Ride review | Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge at Epic Universe is a childhood dream come to life
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge — a ride within Super Nintendo World at Universal Epic Universe — is nostalgia-inducing and incredibly well-themed, if a bit slow.
Racers, start those engines! Get ready to go … really slow?
In 1992, “Super Mario Kart” debuted on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Since then, players around the world have enjoyed the popular party game across multiple installments, with the franchise’s most recent volume selling over 67 million copies.
Universal Destinations & Experiences brought to life this fan-favorite video game via a traditional “dark ride” experience, enhanced by augmented-reality (AR) headsets. After previous versions of the ride opening at Universal parks in Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Hollywood, the latest iteration, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, officially opens May 22, 2025 at the new Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Fla.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is an incredibly surreal experience and sure to be a family favorite, but the attraction might’ve needed some more tuning up before reaching the finish line.
Mario vs. Bowser
Within the backstory of the “Mario Kart” ride at Epic Universe, Bowser, Mario’s rival (and sometimes his plus-one to parties and sporting events), has challenged Mario and his friends to a race for the Universal Cup. Team Bowser, made up of himself and seven of his children (Bowser Jr. is noticeably absent from the experience), races Team Mario across some of the most iconic courses in “Mario Kart” history.
Guests enter through Bowser’s castle, where they encounter a massive stone statue of the king of the Koopas before waiting in the queue. Fans of the Mario franchise will notice Easter eggs scattered across the castle, some obvious, but others hidden for more seasoned fans.
Photo by bioreconstruct
To call the queue breathtaking does not do justice to all the details. Books sitting upon Bowser’s shelves, items being crafted, and “Mario Kart” trophies of different cups on display, are just some of the many things to keep an eye out for. We could spend hours in this queue just admiring the craftsmanship Universal Creative and Nintendo brought to life.
Augmented-reality headsets on Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
Instead of grabbing 3D glasses, riders don Mario caps, which adjust to each person’s head. Once onboard the ride vehicle, you’ll attach AR glasses to your Mario cap, which will allow you to see the other racers, items, and more surprises along the way.
We haven’t seen motion sickness be an issue on Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, as the AR effects are just images projected onto what you’re already seeing. However, the visuals can be quite overstimulating with the amount of sounds, lights, and moving images at once.
If you’d like to ride without the headset, you do not have to wear it, but it might do a disservice to your team. You see, the objective of the ride is for all four guests aboard the ride vehicle to achieve 100 coins in order to “win.” If this is not achieved, Team Bowser wins at the end of the ride. You can earn coins by moving your steering wheel in the direction the headsets indicate when it comes time to turn, and by throwing shells at the Koopalings. Aim your shells by looking at them.
Slow and steady wins the race?
Here it is: the moment you’ve dreamed of since you were a kid and you first picked up a controller to play a “Mario Kart” game. You slowly approach the starting line while the iconic “Mario Kart” music start to play. 3, 2, 1 … Go! Wait, are we even moving?
The “Mario Kart” games involve high-speed races against 11 other racers … so why does the ride at Epic Universe go so slow? The ride goes at about the same pace as Men in Black: Alien Attack over at Universal Studios Florida (but spins way less).
While the game you’re playing aboard the ride sometimes distracts from your lack of speed (and wind effects often make you feel like you’re going faster than you actually are), you can’t help but wonder, “Is that it?” We’re not sure why Universal opted for a slower experience, but the upside is the pace allows riders to take in and appreciate how stunning the sets are. Not everything is AR.
Additionally, the “game” components of the ride are a little confusing. Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge has two pre-shows explaining the directions and the story of the ride. This somehow still isn’t enough for some riders to grasp onto the objective.
Final thoughts
Even though the experience might take a little getting used to, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is still one of the most immersive experiences found in a Universal park. While your enjoyment may vary depending on your attachment to the franchise it’s based on, a family-friendly ride with a game aspect is always welcomed.
Be sure to check it out or yourself and let us know your thoughts when pic Universe opens in Orlando on May 22, 2025.
If you can’t wait to ride it at Epic Universe, here’s an overview with a partial POV of the ride at Universal Studios Japan, where it’s known as Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge:
More Attractions Magazine stories:
Follow us:
Ready for adventure? Our trusted partner Universal Fan Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the fun. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating epic vacations. Visit Universal Fan Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
