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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the right choice if you want to play a supported game from this pair today. Nintendo discontinued Mario Kart Tour service for smart devices at 11:00 p.m. PT on September 29, 2026, so Tour is no longer an active alternative. Deluxe remains listed for Nintendo Switch and is supported on Nintendo Switch 2.
What changed: Mario Kart Tour service has ended
Nintendo says, “Service for the Mario Kart Tour game for smart devices was discontinued at 11:00 p.m. PT on September 29, 2026.” That makes this a comparison between a current console game and a discontinued mobile service, not two games you can choose between on equal terms.
Nintendo’s notice establishes that Tour service ended. It does not establish whether an installed app still works, whether any play is possible offline, or what happens to accounts or stored data. Those details should not be assumed.
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| Your priority | What to choose or know |
|---|---|
| Start playing one of these games now | Choose Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch. Nintendo discontinued Tour service on September 29, 2026. |
| You own a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 | Deluxe is listed as a Nintendo Switch game, and Nintendo marks its behavior on Switch 2 as supported and consistent with Nintendo Switch. |
| You want to play with people in the same room | Deluxe supports one-system play for 1–4 players and local wireless for 2–8, according to Nintendo’s U.S. listing. On Switch 2, a 2026 update adds local multiplayer for 5–8. |
| You want online matches | Deluxe supports online play for 2–12 players, but online features require a Nintendo Switch Online membership. |
| You specifically want mobile Mario Kart | Tour should not be treated as an active service. The information available here does not establish another mobile Mario Kart game as a substitute. |
What Mario Kart 8 Deluxe supports now
Play on one system or over local wireless
Nintendo lists single-system play for 1–4 players and local wireless for 2–8. The product listing also identifies TV, tabletop, and handheld modes. Nintendo cautions that compatibility and play experience may differ on Nintendo Switch Lite.
#1 Best Overall
![Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/517O3bI45YL._SL160_.jpg)
- 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
Play online—with a membership
The U.S. product listing gives an online player count of 2–12. Nintendo Switch Online membership is required to use the game’s online features; the player-count figure does not mean online play is included without that membership.
Switch 2 update: local play for up to eight
Nintendo lists Ver. 4.0.0 as released September 1, 2026. The update adds Switch 2 display and high-resolution TV support, shorter loading times before races and battles, CameraPlay, and multiplayer for 5–8 players. For an eight-player local session on Switch 2, Nintendo specifies that at least one Joy-Con 2 or Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller is needed. CameraPlay requires a USB camera, sold separately.
Rank #2
- 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
Why the comparison is no longer a tie
Tour’s former format was built around mobile play and race seasons, with online multiplayer, according to a July 9, 2026 TechRadar report. The report also noted that some Tour tracks later appeared in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass DLC. Those are historical context, not reasons to treat Tour as playable now.
Nintendo lists Deluxe’s release date as April 28, 2017, but its age alone does not establish how much content it has or how long future support will continue. The current decision is simpler: Tour service has ended, while Deluxe remains listed and recently received a Switch 2-focused update.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- 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
Sources
- Nintendo Support: Mario Kart Tour Service Discontinuation
- Nintendo U.S. product listing: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Nintendo Support: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe update information
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.
