Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

Mario Kart ReTour is an unofficial community revival of Mario Kart Tour. Its creators say the project restores online servers so fans can race together and preserve the mobile game’s content. ReTour is not made, published, or authorized by Nintendo; the project explicitly says, “We are NOT affiliated with Nintendo. This is a fan project.”

What is Mario Kart ReTour?

Mario Kart ReTour is a fan-led preservation project built around Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour. The project describes its purpose as “bringing Mario Kart Tour’s servers back to life, so people can play together again and preserve the game.” Rather than presenting a new Nintendo release, ReTour attempts to recreate the online service that supported the original iOS and Android game.

The project page says ReTour is available now and directs prospective players to join its Discord server to download it. That distribution route is different from installing an official Nintendo game through Apple’s App Store or Google Play. Because it is community software, availability, compatibility, updates, and reliability can change independently of Nintendo.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Why is the community reviving Mario Kart Tour?

Mario Kart Tour launched for iOS and Android on September 25, 2019, through a collaboration between Nintendo and DeNA. The game combined touch-screen racing with a service model built around rotating tours, collectible drivers, karts, and gliders, plus courses based on Mario Kart locations and real-world cities.

#1 Best Overall
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]
  • Hit the road with the definitive version of Mario Kart 8 and play anytime, anywhere! Race your friends or battle them in a revised battle mode on new and returning battle courses
  • Play locally in up to 4-player multiplayer in 1080p while playing in TV Mode. Every track from the Wii U version, including DLC, makes a glorious return
  • Plus, the Inklings appear as all-new guest characters, along with returning favorites, such as King Boo, Dry Bones, and Bowser Jr.
  • Players can choose a new Smart Steering feature which makes driving and staying on the track easy for novice players and kids even at 200cc

On September 12, 2023, Pocket Gamer France reported that Nintendo was ending new-content updates. The original game moved into maintenance, with past events returning instead of ongoing additions. That change left preservation and community-play concerns for fans who wanted to keep experiencing the game’s online systems. ReTour’s stated mission responds to that gap. No precise shutdown date for the original service is established here, so it is more accurate to describe Nintendo’s game as being in maintenance after new-content development ended.

What features does ReTour advertise?

The project’s screenshots and captions show or describe several parts of the Mario Kart Tour experience:

  • Racing with friends through multiplayer sessions.
  • Balloon Battle.
  • Courses inspired by real-world cities and classic Mario Kart tracks.
  • Collecting and upgrading drivers, karts, and gliders.

A same-day report from Nintendo News Hub attributes additional recreated systems to the team, including kart customization, character skins, multiplayer functionality, and a reconstituted item shop. Those descriptions come from the project and reporting about it; they should not be read as an independent test of feature completeness or server performance.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #2
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Non-US Version)
  • Nuevos personajes: Inkling, Rey Boo, Huesitos y Bowsy
  • Inclusi n de circuitos in ditos en el modo batalla
  • Los pilotos cuentan con el volante inteligente, que ayuda a no salirse de la pista
  • Hasta 8 pilotos en partidas de multijugador local

Is Mario Kart ReTour official?

No. ReTour is an unofficial, fan-made project and is not affiliated with Nintendo. It is not Nintendo software, and Nintendo’s branding, distribution infrastructure, customer support, and guarantees do not apply to it. Keep that distinction in mind when evaluating downloads, account requests, updates, and technical problems.

What that means for players

  • There is no identified official App Store or Google Play listing for ReTour in the project’s access instructions.
  • Download access is routed through the project’s Discord server.
  • Compatibility may depend on device, operating-system version, and the community’s current build.
  • Online uptime, matchmaking, progression, and restored systems may change as the volunteer project evolves.

How do you download Mario Kart ReTour?

  1. Use the Mario Kart ReTour project’s official project page to locate its Discord invitation.
  2. Join the project’s Discord server and read the current download and installation instructions posted by its administrators.
  3. Verify that the instructions match your device and operating system before installing anything.
  4. Download only the files and links provided through the project’s own channels; avoid reposted installers whose origin cannot be confirmed.
  5. Review the project’s current troubleshooting and update guidance if the game cannot connect or a build stops working.

The project page’s instruction is simply: “To download Mario Kart ReTour, join our Discord server.” Since the project is unofficial, readers should treat installation as third-party software and use normal precautions, including checking requested permissions and avoiding requests for Nintendo account credentials.

Can you play Mario Kart Tour with friends after Nintendo’s updates ended?

ReTour is specifically intended to restore community play, and the project advertises racing with friends and multiplayer functionality. Its screenshots also show Balloon Battle. However, no independently published player-count, download-count, reliability, latency, or performance figures are available, so the existence of advertised multiplayer should not be confused with a guarantee of a particular matchmaking experience.

Rank #3
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch, with PremGear Racing Steering Wheel Controllers, Driving Grips for Joy-Con (2 pack), 24 Slot Game Card Holder & Cleaning Cloth
  • Included is the following: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Nintendo Switch Game, 2x PremGear Steering Driving Wheels to use with your Joy-Con Controllers (NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SWITCH 2), PremGear 24 Slot Game card Case/Holder with 2 Slot MicroSD Memory Card Adapter and PremGear Quality Cleaning Cloth
  • RACE ANYTIME, ANYWHERE! Hit the road with the definitive version of Mario Kart 8. Race your friends or battle them in a revised battle mode on new and returning battle courses
  • Play locally in up to 4-player multiplayer in 1080p while playing in TV Mode. Every track from the Wii U version, including DLC, makes a glorious return
  • Plus, the Inklings appear as all-new guest characters, along with returning favorites, such as King Boo, Dry Bones, and Bowser Jr.!
  • Players can choose a new Smart Steering feature which makes driving and staying on the track easy for novice players and kids even at 200cc
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Does ReTour include the old drivers, karts, and courses?

The project advertises collection and upgrades for drivers, karts, and gliders, along with city-inspired and classic Mario Kart courses. Reporting about the team also mentions character skins, kart customization, and an item shop. The exact roster, progression rules, event rotation, and completeness can change between community builds; consult the project’s current release notes or Discord announcements for version-specific details.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

ReTour compared with an official Mario Kart game

Category Mario Kart ReTour Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Status and rights Unofficial fan project; not affiliated with Nintendo. Official Nintendo-published game.
Access Project page directs users to a Discord server for downloads. Official Nintendo Switch distribution.
Multiplayer Project advertises multiplayer racing and Balloon Battle; independent performance figures are not established. Local wireless play for up to eight players and online play for up to 12 players, according to Nintendo’s brochure.
Content advertised or documented City-inspired and classic courses, collectible drivers, karts and gliders, customization, skins, and an item shop. More than 40 characters and 48 courses, according to Nintendo’s circa-2017 brochure.
Preservation goal Restore Mario Kart Tour’s service and community play. Commercially supported official release rather than a preservation project.

These products are not equivalent substitutes. ReTour’s appeal is preserving a discontinued mobile-service experience, while Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a supported console release with published player limits and a fixed Nintendo distribution channel.

What should you check before installing?

  • Official project channel: Start from the project page and follow its Discord link rather than an unfamiliar mirror.
  • Device support: Confirm that the current build supports your phone or emulator and operating-system version.
  • Account safety: Do not provide Nintendo account passwords or payment details to an unofficial project.
  • Changing service: Expect updates, outages, or feature changes because the project is community-operated.
  • Feature claims: Treat screenshots and reported recreations as evidence of intended or demonstrated features, not a promise that every system works identically in every release.

The bottom line on Mario Kart ReTour

Mario Kart ReTour is a genuine fan-made preservation effort aimed at bringing back online play for Mario Kart Tour after Nintendo ended new-content updates in 2023. It advertises multiplayer racing, Balloon Battle, city and classic courses, and collectible or customizable drivers, karts, and gliders. Access currently goes through the project’s Discord, not an identified official app-store listing. Install it only with the understanding that it is unofficial community software, separate from Nintendo’s support and guarantees.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 2
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Non-US Version)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Non-US Version)
Nuevos personajes: Inkling, Rey Boo, Huesitos y Bowsy; Inclusi n de circuitos in ditos en el modo batalla
$57.20

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.