Screenshots & trailers
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 92 | 20 |
| Creator reviews (5 tracked) | – | 88 | 5 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 90 | 750 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 88 | 750 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (96)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“I say this without hyperbole and not as a stealth insult to anything else, I quite genuinely believe this to be the finest addition to the Switch’s library so far. I can’t argue with how much I’ve been playing it and how much I want to keep playing it, even as I type this. It’s exactly this kind of compulsive experience the Switch needed, and if that had to be the result of a remaster, so be it...It’s a damn fine remaster of a truly magnificent game.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Mario Kart 8 Deluxe delivers a huge amount of racing goodness right out of the box, and it's a polished version of a Wii U entry that was a proper Battle Mode away from being top of class.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“If you already own Wii U and know Mario Kart 8 there's not much reason for you to buy it again. But in case this is your first encounter with this series and you have a bunch of gamer friends to spend time with, it is a must buy for you. Yet another great game for Nintendo Switch.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“With extra polish, all DLC content included, plus various tweaks to improve the experience, Nintendo has delivered the ultimate Mario Kart experience for all comers, new and old alike.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Unless you’re the ultimate fan of Mario Kart, there’s no reason to get the Switch version if you have the original for Wii U. That’s because even if Battle Mode was the missing piece in this puzzle, you’re paying full price for an extra mode and the access to play additional characters. You never had a Wii U and Switch is you’re first Nintendo console since a long time? Don’t hesitate to get Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - together with Breath of the Wild it's the best that the console has to offer and it will give you tons of entertainment.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Mario Kart 8 Deluxe makes for a great representation of the multiplayer potential of the Switch, but it still doesn’t add too much content to be a simple, slam-dunk purchase for owners of the Wii U version. The content it adds is strong, especially the revamped Battle Mode, though. And even aside from the new, the old stuff is abundant.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a hard game to review. On one hand, the value is insane. The tracks, modes, and sheer amount of content found in the game are unmatched. On the other hand, hardly any of it is new for those of us who bought the game on Wii U. Another factor in the mix is that the Switch simply is lacking another big blockbuster to purchase after Zelda, so MK8 Deluxe is certainly tempting. Either way the game is still just as fun as it was on Wii U, and that is the most important bullet point.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Everything that made Mario Kart 8 special has returned and been amplified, and the additions (including new characters, plus one secret one that I won’t spoil) make for an even richer and varied experience. Along with Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a must-have for Switch owners. It’s a party on a cartridge, but even played solo it’s a blast. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will be played in perpetuity for many years to come, and will do a wonderful job of tiding fans over until the releases of Arms and Splatoon 2 (something I had doubts about, yeah, those doubts are officially gone). You officially have two games that make a Switch worth buying, so get to it if you haven’t!”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a refinement rather than a remaster, but one that corrects the few flaws of its predecessor. It would be nice if there was just a bit more new content to help justify the full price release, or if you didn't have to unlock kart mods all over again, but for the foreseeable future, this is the definitive, and best, Mario Kart experience.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“It's not Mario Kart 9, but Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best game in the series and a considerable leap forward for portable and multiplayer gaming.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is not just a remake, but the best game in the series. The revamped Battle Mode completes an already convincing offer, but the real selling point here is the game portability: it looks amazing on the 6.2 inches screen of the Switch. After Zelda: Breath of the Wild, this is the second system seller by Nintendo.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“This is the varied, exciting Battle Mode that Mario Kart 8 should have had all along.”
read full review ↗
The Jimquisition
Nintendo Life
GRYOnline.pl
Cubed3
LevelUp
NintendoWorldReport
ZTGD
Nintendojo
Eurogamer
GameSpot…and 84 more tracked reviews.