Editing Super Mario Kart

{{FA}}
{{italic title}}
{{about|the game for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]|the microgame from [[WarioWare Gold]] of the same name|[[Super Mario Kart (microgame)]]|the musical composition from the game's title screen|[[Super Mario Kart (theme)]]}}
{{distinguish|Super Mario Kart Tour}}
{{redirect|SMK|the manga|[[Super Mario-kun]]}}
{{game infobox
|image=[[File:Super Mario Kart NA box art.png|250px]]<br>North American box art
|developer=[[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development|Nintendo EAD]]
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|release='''SNES:'''<br>{{flag list|Japan|August 27, 1992<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/shvc/mk/index.html|title=スーパーマリオカート|publisher=Nintendo Co., Ltd.|language=ja|accessdate=January 13, 2025}}</ref>|USA|September 1, 1992<ref>Nintendo Switch Online app</ref>|Europe|January 21, 1993|Brazil|August 30, 1993<ref>{{cite|url=https://acervo.estadao.com.br/publicados/1993/08/30/g/19930830-36475-nac-0064-inf-30-not-qhksphk.jpg|title=''Nintendo chega hoje ao mercado''|publisher=O Estado de S. Paulo|language=pt-br|date=August 30, 1993|accessdate=January 18, 2025}}</ref>}}'''Player's Choice:'''<br>{{flag list|USA|May 20, 1996}} '''Virtual Console (Wii):'''<br>{{flag list|Japan|June 9, 2009|USA|November 23, 2009|Europe|April 2, 2010|Australia|April 2, 2010}} '''Virtual Console (Wii U):'''<br>{{flag list|Japan|June 19, 2013|Europe|March 27, 2014|Australia|March 28, 2014|USA|August 6, 2014}} '''Virtual Console (New 3DS):'''<br>{{flag list|Europe|March 17, 2016|Australia|March 18, 2016|USA|March 24, 2016|Japan|May 9, 2016}} '''Super NES Classic Edition:'''<br>{{flag list|USA|September 29, 2017|Europe|September 29, 2017|Australia|September 30, 2017|Japan|October 5, 2017}} '''Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online:'''<br>{{flag list|USA|September 5, 2019<ref>{{cite|author=Nintendo|date=September 4, 2019|url=youtu.be/8TVE44feo_I?t=1386|title=Nintendo Direct 9.4.2019|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=September 4, 2019}}</ref>|Japan|September 6, 2019<ref>{{cite|author=Nintendo|date=September 4, 2019|url=youtu.be/IjZbFWW23d0?t=3568|title=Nintendo Direct 2019.9.5|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=September 4, 2019}}</ref>|Europe|September 6, 2019<ref>{{cite|url=x.com/NintendoEurope/status/1169375812610592769|title=Tweet by Nintendo of Europe (Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online release date)|publisher=X|accessdate=September 4, 2019}}</ref>|Australia|September 6, 2019<ref>{{cite|url=x.com/NintendoAUNZ/status/1169378280031436800|title=Tweet by Nintendo AU NZ (Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online release date)|publisher=X|accessdate=September 4, 2019}}</ref>|HK|September 6, 2019|South Korea|September 6, 2019}} '''''Fully souped up!'':'''<br>{{flag list|Japan|May 26, 2021|USA|May 26, 2021|Europe|May 26, 2021|Australia|May 26, 2021}}
|languages={{languages|en_us=y|jp=y}}
|genre=[[Genre#Racing games|Racing]]
|modes=1–2 players
|ratings='''SNES:'''{{ratings|esrb=K-A|grac=all}} '''Virtual Console:'''{{ratings|esrb=E|pegi=3|cero=A|acb=G|usk=0|classind=L}}
|platforms=[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Virtual Console]] ([[Wii]], [[Wii U]], [[Nintendo 3DS#New Nintendo 3DS/New Nintendo 3DS XL|New 3DS]]), [[Classics#Super NES Classic Edition|Super NES Classic Edition]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online]]
|format={{format|snes=1|wiidl=1|wiiudl=1|3dsdl=1|snesclassic=1|switchdl=1}}
|input={{input|snes=1|classic=1|wiigcn=1|wiiu=1|wiiuclassic=1|wiiupro=1|3ds=1|snesclassic=1|joy-con=1|joy-con-horizontal=1|switchpro=1|switchsnes=1|switchnes=1}}
|serials={{flag list|Japan|SHVC-MK}}
}}
'''''Super Mario Kart''''' is a [[Genre#Racing games|racing game]] for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]. The game was first released in 1992 and rereleased in 1996 as a [[Player's Choice]] title, being the first title in the lineup. Unlike the other racing games at the time, which focused on single-player racing with more complicated tracks, ''Super Mario Kart'' was focused on two players and was designed to be an easy and intuitive "pick up and play" experience that heavily involves the use of acquiring weapons on an obstacle course-like track to impede another player's progress. The development of a one-on-one [[Battle Mode]] was invented as another way to enjoy the competitive aspects of the game. Another notable aspect of the game is its {{wp|Mode 7}} graphics, where the game simulates a 3D plane by rotating and scaling a background graphic on a scanline-by-scanline basis, allowing players to simulate driving in a 3D environment. Much of this game is heavily based on ''[[Super Mario World]]'', with both graphics and general themes being taken from that game; this includes sprites reusing ''Super Mario World''{{'}}s assets and music cues rearranging its melodies.

The game's success spawned the hugely influential ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series, while also helping to pioneer the [[kart]]-racing genre. The game's success has also influenced the greater [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]], with elements from it appearing throughout it. Examples of these kinds of elements include a [[Mount Must Dash|level designed after ''Super Mario Kart''{{'}}s courses]] appearing in ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'', item-based battles in multiple ''Mario'' sports games, [[Rainbow Road]] making an appearance in ''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]'', and an entire scene dedicated to ''Mario Kart'' in ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]''. ''Super Mario Kart''{{'}}s use of a wider cast of characters such as [[Bowser]] and [[Princess Peach|Peach]] was the first of many multiplayer-oriented ''Super Mario'' spin-off titles that included a diverse, playable cast of ''Super Mario'' characters such as those from the [[Mario Tennis (series)|''Mario Tennis'' series]] and [[Mario Party (series)|''Mario Party'' series]]. Additionally, the game has been ranked as one of the greatest games of all time by various organizations due to its aforementioned legacy and its ground-breaking gameplay.

''Super Mario Kart'' was rereleased on the [[Wii]]'s [[Virtual Console#Wii|Virtual Console]] in 2009–2010, on the [[Wii U]]'s [[Virtual Console#Wii U|Virtual Console]] in 2013–2014, and on the [[Nintendo 3DS#New Nintendo 3DS/New Nintendo 3DS XL|New Nintendo 3DS]]'s [[Virtual Console#Nintendo 3DS|Virtual Console]] in 2016. It is one of the 21 titles included on the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System#Super NES Classic Edition|Super NES Classic Edition]] and is one of the 20 launch titles for [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online]], which also released a special version titled ''Super Mario Kart: Fully souped up!'' with 150cc and the [[Special Cup]] unlocked on May 26, 2021.
==Gameplay==
[[File:SMK Title Screen.png|thumb|left|Title screen for ''Super Mario Kart'']]
Players select a ''Super Mario'' character out of a cast of eight [[#Drivers|characters]] with which to race (or battle in Battle Mode) against opponents; each racer has their own stats which determine how they control, though these are not displayed in-game. Players then race or battle against their opponents, depending upon which game mode is chosen. Integral to the gameplay is the item system, where players can pick up items from [[? Panel|Question Blocks]] clustered around parts of the track. The item obtained is dependent on the player's position in the race. For example, players farther behind obtain stronger items such as the invincible, speed-raising [[Star]] or the [[Lightning]] that can shrink all racers, while players farther ahead receive the basic [[Banana Peel]]s and [[Green Shell]]s items. Question Blocks get depleted whenever a player runs over them, and they do not respawn their items until all Question Blocks in the track have been depleted. 

At the start of the race, players can rev their kart up for [[Rocket Start|a boost]], though if they rev up too much, they begin the race by accelerating much slower. Players can hop if they press either {{button|snes|L}} or {{button|snes|R}}. If they hold the button after hopping while holding either left or right, they can [[Drift|power slide]], which enable them to drive through harder turns while losing less speed than steering normally through them. A slight drift is also possible by hopping and only holding either the left or right button. While karts in this game can brake with {{button|snes|Y}}, they cannot go in reverse: players need to perform a U-turn or hop around to go backwards. Some tracks feature water that players can fall into: if players fall into these areas, they are able to move around for a little while before eventually being picked up by [[Lakitu (Mario Kart referee)|Lakitu]]. Players immediately get rescued by Lakitu if they fall into pits or into lava, however.

While driving the course, [[coin]]s can be picked up, which increase the player's top speed as well as shield them from other racers. If a player runs into another racer while they have zero coins, they spin out; however, if a player runs into another racer while they have several coins, they simply lose one coin while still being able to continue driving. Having ten coins gives the player the maximum amount of speed they can possess, though they are still able to collect additional coins without gaining any additional speed. Players start each race with a number of coins depending on their rank: first and second start with two coins, third and fourth start with three coins, fifth and sixth start with four coins, and seventh and eighth start with five coins. Players lose four coins if they are hit with an item, they lose two coins if they are picked up by Lakitu by falling off the track, and they lose one coin if they bump into another racer. The number of coins found on each course varies from one course to another.

Three speeds are available: 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc. 50cc is the slowest and therefore easiest difficulty while 150cc is the fastest and hardest engine class that must be unlocked by clearing all cups in the 100cc engine class which has a medium level of speed and difficulty. Vehicles in all modes outside of Mario Kart GP use 100cc engines.

The game is always split in two screens. The top screen is the main screen that players see the gameplay in while the bottom screen displays an overhead map, displaying progress of all characters. If players press {{button|snes|X}} or {{button|snes|select}}, they can switch the overhead map to a backwards view. When two players are playing, the bottom map is replaced by the second player's screen.

If players want to delete their save data, they need to press {{button|snes|L}}, {{button|snes|R}}, {{button|snes|Y}}, and {{button|snes|A}} at the title screen. If players want to delete just Time Trial records, they can go to the course records they wish to delete and press the same button combination.   
===Controls===
<center>
{|class="wikitable"style="width:70%;text-align:center"
!rowspan=2 width=12%|Action(s)
|-
!width=12%|SNES
!width=12%|Wii (Classic Controller)
!width=12%|GameCube Controller
!width=12%|New Nintendo 3DS
!width=12%|Wii U
!width=16%|Nintendo Switch (Dual Joy-Con / Pro Controller)
!width=16%|Nintendo Switch (Single Joy-Con)
|-
|Change option during the Menus/Steer
|{{button|snes|pad}}
|{{button|wii|CCStickL}} / {{button|wii|Pad}}
|{{button|gcn|Pad}} / {{button|gcn|stick}}
|{{button|3ds|stick}} / {{button|3ds|Pad}}
|{{button|wiiu|Pad}} / {{button|wiiu|Leftstick}}
|{{button|switch|Pad}} / {{button|switch|leftstick}}
|{{button|switch|Stick}}
|-
|Use items, stop Item Roulette
|{{button|snes|A}}
|{{button|wii|CCA}}
|{{button|gcn|A}}
|{{button|3ds|A}}
|{{button|wiiu|A}}
|{{button|switch|A}}
|{{button|switch|jc-right}}
|-
|Accelerate
|{{button|snes|B}}
|{{button|wii|ccB}}
|{{button|gcn|B}}
|{{button|3ds|B}}
|{{button|wiiu|B}}
|{{button|switch|B}}
|{{button|switch|jc-bottom}}
|-
|Switch view
|{{button|snes|X}} / {{button|snes|select}}
|{{button|wii|X}} / {{button|wii|-}}
|{{button|gcn|X}} / {{button|gcn|Z}}
|{{button|3ds|X}} / {{button|3ds|select}}
|{{button|wiiu|X}} / {{button|wiiu|minus}}
|{{button|switch|X}} / {{button|switch|Minus}}
|{{button|switch|jc-top}} / {{button|switch|PlusMinus}} + {{button|switch|SL}}
|-
|Brake
|{{button|snes|Y}}
|{{button|wii|Y}}
|{{button|gcn|Y}}
|{{button|3ds|Y}}
|{{button|wiiu|Y}}
|{{button|switch|Y}}
|{{button|switch|jc-left}}
|-
|Jump / Drift
|{{button|snes|L}} / {{button|snes|R}}
|{{button|wii|L}} / {{button|wii|R}}
|{{button|gcn|L}} / {{button|gcn|R}}
|{{button|3ds|L}} / {{button|3ds|R}}
|{{button|wiiu|L}} / {{button|wiiu|R}}
|{{button|switch|L}} / {{button|switch|R}}
|{{button|switch|SL}} / {{button|switch|SR}}
|-
|Pause / Select
|{{button|snes|start}}
|{{button|wii|+}}
|{{button|gcn|start}}
|{{button|3ds|start}}
|{{button|wiiu|Plus}}
|{{button|switch|plus}}
|{{button|switch|PlusMinus}} + {{button|switch|SR}}
|}
</center>

==Game modes==
===Mario Kart GP===
[[File:SMK Mario Circuit 1 Starting Line.png|thumb|left|The first race of the Mario Kart GP is about to begin.]]
The Mario Kart GP is the main mode in ''Super Mario Kart''. Here, up to two players can race against seven or six other CPU-controlled opponents in a five-course cup; they first start out in 8th place and must make their way to the top position; players keep their position for the next race if they end in that position. The top four players receive [[point]]s based on their ranking: 1st place gives the player 9 points, 2nd place gives the player 6 points, 3rd place gives the player 3 points, and 4th place gives the player 1 point, while 5th place, 6th place, 7th place and 8th place give the player 0 points. Players who rank 5th or below lose one of 3 lives. If all players rank 5th or below, the race must be tried again. If the player ranks 5th or below without any lives left, the game is lost. A single extra life can be earned by placing in the same position three times. The maximum score in a GP cup is 45 points, obtained by winning five times. The three best drivers move on to the award ceremony where they receive their trophies. 3rd place gives the player a bronze trophy, 2nd place gives the player a silver trophy, and 1st place gives the player a gold trophy (the player can watch the ceremony only when they place first: however, a [[List of Super Mario Kart pre-release and unused content|prototype version]] has animations for second and third). If the player ranks 4th or below by the end of the cup, their character is placed at the side of the podium and cries with their back facing the screen which displays text that says, "(character's name) came in (number) place. Try again." Each race is five laps long (with Lakitu appearing on the left side of the player holding the start signal and the lap count signs).

If players beat all of the cups in the 100cc engine class, the message "Excellent driving! You are now a ''Super Mario Kart'' expert." pops up, thus officially telling players that they have completed all four of the cups. If the player wants a harder challenge, they can now replay through the game in the 150cc engine class. If players beat all of the cups in the 150cc engine class, the same message as before pops up. If the player wants a more difficult challenge, they can hold {{button|snes|A}} and {{button|snes|Y}} at the character selection screen. This makes the character permanently small as if under the effect of a [[Lightning]] or [[Poison Mushroom]] until the player presses the buttons again.
{{br|left}}

===Time Trial===
This one-player mode have the player to race through five laps of the selected track the fastest they can without items or coins in the 100cc engine class. The five lap times are recorded which are then combined to make the total time, as well as the fastest lap time and the characters used, for each track. By pressing {{button|snes|B}} on the second controller, a computer-controlled opponent can be chosen to race against.

If the player enters the cheat code {{button|snes|L}}, {{button|snes|R}}, {{button|snes|L}}, {{button|snes|R}}, {{button|snes|L}}, {{button|snes|L}}, {{button|snes|R}}, {{button|snes|R}}, {{button|SNES|A}} on the cup selection menu in Time Trial, the Special Cup is unlocked. In the Japanese version, a [[Boo]] sound is heard upon successfully inputting the code.<ref>{{cite|author=TCRF|title=[[tcrf:Super Mario Kart|''Super Mario Kart'']]|publisher=The Cutting Room Floor|accessdate=September 16, 2019}}</ref>

===Match Race===
This mode is two-player only: the players can race each other like in GP, except CPU racers do not appear and players can freely choose the track to race in. Players start with three coins each. [[Bullet Bill]]s slide around the courses as well, and coming in contact with one results in the kart spinning out and the object disappearing as if it were a Green Shell. The game keeps track of wins and losses of each player.

===Battle Mode===
[[File:SuperMarioKartBM.png|left|thumb|Donkey Kong Jr. and Mario in Battle Mode]]
{{main|Battle Mode}}
A two-player exclusive mode where players combat each other with items in an arena. The goal is to eliminate the opposing player's balloons, which are represented by colored spheres rotating around the character (player 1 is blue, and player 2 is red). Each player has three balloons that cannot be recovered. The first to pop all the opponent's balloons wins.
{{br}}

==Characters==
[[File:SuperMarioKart CharSelect.png|thumb|lright|Character selection screen.]]
The game features eight playable characters from the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]], such as [[Mario]], [[Luigi]], [[Yoshi]], and [[Bowser]]. However, some other characters from the series act as obstacles in the game's tracks, like [[Thwomp]]s, [[Monty Mole|Gopher]]s, [[Piranha Plant]]s, [[Bullet Bill]]s, and [[Cheep Cheep|Flopping Cheep Cheep]]s. [[Boo|Ghost]]s do not act as enemies, but both as item and as part of the [[Ghost Valley|Ghost Valley tracks]]' background. Yoshi, Bowser, and Donkey Kong Jr. are the only drivers in this game to have their own taunts when surpassing other racers regardless if they are being used by the player or CPU. The others do not have their own taunts and instead the standard beep is heard when surpassing other racers, but can only be heard when used by the player.

As stated in the game's manual, [[Lakitu (Mario Kart referee)|Lakitu]] oversees the race track. He appears on the track to start the race, to warn the player if they are going the wrong way on the course, and when they fall off the edge of the track or go out of bounds. If the latter happens, Lakitu transports the racer back onto the course at the price of two [[coin]]s. A Cheep Cheep balloon distributes the trophy to the GP winner.
{{br|left}}
===Drivers===
''Super Mario Kart'' has eight available drivers, divided into statistically identical pairs of two. While subsequent ''Mario Kart'' games would classify characters based on weight class, in this game other criteria are used. The stats presented here are derived and inferred from the manual. The Bros are average drivers with a high top speed, The Dragon and The Lady have the highest acceleration with low handling, The Showdown have the lowest acceleration with the highest top speed and weight, while The Small Guys have high acceleration and handling, which makes them recommended for beginners. Each pair of characters has different engine sounds for their karts, which reflect their appearances and characteristics. All drivers also have a unique theme music whenever they finish a race with a good position.

On a side note, this is one of only two ''Mario Kart'' games to feature [[Donkey Kong Jr.]] as a playable character, the other being ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', where he uses his 2-dimensional sprite from this game.
{{br}}
{|style="text-align:center"class="wikitable"
!Classification
!Driver
!Acceleration
!Top speed
!Weight
!Handling
!CPU item
!width=50%|Description
|-
|rowspan=2|The Bros.<br>Standard Performance
|[[File:Mario holding flag SMK artwork.jpg|140x100px]]<br>[[Mario]]
|rowspan=2|Average
|rowspan=2|Very Good
|rowspan=2|Average
|rowspan=2|Average
|rowspan=2|[[Super Star|Star]]
|rowspan=2|''"The Mario Brothers have pretty much the same abilities in cart driving. Mario and Luigi have had a friendly rivalry that goes back to their childhood. You can expect a heated contest between them. When Mario and Luigi are computer controlled, they try to block your path."''
|-
|[[File:Luigi winks SMK artwork.jpg|140x100px]]<br>[[Luigi]]
|-
|rowspan=2|The Dragon and The Lady<br>Fast Acceleration
|[[File:SMK Princess artwork.jpg|140x100px]]<br>[[Princess Peach|Princess]]
|rowspan=2|The Best of the Best
|rowspan=2|Average
|rowspan=2|Average
|rowspan=2|Not so hot
|[[Poison Mushroom]]
|rowspan=2|''"At first, you might think that The Princess and Yoshi would have nothing in common (except their fondness for Mario). As it turns out, they have the same driving ability. Both of these racers have very fast acceleration. As enemies, the Princess will toss poison mushrooms in your path, and Yoshi will use eggs to hinder your progress."''
|-
|[[File:Yoshi SMK artwork.jpg|140x100px]]<br>[[Yoshi]]
|[[Yoshi Egg|Egg]]
|-
|rowspan=2|The Showdown<br>High Top Speed
|[[File:Bowser SMK artwork.jpg|140x100px]]<br>[[Bowser]]
|rowspan=2|Not so hot
|rowspan=2|The Best of the Best
|rowspan=2|Very Good
|rowspan=2|Average
|[[Fireball]]
|rowspan=2|''"These two drivers have long been Mario's arch enemies. They are both rather hefty, so they have slow acceleration, but their top speed is great! As enemies, look out for Bowser's fireballs and Donkey Kong Jr.'s banana peels. These two really throw their weight around. Stay clear of them!"''
|-
|[[File:Donkey Kong JR SMK artwork.jpg|140x100px]]<br>[[Donkey Kong Jr.]]
|[[Banana]]
|-
|rowspan=2|The Small Guys<br>Good Control
|[[File:Koopa Troopa SMK artwork.jpg|140x100px]]<br>[[Koopa Troopa]]
|rowspan=2|Very Good
|rowspan=2|Not so hot
|rowspan=2|Not so hot
|rowspan=2|Very Good
|[[Green Shell]]
|rowspan=2|''"Neither of these racers have qualities that make them stand out. They are, however, good all around racers with better than average control in corners- they do not skid as easy. These racers are good for beginners who are just learning to race. In the GP race as enemies, Koopa Troopa will drop shells and Toad will place poison mushrooms on the track."''
|-
|[[File:Toad SMK artwork.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Toad]]
|[[Poison Mushroom]]
|}
====Maximum speed====
The Japanese ''Official Nintendo Guidebook'' of the game lists the maximum speed in the 100cc engine class in various conditions.<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario Kart Nintendo Official Guidebook''|page=17}}</ref> This maximum speed is increased by 1 km/h per each coin collected, until 10 coins are collected.<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario Kart Nintendo Official Guidebook''|page=15}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable"style="text-align:center; margin:auto;"
!colspan="8"|Maximum speed in the 100cc engine class
|-
!rowspan="2"|Driver
!colspan="7"|Maximum speed (km/h)
|-
!Normal road
!Circuits' sand
!Choco Island's rocks
!Choco Island's mud
!Donut Plain's grass
!Koopa Beach's water
!Vanilla Lake's snow
|-
!Mario<br>Luigi
|130
|84
|40
|90
|82
|82
|76
|-
!Princess<br>Yoshi
|125
|88
|44
|94
|86
|86
|70
|-
!Bowser<br>Donkey Kong Jr.
|135
|86
|42
|92
|80
|88
|74
|-
!Koopa Troopa<br>Toad
|120
|90
|46
|96
|84
|84
|72
|}

====Acceleration====
[[File:SMK Acceleration Graph.png|thumb|center|600px|A graph showing the speed as a function of time when accelerating from a standstill with various characters. The horizontal axis shows the time in seconds. The red line refers to Mario and Luigi, the green line refers to The Princess and Yoshi, the light blue line refers to Bowser and Donkey Kong Jr., the yellow line refers to Koopa Troopa and Toad.]]
{{br}}

===Performance chart===
The official instruction manual illustrates a chart that details how well characters perform on tracks and their stats. It notes that Toad and Koopa Troopa have the best steering while The Princess and Yoshi steer worse. Another point it mentions is that Toad and Koopa Troopa can get knocked aside by Bowser and Donkey Kong Jr.
[[File:SMK PerformanceChart.png|800px|center|thumb]]

===Non-playable===
{|class="wikitable"width:100%;"align=center
|-
!colspan="3"align=center|Characters and elements
|-
!width="15%"align=center|Character/element
!width="20%"align=center|Location
!width="65%"align=center|Description
|-
|align=center|[[File:SMK Big Cheep Cheep.gif]]<br>[[Big Cheep Cheep]]
|align=center|Winner's circle
|A giant blimp-like fish that appears at the winner's circle, depositing the player's trophy before deflating away.
|-
|align=center|[[File:SMK Bullet Bill.png]]<br>[[Bullet Bill]]
|align=center|N/A
|Appears in Match Races where they bounce back and forth between two walls and causes racers who drive into them to spin out.
|-
|align=center|[[File:SMK Flopping Cheep Cheep.gif]]<br>[[Cheep Cheep|Flopping Cheep Cheep]]
|align=center|Koopa Beach
|Bouncing fish that spin players out if they come in contact with them.
|-
|align=center|<div style="background:black;display:inline-block">[[File:SMK Ghost light.gif]][[File:SMK Ghost dark.gif]]</div><br>[[Boo|Ghost]]
|align=center|Ghost Valley
|Background elements in the Ghost Valley courses.
|-
|align=center|[[File:SMK Monty Mole.png]]<br>[[Monty Mole|Gopher]]
|align=center|Donut Plains
|Gophers attach themselves onto racers if ran into, which cause them to lose speed and coins. Players must hop repeatedly to get them off.
|-
|align=center|[[File:SMK Lakitu finish.gif]]<br>[[Lakitu (Mario Kart referee)|Lakitu]]
|align=center|N/A
|A helpful track manager who oversees the race. He starts the race up, pulls racers out of lava, water, and pits, tells players that they are going the wrong way, and waves a checkered flag for a racer who has finished.
|-
|align=center|[[File:SMK Piranha Plant.gif]]<br>[[Piranha Plant]]
|align=center|Choco Island
|A carnivorous plant that acts like a stationary obstacle. Players who run into them spin out.
|-
|align=center|[[File:SMK Thwomp.png]]<br>[[Thwomp]]
|align=center|Bowser Castle
|A hovering rock that stays stationary in the first lap of a course. In subsequent laps, they slam onto the floor in a pattern, and any racer caught in them get flattened.
|-
|align=center|[[File:SMK Thwomp 2.gif]]<br>[[Star Thwomp|Super Thwomp]]
|align=center|Rainbow Road
|Flashing Thwomps that move identically to Thwomps but cause racers to spin out on contact.
|}

==Courses==
The game has 20 race courses and 4 battle courses, the former being divided in four cups. ''Super Mario Kart'' is the only game in the ''Mario Kart'' series to have five courses per cup, as opposed to four in later games.
===Race courses===
Aside from Rainbow Road, all of the courses are numbered. In the credits, each character is assigned a course.

Some common hazards include the following:
*'''Water''': Racers who fall in have a few seconds to drive out, before Lakitu picks them up. Koopa Beach contains shallow water that is safe to drive through.
*'''Lava''': Racers who fall in immediately get picked up by Lakitu.
*'''Abyss''': Racers who fall immediately get picked up by Lakitu.
*'''Destructible blocks''': Walls that get destroyed when struck in Ghost Valley and Vanilla Lake.
*'''Dirt''': Decreases traction when driven on in Donut Plains.
*'''Chocolate Mud''': Decreases traction and slows speed when driven on in Choco Island.
{|style="text-align:center"class="wikitable"
!Course
!Terrain
!Slipperiness
!Obstacles
!Character
!Description
|-
|[[File:SMK BG Mario Circuit.png]]<br>[[Mario Circuit]]
|Pavement/Sand
|1
|[[Oil slick]], [[Warp Pipe|Pipe]]s
|[[Luigi]]
|"''A paved track with good traction. Look out for the pipes!''"
|-
|[[File:SMK BG Donut Plains.png]]<br>Donut Plains
|Grassy
|2
|[[Monty Mole|Gopher]]s, Water, Pipes
|[[Princess Peach|Princess]]
|"''A tranquil setting with a beautiful pond. Pipes or Gophers may get in your way.''"
|-
|[[File:SMK BG Ghost Valley.png]]<br>Ghost Valley
|Wooden
|1
|Falling walls
|[[Yoshi]]
|"''A track made of wood built a long time ago. There are no special obstacles, but be sure to keep your eyes peeled for holes.''"
|-
![[File:SMK BG Bowser Castle.png]]<br>Bowser Castle
|Stone
|1
|[[Thwomp]], Lava
|[[Bowser]]
|"''A course made of stones set on a bed of lava. Be careful, or you'll get Thwomped.''"
|-
![[File:SMK BG Choco Island.png]]<br>Choco Island
|Chocolate
|3
|[[Piranha Plant]]s, Chocolate Mud
|[[Donkey Kong Jr.]]
|"''A dirt course in the desert. The infamous Piranha Plant hangs out here.''"
|-
![[File:SMK BG Koopa Beach.png]]<br>Koopa Beach
|Sand/water
|3
|[[Cheep Cheep|Flopping Cheep Cheep]]s, deep water
|[[Koopa Troopa]]
|"''A race on the beach around a small island. The Flopping Cheep Cheep makes its home here.''"
|-
![[File:SMK BG Vanilla Lake.png]]<br>Vanilla Lake
|Ice/Snow
|4
|Icy water, [[Snow block|destructible blocks]], Pipes
|[[Toad]]
|"''A frozen lake that is very slick. Pipes and holes in the ice should be avoided at all costs.''"
|-
![[File:SMK BG Rainbow Road.png]]<br>Rainbow Road
|Rainbow tiles
|1
|[[Star Thwomp|Super Thwomp]]s
|[[Mario]]
|
|}
====Cup races====
{|style="width:800px;margin:auto;text-align:center"class="wikitable"
|-
![[Mushroom Cup]]
|[[File:SMK BG Mario Circuit.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Mario Circuit 1 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Mario Circuit 1|Mario Circuit 1]]
|[[File:SMK BG Donut Plains.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Donut Plains 1 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Donut Plains 1|Donut Plains 1]]
|[[File:SMK BG Ghost Valley.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Ghost Valley 1 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Ghost Valley 1|Ghost Valley 1]]
|[[File:SMK BG Bowser Castle.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Bowser Castle 1 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[Bowser Castle 1]]
|[[File:SMK BG Mario Circuit.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Mario Circuit 2 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Mario Circuit 2|Mario Circuit 2]]
|-
![[Flower Cup]]
|[[File:SMK BG Choco Island.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Choco Island 1 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Choco Island 1|Choco Island 1]]
|[[File:SMK BG Ghost Valley.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Ghost Valley 2 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Ghost Valley 2|Ghost Valley 2]]
|[[File:SMK BG Donut Plains.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Donut Plains 2 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Donut Plains 2|Donut Plains 2]]
|[[File:SMK BG Bowser Castle.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Bowser Castle 2 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[Bowser Castle 2]]
|[[File:SMK BG Mario Circuit.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Mario Circuit 3 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Mario Circuit 3|Mario Circuit 3]]
|-
![[Star Cup]]
|[[File:SMK BG Koopa Beach.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Koopa Beach 1 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[Koopa Beach 1]]
|[[File:SMK BG Choco Island.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Choco Island 2 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Choco Island 2|Choco Island 2]]
|[[File:SMK BG Vanilla Lake.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Vanilla Lake 1 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Vanilla Lake 1|Vanilla Lake 1]]
|[[File:SMK BG Bowser Castle.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Bowser Castle 3 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Bowser Castle 3|Bowser Castle 3]]
|[[File:SMK BG Mario Circuit.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Mario Circuit 4 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[Mario Circuit 4]]
|-
![[Special Cup]]
|[[File:SMK BG Donut Plains.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Donut Plains 3 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Donut Plains 3|Donut Plains 3]]
|[[File:SMK BG Koopa Beach.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Koopa Beach 2 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Koopa Troopa Beach 2|Koopa Beach 2]]
|[[File:SMK BG Ghost Valley.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Ghost Valley 3 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[Ghost Valley 3]]
|[[File:SMK BG Vanilla Lake.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Vanilla Lake 2 Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Vanilla Lake 2|Vanilla Lake 2]]
|[[File:SMK BG Rainbow Road.png]]<br>[[File:SMK Rainbow Road Lower-Screen Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]]
|}

===Battle courses===
<gallery widths=256px>
SMK Battle Course 1 Lower-Screen Map.png|[[SNES Battle Course 1|Battle Course 1]]
SMK Battle Course 2 Lower-Screen Map.png|[[Battle Course 2 (Super Mario Kart)|Battle Course 2]]
SMK Battle Course 3 Lower-Screen Map.png|[[Battle Course 3 (Super Mario Kart)|Battle Course 3]]
SMK Battle Course 4 Lower-Screen Map.png|[[SNES Battle Course 4|Battle Course 4]]
</gallery>
====Course features and obstacles====
{|class="wikitable"width:100%;"align=center
|-
!width="15%"align=center|Feature
!width="85%"align=center|Description
|-
|align=center|[[File:SMK Coin track.png]] [[File:SMK Coin.gif]]<br>[[Coin]]
|These are scattered throughout the course and increase the player's speed as well as give them durability against opponents. They do not respawn once taken.
|-
|align=center|[[File:SMK Jump track 1.png]] [[File:SMK Jump track 2.png]]<br>[[Ramp|Jump]]
|Players hop if they drive over this. Driving over it at high speeds causes racers to jump higher and farther.
|-
|align=center|[[File:SMK OilSlickSprite.png]]<br>[[Oil Slick]]
|Located in the Mario Circuits, players spin out if they drive over them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:SMK Green Warp Pipe.png]] [[File:SMK Orange Warp Pipe.png]]<br>[[Warp Pipe|Pipe]]
|Stationary obstacles found in Mario Circuit, Vanilla Lake, and Donut Plains that act as walls and slow players down when struck.
|-
|align=center|[[File:Question Panel SMK sprite.png]] [[File:Activatedquestionpanel.png]]<br>[[? Panel|Question Block]]
|These panels gives players an item if driven over. Once they are driven over, they are depleted until all Question Blocks in the course get depleted, in which they all respawn.
|-
|align=center|[[File:SMK Zipper track.png]]<br>[[Dash Panel|Zipper]]
|Zippers give a burst of speed for players who drive over it.
|}

==Items==
Items are obtained through [[? Panel|Question Blocks]] scattered around the tracks. When the player passes over one, it deactivates until all other Question Blocks are used. Once a racer passes over one, with a few exceptions, they receive an item in their box from the following:
{|class="wikitable"style="text-align:center;width:94%"align=center
|-
!width="15%"|Item
!width="55%"|Description
!width="25%"|Notes
|-
![[File:SMKBanana.png]] [[File:SMK Banana.png]]<br>[[Banana|Banana Peel]]
|align=left|When a kart hits a Banana Peel, it spins out. 
|align=left|Can be thrown backward and forward. Also used by Donkey Kong Jr. if he is CPU-controlled.
|-
![[File:SMKGreenShell.png]] [[File:SMK Green Shell.gif]]<br>[[Green Shell]]
|align=left|The Green Shell sends an enemy into a spin if they are hit. Green Shells can bounce off barriers. Throwing it backwards causes it to remain stationary.
|align=left|Can be thrown backward and forward. Used by Koopa Troopa if CPU-controlled, but they behave similar to Banana Peels even when thrown forward, and remain stationary.
|-
![[File:SMKRedShell.png]] [[File:SMK Red Shell.gif]]<br>[[Red Shell]]
|align=left|The Red Shell acts similarly to a Green Shell, but homes in on the target instead. It does not bounce off walls, however.
|align=left|Can be thrown only forward.
|-
![[File:FeatherSMK.png]]<br>[[Cape Feather|Feather]]
|align=left|A Feather allows the user to perform a high jump, high enough to take normally impossible shortcuts and to sail over obstacles and other racers.
|align=left|Can be used by every CPU. Cannot appear on a Mario Circuit or a Donut Plains course.
|-
![[File:SMKMushroom.png]]<br>[[Dash Mushroom|Mushroom]]
|align=left|The Mushroom is a more common item than a Feather or a Star, and grants the user a slight boost. It can either be used to slam an opponent or drive over hazards such as sand and grass without losing speed. When using a Mushroom in front of a jump pad, the jump is higher and farther.
|
|-
![[File:SMKStar.png]]<br>[[Super Star|Star]]
|align=left|The Star provides two benefits, allowing the user to receive a small speed boost and to become invulnerable to everything. Contact with other racers causes them to spin out.
|align=left|Used also by Mario and Luigi if they are CPU-controlled. They do not receive a speed boost, however, and the effect does not last as long.
|-
![[File:SMK Boo Item Box Sprite 1.png]] [[File:SMK Boo Item Box Sprite 2.png]]<br>[[Boo|Ghost]]
|align=left|The Ghost turns the user transparent for a few seconds and steals an opponent's item.
|align=left|Exclusive to Battle Mode and Match Race.
|-
![[File:SMK Coin Item Box Sprite.png]] [[File:SMK Coin.gif]]<br>[[Coin]]
|align=left|The Coin adds two coins to the total coin count, increasing the user's overall top speed.
|align=left|Does not appear in Battle Mode and Time Trial. Maximum benefit is achieved with 10 coins. 
|-
![[File:SMKLightning.png]]<br>[[Lightning]]
|align=left|The Lightning Bolt shrinks all the racers except for the user, making them slower and vulnerable to being squashed by normal sized racers. The effect wears off after a brief period of time.
|align=left|Does not appear in Battle Mode.
|-
![[File:Yoshi Egg Super Mario Kart.png]]<br>[[Yoshi Egg|Egg]]
|align=left|Works similar to a Banana Peel, the only difference being that it does little hops.
|align=left|Usable only by Yoshi if he is CPU-controlled.
|-
![[File:SMKFireball.png]]<br>[[Fireball]]
|align=left|Similar to a Banana Peel, but moves in a circular motion, making them harder to pass safely.
|align=left|Usable only by Bowser if he is CPU-controlled.
|-
![[File:PoisonMushroomSMK.png]]<br>[[Poison Mushroom]]
|align=left|A stationary item. If one is run into, the victim shrinks, as if hit by a Lightning Bolt. Shrunken racers who run into it revert to normal size.
|align=left|Usable only by Princess and Toad if they are CPU-controlled.
|}
===Probabilities===
The following tables are derived from the Japanese ''Nintendo Official Guidebook'' of the game and report the probability of obtaining each item in the various modes with letter codes ranging from '''A''' (most likely) to '''F''' (unlikely).<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario Kart Nintendo Official Guidebook''|page=142 and 143}}</ref>
In the races, the probability of obtaining an item depends on the track theme, on the current lap and on the rank of the driver, while in Battle Mode the probability is not affected by any factor.
====Mario Kart GP====
In Mario Kart GP races, during the first lap all the drivers receive items with the same probabilities they would obtain if they were in first place, regardless of their rank.
{|class="wikitable center"
!Track theme
!Rank
![[File:SMKMushroom.png]]
![[File:FeatherSMK.png]]
![[File:SMKStar.png]]
![[File:SMKBanana.png]]
![[File:SMKGreenShell.png]]
![[File:SMKRedShell.png]]
![[File:SMK Boo Item Box Sprite 1.png]]
![[File:SMK Coin Item Box Sprite.png]]
![[File:SMKLightning.png]]
|-style="border-top:2px solid black;"
!rowspan="3"|Mario Circuit
!1st
|C
|F
|F
|B
|C
|B
|
|D
|F
|-
!2nd-4th
|E
|F
|F
|A
|B
|E
|
|A
|F
|-
!5th-8th
|A
|F
|D
|E
|E
|A
|
|F
|E
|-style="border-top:2px solid black;"
!rowspan="3"|Donut Plains
!1st
|B
|F
|F
|C
|C
|B
|
|D
|F
|-
!2nd-4th
|E
|F
|F
|B
|A
|E
|
|A
|F
|-
!5th-8th
|A
|F
|C
|E
|E
|A
|
|F
|E
|-style="border-top:2px solid black;"
!rowspan="3"|Ghost Valley
!1st
|C
|B
|F
|D
|C
|D
|
|D
|F
|-
!2nd-4th
|E
|E
|F
|A
|C
|E
|
|A
|F
|-
!5th-8th
|A
|B
|C
|E
|E
|D
|
|F
|E
|-style="border-top:2px solid black;"
!rowspan="3"|Bowser Castle<br>Rainbow Road
!1st
|D
|D
|F
|C
|C
|D
|
|D
|F
|-
!2nd-4th
|E
|E
|F
|C
|A
|E
|
|A
|E
|-
!5th-8th
|A
|D
|C
|E
|E
|B
|
|F
|E
|-style="border-top:2px solid black;"
!rowspan="3"|Choco Island
!1st
|B
|E
|F
|C
|C
|C
|
|D
|F
|-
!2nd-4th
|E
|E
|F
|A
|A
|E
|
|C
|F
|-
!5th-8th
|A
|E
|D
|E
|E
|A
|
|F
|E
|-style="border-top:2px solid black;"
!rowspan="3"|Koopa Beach
!1st
|B
|E
|F
|F
|C
|C
|
|D
|F
|-
!2nd-4th
|E
|E
|F
|A
|A
|E
|
|C
|F
|-
!5th-8th
|A
|C
|D
|E
|E
|C
|
|F
|E
|-style="border-top:2px solid black;"
!rowspan="3"|Vanilla Lake
!1st
|C
|C
|F
|C
|D
|C
|
|D
|F
|-
!2nd-4th
|E
|E
|F
|A
|A
|E
|
|C
|F
|-style="border-bottom:2px solid black;"
!5th-8th
|A
|C
|D
|E
|E
|C
|
|F
|E
|}

====Match Race====
{|class="wikitable center"
!Track theme
!Lap/Rank
![[File:SMKMushroom.png]]
![[File:FeatherSMK.png]]
![[File:SMKStar.png]]
![[File:SMKBanana.png]]
![[File:SMKGreenShell.png]]
![[File:SMKRedShell.png]]
![[File:SMK Boo Item Box Sprite 1.png]]
![[File:SMK Coin Item Box Sprite.png]]
![[File:SMKLightning.png]]
|-style="border-top:2px solid black;"
!rowspan="3"|Mario Circuit
!1st lap
|C
|F
|F
|B
|B
|C
|E
|E
|F
|-
!1st place
|E
|F
|F
|A
|A
|E
|F
|B
|F
|-
!2nd place
|A
|F
|D
|E
|E
|A
|E
|F
|E
|-style="border-top:2px solid black;"
!rowspan="3"|Ghost Valley
!1st lap
|C
|B
|F
|B
|E
|D
|F
|E
|F
|-
!1st place
|E
|D
|F
|B
|B
|E
|B
|B
|F
|-
!2nd place
|B
|B
|E
|E
|E
|D
|E
|F
|E
|-style="border-top:2px solid black;"
!rowspan="3"|Donut Plains
!1st lap
|B
|F
|F
|B
|C
|C
|E
|E
|F
|-
!1st place
|E
|F
|F
|B
|A
|E
|F
|A
|F
|-
!2nd place
|B
|F
|C
|E
|E
|B
|E
|E
|E
|-style="border-top:2px solid black;"
!rowspan="3"|Bowser Castle<br>Rainbow Road
!1st lap
|C
|F
|F
|C
|C
|D
|E
|E
|F
|-
!1st place
|E
|E
|F
|C
|A
|E
|F
|A
|F
|-
!2nd place
|A
|E
|D
|E
|E
|B
|E
|F
|E
|-style="border-top:2px solid black;"
!rowspan="3"|Choco Island
!1st lap
|C
|D
|F
|C
|C
|C
|E
|E
|F
|-
!1st place
|E
|E
|F
|A
|B
|E
|F
|B
|F
|-
!2nd place
|A
|E
|D
|E
|E
|B
|E
|F
|E
|-style="border-top:2px solid black;"
!rowspan="3"|Koopa Beach
!1st lap
|C
|D
|F
|C
|C
|D
|E
|E
|F
|-
!1st place
|E
|E
|F
|A
|B
|E
|F
|B
|F
|-
!2nd place
|A
|E
|D
|E
|E
|D
|E
|F
|E
|-style="border-top:2px solid black;"
!rowspan="3"|Vanilla Lake
!1st lap
|C
|C
|F
|C
|C
|D
|E
|E
|F
|-
!1st place
|E
|E
|F
|A
|B
|E
|F
|B
|F
|-style="border-bottom:2px solid black;"
!2nd place
|A
|D
|D
|E
|E
|D
|E
|F
|E
|}

====Battle Mode====
{|class="wikitable center"
![[File:SMKMushroom.png]]
![[File:FeatherSMK.png]]
![[File:SMKStar.png]]
![[File:SMKBanana.png]]
![[File:SMKGreenShell.png]]
![[File:SMKRedShell.png]]
![[File:SMK Boo Item Box Sprite 1.png]]
![[File:SMK Coin Item Box Sprite.png]]
![[File:SMKLightning.png]]
|-
|E
|D
|E
|E
|A
|A
|E
|
|
|}

==Rivals==
[[File:MarioWins SMK.png|thumb|The rivals are expected to finish in a particular order. In this case, though, Princess finished on a lower spot than normal.]]
''Super Mario Kart'' has a different [[rival]] system from the rest of the series (except for ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''); the rivals contain one very fast driver, one fast driver, one medium driver, one slow driver and three very slow drivers. It is notable that when one of the three slowest drivers gets hit, that kart keeps its place, while when one of the faster cars gets shot, it usually resumes its previous place very quickly unless unable to catch up fast enough before the race ends. For this reason, the drivers (except the human racer) are expected to finish in a particular order if unaffected. Also, if the player tries to hit an opponent, the opponent may jump over the item similar to when they jump over CPU-placed items. Also, the rivals are not determined in pairs, so that even if Donkey Kong Jr. is Mario's rival, Mario is not Donkey Kong Jr.'s rival, as shown in the table below.

The rivals for each driver are always the same, the list is in the order the line up for the first race. It is possible to change the order if the rivals cannot recover their place at the end (for example, if someone is playing as Luigi and Yoshi finishes last, Yoshi then becomes one of the three slower drivers while everybody takes the next position up). It happens mostly on 100cc and 150cc.

The rivals are determined by the current points standing, meaning that if Yoshi was still only second to the player, he boosts back to first position from the start.
{{br}}
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center;width:820px;margin:0 auto"
!rowspan=2 width=120px|Character
!colspan=7|Rival Order
|-
!Very Fast
!Fast
!Medium
!Slow
!colspan=3|Very Slow
|-
![[File:SMKMarioSprite.png]]<br>Mario
|width=100px|[[File:SMK Donkey Kong Jr Sprite.png]]<br>Donkey Kong Jr.||width=100px|[[File:SMKPrincessSprite.png]]<br>Princess||width=100px|[[File:SMKYoshiSprite.png]]<br>Yoshi||width=100px|[[File:SMKLuigiSprite.png]]<br>Luigi||width=100px|[[File:SMKToadSprite.png]]<br>Toad||width=100px|[[File:BowserSMK.png]]<br>Bowser||width=100px|[[File:SMKKoopaTroopaSprite.png]]<br>Koopa Troopa
|-
![[File:SMKLuigiSprite.png]]<br>Luigi
|[[File:SMKYoshiSprite.png]]<br>Yoshi||[[File:SMKMarioSprite.png]]<br>Mario||[[File:BowserSMK.png]]<br>Bowser||[[File:SMKKoopaTroopaSprite.png]]<br>Koopa Troopa||[[File:SMKPrincessSprite.png]]<br>Princess||[[File:SMK Donkey Kong Jr Sprite.png]]<br>Donkey Kong Jr.||[[File:SMKToadSprite.png]]<br>Toad
|-
![[File:SMKPrincessSprite.png]]<br>Princess
|[[File:BowserSMK.png]]<br>Bowser||[[File:SMKToadSprite.png]]<br>Toad||[[File:SMKMarioSprite.png]]<br>Mario||[[File:SMK Donkey Kong Jr Sprite.png]]<br>Donkey Kong Jr.||[[File:SMKLuigiSprite.png]]<br>Luigi||[[File:SMKYoshiSprite.png]]<br>Yoshi||[[File:SMKKoopaTroopaSprite.png]]<br>Koopa Troopa
|-
![[File:SMKYoshiSprite.png]]<br>Yoshi
|[[File:SMKKoopaTroopaSprite.png]]<br>Koopa Troopa||[[File:SMK Donkey Kong Jr Sprite.png]]<br>Donkey Kong Jr.||[[File:SMKPrincessSprite.png]]<br>Princess||[[File:BowserSMK.png]]<br>Bowser||[[File:SMKMarioSprite.png]]<br>Mario||[[File:SMKToadSprite.png]]<br>Toad||[[File:SMKLuigiSprite.png]]<br>Luigi
|-
![[File:BowserSMK.png]]<br>Bowser
|[[File:SMKMarioSprite.png]]<br>Mario||[[File:SMKLuigiSprite.png]]<br>Luigi||[[File:SMKPrincessSprite.png]]<br>Princess||[[File:SMKYoshiSprite.png]]<br>Yoshi||[[File:SMK Donkey Kong Jr Sprite.png]]<br>Donkey Kong Jr.||[[File:SMKToadSprite.png]]<br>Toad||[[File:SMKKoopaTroopaSprite.png]]<br>Koopa Troopa
|-
![[File:SMK Donkey Kong Jr Sprite.png]]<br>Donkey Kong Jr.
|[[File:SMKToadSprite.png]]<br>Toad||[[File:BowserSMK.png]]<br>Bowser||[[File:SMKKoopaTroopaSprite.png]]<br>Koopa Troopa||[[File:SMKLuigiSprite.png]]<br>Luigi||[[File:SMKPrincessSprite.png]]<br>Princess||[[File:SMKMarioSprite.png]]<br>Mario||[[File:SMKYoshiSprite.png]]<br>Yoshi
|-
![[File:SMKKoopaTroopaSprite.png]]<br>Koopa Troopa
|[[File:SMKLuigiSprite.png]]<br>Luigi||[[File:SMKYoshiSprite.png]]<br>Yoshi||[[File:SMKPrincessSprite.png]]<br>Princess||[[File:SMKMarioSprite.png]]<br>Mario||[[File:BowserSMK.png]]<br>Bowser||[[File:SMK Donkey Kong Jr Sprite.png]]<br>Donkey Kong Jr.||[[File:SMKToadSprite.png]]<br>Toad
|-
![[File:SMKToadSprite.png]]<br>Toad
|[[File:SMKPrincessSprite.png]]<br>Princess||[[File:SMK Donkey Kong Jr Sprite.png]]<br>Donkey Kong Jr.||[[File:SMKMarioSprite.png]]<br>Mario||[[File:SMKYoshiSprite.png]]<br>Yoshi||[[File:SMKLuigiSprite.png]]<br>Luigi||[[File:SMKKoopaTroopaSprite.png]]<br>Koopa Troopa||[[File:BowserSMK.png]]<br>Bowser
|}

==Staff==
{{main|List of Super Mario Kart staff}}
The staff for ''Super Mario Kart'' has consisted of 15 members. ''Super Mario Kart'' was directed by Tadashi Sugiyama and [[Hideki Konno]], the latter who would go on to play prominent roles in later main entries of the ''Mario Kart'' series with the exception of ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'' [[Yoichi Kotabe]], Mie Yoshimura, and [[Yoshiaki Koizumi]] has provided the illustrations for the game. [[Soyo Oka]] has composed the game's soundtrack, with [[SNES Rainbow Road (theme)|Rainbow Road]] being one of her favorite compositions.<ref>{{cite|url=www.rocketbaby.net/interviews_soyo_oka.html|title=Interview between Rocketbaby and Soyo Oka|accessdate=February 12, 2015}}</ref>

==Development==
''Super Mario Kart'' was born out of the idea of making a two-player racing game following ''[[fzerowiki:F-Zero|F-Zero]]'', which was exclusively single-player.<ref name="Iwata Asks">{{cite|url=iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/mariokart/0/0|title=Iwata Asks: ''Mario Kart Wii''|accessdate=March 22, 2012}}</ref> The team wanted to make a fun, multiplayer-oriented alternative that was aimed to be enjoyed "with family and friends" according to Nintendo producer Hideki Konno.<ref>{{cite|author=Otero, Joseph|date=May 29, 2014|url=www.ign.com/articles/2014/05/29/how-anti-gravity-made-mario-kart-better|title=How Anti-Gravity Made ''Mario Kart'' Better|publisher=IGN|accessdate=November 27, 2020}}</ref> The prototype initially only featured a generic "guy in overalls". The design for the characters onscreen were three heads tall as opposed to ''F-Zero''{{'}}s seven heads tall to suit the design of the karts. At first, there was no racing involved; it was a test of two karts moving freely. The decision to include ''Super Mario'' characters and concepts was made three to four months into development, when the developers added Mario driving one of the karts moving around because they were curious about how the game would look, and decided that it looked better.<ref name="Iwata Asks"/> Before Banana Peels were added, oil cans that spill their substance out were used to spin karts out.  The battle mode was implemented because the developers thought it would be a good idea to include a form of one-on-one battles that did not involve competing for ranks during the races.<ref name="Iwata Asks"/>

==Pre-release and unused content==
{{main|List of Super Mario Kart pre-release and unused content}}
A prototype cartridge of the game features several differences, such as the presence of animations on the podium screen when the player ranks 2nd or 3rd place, a music track for [[SNES Vanilla Lake 1|Vanilla Lake 1]] that does not appear in the final build and a different [[Battle Course 3 (Super Mario Kart)|Battle Course 3]] set in Choco Island.

==Regional differences==
{{main-wiki|TCRF|Super Mario Kart#Regional Differences}}
{{multiframe
|[[File:SMK Bowser US Victory Animation.gif|100px]][[File:SMK Bowser JP Victory Animation.gif|100px]]
|The left image is Bowser's international victory animation,<br>while the right is his Japanese victory animation.
|align=right
}}
Several graphical changes consisting of minor touch-ups and even censoring of questionable material has been made to international versions of the game.
*The logo in the title screen for international versions have an enlarged "O" and "E" in the title, "Super Mario Kart" and overall increased box size. The trademark symbol is in a different position as well.
*In ''Super Mario Kart'', every character has a winning animation that involves a bottle of champagne. In the Japanese version, Bowser and The Princess drink champagne in their animations (with the latter becoming drunk in the process), which goes against Nintendo of America's policy on the depiction of alcohol, as it was considered inappropriate for younger children.<ref>https://youtu.be/hNZfd3JDFOA</ref><ref>http://www.themushroomkingdom.net/smk_j2e.shtml</ref> In the Western releases of the game, Bowser merely poses happily agitating the bottle and Peach tosses and catches her bottle.
**In the international versions, Donkey Kong Jr. juggles a few bottles of champagne in his celebration animation. In the European version, this was changed to him swinging the bottles around.
*Yoshi has a more defined head in the North American versions of the game. The European version retains the Japanese version's head.
*International versions of the game save the player's choices, having them already selected the next time they go through menus.
*The Japanese version plays a Boo sound when {{button|snes|L}}, {{button|snes|R}}, {{button|snes|L}}, {{button|snes|R}}, {{button|snes|L}}, {{button|snes|L}}, {{button|snes|R}}, {{button|snes|R}}, {{button|snes|A}} are pressed on the Time Trial menu in order to unlock the Special Cup early. No sound is played in the international versions.
*Karts are stalled less when they are overreved at the start of the race in the North American version of the game.

==Glitches==
{{Main|List of Super Mario Kart glitches}}
[[File:GlitchLapSuperMarioKart.png|thumb|A demonstration of the glitched lap counter in [[Mario Circuit 4]]]]
===Continue boost===
The player should pick up a Mushroom, then use it and hop very close to a corner. If done correctly, the effect of the Mushroom lasts longer than normal. The player can get a time of a lap under 10 seconds.<ref name="smkglitch">{{cite|author=呂理彬 Lu Li Bin|date=February 14, 2013|url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=30iZWoq6c3o|title=【TAS】SNES Super Mario Kart 150cc All-Cup Stage By Stage Comparison|publisher=YouTube}}</ref>

===Glitched lap counter===
When some glitches are performed, occasionally Lakitu shows glitched lap counters, such as "LAP 05" or, rarely, "LAP 16". "LAP" is normal, but the part of the panel that displays the lap number is missing, and the digits are small, stacked, and displayed in red.<ref name="smkglitch"/>

===Music muting===
In any two-player game, after Lakitu gives the green light, the player must keep mashing {{button|snes|start}} in both controllers. Occasionally, the music does play.

==Reception==
===Critical reception===
''Super Mario Kart'' met with very favorable reviews, scoring a 93.60% on GameRankings based on 10 reviews.<ref>{{cite|archive=web.archive.org/web/20150629081951/https://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588738-super-mario-kart/index.html|title=Archived URL for GameRankings score for ''Super Mario Kart''|publisher=GameRankings|accessdate=November 27, 2020}}</ref>  Much of the praise of the game has been attributed to its bright and colorful graphics, fun gameplay involving its items that set it apart from ''F-Zero'', intuitive controls, its ''Super Mario'' franchise theming, and retroactively, its legacy that helped pioneer the kart-racing genre and the overall introduction of the ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series. While ''Super Mario Kart'' does not have an official Metacritic entry due to the game coming out before its inception, the user score for the Wii Virtual Console is mixed, scoring 7.4, with common laments being that while the game is regarded as a classic, it is outclassed by later ''Mario Kart'' entries.<ref>{{cite|url=www.metacritic.com/game/wii/super-mario-kart|title=Metacritic score for ''Super Mario Kart'' on the Wii|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=November 27, 2020}}</ref>

Shey Stevens from the magazine, ''Electronic Games'' gave the game a 93%, citing how the game changes up mechanics from ''F-Zero'' such as the item-based system to deliver a unique experience. Stevens has additionally praised the one-on-one combat modes the game offers.<ref>{{cite|author=Stevens, Shey|date=December 1992|url=archive.org/stream/Electronic-Games-1992-12/Electronic%20Games%201992-12#page/n77/mode/2up|title=Archive for Electronic Games magazine|page=79 and 80|accessdate=November 27, 2020}}</ref> A section by Bro. Buzz from the ''Game Pro'' magazine has given the game a score of 5.0 in graphics, control, and fun factor and a 4.0 in sound, ending with, "''Super Mario Kart'' makes wheel-spinning, bumper-grinding, motor racing actually cute! The little guys definitely have a lot of drive."<ref>{{cite|author=Bro. Buzz|date=December 1992|url=retrocdn.net/images/2/26/GamePro_US_041.pdf|title="Super NES Pro Review: ''Super Mario Kart''", ''Game Pro''. No. 51|page=80–82|accessdate=November 17, 2020}}</ref> Nadia Oxford from USgamer, reviewing the game's release on the [[Classics#Super NES Classic Edition|Super NES Classic Edition]], has called the game "the SNES Classic Edition's most perfect inclusion." and has generally praised how well the game is held up, despite its simplicity compared to later ''Mario Kart'' entries, with ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' being compared to in the review.<ref>{{cite|author=Oxford, Nadia|date=January 23, 2019|url=www.usgamer.net/articles/super-nes-classic-game-by-game-7-super-mario-kart|title=Super NES Retro Review: ''Super Mario Kart''|publisher=USgamer|accessdate=November 27, 2020}}</ref> The flaw Oxford has cited was the single-player splitscreen and the fact that the game supports only two players rather than four. ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' has given the game an Editor's Choice award in its November 1992 issue.<ref>{{cite|author=Alessi, Martin; Harris, Steve; Semrad, Ed, Sushi X|date=November 1992|url=retrocdn.net/images/7/7f/EGM_US_040.pdf|title=Review Crew: ''Super Mario Kart''|publisher=Electronic Gaming Monthly|page=25|accessdate=November 27, 2020}}</ref>

''Super Mario Kart'' has seen frequent placements in Top Games lists. The game was placed 32nd in the 100th issue of Nintendo Power's "100 best Nintendo games of all time" in 1997.<ref>{{cite|date=September 1997|archive=web.archive.org/web/20091225020235/http://www.gamekult.com/communaute/forum/voirmessage.html?foid=13000909|title=Nintendo Power's 100 Best Games of All Time - Sept. 1997|publisher=GameKult|accessdate=November 27, 2020}}</ref> In the book, ''Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition'' for 2009, ''Super Mario Kart'' was placed as the #1 best console game. The game was placed 33rd in the 200th issue of GameInformer's "Top 200 Games of all Time" in December 2009. The game was awarded the Most Critically Acclaimed ''Mario Kart'' Game by ''[[Guinness World Records|Guinness Book of World Records]] Gamer's Edition 2009 - 2014''.
{|class="wikitable reviews"
!colspan="4"style="font-size:120%;text-align:center;background-color:silver;"|Reviews
|-style="background-color:#E6E6E6"
|Release
|Reviewer, Publication
|Score
|Comment
|-
|[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]]
|Shey Stevens, [https://archive.org/stream/Electronic-Games-1992-12/Electronic%20Games%201992-12#page/n77/mode/2up Electronic Games]
|93%
|align="left"|"''Super Mario Kart has a fast-paced feel with plenty of in-depth play. While the game isn't totally revolutionary, the action does deviate from what we've exposed to in the past to make this new driving adventure something worthwhile to add to a collection, whether you're a fan of driving titles or Mario.''"
|-
|SNES
|Karn Spydar Lee Bianco, [http://www.cubed3.com/review/194/1/super-mario-kart-snes.html Cubed3]
|9/10
|align="left"|"''It's the original ultimate racer, it has everything you could ever want then adds some more and that all important 'Nintendo difference'. It's hard to express in words how perfect this game is, you really MUST play it right NOW.''"
|-
|SNES
|Jason Venter, [https://www.honestgamers.com/200/snes/super-mario-kart/review.html HonestGamers]
|5/5
|align="left"|"''Chock full of great visuals, awesome sound, tight play control, amazing track design, items galore and a multi-player mode that's hard to beat, Super Mario Kart is my favorite game of all time. It’s also one of the main reasons to own a Super Nintendo.''"
|-
|SNES
|Brett Alan Weiss, [https://web.archive.org/web/20141206083454/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2628 allgame]
|5/5
|align="left"|"''Super Mario Kart has spawned numerous imitators over the years, but it finishes in front of the pack every time.''"
|-
|[[Wii]]
|Nintendo Life Staff, [https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/snes/super_mario_kart Nintendo Life]
|9/10
|align="left"|"''Super Mario Kart has certainly made its mark on gaming history, spawning several sequels on successive Nintendo consoles, not to mention many imitators. To play it today is every bit as enjoyable as it ever was; sure the graphics and sound may have dated, but the core gameplay is still top notch. This is one hell of a fun racing game with enough playability to keep you coming back for more. It's amazing that Nintendo chose to wait three years before treating us to this seminal game on the Virtual Console, but we're glad they finally saw sense!''"
|-
|Wii
|Lucas M. Thomas, [https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/11/24/super-mario-kart-review IGN]
|9/10
|align="left"|"''Where each of the [[Nintendo 64|N64]], [[Nintendo GameCube|Cube]] and Wii installments of the series have focused on multiplayer, more characters and more crazy items, though, this SNES original keeps things simpler -- emphasizing, instead, the actual racing instead of the combat within each race. It's a different take on the same idea, which is interesting since it's the original take on that idea. So stick with the other Kart games if you want the multiplayer chaos, but come on back to this very first racing adventure with Mario and his crew. It's absolutely worth 800 of your [[Virtual Console#Wii Points|Wii Points]] to re-experience, or to play for the very first time.''"
|-
|Super NES Classic Edition
|Nadia Oxford, [https://www.usgamer.net/articles/super-nes-classic-game-by-game-7-super-mario-kart USgamer]
|4.5/5
|align="left"|''"Super Mario Kart is pretty bare-bones compared to its feature-laden sequels, but in many ways, its simplicity is its strength. Super Mario Kart's core concept is still a whole lot of rad fun, and that's what matters most.''"
|-
!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|GameRankings
|colspan=2|[https://web.archive.org/web/20150629081951/https://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588738-super-mario-kart/index.html 93.60%]
|}
{{br}}

===Sales===
''Super Mario Kart'' is the 4th best-selling game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, selling 8.76 million copies worldwide as of December 31, 2009.<ref>{{cite|author=Futter, Mike|date=June 2, 2014|archive=web.archive.org/web/20140604084937/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/06/02/mario-kart-8-speeds-to-over-1-2-million-sales-in-opening-weekend.aspx|title=''Mario Kart 8'' Speeds To Over 1.2 Million Sales In Opening Weekend|publisher=Game Informer|accessdate=November 27, 2020}}</ref>

==Adaptations in other media==
===''Super Mario 4koma Manga Theater''===
[[File:Mario SMK SM4MT.png|thumb|Mario driving a go-kart in the ''Super Mario 4koma Manga Theater''.]]
''Super Mario Kart'' is occasionally referenced in the gag comic series, the ''[[Super Mario 4koma Manga Theater]]'', alongside other ''Super Mario'' titles.

===''Super Mario-kun''===
The sixth volume of the ''[[Super Mario-kun]]'' by Yukio Sawada completes the ''[[Super Mario World]]'' arc, though it contains a story that is heavily based on ''Super Mario Kart''; the title even bases its Mario artwork off official artwork of the game.

===''Super Mario'' Kodansha manga===
Three volumes feature ''Super Mario Kart'' in Kodansha's [[Super Mario (Kodansha manga)|''Super Mario'']] series by Kazuki Motoyama. The first volume's cover [[:File:All super mario kart issues.jpg|features the cast driving on Rainbow Road.]]
{{br}}

==''Super Mario Kart: Doki Doki Race''==
{{main|Super Mario Kart: Doki Doki Race}}
[[File:Super Mario Kart Dokidoki Race.png|thumb|Photo for ''Super Mario Kart: Doki Doki Race'']]
''Super Mario Kart'' was adapted into a Japan-only electro-mechanical arcade game developed by {{wp|Banpresto}} and {{wp|Atlus}} called ''[[Super Mario Kart: Doki Doki Race]]'', released in 1994.<ref>{{cite|author=Borp|url=www.marioboards.com/index.php?topic=35637.msg1780735#msg1780735#msg1780735|title=Arcade coverage: Banpresto|publisher=Super Mario Boards|date=October 28, 2015|accessdate=May 3, 2024}}</ref> The playable characters are [[Mario]], [[Luigi]], [[Princess Peach]], [[Yoshi]], and [[Bowser]], with [[Cheep Cheep]], [[Monty Mole]], and [[Lakitu (Mario Kart referee)|Lakitu]] in supporting roles. The game seems to operate on magnets to move the karts and is based on chance by who can press a series of buttons fast enough. There are five music tracks in total, two in particular being the music for the title screen and the Mario Circuit theme. The latter theme is sped up and has additional notes that play throughout the track with an ending note. A male announcer voice can also be heard throughout the gameplay. The other three music tracks are a preparation theme and two different victory themes.<ref>{{cite|author=Super Mario Wiki|date=October 31, 2015|url=youtu.be/1SMFdLu-cuw|title=''Super Mario Kart'' Dokidoki Race Gameplay|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=May 3, 2024}}</ref>
{{br}}

==Merchandise==
Due to the game's popularity and success, multiple merchandise based on ''Super Mario Kart'' has been sold. Diecast kart racers are frequent merchandise, with a few plush dolls.
<gallery>
figurines.jpg|A set of character figurines
koopakartpullback.jpg|A figurine of Koopa
toadkartpullback.jpg|A figurine of Toad
luigikartpullback.jpg|A figurine of Luigi
mariokartpullback.jpg|A figurine of Mario
yoshikartpullback.jpg|A figurine of Yoshi
smkkartcollection1.jpg|A set of figurines including Koopa, Mario, Yoshi, and Toad
Smkcollection2.jpg|A set of figurines including Bowser, Luigi, Peach, and [[Donkey Kong Jr.]]
rcyoshikart.jpg|A Japan-only kart of Yoshi
plushkart.jpg|A plushie of Mario
plushluigikart.jpg|A plushie of Luigi
plushpeachkart.jpg|A plushie of Princess
plushyoshikart.jpg|A plushie of Yoshi
plushbowserkart.jpg|A plushie of Bowser
plushdkjrkart.jpg|A plushie of Donkey Kong Jr.
plushkoopakart.jpg|A plushie of Koopa Troopa
plushtoadkart.jpg|A plushie of Toad
lakituplush.jpg|A plushie of [[Lakitu (Mario Kart referee)|Lakitu]]
SMK Carddass Trading Card 17.jpg|''Super Mario Kart'' - Carddass Trading Card series
SMK Carddass Trading Card 18.jpg|''Super Mario Kart'' - Carddass Trading Card series
SMK Carddass Trading Card 19.jpg|''Super Mario Kart'' - Carddass Trading Card series
SMK Carddass Trading Card 20.jpg|''Super Mario Kart'' - Carddass Trading Card series
SMK Japanese Card.jpg|A Japanese collectible card
</gallery>

==Gallery==
{{main-gallery}}
<gallery>
Mario collecting coin SMK artwork.jpg|[[Mario]]
SMK Luigi Artwork.png|[[Luigi]]
SMKYoshiSpin.png|[[Yoshi]]
SMK Battle Mode Artwork.jpg|Mario vs. [[Bowser]] 
Lakitu SMK artwork.jpg|[[Lakitu (Mario Kart referee)|Lakitu]]
SMK Japanese Logo Artwork.png|The game's logo
</gallery>

==Soundtrack==
While ''Super Mario Kart'' has no officially released dedicated soundtrack, it is featured in various compilation soundtracks. ''[[Super Mario Compact Disco]]'', a compilation soundtrack featuring tunes from multiple ''Super Mario'' titles released in August 1993, features a hip hop-styled remix of the title screen music from ''Super Mario Kart''. In the ''Nintendo Sound Selection'' series, ''[[Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.2: Loud Music]]'' contains the [[Bowser's Castle#Mario Kart series|Bowser Castle]] music, simply titled "Castle". On January 20, 2025, the soundtrack was made available in its entirety on the [[Nintendo Music]] app.

The instrument samples used for the soundtrack included the "flat shots", grand piano, distorted guitar, electric bass, and organ from the {{wp|Akai S1000}}; the reedy keys from an {{wp|E-mu Proteus}} synthesizer; the clarinet from the {{wp|Kawai K1|Kawai K1r}}; a guitar from the {{wp|Korg M1}}; the bass marimba from the {{wp|Roland D-50|Roland D-550}}; the reverb snare and closed hi-hat from the {{wp|Roland R-8}}; whistling samples from the {{wp|Yamaha}} RX-8 and {{wp|Yamaha TG77|TG77}} (as well as the latter's synth brass); and an agogo, bongo, electric kick drum, and timbale taken from unknown equipment.<ref>{{cite|url=docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JJBlHHDc65fhZmKUGLrDTLCm6rfUU83-kbuD8Y0zU0o/edit?pli=1#gid=717751203|title=NEWER VGM Sound Sources|publisher=Google Docs|accessdate=March 3, 2021}}</ref>
===Media===
{{main-media}}
{{media table
|file1=SMK-Music-MainTheme.oga
|title1=Super Mario Kart Title Screen
|length1=0:30
|file2=SMK Choose your Driver.oga
|title2=Selection Screens
|length2=0:30
|file3=SMK-Music-MarioCircuit.oga
|title3=[[SNES Mario Circuit 1|Mario Circuit]]
|length3=0:30
|file4=SMK Luigi Ranks.oga
|title4=Race Results (Luigi)
|length4=0:14
}}

==References to other games==
*''[[Donkey Kong Jr. (game)|Donkey Kong Jr.]]'': [[Donkey Kong Jr.]] appears as a playable character.
*''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'': Mario's theme is a slight variation of part of the overworld theme from this game.
*''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'': The computer-controlled Toad and Peach are able to throw [[Poison Mushroom]]s, which are not usable by the player.
*''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'': The quadricolor wall blocks use the design of the indestructible barrier tiles seen throughout this game, especially in its [[fortress]]es.
*''[[Super Mario World]]'': Several sound effects from this game are reused. The music for the [[Ghost Valley]] and [[Bowser's Castle|Bowser Castle]] courses are remixes of the music from the [[Ghost House]]s and the final boss theme, respectively, in this game. Most of the races take place in [[Dinosaur Land]]. Also, sprites such as Lakitu's bear a resemblance to their ''Super Mario World'' sprite. The [[Cape Feather]] appears as a usable item.

==References in later media==
[[File:SM3DW Dash Panel.png|thumb|A portion of Mount Must Dash]]
*''[[Mario Kart 64]]'': The title music from this game is a slower and elongated arrangement of the title music from ''Super Mario Kart''. Also, part of [[N64 Banshee Boardwalk|Banshee Boardwalk]]'s music is a rearrangement of the music used for the [[Ghost Valley]] courses in ''Super Mario Kart''.
*''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'': All twenty ''Super Mario Kart'' courses appeared in this game, but all of their track hazards have been removed, coins and [[Item Box|Item Boxes]] are at different places than where coins and [[? Panel|Question Blocks]] laid originally and some tracks changed a little. The music for all tracks is redone for the Game Boy Advance. Also, part of the music for [[Boo Lake]]/[[Broken Pier]] and [[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart: Super Circuit)|Rainbow Road]] is a rearrangement of the music from the Ghost Valley and Rainbow Road courses in ''Super Mario Kart'', respectively.
*''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'': ''Super Mario Kart'' can be seen as a sponsor in some tracks, such as [[GCN Dry Dry Desert|Dry Dry Desert]] and [[Mushroom City]].
*''[[Mario Kart DS]]'': [[SNES Mario Circuit 1|Mario Circuit 1]], [[SNES Donut Plains 1|Donut Plains 1]], [[SNES Koopa Troopa Beach 2|Koopa Beach 2]], and [[SNES Choco Island 2|Choco Island 2]] all return in this game.
*''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'': An arrangement of the Mario Circuit theme plays on the [[Figure-8 Circuit (stage)|Mario Circuit]] stage. Many [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophies]] are from ''Super Mario Kart''. The [[Banana Peel]] and [[Lightning Bolt]] appear as items in this game.
*''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'': [[SNES Ghost Valley 2|Ghost Valley 2]] and [[SNES Mario Circuit 3|Mario Circuit 3]] return as retro tracks and [[SNES Battle Course 4|Battle Course 4]] returns as a retro battle stage.
*''[[Mario Kart 7]]'': Collecting coins also returns from ''Super Mario Kart''. [[SNES Mario Circuit 2|Mario Circuit 2]] and [[SNES Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]] return as retro tracks. Also, the rival system returned in this game. The original kart design, now called [[Pipe Frame]], returns in this game as a kart body, however it uses the dual exhaust design from ''Mario Kart 64'' instead of the single exhaust from ''Super Mario Kart''. 
*''[[Fortune Street]]'': The theme for the Mario Circuit board is an arrangement of Mario Circuit's music from ''Super Mario Kart''.
*''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'': The level [[Mount Must Dash]] is based on the Mario Circuit courses from ''Super Mario Kart'', complete with a rearrangement of the courses' music.
*''[[NES Remix 2]]'': The 21st Bonus level's unique rendition of the [[P Switch]] theme incorporates a melody from ''Super Mario Kart''{{'}}s Rainbow Road theme.
*''[[Mario Kart 8]]'': Part of the main theme is an orchestrated version of the main theme of ''Super Mario Kart''. The [[Pipe Frame]] returns with the single exhaust design. Also, the Coin item returns with the same function as it did in ''Super Mario Kart''. [[SNES Donut Plains 3|Donut Plains 3]] returns as a retro track. The design of {{classic link|N64|Rainbow Road}} and [[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart 8)|Rainbow Road]] for this game are very similar to {{classic link |SNES| Rainbow Road}}, which also appears in this game in the DLC cup, [[Triforce Cup]].
**''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'': The [[Cape Feather|Feather]] item returns with the same function. [[SNES Battle Course 1|Battle Course 1]] reappears as a classic battle course; a billboard in the course background is modeled after the player select screen from ''Super Mario Kart''. [[SNES Mario Circuit 3|Mario Circuit 3]] and [[SNES Bowser Castle 3|Bowser Castle 3]] return as classic courses in the ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass|Booster Course Pass]]'' for ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''. Portions of the staff roll theme are heard in the ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass|Booster Course Pass]]'' staff credits.
*''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'': ''Super Mario Kart'' appears as a masterpiece in this game.
*''[[Super Mario Maker]]'': The invincibility theme from ''Super Mario Kart'' is used when the Mario Kart costume uses a Super Star. Also, the race start fanfare is heard when Mario picks up the [[Mystery Mushroom]]. The 1st-4th place (course clear) and 5th-8th place (death) jingles are also heard. Ironically, when Mario is moving, the kart's engine sound is actually coming from Bowser and Donkey Kong Jr.'s karts, rather than his and Luigi's.
*''[[Super Mario Odyssey]]'': An arrangement of Mario Circuit's music is used during the [[RC Car Challenge]] in [[New Donk City]].
*''[[WarioWare Gold]]'': This game contains [[Super Mario Kart (microgame)|a microgame]] that is based off of ''Super Mario Kart'', which involves Mario staying on Rainbow Road while avoiding items that are on the track.
*''[[Super Mario Maker 2]]'': One of the sound effects replaces the level music with the Mario Circuit theme.
*''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'': [[SNES Mario Circuit 1|Mario Circuit 1]], [[SNES Donut Plains 1|Donut Plains 1]], [[SNES Ghost Valley 1|Ghost Valley 1]], [[SNES Mario Circuit 2|Mario Circuit 2]], [[SNES Choco Island 1|Choco Island 1]], [[SNES Ghost Valley 2|Ghost Valley 2]], [[SNES Donut Plains 2|Donut Plains 2]], [[SNES Mario Circuit 3|Mario Circuit 3]], [[SNES Choco Island 2|Choco Island 2]], [[SNES Vanilla Lake 1|Vanilla Lake 1]], [[SNES Bowser Castle 3|Bowser Castle 3]], [[SNES Donut Plains 3|Donut Plains 3]], [[SNES Koopa Troopa Beach 2|Koopa Beach 2]], [[SNES Vanilla Lake 2|Vanilla Lake 2]] and [[SNES Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]] appear as returning courses. Much of the artwork from ''Super Mario Kart'', such as Yoshi spinning out, are reused as badges in this game, in addition to the cover art of the game being used for the [[Super Mario Kart Glider]]. Mario and Donkey Kong Jr.'s sprites are reused from this game for separate playable variants. The sound effects used for the pre-race jingle, item roulette, and post-race jingle are reused from this game exclusively for the two aforementioned variants. The Mushroom, Banana, Green Shell, Red Shell, Coin, Lightning, Super Star, and Feather sprites are reused as badges in this game. Sprites of all of the drivers and Lakitu also appear as badges. The [[Super Mario Kart Tour]] is themed and named after ''Super Mario Kart''.
*''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'': The title theme and the [[SNES Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]] theme are arranged in the track "Buckle Up".

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jpn=スーパーマリオカート
|JpnR=Sūpā Mario Kāto
|JpnM=Super Mario Kart
|Kor=슈퍼 마리오 카트
|KorR=Syupeo Mario Kateu
|KorM=Super Mario Kart
|ChiS=超级马力欧卡丁车<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendo.com.hk/topics/article/a_200904_02_sc.html|title=超级马力欧兄弟 35周年！ |publisher=Nintendo|accessdate=September 4, 2020}}</ref>
|ChiSR=Chāojí Mǎlì'ōu Kǎdīngchē
|ChiSM=Super Mario Kart
|ChiT=超級瑪利歐賽車<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendo.com.hk/topics/article/a_200904_02.html|title=超級瑪利歐兄弟 35週年！|publisher=Nintendo|accessdate=September 4, 2020}}</ref>
|ChiTR=Chāojí Mǎlì'ōu Sàichē
|ChiTM=Super Mario Kart
}}
===''Super Mario Kart: Fully souped up!''===
{{foreign names
|Jpn=スーパーマリオカート フルコースでおもてなしバージョン
|JpnR=Sūpā Mario Kāto Furu Kōsu de Omotenashi Bājon
|JpnM=Super Mario Kart Full Course Treatment Version
|ChiS=超级马力欧卡丁车 全赛道庆典版
|ChiSR=Chāojí Mǎlì'ōu Kǎdīngchē Quán Sàidào Qìngdiǎnbǎn
|ChiSM=Super Mario Kart All Racetracks Celebration Edition
|ChiT=超級瑪利歐賽車 全賽道款待版本
|ChiTR=Chāojí Mǎlì'ōu Sàichē Quán Sàidào Kuǎndài Bǎnběn
|ChiTM=Super Mario Kart All Racetracks Hospitality Version
|Fre=''Super Mario Kart: Sur les chapeaux de roues !''
|FreM=''Super Mario Kart: At full throttle!''
|Ger=''Super Mario Kart: Komplett aufgemotzt!''
|Spa=''Super Mario Kart: ¡A tope de revoluciones!''
|SpaM=''Super Mario Kart: Full throttle!''
|Ita=''Super Mario Kart: A tutto gas!''
|ItaM=''Super Mario Kart: Full throttle!''
|Dut=''Super Mario Kart: Maximaal opgevoerd!''
|Por=''Super Mario Kart: A todo o gás!''
|Rus=''Super Mario Kart: Полный газ!''
|RusR=Super Mario Kart: Polnyy gaz!
|Kor=Super Mario Kart 완전 파워 업!
}}

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{NIWA|NWiki=1|SmashWiki=1|StrategyWiki=1}}
{{TCRF}}
*[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/ja/pdf/CLV-P-VAAFJ.pdf Super Famicom manual]
*[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/common/pdf/CLV-P-SAAFE.pdf North American instruction booklet]
{{SMK}}
{{Super Mario games}}
{{SNES}}
{{Virtual Console}}
{{NSO}}
[[de:Super Mario Kart]]
[[it:Super Mario Kart]]
[[Category:Super Mario Kart|*]]
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games]]
[[Category:Racing games]]
[[Category:1992 games]]
[[Category:1993 games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Classics]]
[[Category:Player's Choice]]
[[Category:Amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits]]