I’ll start simple. Paywalls, this game is not just an app, it’s a filthy cash grab that blocks every necessity behind a paywall. Sure you can play the game for free but as a Nintendo fan my whole life I don’t think this is what they SHOULD be doing. I’m all for calling out a company when they really need and now is definitely a good time too. The only reason this game is popular now is because everyone has a phone and no one wants to waste money on a system just to play Mariokart on it. Online play isn’t even online play, it just randomly generates names and puts you up against them. And I love the Mario franchise and would love to see it expanded even more than it is now, but this game didn’t do that for me. Also, Luigi isn’t playable yet(this might be outdated in a couple updates but I still wanted to mention it)? The starting roster has FOUR Marios, it has three peaches and two bowsers, six characters that could’ve been used on Luigi or any other character that hasn’t had a Mariokart debut yet. And finally, I want to mention that giving Nintendo support on this game is giving them reason to make more of these games where everything is blocked via paywalls and that is not how I would expect Nintendo to do things with a Mariokart game on the phone, though dr Mario did the same exact thing and Mario run was average.So Mario kart tour was a disappointment.

It’s been a while since I enjoyed a game like this on my phone, even as an Apple Arcade subscriber... I went ahead and ponied up for the Gold Pass about 1 month after starting Mario Kart Tour, and I’ve found that the value for Gold (Almost) made sense, you get access to a couple high level players, karts etc, and the extra loot from every gift box, as well as access to the 200cc courses, but that’s where the advantage stops. If you ever want to ace these courses (5 Star) from this point forward, it’s not so much a matter of your “skill” in play, as much as it is for the advantage gained by high level players, karts and kites that you would only access from the Pipe. Which means you need Rubies and Rubies are expensive and hard to earn without those higher level players... also the frequency of high level “wins” for plays is ridiculous IMO, i have spent over 1000 rubies on the pipes so far and it just feels like you come up short.This is why I chose to Cancel my Gold Pass, reset my profile and delete/uninstall Mario Kart Tour. Although I enjoyed the brief attempt at multi-player, I think I’ll stick to playing MK on my switch for the competitive feel.Maybe I’ll circle back around, but for now, the juice is not worth the squeeze.

My feelings towards this game are sort of a love and hate type of thing. In the beginning I loved it more for nostalgic reason than anything else, but that only lasted but so long. I eventually developed a hate for game bc I realized in order to stay competitive I’d have to spend real money something I was not willing to do, so I stopped playing all together. Fast forward some months later I began playing again, and I dreadfully decided to get the gold pass, and even made a few random purchases on ruby’s, and a couple other small bundles which I admit it got me excited to keep playing again, but eventually it felt stagnant once again only this time it cost me money. I get it they have to make money that’s not really my problem with the game. My problems are one being the whole raffle based spending of your rubies (which you more than likely paid for) the odds you get anything useful are super slim. Two I don’t like how you can’t level up off racing alone, the whole needing point tickets (which are super hard to get) to level up karts,glider’s, and characters that you’ve already earned (or paid for) is just a bit ridiculous. Last the cups are all the same maps just randomized with one new themed course ran again and again paired with the same characters in new outfits. I wish they offered different elements and actual modes of gameplay instead.