“Mario Kart” has been a series that’s occupied an odd space in my thoughts about games. Similar to “Super Smash Bros.,” I like the series but am also aware that there are a lot of people out there who take it very seriously. That’s to say, this review will be from the perspective of a more casual player.

The big change with “Mario Kart World” is the open world. All the courses are found somewhere on the map, which makes the whole thing look like a weird amalgamation of the greatest hits of the series. Unlike most open-world racing games, the open world here isn’t the main mode.

It’s an odd decision because it was the biggest selling point of the game, and the feature is stuffed away in the corner like an afterthought. The main menu still features all the typical stuff: solo grand prix, multiplayer races and online features. It’s a tried and true system, and even though I would have liked more new features, it’s also good that the game isn’t bloated with a bunch of stuff no one asked for.

The biggest concern about the open world is that it would be empty and boring. The good news is that some activities and collectables pop up. It’s usually time trials along a section of tracks, and while the offerings are decent, there’s still a lot more that could have been done with space. “Forza Horizon” has created a solid blueprint for open-world racers, and I wish this map had more content.

There are still plenty of things to unlock, a roster that is stacked with NPC characters and alternate outfits for the more iconic names like Peach and Wario. Still, more activities in the open world like speed traps or gimmick races would have been ideal.

The game also serves as a good tech demo for the Switch 2. All the characters, vehicles and courses look great. Loading is also fast, even online. It’s not going to top the cutting-edge games on the other console or PC, but it’s a big bump from the original Switch.

The best addition outside of the open world is the knockout races. It’s a longer race that goes through sections of multiple tracks with a twist. Each checkpoint will only let a certain number of players go through, so the race keeps shaving down the number of participants. This repeats until there are only four racers left, and it’s a mad dash for first place.

There’s a lot more tension in these races, and it makes it feel like there are more spots to fight for than just first. It being longer also gives underperforming players more chances to rebound and win. The most fun I’ve had with the game is playing knockout races online.

While this game doesn’t reinvent the wheel of “Mario Kart,” it’s still a very solid entry that has a ton of replay value. The inflated price of $80 is ludicrous, however. “Mario Kart World” earns 4 stars out of 5.