Unlocking the full roster of 50 characters in Mario Kart World presents an exciting challenge for players. This comprehensive guide outlines the various strategies required to acquire every racer, from achieving victories in Grand Prix circuits to mastering the unpredictable Kamek item and even harnessing the power of mysterious UFOs scattered across the game's vibrant landscapes. Understanding each method's nuances is crucial for efficiently expanding your character collection and fully experiencing the game's diverse gameplay options.
A straightforward approach to expanding your character selection involves triumphing in Grand Prix tournaments. Participation and completion of these cup challenges are the sole prerequisites, irrespective of your final placement. For instance, conquering the Mushroom Cup will add Donkey Kong to your team, while the Flower Cup rewards you with Daisy. Rosalina joins after success in the Star Cup, Lakitu upon finishing the Shell Cup, and Birdo is unlocked by completing the Banana Cup. King Boo becomes available after the Leaf Cup, and Bowser Jr. is obtained through the Lightning Cup. Interestingly, the highly anticipated Special Cup does not offer any exclusive characters upon its completion.
The Kamek item offers a more whimsical, albeit less predictable, method of unlocking certain characters. Traditionally a rare find in standard races, the Version 1.4.0 update introduced a game-changing feature: item customization in VS races. Players can now create a truly chaotic environment by setting Kamek as the only item available. To effectively utilize Kamek for character unlocks, it's essential to be the target of its magical transformation rather than the caster. Kamek's spell affects all players ahead of the user, making strategic positioning crucial. Furthermore, invulnerability states, such as those after being rescued by Lakitu or crossing the finish line, will prevent transformation. Our observations suggest that Kamek transformations might be course-specific, implying an increased likelihood of encountering particular characters on maps with related themes, though some characters, like Chargin' Chuck, can appear in various unrelated locations.
Another intriguing method involves interacting with the elusive UFOs dotted around the game's maps. While not always easy to spot, these UFOs provide a unique way to acquire characters by using their tractor beams to 'abduct' them. Once a character is captured and you exit the UFO, that character is added to your collection. Should you wish to unlock multiple characters from a single UFO spawn point, you can 'reset' the world by fast-traveling to a different location, causing the UFO to reappear. Moreover, a cooperative approach with a friend who possesses all characters can expedite this process. By forming a Friends lobby in Online Play, your friend can cycle through their character roster at a UFO location, allowing you to quickly unlock them using the UFO's beam. Operating a UFO involves holding down the left analog stick to ascend and pushing it up to descend, while the R button activates the tractor beam, enabling the collection of characters, obstacles, and items.
Several confirmed UFO spawn locations offer opportunities to unlock specific characters. For instance, south of Dry Bones Burnout, a UFO on a cliff can lead to unlocking Fish Bone. Between Boo Cinema and Starview Peak, another UFO offers Peepa and Swoop. In DK Pass, a UFO near the road's edge can unlock Coin Coffer. North of Mario Bros. Circuit, a UFO positioned along a cliff face provides access to Condor. Between Whistlestop Summit and DK Spaceport, a UFO found by hugging a wall reveals Spike. Finally, on Peach Beach, a UFO situated under the castle allows for the unlocking of Cataquack, Dolphin, and Pianta. These locations provide reliable avenues for players aiming to complete their character collection using the unconventional UFO method.
