‘Mario Kart Tour’ now available from the App Store

Back in August, Nintendo opened pre-orders for its newest mobile game, Mario Kart Tour, with an expected launch date of September 25.

And sure enough, the day has arrived and the kart racing game is now available. The title incorporates a lot of the elements from the popular Mario Kart franchise, including characters like Mario, Luigi, Toad, Princess Peach, and many others. And while this game does feature some famous courses from the series, it also features race tracks inspired from real-world locations all around the globe as well.

The biggest change is the fact you can race with just one finger. You can turn, drift, and even use items with just a single finger, rather than having full facing controls like other, similar titles might offer. Nintendo’s trying to keep it as simple and straightforward as possible.

Players will try to win races, as is par for the course, but also try to collect new karts, new drivers, badges, and more. The badges are collected by completing certain in-game challenges, so you can show them off to other players. Some races will include challenges like “Vs Bowser”, where just getting first place isn’t the whole point:

In certain races, 1st place isn’t always the goal. With names like “Vs. Mega Bowser” and “Goomba Takedown,” these bonus challenge courses demand a different approach to gameplay and strategy!

Mario Kart Tour features an online leaderboard so you know how you stack up with other racers.

You’ll need a Nintendo account to play, and your smartphone will need persistent access to the internet as well. The title is free-to-start, but there are in-app purchases in the title as well.

Mario Kart Tour is available now.