Wii Rainbow Road

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This article is about the race course from Mario Kart Wii. For Rainbow Road as a whole and other versions of the track, see Rainbow Road.
Rainbow Road
Rainbow Road
Information
Appears in Mario Kart Wii (2008)
Mario Kart Tour (2023)
Cup(s) Special Cup (Wii)
Tour(s)
Based on Super Mario Galaxy
Online play No longer available (Wii)
Music sample
Mario Kart Wii / Mario Kart Tour
Course map
Mario Kart Wii
Rainbow Road
Mario Kart Tour
Map of Wii Rainbow Road from Mario Kart Tour
Staff ghost(s)
Wii Nin★Konno
3:05.895 RosalinaShooting Star
Wii Expert Nin★Syun1
2:44.734 RosalinaJetsetter

Rainbow Road is the fourth and last course of the Special Cup in Mario Kart Wii. The course is located over Earth's atmosphere. If a driver falls off the course, they will burn up in the atmosphere (even if there is a section of the course below them) before getting picked up by Lakitu.

This course has a Super Mario Galaxy theme to it, featuring a Launch Star and floating Star Bits as elements of the track's design and theming. A large galaxy can be seen in the background, as well as sunlight on the Earth's surface. Both of the course's staff ghosts are driven with Rosalina. The opening to the course's music is similar to the opening portion of Rainbow Road's music from Mario Kart DS; later, it uses the Good Egg Galaxy theme as a countermelody underneath its own main melody. An arrangement of this course's music appears as one of the selectable songs in Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

This Rainbow Road returns in Mario Kart Tour as a classic course starting in the 2023 Space Tour. It also returns in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in the Booster Course Pass as the fourth and final course of the Spiny Cup, and the final course in the game overall.

In Mario Kart Wii, the course appears to be located over the eastern parts of North America, as well as some parts of Europe, Africa, and South America. In Mario Kart Tour, the course instead takes place above parts of Europe and Asia. Coincidentally, the tour following Wii Rainbow Road's Mario Kart Tour debut was the 2023 Winter Tour, which featured all three of the game's Asian city courses (Tokyo Blur, Singapore Speedway, and Bangkok Rush).

Mario Kart Wii

Course layout

The downhill portion of the track

The course begins on a near 90 degree downward slope, located after the starting line. Light drivers may be easily punted off in this area, since there are no rails to help the racers from falling off. Three Dash Panels are present on this slope. One stretches across the road while the other two are spread apart from each other, with one on the right and one to the left further ahead. At the bottom of the downhill waits five Item Boxes, and a ramp with a Dash Panel on it. Vehicles can perform a trick here as they arrive on a new sloping road which takes a sharp left turn, but bear the risk of going too fast and falling off the right end of the track; especially so for racers with lower drift or handling stats.

After this sharp turn are three more Dash Panels that stretch across the road that lead into a left turn, with a half-pipe on the very right. The half-pipe allows racers to grab several floating Item Boxes, but not without risk, as racers who take the half-pipe at a certain angle and go too far into the air may actually shoot past the track's railings and fall into space. After the left turn is a slightly wavy road, where the player may perform tricks and grab airborne Item Boxes. Each lap, the road gets wavier, allowing for more tricks to be performed. At the end of this wavy segment is a ramp with a Dash Panel on it, which will send players into a figure-8 shaped section vaguely similar to one seen in Daisy Circuit, but with two large holes dividing the track instead of walls. Both holes have half-pipe ramps to their sides on the left and right ends of the track, with the first pair featuring more Item Boxes, and racers may perform tricks on small ramps that border the edge of the holes. Following this section is a sharp turn left, then a gentler curve right that has Item Boxes lying across the road. The left turn in particular can prove especially treacherous, as the railing from the previous section extends only partially over the road's right side; combined with the track's sloping angle, colliding with this rail at high speed can potentially bump a racer off the opposite side of the track. After the Item Boxes is a large Launch Star, which blasts the player upwards through a rainbow-colored tunnel like a cannon onto the highest section of the track.

When the player lands after this, there is a very minor twist in the road, and then an upward curve covered in several Dash Panels, leading into a unique, mandatory half-pipe ramp that makes a broad left turn over a gap and through several star-filled rings, sending racers landing onto another section of the track. In this section, the road splits into two twisting paths with very little railings, with the right elevated higher and the left leading slightly downward - the two paths are roughly parallel, featuring a small Dash Panel on the inside of the road near their beginning, a turn in their opposite direction, and then a sharp turn back towards the middle with another optional Dash Panel at the inner edge of the track, finally culminating in a ramp with two wide Dash Panels and floating Item Boxes. Past this jump, the road merges once again into the track's final stretch: a long, sharp left upwards turn with no rails surrounded by a swirling tunnel of stars, with three Dash Panels placed alternatingly across the left and right sides of the road. All that waits before the finish line from here is a gentle right turn, after which the track loops over for another lap. It is the longest nitro course in the game.

Shortcuts

Funky Kong flying over the slope in Rainbow Road.
Funky Kong flying over the slope

At the beginning, racers can use a mushroom or slipstream in conjunction with a jump to fly over the beginning downhill portion and land just before the ramp. With an outside drift type vehicle, they can even cut off the first turn.

Players can jump over the two giant holes, either entirely or partially, with the aid of Mushrooms, trick boosts, or nothing at all. They can also hop over the curve following the giant holes with no items (although the boost from the 2nd right half-pipe ramp or 2nd hole can help).

On the half-pipe ramp following the Launch Star, racers (particularly those with bikes) can drift to the left on the ramp to spend less time in the air and land much sooner.

Tournaments

The November 2009 2nd Tournament

November 2009's second tournament required players to complete a Time Trial on a version of Rainbow Road with Chain Chomps added: There is one Chain Chomp roaming near the first half-pipe, two rolling around the figure-8 section, one roaming where the track splits, and one roaming along the final left turn. Players start the Time Trial with a set of Triple Mushrooms. This tournament could be a reference to the Mario Kart 64 iteration of Rainbow Road, as Chain Chomps were also present there. The tournament was restricted to karts only. The official description stated, "Chain Chomps have taken over Rainbow Road in this karts-only Time Trial. Anticipating their movements and avoiding them is the key to a good score."

This tournament was repeated as the first tournament of December 2010, but without restrictions. It was later repeated as the second tournament of August 2011, and the first tournament of November 2012, with the karts only restriction intact for the August 2011 tournament.

Other information

Both the normal and expert staff ghost of this course make appearances as staff ghosts in Mario Kart 7. The normal ghost, Nin★Konno, appears as the normal staff ghost for DS Luigi's Mansion, while the expert staff ghost, Nin★Syun1, appears as the expert staff ghost for Wario Shipyard.

Mario Kart Tour

View of Wii Rainbow Road in Mario Kart Tour
View of the course in Mario Kart Tour

This version of Rainbow Road makes its classic course debut in Mario Kart Tour, starting from the 2023 Space Tour. This makes it the first Mario Kart Wii Special Cup course to reappear in a future installment of the series, the sixth Wii course in Mario Kart Tour, the first Wii course since Wii Koopa Cape in the May 2022 Peach vs. Bowser Tour seventeen tours prior, and the second Wii course to make its classic course debut in Mario Kart Tour, the first one being Wii DK Summit in the Snow Tour forty-nine tours prior. The course has been converted into a two-section track like Tokyo Blur 4, New York Minute 4, and N64 Kalimari Desert 2, with the second section beginning at the cannon. The course's layout is mostly unchanged, although it has received numerous graphical updates. The starting line and various other course elements now have technicolor ring designs. The road texture is now animated, with pinpricks of light following the path of the course. The background has received quite a few changes, such as the Earth being moved closer to the track and Saturn being moved from the last turn to being right after the cannon. Most notably, the moon is now modeled, is much closer to the track, and has a rocket ship based on the ones from 3DS Rainbow Road. The floating arrows now take on their appearance from SNES Rainbow Road. The small ramps that border the edge of the holes have been removed, preventing players from jumping over the holes in the figure-8 section, and the road texture no longer highlights arcs for the half-pipes. After the first jump, barriers have been added extending to the first Dash Panel. The wavy road no longer has a different texture from the main road. The tube that surrounds the cannon now cycles through colors, and the cannon itself now encompasses a Glide Ramp. The tunnel of light surrounding the last bend now has a pattern of rings moving forward with rotating sun-shaped entrances and exits, with the half-pipe jump also now having a version of this tunnel with simpler entrance and exit points. The half-pipe jump was also adjusted so that the first portion is parallel to the second, presumably due to the game's different half-pipe physics.

This course also appears as Rainbow Road R (reversed), Rainbow Road T (with ramps), and Rainbow Road R/T (reversed with ramps). In the T variant, there are only three Item Boxes, with players being able to collect a fourth via the use of item tickets. Because players cannot get Frenzies from back-to-back Item Boxes, it is the first and only course where receiving three Frenzies is impossible. It is also significantly shorter due to the first two turns being entirely skipped. In the R/T variant, there are three pairs of Star Thwomps along the second section, and racers briefly drive underneath the figure-8 section.

The course icon for the R/T variant is slightly incorrect: in it, only one Star Thwomp is shown on the left side of the Kanaami Road near the figure-8 portion, but when racing, there are two Star Thwomps on each side.

Appearances

For this course's tour appearances, see List of Wii Rainbow Road tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Top-tier and middle-tier items

Select "show" to reveal the drivers, karts, and gliders for which Wii Rainbow Road and its variants are always favored or favorite courses. For instances in which additional drivers, karts, and gliders temporarily had this course and its variants as favored or favorite courses, see List of Wii Rainbow Road tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Course Three-item drivers Bonus points ×2 karts Combo bonus ×3 gliders Two-item drivers Bonus points ×1.5 karts Combo bonus ×2 gliders
Wii Rainbow Road from Mario Kart Tour
Normal variant
Chargin' Chuck (Gold)Dry Bones Mii Racing SuitLarry (Wintertime)Mario (Satellaview)Purple Mii Racing SuitRosalina (Chef)Santa Mii Racing Suit Armored RiderBlooper ShuttleBlue Sub ScooterBoo PipesGold 8-Bit Pipe FrameGold Bullet BlasterGold Cupid's ArrowLightning StreamlinerMonarch KartRainbow StreetleRainbow TaxiSleigh RiderSwift Talon Black StarchuteBright RibbonGlittering GliderGold UmbrellaGreen Cat ParafoilIcy Mario's MustacheLuigi's MustacheMario's Hat BalloonRainbow Fare FlierSpooky Sprinkle BalloonsWonderful Garnet Bowser Mii Racing SuitCat LuigiDr. PeachCat LuigiKing Bob-omb Mii Racing SuitLuigi (Chef)Luigi (Knight)Mario (King)Pastry Chef Mii Racing SuitPetey PiranhaRockyWrenchMiiRacingSuitRosalina (Volendam)Toad (Astronaut)White Tanooki Mario Blue SpeederCream B Dasher Mk. 2Gold B DasherGold Capsule KartGold Jingle BellGold Lunar CruiserGold PipesGold TricksterGoo-Goo BlackHoliday SpeederIce-Cream MinibusMetal B Dasher Mk. 2Moo Moo OffroaderPink SneekerRed OffroaderShielded SpeedsterTaiko Drum Dasher***Tuk-Tuk KartWild Gold Flybrary BookGold 8-Bit GliderGold Cloud BalloonsGold Flappy WingsGold Hard Hat BalloonGold MeteorsGreen SproutJellychuteLuigi ParafoilNew Year's 2023Origami GliderRed EmblemRed and Gold UmbrellaTulip CorsageYukata Ribbon
Green Toad (Pit Crew)Red Toad (Pit Crew)Yellow Yoshi Rambi Rider
Wii Rainbow Road R from Mario Kart Tour
R variant
Bowser Mii Racing SuitCat Mii Racing SuitChain Chomp Mii Racing SuitDaisy (Sailor)Iggy Mii Racing SuitKing Bob-omb Mii Racing SuitLight Blue Mii Racing SuitLight Green Mii Racing SuitLuigi (Gold Knight)Luigi (Knight)Mario (Golf)Pastry Chef Mii Racing SuitPink Shy Guy (Ninja)Toadette (Astronaut)White Mii Racing Suit Black Jungle BellBlazing EagleGold B DasherGold Cupid's ArrowGreen B Dasher Mk. 2Green Cat CruiserMach 8-RPink SpeederPurple Rattle BuggyRed OffroaderShielded SpeedsterStrawberry Soft SwerveSwift TalonTaiko Drum DasherYellow 8-Bit Pipe Frame Bright BalloonsCalico Toe-Bean BalloonsGold Cloud BalloonsGolden GliderMario's MustacheMint & Berry BalloonsNew Year's 2022Origami GliderRed and Gold UmbrellaRoyal FlushTropical BalloonsWiggler Parachute Cat LuigiChargin' Chuck (Gold)Donkey Kong Mii Racing SuitDr. BowserDr. MarioDr. PeachDry Bones Mii Racing SuitKitsune LuigiLemmy Mii Racing SuitMonty Mole Mii Racing SuitPetey Piranha (Gold)Petey Piranha Mii Racing SuitRosalina (Chef)Santa Mii Racing SuitSilver Mii Racing SuitToad (Astronaut)***Wario Mii Racing Suit Black CarriageBlooper Shuttle***Bright GirlCact-BCream B Dasher Mk. 2Flowery BadwagonGold Bullet BlasterGold EagleGold QuickshawGold Rambi RiderGold StandardGreen-Yellow Capsule KartHoliday SpeederPink SneekerRainbow Pipe BuggySilver Cupid's ArrowSleigh RiderStar BroomWild Gold Aurora BalloonsCream Toe-Bean BalloonsGold Eggshell GliderIcy Mario's MustacheLuigi ParafoilNew Year's 2023Pink Magniflying GlassRainbow BellsRainbow Fare FlierSakura Origami GliderSilver Luigi's MustacheSmiley Flower GliderTulip CorsageWonderful Garnet
Light-blue Toad (Pit Crew)Orange Shy Guy**Red Toad (Pit Crew) Pink Turbo Yoshi
Wii Rainbow Road T from Mario Kart Tour
T variant
Builder MarioDonkey Kong Mii Racing SuitDr. MarioGold MarioKitsune LuigiLarry (Wintertime)Luigi (Golf)PoochyReindeer Mii Racing SuitRosalina (Volendam)Shy Guy (Ninja)Silver Mii Racing SuitWario Mii Racing SuitWiggler (Gold) Blue SpeederBright GirlClassic B Dasher Mk. 2Flaming SpeederFlowery BadwagonGold 8-Bit Pipe FrameGoo-Goo BlackIce-Cream MinibusJumbo JetterPink SneekerPurple Rattle BuggySakura Sports CoupeSilver Cupid's ArrowTuk-Tuk Kart Fire Manta GliderGlittering ParasolGold 8-Bit GliderLuigi ParafoilMagniflying GlassMario Bros. ParafoilPink Magniflying GlassSilver Luigi's MustacheTulip CorsageWonderful GarnetYukata Ribbon Black Mii Racing SuitBowser Mii Racing SuitBuilder LuigiCat MarioCat Mii Racing SuitChargin' Chuck (Gold)Daisy (Sailor)Daisy (Thai Dress)Dry Bones Mii Racing SuitKing Bob-omb Mii Racing SuitLight Blue Mii Racing SuitLight Green Mii Racing SuitLuigi (Chef)Luigi (Gold Knight)Luigi (Knight)Mario (King)Pastry Chef Mii Racing SuitPeach (Yukata)Petey PiranhaToadette (Astronaut)***White Mii Racing Suit Boo PipesCoral Jet CruiserGold Bullet BlasterGold Capsule KartGold Double-DeckerGold EagleGold Jingle BellGold Monarch KartGold QuickshawGold Rambi RiderGreen B Dasher Mk. 2Green Cat CruiserLightning StreamlinerMoo Moo OffroaderPink Capsule KartPink SpeederRainbow Pipe BuggyShielded SpeedsterSwift TalonYellow 8-Bit Pipe Frame Black StarchuteFestive HollyGold BellsGold Candlelight FlightGold Hard Hat BalloonGreen SproutIcy Mario's MustacheLuigi's MustacheMario's Hat BalloonMint & Berry BalloonsOrigami GliderRed and Gold UmbrellaSakura Origami GliderSpooky Sprinkle Balloons
Rambi Rider Pink Turbo Yoshi
Wii Rainbow Road R/T from Mario Kart Tour
R/T variant
Cat LuigiGreen Mii Racing SuitLemmy Mii Racing SuitLuigi (Chef)Mario (King)Monty Mole Mii Racing SuitPeach (Yukata)Pink Mii Racing SuitToad (Astronaut)Yellow Mii Racing Suit Black CarriageBlazing EagleBlooper ShuttleBlue-Green Capsule KartBronze CucumberCream B Dasher Mk. 2Gold Capsule KartGold Monarch KartGold Wild SluggerGoo-Goo PinkHoliday SpeederLunar CruiserMoo Moo OffroaderRainbow Pipe BuggySilver Cupid's Arrow Aurora BalloonsCream Toe-Bean BalloonsFestive HollyGold Candlelight FlightJellychuteMosaic StarchuteNew Year's 2023Pink Gold MeteorsPlanet GliderRainbow BellsRed EmblemSakura Origami GliderSmiley Flower Glider Builder LuigiBuilder MarioChain Chomp Mii Racing SuitIggy Mii Racing SuitLarry (Wintertime)Mario (Golf)Pink Gold PeachPoochyPurple Mii Racing Suit***Reindeer Mii Racing SuitRosalina Mii Racing SuitSanta Mii Racing SuitToadette (Astronaut)White Mii Racing SuitWiggler (Gold) Black B Dasher Mk. 2Black Jingle BellBlue Sub ScooterCoral Jet CruiserGold 8-Bit Pipe FrameGold Cupid's ArrowGold Hop Rod***Gold Kiddie KartGold Lunar Cruiser***Gold Shielded SpeedsterGoo-Goo BlackGreen Cat CruiserKamek's Zoom BroomMetal B Dasher Mk. 2Pink Capsule KartPink SpeederPurple Rattle BuggyRainbow StreetleRainbow Taxi***Sakura Sports Coupe**Spicy ZucchiniStar BroomWild Gold Black StarchuteBright BalloonsCalico Toe-Bean BalloonsGlittering GliderGold Chocolate BalloonsGold Mario's Hat BalloonGold UmbrellaGreen Cat ParafoilGreen EmblemMario's Hat BalloonMario's MustachePink Checkered GliderRainbow Fare Flier***Silver Luigi's MustacheSky-High FlyerTropical BalloonsWiggler Parachute
Pink Toad (Pit Crew)
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3.
** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6.
*** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8 for High-End items.

Bonus challenges

Time Trial
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
Thumbnail of the Chargin' Chuck Cup challenge from the 2023 Ninja Tour; a Time Trial challenge set on Wii Rainbow Road Regular Metal Mario's icon from Mario Kart Tour.
Metal Mario
Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour
Pipe Frame
Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour
Super Glider
  • 1:38.00
  • 1:34.00
  • 1:30.00
Ninja Tour (2023) Chargin' Chuck Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Chargin' Chuck Cup
Combo Attack
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Highest combo counts Tour appearances Cup
Thumbnail of the Metal Mario Cup challenge from the 2023 Space Tour; a Combo Attack challenge set on Wii Rainbow Road T T Metal Mario's icon from Mario Kart Tour.
Metal Mario
Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour
Pipe Frame
Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour
Super Glider
  • 10
  • 14
  • 20
Space Tour (2023) The icon of the Metal Mario Cup from Mario Kart Tour.
Metal Mario Cup
Big Reverse Race
Icon Course variant Opponents Tour appearances Cup
7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st Extra
Thumbnail of the Rosalina Cup challenge from the 2023 Space Tour; a Big Reverse Race challenge set on Wii Rainbow Road Regular Driver Koopa Troopa Luigi Toad Peach Bowser Yoshi Donkey Kong Mario Space Tour (2023) The icon of the Rosalina Cup from Mario Kart Tour.
Rosalina Cup
Kart Pipe Frame Pipe Frame Pipe Frame Pipe Frame Pipe Frame Pipe Frame Pipe Frame Pipe Frame
Glider Super Glider Super Glider Super Glider Super Glider Super Glider Super Glider Super Glider Super Glider

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

This section is referring to a subject in an upcoming or recently released DLC wave. When the DLC wave is released, or more information about this subject is found, this section may need major rewriting.
This notice should be removed after a month has passed since the DLC wave was first released.

Wii Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

This version of Rainbow Road reappears in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as part of the sixth and final wave of the Booster Course Pass DLC. It appears as the fourth and final course in the Spiny Cup, and the final course in the DLC overall. It is based on its appearance in Mario Kart Tour, but with significant visual upgrades. The course is converted into anti-gravity. The ramps around the holes in the lowest portion of the course have been restored after they were missing in Tour. This is the only Mario Kart 8 Deluxe course with dash panels with different colours Currently, it is unknown if the track will have 3 laps like it's original appearance or be 1 long section like in Mario Kart Tour.

It is also one of two courses from Mario Kart Wii to appear in Wave 6, the other being Wii Daisy Circuit. Excluding Mario Kart 8's Rainbow Road theme, which is used in all trailers for the Booster Course Pass, Wii Rainbow Road was the only course whose music was used for the second trailer for Wave 6.

Profiles

Mario Kart Wii

The Rainbow Road card from the Mario Kart Wii trading cards
  • European website bio: Don't get caught stargazing as you power round the multicoloured Rainbow Road. The multiple speed boosts could hurry you along to the finish line or over the edge to your demise. Remember; don't look down!
  • Trading card bio: The layout of Rainbow Road has changed over the years as it has appeared in a variety of incarnations; the challenge factor has always been high. It's a long track with plenty of opportunities to fall off into space. In Mario Kart Wii, at least one of those opportunities can become a shortcut if you play it right.

Mario Kart Tour

  • Mario Kart Tour Twitter: The New Year's Tour is coming to a close, but there's still plenty to look forward to in #MarioKartTour! Next up is the Space Tour where you can race down the new Wii Rainbow Road course!

Gallery

Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart Tour

Course icons

Screenshots

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese レインボーロード[?]
Reinbō Rōdo
Rainbow Road
Chinese 彩虹之路[?]
Cǎihóng zhī Lù
Rainbow Road
German Regenbogen-Boulevard[?] Rainbow Boulevard
Italian Pista Arcobaleno[?] Rainbow Track
Korean 무지개 로드[?]
Mujigae Lodeu
Rainbow Road
Portuguese Avenida Arco-íris[?] Rainbow Avenue
Spanish Senda Arco Iris[?] Rain Bow Trail