How To Unlock All Mario Kart 8 Characters

How to unlock all Mario Kart 8 characters? That question will be answered in this guide that shows you who to unlock to get the full roster of 30; and how to achieve that in the Wii U kart racing game.

Below we’ve listed the playable characters. Take the following steps to unlock each one, so that all unlockable characters in the game will be available to you.

Index of Mario Kart 8 Guides:

How To Unlock All Mario Kart 8 Characters

Mario Kart 8 Unlockable Characters

As you can tell, when you start the game the only characters to choose from in the roster are: Baby Daisy, Baby Luigi, Baby Mario, Baby Peach, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Koopa Troopa, Luigi, Mario, Princess Daisy, Princess Peach, Shy Guy, Toad, Waluigi, Wario, and Yoshi.

The final 14 of the 30 total in-game Mario Kart 8 characters will become available by meeting certain in-game requirements.

How To Unlock All Additional Characters?: There is only one method to getting the rest of the characters. You can unlock more by earning Gold Trophy awards in Grand Prix mode Cups, using any character you like. Each time you complete a Grand Prix Cup with a Gold Trophy — by winning at least 3 out of 4 races — you will unlock a RANDOM CHARACTER from the list below until you have unlocked them all. However, you cannot repeat a Grand Prix on the same difficulty/engine class (50cc, 100cc, 150cc) or nothing will happen.

Here we’ve listed the 14 secret characters in alphabetical order.

  1. Baby Rosalina
  2. Iggy Koopa
  3. Lakitu
  4. Larry Koopa
  5. Lemmy Koopa
  6. Ludwig von Koopa
  7. Metal Mario
  8. Mii
  9. Morton Koopa Jr.
  10. Pink Gold Peach
  11. Rosalina
  12. Roy Koopa
  13. Toadette
  14. Wendy O. Koopa

Mario Kart 8 Downloadable Characters?

Future DLC Characters?: In Summer 2014 Nintendo of Japan has confirmed they will release a free Mercedes-Benz GLA car DLC (downloadable content). This opens up the doors to possible future characters DLC, because Nintendo worldwide are already doing this with Mario Golf: World Tour on the 3DS by adding Gold Mario, Nabbit, Rosalina and Toadette there. — Once enough time has passed after Mario Kart 8’s launch, no one should have a problem with the choice to download more character choices for a small fee.

Here we’ve listed the not (yet) included characters that were in prior Mario Kart games.

  • Birdo (debut in Mario Kart Double Dash)
  • Bowser Jr. (debut in Mario Kart Double Dash)
  • Diddy Kong (debut in Mario Kart Wii)
  • Donkey Kong Jr. (debut in Super Mario Kart)
  • Dry Bones (debut in Mario Kart DS)
  • Dry Bowser (debut in Mario Kart Wii)
  • Funky Kong (debut in Mario Kart Wii)
  • King Boo (debut in Mario Kart Double Dash)
  • Paratroopa (debut in Mario Kart Double Dash)
  • Petey Piranha (debut in Mario Kart Double Dash)
  • Queen Bee (debut in Mario Kart 7)
  • R.O.B. (debut in Mario Kart DS)
  • Wiggler (debut in Mario Kart 7)

Please comment to share which old or new Nintendo character you think should be added as downloadable characters???

The launch trailer shows the main Mario Kart 8 characters in action:

Credits: Nintendo, Mike & Andre.

Who are your favorite Mario Kart 8 characters?