Mario Kart Online: Play Free With Friends On Nintendo Switch
Hey guys! Are you ready to rev up your engines and dive into the thrilling world of Mario Kart on your Nintendo Switch? The good news is you absolutely can enjoy the excitement of Mario Kart online with your friends. Let's break down how you can get your race on, especially focusing on playing with pals and what it might cost you.
Getting Started with Online Play
So, you're itching to hit the tracks, right? Here's the lowdown on getting Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ready for some online multiplayer action. The most important thing to note is that while the game itself isn't free, accessing its online features requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Think of it like this: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is your awesome go-kart, and Nintendo Switch Online is the highway you need to drive on. Without that subscription, you're just sitting in the garage, no matter how shiny your kart is! Once you have the base game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, you’re already halfway there. This game is packed with tons of content, including a massive roster of characters, a plethora of karts and customization options, and a wide variety of tracks that will keep you entertained for hours. Seriously, the sheer amount of stuff to unlock and master is staggering. You'll find yourself constantly discovering new strategies and techniques as you race your way to the top. Whether you prefer drifting around corners, launching items at your opponents, or skillfully navigating treacherous terrain, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe offers something for everyone. And the best part? You can experience it all with your friends, either in person or online. But before you start dreaming of victory laps, there's one crucial step you need to take: subscribing to Nintendo Switch Online. This subscription service is the key to unlocking the game's full potential, allowing you to connect with players from around the world and compete in thrilling online races. Without it, you'll be stuck playing against the computer, which, let's be honest, just isn't the same. So, if you're serious about dominating the Mario Kart scene, make sure you've got your Nintendo Switch Online subscription sorted. Trust me, it's worth it.
Nintendo Switch Online: Your Ticket to Ride
Okay, let's talk details about Nintendo Switch Online. This is Nintendo's online service that lets you play many Switch games online, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. There are a few different membership options, so you can pick what works best for you. First, you have the standard Nintendo Switch Online membership. This gives you access to online play, a library of classic NES and SNES games, cloud saves for compatible games, and access to the Nintendo Switch Online app for voice chat. Then there's the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack option. This includes everything in the standard membership, plus access to a library of Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games, as well as access to downloadable content like the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass. The Booster Course Pass adds a whopping 48 additional courses to the game, doubling the original track selection and providing endless hours of racing fun. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the Mario Kart series, these new courses offer a fresh and exciting challenge. From the vibrant streets of Tokyo to the treacherous slopes of Mount Wario, each track is packed with unique obstacles and surprises that will test your skills to the limit. And with the ability to play these courses online with your friends, the Booster Course Pass is an essential addition to any Mario Kart 8 Deluxe collection. So, which membership should you choose? Well, if you're primarily interested in playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe online and don't care much about the extra games and content, the standard membership is probably the way to go. However, if you're a fan of classic games or want to experience the full Mario Kart 8 Deluxe experience with all the additional courses, the Expansion Pack is definitely worth considering. Ultimately, the decision is up to you and depends on your individual preferences and budget. But no matter which membership you choose, you'll be able to enjoy the thrill of online racing with your friends and rivals from around the world.
Membership Options:
- Individual Membership: Perfect for solo players. You can choose between a 1-month, 3-month, or 12-month subscription.
- Family Membership: Great for families or groups of friends. Up to eight Nintendo Accounts can use the service. This is often the most cost-effective option if you have multiple people in your household who want to play online.
- Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack: As mentioned, this tier gives you more games and content.
How to Play Mario Kart Online with Friends
Alright, you've got your Nintendo Switch Online subscription sorted. Now, let's get down to the nitty-gritty of playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe online with your friends. First things first, make sure you and your friends have each other added as friends on your Nintendo Switch consoles. This is essential for being able to easily find and join each other's online lobbies. To add someone as a friend, you'll need their friend code, which is a unique 12-digit code that identifies their Nintendo account. Once you have their friend code, you can send them a friend request, and once they accept, you'll be able to see when they're online and join their games. After that, boot up Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. From the main menu, select "Online Play." You'll then have a few options: you can either join a friend's game, create your own lobby, or join a worldwide race. To play with your friends, you'll want to either join their game or create your own lobby and invite them. If you're joining a friend's game, simply select their name from the list of online players, and you'll be whisked away to their lobby. If you're creating your own lobby, you'll have a few options to customize the race settings, such as the type of race (grand prix, versus, or battle), the number of laps, and the items that are allowed. Once you've set everything up to your liking, you can invite your friends to join your lobby. They'll receive a notification on their Nintendo Switch consoles, and once they accept, they'll be able to join the fun. And that's all there is to it! With a little bit of setup, you and your friends can be racing each other online in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in no time. Whether you're competing for bragging rights or just having a good time, online multiplayer is a fantastic way to experience the game.
Steps to race with friends:
- Add Friends: Make sure you and your friends have added each other on your Nintendo Switch consoles. You'll need to exchange friend codes to do this.
- Online Play: From the main menu, select "Online Play."
- Create or Join a Lobby: You can either join a friend's game or create your own lobby. If you create a lobby, invite your friends to join.
- Race! Once everyone is in the lobby, start the race and have fun!
Free Options and Demos
Now, let's address the burning question: can you play Mario Kart online with friends for absolutely free? The straightforward answer is no, not entirely. As we've established, a Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required to access the game's online multiplayer features. However, there are a few workarounds and alternative options that can allow you to experience Mario Kart with your friends without breaking the bank. One option is to take advantage of free trial periods offered by Nintendo. From time to time, Nintendo will offer free trials of its Nintendo Switch Online service, allowing you to access all the online features for a limited time. This is a great way to get a taste of what online multiplayer is like and see if it's something you're interested in investing in. Another option is to share a Nintendo Switch Online Family Membership with your friends or family members. As mentioned earlier, the Family Membership allows up to eight Nintendo Accounts to use the service, making it a cost-effective way to share the benefits of online multiplayer with multiple people. If you can find a group of friends or family members who are also interested in playing Mario Kart online, you can split the cost of the Family Membership and save a significant amount of money. While these options aren't completely free, they can help you reduce the cost of playing Mario Kart online with your friends. And who knows, maybe you'll discover that the benefits of Nintendo Switch Online are worth the investment in the long run. After all, it's not just about playing Mario Kart; it's also about accessing a library of classic games, saving your game data to the cloud, and connecting with a community of fellow gamers from around the world. So, while there's no completely free way to play Mario Kart online with friends, there are definitely ways to make it more affordable and accessible.
Keep an eye out for:
- Free Trial Periods: Nintendo occasionally offers free trials of Nintendo Switch Online.
- Family Membership Sharing: Split the cost of a Family Membership with friends or family.
- Local Multiplayer: Don't forget you can always play with friends locally without needing an online subscription!
Conclusion
So there you have it! Playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe online with your friends on the Nintendo Switch requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. While there aren't completely free ways to do it, there are options to make it more affordable, like free trials or sharing a family membership. And remember, the fun of racing your friends, mastering those tricky turns, and gloating over your victories is totally worth it. Now go out there, hit the track, and show your friends who's the Mario Kart champion! Happy racing, everyone!