Mario Kart DS

Mario Kart DS is a racing game for the Nintendo DS and the fifth entry in the Mario Kart series. It was the second game in the franchise released for a handheld system, following Mario Kart: Super Circuit. Notably, it was the first Mario Kart—and the first Mario game overall—to feature online play. The game launched in November 2005 in North America, Europe, and Australia, followed by a December 8, 2005 release in Japan, and later in South Korea on April 5, 2007.

The game introduced several features that would become staples of the series. Most prominently, it debuted the Retro Grand Prix, bringing back and updating tracks from earlier Mario Kart games—a tradition carried on in every entry since. Mario Kart DS supported both single-pak and multi-pak multiplayer through DS Download Play, and it was the first Mario title to utilize the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, enabling players worldwide to race online. However, as of May 2014, the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection was discontinued, making online play unavailable.

In addition to its legacy features, Mario Kart DS also included unique mechanics not seen in other entries. Players could create and customize emblems for their vehicles, and the game introduced Missions mode, where racers completed short objectives across various challenges. The Nintendo DS’s dual-screen setup was used effectively, with the lower screen displaying maps, racer order, and opponent item information—giving players an extra layer of strategy during races.