10 games similar to Mario Kart DS, a Racing, Arcade game, drawn from IGDB's similarity data. Each pick below notes the genres it shares with Mario Kart DS.
01Shares ArcadeRacingMario Kart 64 shares the core combat racing formula with Mario Kart DS, letting you collect power-ups like shells and lightning bolts to sabotage opponents across themed tracks. Both games offer arcade driving physics with drifting mechanics and adjustable difficulty levels through engine sizes. The character roster features the same anthropomorphic cast, and multiplayer split-screen racing delivers the same party-game appeal.
Games like Mario Kart 64 →
02Shares ArcadeRacingBoth games deliver arcade racing with combat mechanics, letting you hurl weapons like shells and bananas at opponents across colorful tracks. Each features character selection, drifting, and difficulty levels that scale the challenge. Super Circuit shares the same core formula of Grand Prix racing mixed with Battle mode chaos, making it the natural predecessor that established the template Mario Kart DS refined.
03Shares ArcadeRacingSuper Mario Kart is the original that established the combat racing formula Mario Kart DS perfects. Both games center on arcade driving physics and drifting mechanics, letting you collect power-ups like shells to sabotage opponents on vibrant tracks. Character selection and difficulty levels carry through both, making Super Mario Kart the essential foundation for understanding how the series evolved into the DS version's expanded roster and refined item arsenal.
Games like Super Mario Kart →
04Shares ArcadeRacingMario Kart 7 continues the combat racing formula of Mario Kart DS, where drifting and item throws define each race. Both games emphasize party multiplayer with split-screen and online modes, letting you race against friends or AI opponents across multiple Grand Prix cups. The series' core appeal remains intact: arcade-style kart racing with power-ups that shift the competitive balance.
05Shares RacingCrash Team Racing shares Mario Kart DS's arcade driving physics and character-driven kart racing structure, where you pick a mascot racer and compete against AI bots across multiple tracks. Both games emphasize combat racing with power-ups and items that affect opponents. CTR's story mode, where you face boss races culminating in a final showdown, echoes the Grand Prix progression that defines the Mario Kart formula.
Games like Crash Team Racing →
06Shares ArcadeRacingMario Kart Arcade GP shares the same arcade driving physics and combat racing foundation as Mario Kart DS, letting you drift and use throwing weapons to disrupt opponents. Both feature character crossovers and mascot sports appeal. Arcade GP strips away the handheld's single-player focus to emphasize multiplayer competition on dedicated arcade hardware, making it a pure racing combat experience.
07Both games feature Nintendo character crossovers with accessible multiplayer modes powered by bots that let you race or fight against computer opponents across difficulty levels. Mario Kart DS and Brawl share a character select screen where you unlock hidden fighters, and both support split-screen competition. The arcade sensibility carries over: straightforward controls, quick matches, and party appeal make either game equally suited to casual play sessions.
Games like Super Smash Bros. Brawl →
08Both games feature anthropomorphic characters and countdown timers that add urgency to gameplay. Mario Kart DS emphasizes arcade driving physics and character selection across varied tracks, while Galaxy 2 delivers platforming challenges across distinct gravitational worlds. Each game prioritizes accessible single-player and multiplayer modes within the Mario universe, making them natural fits for players seeking colorful, character-driven action across different play styles.
Games like Super Mario Galaxy 2 →
09Shares RacingBoth games feature racing with vehicle combat and drifting mechanics, letting you compete through driving skill and tactical item use. Grand Theft Auto V expands this into an open world where you steal and customize vehicles for missions, while Mario Kart DS keeps racing focused and arcade-driven. Each game rewards mastering handling and positioning to outmaneuver opponents.
Games like Grand Theft Auto V →
10Shares RacingCrash Nitro Kart shares Mario Kart DS's core appeal as a combat racing game built around go-kart gameplay and character selection. Both feature arcade-style racing with combat mechanics, bots to race against, and multiplayer modes. Nitro Kart adds a story campaign where Crash and friends race for survival, offering a similar party racing experience with vehicular combat and competitive grand prix racing.
Frequently asked
10 games similar to Mario Kart DS: Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 7, Crash Team Racing, Mario Kart Arcade GP, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Most of these games share Racing, Arcade, Party and Kids with Mario Kart DS, based on IGDB's similarity data. Each pick has a short note explaining what it has in common with Mario Kart DS.