My Original Mario Kart Retro Track Predictions

I was cleaning through my files and I found an old note in Obsidian containing my old predictions for the Retro Tracks in a potential new Mario Kart game, as in which tracks from previous games they'd bring back. Even though the new Mario Kart game came out over 10 monthhs ago now, I still wanna share them just because.

For some important context: I created this around December 2023, about a month after the Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ended. Also, most importantly, I limited this to 16 tracks and only ones that hadn't been remade yet up to that point (excluding Mario Kart Tour), plus I tried to keep a good balance between all games.

All of the rumours I heard were assuming there'd be more tracks and that some would be repeats, but I wanted to got for what an original-type roster would be like. Because of that these weren't actually predictions, but rather a hypothetical of the tracks that hadn't been remade yet that I would've liked seeing.

Lastly, there are a few tracks here that I was unsure about and was considering other options, and there are even a few now that I am more certain of, but I am presenting this as I had it written down on that original note. So without further ado, here were my "predictions":

Shell Cup

• SNES Mario Circuit 4 [VIDEO]
  This is the only SNES Mario Circuit not to be remade yet, and that still holds true after Mario Kart World's release. This is probably the safest bet for a first retro track, and even though it's technically one of the harder tracks in its original game, I feel like in a newer Mario Kart it'd be one of the simplest tracks. Additionally my other contender for this slot was DS Figure-8 Circuit, simply to have more DS tracks and perhaps they could do something fun with it, but ultimately I didn't think so.
• GBA Cheep Cheep Island [V]
  No GBA tracks were added to Mario Kart World, so this one hasn't been remade yet either. Similar to SNES Mario Circuit 4, it is a later track of an older title, but I feel like it'd actually work well here.
• 3DS Shy Guy Bazaar [V]
  One of the most famous tracks from the 3DS, and one that actually was remade for Mario Kart World. I felt like this was one of the safest picks, simply since it's a beloved early-game track with a very unique theme. I felt like it had a lot of potential as a retro track, and it did!
• MK8 Thwomp Ruins [V]
  This is the last track of the first cup in MK8, and although it is very fun and has a great theme, I actually think another track would deserve a spot in this game over this one, but I'll bring that up at the end of this post.

Banana Cup

• Wii Toad Factory [V]
  Another pretty safe bet, as it was the only really popular Mario Kart Wii track to not be remade, even in Mario Kart Tour, and it did end up appearing in Mario Kart World! This track still remains completely unique to this day, and I really like that.
• 3DS Mario Circuit [V]
  I feel like every Mario Kart needs to have a retro Mario Circuit somewhere, so here is this one. This one's always stood out to me, as despite being fairly simple you actually go through Peach's Castle! If I had DS Figure-8 Circuit as the first track I would've really struggled between keeping this or SNES Mario Circuit 4, but that didn't end up happening.
• MK8 Shy Guy Falls [V]
  This is one of my favourite tracks from Mario Kart 8 and I think it's pretty underrated. I do understand that, as it's not exactly a flashy track, but it's one that doesn't feel like any other track to me, as there is no other track where you actually go down a waterfall like that.
• N64 Wario Stadium [V]
  This was the real obvious pick. After Mario Kart 8 this was the only Mario Kart 64 track to not have been remade, so everybody knew this track would return the next game, and it did. I have nothing else to add, really.

Leaf Cup

(Probably my favourite of these btw)

• SNES Vanilla Lake 2 [V]
  The original Super Mario Kart on the SNES only had 8 unique track themes, and this is the only one to not have any of its tracks remade in any game (excluding Tour, and also now Mario Kart World as tribute routes). Despite them probably being the worst tracks in their original game, with the improved everythings of the newer titles I feel like these could really benefit from a remake, and the second one especially.
• GBA Lakeside Park [V]
  One of my favourite GBA tracks. It is a jungle track but features a pretty prominent volcano, which is usually only used for mountainous or fully volcano-themed tracks. This makes it really stand out to me, as it makes a theme that's pretty standard on paper much more interesting, and that could definitely be expanded upon for a remake.
• Wii Dry Dry Desert [V]
  Out of any other track this is the one I really want in. A lot of people instinctively don't like desert tracks, and although I understand where that comes from I don't exactly agree, and I feel like this track specifically often gets snubbed because of that. It's definitely one of my favourite tracks of Mario Kart Wii, and probably my favourite desert track ever. You go inside a large temple, need I say more?
• GCN Mushroom City [V]
  All of the tracks from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! that haven't been remade yet are in the later half of the game, so naturally their first appearance comes this late. This is an original city/traffic track, the only one to not be remade yet (even in Tour), and I've always really liked it as I felt like it's the one closest to an actual city. I still see a lot of untapped potential in this one.

Lightning Cup

• MK8 Cloudtop Cruise [V]
  A beloved track from the final original cup of Mario Kart 8. I really like sky tracks, especially when they're near the end of the game, so I felt like this one fit here really well as a big lead up to the final tracks.
• 3DS Wario Shipyard / Galleon [V]
  I don't know why I put this track after Cloudtop Cruise, just felt right at the time, I guess. This is the last track here to be remade for Mario Kart World, though it was a controversial addition as the game removed underwater driving, which was this track's most prominent feature. Regardless of that, it is still one of my favourite tracks from the 3DS and a pretty underrated one too, at least at the time I made this.
• GCN Bowser's Castle [V]
  I knew from the start that the final tracks should be a Bowser's Castle and Rainbow Road from Double Dash!! and DS, but I really struggled on which one specifically I should use for both. Ultimately, I decided that I would rather have the Mario Kart DS Rainbow Road remade, so I was left with GCN Bowser's Castle. Out of the two I definitely prefer this one, and since I don't really think much could be changed or added to them, I'd rather go for this one.
• DS Rainbow Road [V]
  As mentioned previously, I was debating between having this or GCN Rainbow Road, but I see more potential in interesting changes and additions for DS Rainbow Road. It already had some anti-gravity-like sections before Mario Kart 8 did them, so I felt like having this track remade with it as an actual gameplay feature would definitely allow for more potential for obstacles and stuff. And yes, I know this was my only DS prediction, but my only other option for a DS track was Figure-8 Circuit… eurgh.

That's it for my original predictions, but I want to bring up one more thing. For some reason, I don't remember exactly why, I did not add any tracks from Mario Kart Tour or the DLCs of Mario Kart 8. Although I think it's fine to go without the MK8 DLC tracks, I do want to bring up a track that I definitely would add to this now: Tour Piranha Plant Pipeline [VIDEO].

This is the only original track from Mario Kart Tour to not have been brought to the Booster Course Pass, or even Mario Kart World, and just on that alone I feel like it's worth adding. Plus it does look quite fun and has a very good music track.

As I alluded to previously, if I had to pick one track I'd replace for this one it would be Thwomp Ruins, simply since I felt like it's the most similar to other retro tracks while still being quite new. If that's the case, though, I'd move Toad's Factory up to the last slot of the Shell Cup, Vanilla Lake 2 to the third slot of the Banana Cup, and have Tour Piranha Plant Pipeline in the third slot of the Leaf Cup.

I originally felt like reflecting these changes in the main post, but I felt like that went against the idea of this retrospective, so I am adding this just as a footnote.

And that's it, for realsies this time! This is my longest post yet, it appears I still have a lot in my mind even 2 years and 1 full game later. This is a bit of a time capsule of a time before we had any idea of what a new Mario Kart game would even be like, so I felt like sharing it!