Super Mario Bros.: Mario's theme is a slight variation of part of the overworld theme from this game. Shey Stevens from the magazine, Electronic Games gave the game a 93%, citing how the game changes up mechanics from F-Zero such as the item-based system to deliver a unique experience. Stevens has additionally praised the one-on-one combat modes the game offers. [19] A section by Bro. Buzz from the Game Pro magazine has given the game a score of 5.0 in graphics, control, and fun factor and a 4.0 in sound, ending with, " Super Mario Kart makes wheel-spinning, bumper-grinding, motor racing actually cute! The little guys definitely have a lot of drive." [20] Nadia Oxford from USgamer, reviewing the game's release on the Super NES Classic Edition, has called the game "the SNES Classic Edition's most perfect inclusion." and has generally praised how well the game is held up, despite its simplicity compared to later Mario Kart entries, with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe being compared to in the review. [21] The flaw Oxford has cited was the single-player splitscreen and the fact that the game supports only two players rather than four. Electronic Gaming Monthly has given the game an Editor's Choice award in its November 1992 issue. [22]

The games in the series have sold a combined total of over 150 million copies worldwide, [14] [15] with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as the best-selling entry, at 48.41 million. Nintendo assigned the Player's Choice marking label to all four of those Mario Kart games that were in existence during its time, and its successor label, Nintendo Selects, was given to Mario Kart Wii in Europe and Oceania. There are 48 race courses in the base game (including all four cups that were DLC in the original Mario Kart 8), these being the 25 courses introduced in the original game and 23 classic courses, which includes two courses from Super Mario Kart, three courses each from Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Mario Kart DS, and Mario Kart Wii, and four courses each from Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, and Mario Kart 7. It is also the first Mario Kart game since Mario Kart 64 to have all courses available from the start. Holy smokin' tires! Kart mania is spreading and has invaded the world of Super Mario.” — Nintendo Power Volume 41, October 1992Game & Watch Gallery (1997, GB) • Game & Watch Gallery 2 (1997, GB) • Game & Watch Gallery 3 (1999, GBC) • Game & Watch Gallery 4 (2002, GBA) International versions of the game save the player's choices, having them already selected the next time they go through menus. Mario Kart Arcade GP (2005, arcade) • Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 (2007, arcade) • Mario Kart Arcade GP DX (2013, arcade) • Mario Kart Arcade GP VR (2017, arcade) Multiplayer races can be customized with a variety of rules, such as individual or team races, kart speed, and number of item slots. You can play however you want! Up to 12 consoles in TV mode can be connected via LAN Play **, with one or two players per connected Nintendo Switch ***

Mario Kart 64: The title music from Mario Kart 64 is a slower and elongated arrangement of the title music from Super Mario Kart. Also, part of Banshee Boardwalk's music is a rearrangement of the music used for the Ghost Valley courses in Super Mario Kart. Super Mario Strikers (2005, GCN) • Mario Strikers Charged (2007, Wii) • Mario Strikers: Battle League (2022, Switch) The game features an in-game guide, directly accessible from the game's menu; this guide explains various techniques, Battle Mode, and the functions of each item. Shine Thief: Another returning mode from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, one player must retrieve a Shine Sprite and keep hold of it for about 20 seconds, while the opponents use items against whoever has the Shine to force that player to drop it. The driver holding the shine sprite has a slightly reduced top speed. In Team play, one team must collectively manage to hold on to the Shine for about 30 seconds.

Battle mode is bigger than ever!

Aside from Rainbow Road, all of the courses are numbered. In the credits, each character is assigned a course.