Summary
TheMario Kartfranchise has long been the go-to for any fans of the racing game genre. Making its debut on SNES back in 1992, the series has since appeared across nine different platforms and ten unique titles. Packed to the brim with iconic Nintendo protagonists,Mario Kartallows for hours of solo and multiplayer fun.
Even with its successor already in the making,Mario Kart 8and its Switch exclusive deluxe edition remains one of the most popular entries in the franchise. It features tracks both old and new and is in the midst of six waves of new DLC that will bring even more variety to the game. So, for gamers looking to achieve their best score, here are the best track shortcuts thatMario Kart 8has to offer.
Updated on July 25, 2025 by Blaise Santi:With the recent announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 coming in 2025, fans of the Mario Kart franchise have a brand-new installment in the franchise to look forward to! There’s little known about the new game, including even its title, but what most fans are excited about are which levels from previous games will be returning. From the chaotic frenzy of Waluigi Pinball to the blue skies of Sunshine Airport, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe fans have a lot of studying to do if they wanna hit the ground running in the new Mario Kart knowing all the best shortcuts in some of the best levels (assuming they all come back!).
13Cheep Cheep Beach Shallow Harbor
Don’t Be Afraid Of A Little Swim
This level originated inMario Kart DS, preceding the franchise’s addition of underwater racing inMario Kart 7for the 3DS.With the track returning toMario Kart 8, Cheep Cheep Beach has a new section that players can breeze through by taking a trip underwater, following a path of gold coins in shallow water behind an arrow sign pointing left early in the course.
While this shallow water does contain dark sand at the bottom that could slow players down, this can be remedied by clever timing with a Mushroom, so make sure you’re not trying to take advantage of this shortcut without one locked and loaded. This hidden path will get you ahead of racers who take the normal path without ever noticing where you went.
12Piranha Plant Slide Water Current
Cleverly Avoid A Dangerous Piranha Plant
Piranha Plant Slide returns toMario Kart 8andMario Kart 8 Deluxefrom the 3DS, featuring a wide variety of obstacles as racers breeze through a sewer system. However, it’s easy to end up falling behind if you get attacked by giant Piranha Plant hazards, with one in a key spot right before you exit the sewers. That being said, it’ll require some perfect timing on the players' part.
On the gated floor of the track, water bubbles will rise up to indicate a current, lifting players a la a gust of wind in other levels. If you notice a water current at any point nearing the Piranha Plant, feel free to race straight into it, as it’ll give you an aerial boost that can not only avoid enemy hazards, but also set you up perfectly for the cannon at the end of the tunnel.
Toad Harbor isan original stage inMario Kart 8, and for the most part, seems like a pretty easy course to race through. However, nearing the finish line, follow the train tracks to find an alleyway, which is free from hazards and (for the most part) other players, letting you breeze past opponents. This shortcut can allow for a pretty exciting end to anyMario Kartrace!
For instance, imagine you’re trailing behind an enemy racer in 2nd place, but with knowledge of this shortcut, you swerve to the right and ride along the tracks. With the addition of a well-timed Mushroom, you can surpass the racer ahead of you to 1st place without them even seeing you passing them! Plus, the alleyway will drop you out just ahead of the course, giving you the head start for the next lap.
10Athens Dash Hidden Passage
A Helpful Tip For Your Odyssey
Athens Dash, based on historical locations in the real-world country of Greece, originallydebuted in the mobile titleMario Kart Tour. With all the incredible sights, including the Parthenon, statues of Greek deities, and amphitheaters, it can be tough for racers to spot this secret passageway, blocked by a pair of Piranha Plant wooden cutouts.
By taking this hidden route, racers will be granted a speed pad they can use to get ahead of other players. However, given how the Athens Dash route changes, this shortcut can only be accessed on the second and third laps of each race. These wooden Piranha Plant cutouts can also be found on courses like Daisy Circuit and Boo Lake.
9Yoshi’s Island Road
Watch Out For Winged Clouds
Very few courses inMario Kart 8 Deluxereference theYoshi’s Islandfranchise, but the Booster Course Pass changed this with the Yoshi’s Island stage. Aesthetically, it resembles the graphics of the SNES titleYoshi’s Island, featuring enemies and characters like Poochy, Goonies, and Nep-Enuts. However, the shortcut on this track is not immediately obvious!
One Winged Cloud, which can be found floating in the sky throughout the course like inYoshi’s Island, will reveal a red staircase letting players ride for a while above the regular route. This will help players get a little further ahead and avoid obstacles, or possibly give them a safe space to use a Mushroom and speed ahead.
8Sunshine Airport Luggage Carousel
For Those Who Leave Their Baggage Unattended
Sunshine Airport was originally a part of the Star Cup in the base game ofMario Kart 8.Throughout its DLC releasesand re-imagining on Nintendo Switch, frequentMario Kartfans have probably raced through Sunshine Airport hundreds of times. However, even they might not know of one particular shortcut towards the end of each lap.
As racers pass through the indoors of Sunshine Airport, nearing the finish line, they’ll notice a luggage carousel with wooden crates moving on a conveyor belt. Players can actually drive through this section for a quicker line to the finish, but even more so, the wooden crates can be driven through, granting a Mushroom to help players make that final push to first place.
7Yoshi Circuit Waterfall
You’re In Yoshi’s Hands Now
First appearing on the GameCube version ofMario Kart, this track is shaped like everyone’sfavorite dinosaur creature, Yoshi. Players with a keen eye will be able to spot this shortcut immediately after the start/finish line. Though the track veers off to the left, there’s a large waterfall visible through a gap in the stone with a grassy slope in front of it.
This shortcut can be absurdly difficult to master without bonus items, so even experienced players will need to give it a few practices to get it right. When aiming for the waterfall, the best course of action is to drift, hop twice, then perform a stunt boost to get across. Of course, for those who aren’t interested in perfecting this multi-step technique, a mushroom boost works just as well.
6Shy Guy Falls Upper Cave
Fly High With The Paraglider
As a new track making its debut inMario Kart 8, Shy Guy Falls is a fun track with two steep waterfall sections dominating the loop. However, this track holds several small shortcut opportunities – two of which flow into each other nicely. When launching off the ramp into the canyon, players will need toperform a stuntboost to access an upper path nestled inside a cave.
As players perform another trick when launching off the ramp on this upper path, they should see a grassy path to the right. Performing a right drift and a hop at the last moment will allow players to drive along this grassy path without slowing down. This path also ends in another ramp, giving players an opportunity for an additional stunt boost as well.
5Tick-Tock Clock Hands
Don’t Run Out Of Time
This track is one that was introduced to the series inMario Kart DSand features as part of the lightning cup inMario Kart 8. It can be a tricky track, but there are two key shortcuts that will help playerssave some time. The first can be found in the large clockface center of the track, where the path diverges around a circular hole in the center. If the hand is in the right position, players can use it to bypass the gap and drive straight ahead so long as they stunt boost off the center.
The second is much trickier but uses the same logic of driving along the clock hands that appear just before the start/finish line. Players will need to drift toward the hand and perform a quick left hop as they leave the road. Once they land on the hand, players should hop to the right to stay on track and then perform a stunt boost as they return to the main path.
4Ice Ice Outpost Double Cut
A Treacherous Way To Break The Ice
Also new to theMario Kartseries is the Ice Ice Outpost track which features as DLC inMario Kart 8but is included in the deluxe version. To hit this shortcut, players will need to keep an eye out when they enter the icy cavern after the two diverging yellow and green tracks meet back up. To the right of the cave, there is a path formed by large ice blocks with two visible ramps. Veer onto this path and perform stunt boosts for added momentum.
When players land, they may be tempted to immediately correct themselves to the right to follow the track. However, another shortcut can be used if they hold the same direction. Coming out of the previous jump, players can drop off the track to landon an icy pathwith two more ramps. Using a drift boost and stunt boosts will increase the speed at which players launch out of this shortcut and back onto the main track.
