|-
!<small>GBA</small> Bowser Castle 1
|Nin★hokwai
|01:22.221
|Bowser
|Koopa Clown
|Roller
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>Wii</small> Mushroom Gorge
|Ret★Jay
|01:50.526
|Toad
|Pipe Frame
|Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>DS</small> Luigi's Mansion
|Ret★Vince
|01:58.539
|Luigi
|Egg 1
|Monster
|Paraglider
|-
!<small>N64</small> Koopa Beach
|Nin★ueda
|01:42.909
|Koopa Troopa
|Soda Jet
|Sponge
|Paraglider
|-
!<small>SNES</small> Mario Circuit 2
|Nin★==Kony
|01:17.777
|Mario
|B Dasher
|Slick
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>Wii</small> Coconut Mall
|Ret★RyanP
|02:14.167
|Honey Queen
|Koopa Clown
|Sponge
|Paraglider
|-
!<small>DS</small> Waluigi Pinball
|Nin★Nahhr
|02:27.574
|Wario
|Bruiser
|Slim
|Beast Glider
|-
!<small>N64</small> Kalimari Desert
|Nin★KOZ★
|01:48.707
|Shy Guy
|Bolt Buggy
|Red Monster
|Beast Glider
|-
!<small>DS</small> DK Pass
|Nin★MaTU
|02:16.534
|Donkey Kong
|Bolt Buggy
|Red Monster
|Paraglider
|-
!<small>GCN</small> Daisy Cruiser
|Ret★Carlos
|01:43.341
|Daisy
|Tiny Tug
|Sponge
|Peach Parasol
|-
!<small>Wii</small> Maple Treeway
|Ret★Bill
|02:34.877
|Wiggler
|Egg 1
|Sponge
|Flower Glider
|-
!<small>Wii</small> Koopa Cape
|Ret★Shane
|02:28.585
|Koopa Troopa
|Cact-X
|Standard
|Flower Glider
|-
!<small>GCN</small> Dino Dino Jungle
|Ret★Will
|02:14.430
|Yoshi
|Egg 1
|Monster
|Paraglider
|-
!<small>DS</small> Airship Fortress
|Ret★Shane
|02:07.704
|Metal Mario
|Standard
|Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>SNES</small> Rainbow Road
|Nin★SRIWtm
|01:21.994
|Lakitu
|Cloud 9
|Roller
|Paraglider
|-
|}

==Update history==
[[File:MK7_online_multiplayer.png|thumb|left|After the update, ''Ver. 1.1'' can be seen on the ''Online Multiplayer'' button.]]
''Mario Kart 7'' is the first Nintendo 3DS game to use the system's ability to patch games, spurred by significant shortcut exploits found on certain courses. Updating is free, with the data being categorized as 3DS Add-On Content; the patches can be deleted at any time and have no effect in offline play, but are mandatory to play online. An SD Card is required to download the patches, however.

;Version 1.1 of May 15, 2012 (43 SD Card blocks)
:Resolved shortcut exploits for Wuhu Loop, Maka Wuhu, and GBA Bowser Castle 1 when playing online. Does not affect offline play; the exploits remain in Single Player and Local Multiplayer, and Ghosts that used these exploits are unaffected.
:Starting on May 15, 2012, all players must download this update to access Online Multiplayer.
{{br|left}}

==[[Nintendo 3DS#Nintendo eShop|Nintendo eShop]] description==
:''The newest installment of the fan-favorite Mario Kart™ franchise brings Mushroom Kingdom racing fun into glorious 3D. For the first time, drivers explore new competitive kart possibilities such as soaring through the skies or plunging into the depths of the sea. New courses, strategic new abilities and customizable karts bring the racing excitement to new heights!''

==Reception==
===Critical reception===
The game has received generally positive reviews. As of December 12, 2013, Metacritic has an average score of 85, including 64 positive reviews, and 9 mixed.<ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/game/3ds/mario-kart-7 Metacritic score of ''Mario Kart 7''] ''Metacritic''. Retrieved December 12, 2013.</ref> GameRankings has an average score of 85.17% based on 50 reviews.<ref>[http://www.gamerankings.com/3ds/997822-mario-kart-7/index.html GameRankings score of ''Mario Kart 7''] ''GameRankings''. Retrieved December 12, 2013.</ref> Critics generally praise the new glider and underwater mechanic that the game adds, but often cite how similarly it feels to past entries of the ''Mario Kart'' series.

GameXplain has given the game's Multiplayer 4.5 stars out of 5, and Single-Player a 3.5 out of 5.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWuxbTmdVQA</ref> Audrey Drake of IGN gave the game a 9.0/10. She criticized the character roster for being small and the potential of the Spiny Shell "screwing up" the race, but she praised the innovation and the polish the game provides.<ref>Drake, Audrey (Nov 29, 2011) [http://ds.ign.com/articles/121/1213485p1.html ''Mario Kart 7'' Review] ''IGN''. Retrieved December 11, 203.</ref><ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16D9OXFzRJc&feature=channel_video_title</ref> Griffin McElroy of Joystiq gave it 4.5 stars out of 5. He praised the game for being well-polished with only a few flaws, noting the Spiny Shell as "unavoidable race-ruining bullshit".<ref>McElroy, Griffin (November 29th 2011) [http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/mario-kart-7-review/ Mario Kart 7 review: An exercise in fun/frustration] ''Joystiq''. Retrieved December 11, 203.</ref> Adam Biessener of Gameinformer gave it an 8.5/10. He praised the first person view, the new tracks, and the new glider and underwater features while criticizing the Battle Mode, and online modes "being a distraction rather than a destination".<ref>Biessener, Adam (November 29, 2011) [http://www.gameinformer.com/games/mario_kart_7/b/3ds/archive/2011/11/29/review.aspx Solid Tweaks, Cool Tracks, Same Design] ''GameInformer''. Retrieved December 11, 203.</ref> 1up gave it a B- grade. Tom McShea of Gamespot gave it a 8/10. He remarked that the game has "been the same as previous entries of the series, but the innovations have kept it fresh", while criticizing the online structure and lack of mission mode.<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/mario-kart-7/reviews/mario-kart-7-review-6346887?tag=games%3Bgame_title%3B1 Mario Kart 7 review] ''Gamespot''. (broken link)</ref> Justin Towell on Gamesradar gave it a perfect 10/10. He praised the fanservice and how "anyone can pick up and enjoy" the game.<ref>Towelle, Justin (July 2, 2012) [http://www.gamesradar.com/mario-kart-7-review/?page=1 ''Mario Kart 7'' review] ''GamesRadar''. Retrieved December 11, 203.</ref> However, Jim Sterling of Destructoid rated the game a 5.0/10, criticizing how this game is "practically the same as any other game in the ''Mario Kart'' series". He ended it with, "Mario Kart is in need of a severe shake up. This stagnant, crawling, and indolent effort is not it".<ref>Sterling, Jim (November 29, 2011) [http://www.destructoid.com/review-mario-kart-7-216484.phtml Review: Mario Kart 7] ''Destructoid''. Retrieved December 11, 2013.</ref>

{|cellpadding="4" style="float:left; border: 2px solid black; width:100%; font-size: 100%; text-align: center; margin:5px;" class="wikitable review_template"
!colspan="4" style="font-size:120%; text-align: center; background-color:silver"|Reviews
|-style="background-color:#E6E6E6"
|Release
|Reviewer, Publication
|Score
|Comment
|-
|Nintendo 3DS
|Audrey Drake, [http://ds.ign.com/articles/121/1213485p1.html IGN]
|9/10
|align="left"|"''Overall [Mario Kart 7 is] a well-polished experience that fans of the kart-racing genre - or of the Mushroom Kingdom - should not hesitate to pick up.''"
|-
|Nintendo 3DS
|Marc Camron, [http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/egm-review-mario-kart-7/ EGM]
|9/10
|align="left"|"''Mario and pals return to get their race on. Featuring great graphics, amazing tracks and some hilarious new power-ups, the game shows that the series is a long way away from running its course.''"
|-
|Nintendo 3DS
|Neal Ronaghan, [http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/28552/mario-kart-7-nintendo-3ds Nintendo World Report]
|8.5/10
|align="left"|"''Mario Kart 7 isn’t a huge leap forward for the series. Instead, it’s another damn fine iteration in a proven series. You’ll still be upset when you’re “Mario Karted” by a blue shell followed up by a red shell and a bomb, but the winning online play and gameplay polish make Mario Kart 7 a must-have for all 3DS owners.''"
|-
|Nintendo 3DS
|Griffin McElroy, [http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/mario-kart-7-review/ Joystiq]
|4.5/5
|align="left"|"''Mario Kart 7 is an exquisitely polished game with few flaws.''"
|-
|Nintendo 3DS
|Adam Biessener,<br>[http://www.gameinformer.com/games/mario_kart_7/b/3ds/archive/2011/11/29/review.aspx Game Informer]
|8/10
|align="left"|"''Mario Kart 7 isn’t 100 percent golden, nor is it going to make believers out of anyone who wrote off the series years ago. Taken on the whole, though, this is one of the best entries in the series. As a fan, I’m thoroughly pleased.''"
|-
|Nintendo 3DS
|Justin Towell, [http://www.gamesradar.com/mario-kart-7-review/ GamesRadar]
|5/5
|align="left"|"''Mario Kart 7 is THE game the 3DS has been in dire need of. Sadly, it raises the bar so high for almost everything else, most 3DS games don't even look like they belong on the same system. Get it now.''"
|-
|Nintendo 3DS
|Jim Sterling, [http://www.destructoid.com/review-mario-kart-7-216484.phtml Destructoid]
|5/10
|align="left"|"''Mario Kart 7 is as derivative as a game can get, and while we pour scorn on so many other games for rehashing themselves, something tells me this will get a free pass from many critics and gamers. That strikes me as ironic since Mario Kart 7 is the one game I'd hold up as the least deserving of any kind of leniency. It being an unadventurous and predictable retread, however, is only half of Mario Kart 7's problem. The other half is the fact that it's a lethargic and mundane game, easily outpaced by games that could be considered knock-offs of the formula Nintendo itself perfected.''"
|-
!colspan="4" style="background-color:silver; font-size:120%; text-align: center;"|Aggregators
|-style="background-color:#E6E6E6"
|colspan=2|Compiler
|colspan=2|Platform / Score
|-
|colspan=2|Metacritic
|colspan=2 style="background-color:limegreen"|[http://www.metacritic.com/game/3ds/mario-kart-7 85]
|-
|colspan=2|GameRankings
|colspan=2|[http://www.gamerankings.com/3ds/997822-mario-kart-7/index.html 85.17%]
|}
{{br}}

===Sales===
The game sold over 420,000 units in its first 4 days in Japan.<ref>http://www.vgchartz.com/game/45691/mario-kart-7/Japan/</ref> As of March 31, 2014, ''Mario Kart 7'' is the 2nd best selling game for the [[Nintendo 3DS]], having sold about 9.62 million copies worldwide, and also the best selling ''Mario'' game on the 3DS.

==Gallery==
{{main-gallery}}
<gallery>
MarioGlider3DS.PNG|[[Mario]] gliding in air.
Luigi MK7.png|[[Luigi]] and his Bolt Buggy kart.
MK7 Yoshi.png|[[Yoshi]] in the Bumble V.
Shy Guy MK7.png|[[Shy Guy]] and his standard kart.
MK7 Groupart.png|[[Mario]], [[Bowser]], [[Princess Peach|Peach]], [[Luigi]], [[Yoshi]], [[Donkey Kong]], and [[Lakitu]].
MK3DS1.png|[[Mario]] on [[Mario Circuit (3DS)|his own circuit]].
</gallery>
{{br}}

==Pre-release and unused content==
{{main|List of Mario Kart 7 pre-release and unused content}}

The ''7'' in the original logo featured a different design than the final logo. Original demos featured many elements from ''Mario Kart Wii'', such as menu music, [[Dash Panel]] textures and a winged [[Spiny Shell (blue)|Spiny Shell]]. Several tracks shown in early trailers lacked details shown in the final version, such as the lack [[Wiggler]]s in [[Maple Treeway|<small>Wii</small> Maple Treeway]] and the lack of ramps in [[Wuhu Loop]], [[Mario Circuit (3DS)|Mario Circuit]] and [[Rock Rock Mountain]].

<gallery>
MK7logo.png|The original logo, featuring the seven's different design.
MK3DS4.png|An early version of [[Mario Circuit (3DS)|Mario Circuit]], with missing ramps.
KalamariDesertKart7.png|An early version of [[Kalimari Desert|<small>N64</small> Kalimari Desert]], featuring more cacti than the final version.
</gallery>

==Media==
{{main|List of media from Mario Kart 7}}
{{media table
|type1=audio
|name1=MK7 Theme2
|pipe1=Mario Kart 7
|description1=The game's main theme.
|length1=3:04}}

==Glitches==
{{main|List of Mario Kart 7 glitches}}
Some of the most well known glitches are found in [[Wuhu Loop]], [[Maka Wuhu]] and [[Bowser Castle 1 (GBA)|GBA Bowser Castle 1]], if executed correctly they allow the driver to skip sections of the track. On May 15, 2012 an update was released that made these glitches unusable in multiplayer, but they are still available while playing offline.

==Staff==
{{main|List of Mario Kart 7 staff}}
[[Nintendo EAD|Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development]] developed ''Mario Kart 7'', with [[Retro Studios]] as Co-Developers and Artists. Retro Studios was also responsible for contributing to the ''Donkey Kong series'' attributes in the game, mainly the [[DK Jungle (Mario Kart)|DK Jungle]] track. The music composition is credited to [[Kenta Nagata]] and Satomi Terui. [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] and [[Satoru Iwata]] were the game's general and executive producers respectively.

==References to other games==
*''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'': The [[Fire Flower]] appears for the first time as a usable item that throws fireballs. The layout of the course [[Piranha Plant Slide]] greatly resembles the tile sprites from this game.
*''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'': The [[Shy Guy Bazaar]] course makes references to the elements from this game such as the addition of [[Magic Carpet]]s (being ridden by Shy Guys) and [[vase]]s in their original colors.
*''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'': The [[Super Leaf]] appears as an item, and the [[Angry Sun]] appears on a blanket in [[Shy Guy Bazaar]].
*''[[Super Mario Kart]]'': The [[Pipe Frame]] returns from this game, however it uses the dual exhaust design from ''Mario Kart 64'' instead of the single exhaust from ''Super Mario Kart''. [[Mario Circuit 2]] and [[Rainbow Road]] return as retro courses. Collecting coins also returns from this game.
*''[[Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3]]'': A small portion of Wario Shipyard's music is a remix of this game's main theme.
*''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'': DK Jungle's music is a remix of the [[Jungle Hijinxs (Donkey Kong Country)|Jungle Hijinxs]] theme from this game.
*''[[Mario Kart 64]]'': Some musical pieces are remixes from this game such as the main title screen, the results screen and [[Rainbow Road]]. A segment of the theme for the course [[Toad's Turnpike]] can be heard in the newer course, [[Neo Bowser City]]. [[Chomps]] appear in [[Rainbow Road (3DS)| Rainbow Road]] similar to how they appear in [[Rainbow Road (N64)|Rainbow Road]] from that game. [[Luigi Raceway]], [[Koopa Troopa Beach]], and [[Kalimari Desert]] return as retro courses, plus [[Big Donut]] returns as a playable battle course.
*''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'': [[Bowser Castle 1 (GBA)|Bowser Castle 1]] returns as a retro course, plus [[Battle Course 1]] returns as a playable battle arena. 
*''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'': The possible [[Toad]] artwork can be seen on Toad Circuit on the Mario Kart banner near the starting line.
*''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'': Part of the [[Bowser's Castle (3DS)|Bowser's Castle]] and Rainbow Road themes are based on their respective themes originating from this game. Some voice clips are reused. Also, the [[Barrel Train]] returns from this game. [[Daisy Cruiser (course)|Daisy Cruiser]] and [[Dino Dino Jungle]] return as retro courses, and finally, the 3-2-1 starting countdown returns with a new design.
*''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP]]'': The way that [[coin]]s give the kart a small boost upon being collected originated from this game.
*''[[Mario Kart DS]]'': The [[Egg 1]] and [[B Dasher]] return from this game as kart parts. [[Luigi's Mansion (place)|Luigi's Mansion]], [[Waluigi Pinball (course)|Waluigi Pinball]], [[DK Pass]], and [[Airship Fortress]] return as retro courses, plus [[Palm Shore]] returns as a playable battle arena. During multiplayer with someone who doesn't have the game, [[Shy Guy]] becomes their automatic character like in this game.
*''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'': The playable Lakitu's artwork in ''Mario Kart 7'' is a color swapped version of Lakitu's artwork from this game. Koopa Troopa's artwork is also reused from the game.
*''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'': The [[Comet Observatory]] and the starting planet of [[Gateway Galaxy]] appear in the background in the course [[Rosalina's Ice World]]. A part of [[Space Junk Galaxy]]'s music is also remixed in the course. [[Rosalina]] and [[Queen Bee|Honey Queen]] both originate from this game.
*''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'': Most of the gameplay in ''Mario Kart 7'' is based off of this game. The first part of the Award Ceremony music is from the said installment as well. Minecarts from [[Wario's Gold Mine]] can be seen on [[Wario Shipyard]]. Tricks return from this game. The menu selection music is based on said music from this game. The roster and map sprites also return from this game. Some voice clips are reused. [[Mushroom Gorge]], [[Coconut Mall]], [[Maple Treeway]], and [[Koopa Cape]] return as retro courses.
*''[[Mario Super Sluggers]]'': Some of [[Wiggler]]'s voice clips are taken from this game.
*''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns]]'': DK Jungle is based on and includes elements from this game.
*''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'': The new look for the Super Leaf introduced in this game is shown as one of the newest items for the ''Mario Kart'' series and used as the logo for the [[Leaf Cup]]. Also, the bush and [[Goomba]] [[Board (Super Mario 3D Land)|Boards]] reappear in Piranha Plant Slide.

==References in later games==
*''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]'': Gameplay elements such as the glider and underwater racing return in this game.
*''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]'': [[Donkey Kong]] plays this game during his idle animation. Also, he is confirmed as playing as himself.
*''[[Mario Golf: World Tour]]'': The countdown timer and the signal light returns in Speed Golf to signal the start of the first hole.
*''[[Mario Kart 8]]'': The Wii U follow-up includes various elements from this game. [[Music Park]], [[Piranha Plant Slide]], and [[DK Jungle (Mario Kart)|DK Jungle]] return as this game's retro tracks. The glider and underwater racing mechanics return. Customization returns as well. Some vehicle bodies, tires, and gliders from ''Mario Kart 7'' return also. [[Neo Bowser City]] returns as a downloadable retro course.
**''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'': The [[Koopa Clown]] kart body returns. [[Wuhu Town]] returns as a retro battle course. [[Lunar Colony]] has a moon section with low gravity just like Rainbow Road.
*''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'': [[Rainbow Road (3DS)|Rainbow Road]] appears as a stage in this game. The Rainbow Road theme music can play on the aforementioned stage, along with a remix of Rainbow Road themes from handheld ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' games. In addition, various trophies reference content from this game.
*''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'': The Rainbow Road theme, a remix of Rainbow Road themes from handheld ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' games, and a remix of this game's Circuit theme appear as music tracks for the Mario Circuit stage. Various trophies reference content from this game.

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=マリオカート７
|JapR=Mario Kāto 7
|JapM=Mario Kart 7
|Kor=마리오 카트 ７
|KorR=Mario Kateu 7
|KorM=Mario Kart 7
|Chi=瑪利歐賽車７ (Traditional)<br>''Mǎlìōu Sàichē 7''<br>马力欧卡丁车７ (Simplified)<br>''Mǎlìōu Kǎdīngchē 7''
|ChiM=Mario Racing 7 (Traditional)<br><br>Mario Karting Car 7 (Simplified)<br><br>
}}

==Trivia==
*The Nitro Courses use the current ''Mario Kart'' logo on their starting banners, while Retro Courses still use the classic logo.
*When unlocking a new kart part, if the player goes to the Mario Kart Channel to change parts, no jingle sound will play and the gift icon will not be there. However, it will still appear when going into the Grand Prix or Time Trials.
*Some tracks have differences between single player and multiplayer (both local and online). An example is Mario Circuit having a different coin placement in the castle section.
*This is the only ''Mario Kart'' game that doesn't have its corresponding year of release on the title screen.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N36jPMZWyAA Launch Trailer]
*[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/3ds/amkj/index.html Official Japanese Website]
*[http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/games/nintendo_3ds/mario_kart_7_44817.html Official European Website]
*[http://gamesites.nintendo.com.au/mario-kart-7/ Official Oceanian Website]
*[http://mariokart7.nintendo.com/ Official American Website]
*[http://nintendo.co.kr/3DS/software/mariokart7/index.php Official Korean Website]
*[http://www.nintendo.com.hk/mk7/ Official Chinese (Hong Kong) Website]
*[http://www.nintendo.com.tw/mk7/ Official Chinese (Taiwan) Website]
*[http://www.ique.com/3ds/amkj/index.html Official Chinese (China) Website]
{{MK7}}
{{MarioGames}}
{{3DS}}
{{WiFi}}
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[[Category:Mario Kart 7|*]]
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Racing Games]]
[[Category:2011 games]]
[[Category:2012 games]]
[[Category:Nintendo 3DS Games]]
[[Category:Games with Wi-Fi Connection]]