Tomorrow marks one week since Nintendo’s new Switch 2 console hit shelves, along with its debut line-up of titles. At the forefront is Kart World, a new entry in Nintendo’s flagship kart-racing franchise. The game mixes in bold, exciting changes to the classic format and has impressed not just gamers, but Twitch audiences too. In under seven days, Kart World has racked up more than 9 million Hours Watched, securing a spot in Twitch’s top ten most-watched video games.
Mario Kart World marks a daring evolution for the long-running franchise. Released on June 5, 2025, it replaces discrete race tracks with a single, interconnected world, an ambitious open-world-style layout where Grand Prix circuits flow seamlessly into one another. New mechanics, such as off-roading, rail grinding and wall-jumping add depth and chaos to the core kart-racing experience.
Critically, Mario Kart World has received strong acclaim. With a Metacritic score of 87/100, reviewers praised its polished gameplay, vibrantly animated world, and the success of new modes like Knockout Tour. IGN awarded it 8/10 for its engaging mechanics and celebratory soundtrack, though noted limitations in online multiplayer and its Free Roam design. Destructoid hailed it as “a hallmark of excellence” and possibly the best title in the series. Others celebrated it as a showcase for Switch 2’s technology and a fresh, lively direction. Overall, critics agree it balances nostalgic roots with bold innovation, heralding a promising new chapter for the franchise.
Mario Kart World has emerged as June’s biggest new game release, and the only fresh title to crack Twitch’s top 10 categories. In under a week, it pulled in over 9.2 million hours watched, leapfrogging established juggernauts like Dota 2 and Fortnite. It also edged out another anticipated newcomer, Dune: Awakening, from the platform’s overall top 10 (though Dune did still secure a top-10 spot among video game categories specifically).
Early data shows that over 20,000 influencers played the game during its debut week, with roughly 90% choosing Twitch as their platform. English-speaking audiences made up just over half of total viewership, while other key demographics included French, German, Spanish-speaking, and Japanese viewers. All remaining language groups each accounted for less than 1% of the total.
Most watched & most popular Mario Kart World streamers
It’ll be interesting to see how long the game can hold its place on the Twitch charts. As with most new releases, launch day brought the biggest surge in viewership, but numbers have held up surprisingly well since then, with no dramatic drop-off. One key factor is that some creators are only now joining in: French-speaking streamers, for example, have become increasingly active over the past few days.
The early success of Mario Kart World is not just a strong start for the game itself, but a major win for the Nintendo Switch 2. Launch titles that break into Twitch’s top ranks are rare for Nintendo, whose games traditionally thrive more on long-term player engagement than streaming virality.