You just popped the cartridge in or finished that massive download. You're ready to drift, but the character roster looks a bit... empty? Or maybe you're seeing everyone online rocking that shiny gold kart and you're wondering how the heck they got it. Honestly, the way Mario Kart 8 unlockables work is a bit of a mess if you're coming from the old Wii or DS days.
Back then, you knew exactly what to do to get King Boo. Now? It’s a mix of grinding for coins and doing things that make your thumbs hurt on 200cc.
If you’re playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch, you’ve actually got a head start. Unlike the original Wii U version, almost every character—including the DLC ones like Link and the Animal Crossing crew—is ready to go from second one. But "almost" is the keyword there. There is still a mountain of kart parts, a very specific gold character, and some hidden menu stuff you’ve gotta earn.
The One Character You Actually Have to Work For
Let’s talk about Gold Mario. He’s the only true "unlockable" character in the Deluxe version. Everyone else? Just sitting there waiting for you.
To get your hands on Gold Mario, you have to place first in every single Cup at 200cc. This isn't just about winning a few races; you need that overall Gold Trophy for the entire cup. And yeah, 200cc is basically "Fast and Furious" mode where the brakes actually matter for once.
When you finally pull it off, Gold Mario doesn't even get his own slot. He’s actually a "skin" for Metal Mario. You just hover over Metal Mario, hit a button, and boom—shiny gold. His stats are identical to the metal version, so it’s mostly just a massive "I’m better than you" badge to show off in regional lobbies.
Grinding Coins Without Losing Your Mind
If you want the best karts, you need coins. Basically, every 30 coins you collect during races unlocks a random vehicle part. This could be a new body, a weird set of tires, or a glider.
- The 30-Coin Tier: This lasts for the first 450 coins.
- The 50-Coin Tier: After 450, you only get a part every 50 coins.
- The 100-Coin Tier: Once you pass 1,500 coins, it slows down to one part per 100 coins.
The grind stops when you hit 3,100 coins. At that point, you’ve unlocked all the standard, randomized stuff.
Quick tip: You can only "keep" 10 coins per race. If you’re playing split-screen with friends, their coins count toward your total too. It’s way faster to unlock the Blue Falcon or the Biddybuggy if you’ve got three buddies helping you hoard gold on the track.
How to Get the Gold Kart Set
This is the stuff of legends. The Gold Standard set is the ultimate flex. Each piece has a totally different requirement, and honestly, the tires are the hardest part for most people.
The Gold Standard Kart
You need to get at least one star on every 150cc and Mirror Mode cup. To get a star, you can’t just win the cup; you need to finish with at least 54 points. That basically means you can only afford one second-place finish in the four races. If you get 60 points (four wins), you get three stars, which obviously counts too.
The Gold Tires
Prepare to sweat. You have to beat every single Nintendo Staff Ghost in 150cc Time Trials. This covers the original 48 tracks. Some of these ghosts are pushovers, but others take perfect lines and expert drifting to beat. You’ll know you’re close when you start seeing "Beat!" next to the names in the Time Trial menu.
The Gold Glider
This one is just a test of patience. You need 5,000 coins. Total. There's no shortcut here other than just playing the game a lot. If you've already unlocked all the random parts at 3,100 coins, you're more than halfway there. Just keep racing.
What About the Booster Course Pass?
If you bought the DLC or have the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, you’ve got even more stuff. Wave 4 through Wave 6 added eight "new" characters like Birdo, Funky Kong, and Petey Piranha.
The good news? They aren't locked behind any challenges. As soon as you update your game and have the pass, they just show up on the roster. Same goes for the 48 extra tracks. You don’t have to "earn" the ability to race on Coconut Mall; it’s just there.
Those Weird Mii Suits
Ever see a Mii racing in a Samus suit or a Pac-Man outfit? Those are tied to Amiibo.
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You go to the Amiibo menu on the main screen, tap your figure to the controller, and it unlocks the corresponding suit. There are over 20 different suits now, including ones for Sonic, Mega Man, and Splatoon. If you don't own the plastic figures, you're kinda out of luck on these, though some of the newer suits were added as part of the Booster Course Pass Wave 6 for everyone who bought the DLC.
Actionable Next Steps for Completionists
If you want to knock out the Mario Kart 8 unlockables as fast as possible, don't just wander around the menus. Follow this path:
- Start with 150cc Grand Prix: This builds your coin count and gets you the stars needed for the Gold Kart.
- Jump to Mirror Mode: Finish these up to complete the Gold Kart requirement.
- Tackle the 150cc Time Trials: Do this once you're comfortable with the tracks. Beating the ghosts gets you the Gold Tires.
- Finish with 200cc: Save this for last. By now, you’ll know the tracks well enough to handle the insane speed and unlock Gold Mario.
- Check your stats: Hit the 'Stats' button on the main menu to see your total coin count. If you aren't at 5,000 yet, keep playing online or with friends until that Gold Glider pops.
Once you’ve done all that, your title screen will actually change. It starts cycling through different character art instead of just showing the standard logo. It’s a small touch, but it’s how the game tells you that you’ve finally conquered everything it has to offer.