10 Best Characters To Play As In Mario Kart 8

Fans of Mario Kart 8 claim their favorite character is the sure-fire winner, but the roster's stats may prove that favorite doesn't always mean best.

Since 1992 fans of the Mario Kart franchise have debated about which character is the best in the game. In Mario Kart 8 fans are more passionate than ever about which character deserves first place.

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Speed, acceleration rate, handling, character weight, all of these components factor into the science behind who the best character to play in Mario Kart 8 is. The characters are in three categories based on their size - light, medium, and heavy. The heavier characters are favored due to their ability to maintain top speeds, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they are destined to cross the finish line at number one.

10 Metal Mario/Pink Gold Peach

While Metal Mario has been around since Mario Kart 7 as an unlockable player, this is Pink Gold Peach's introduction to the Mario Kart series. Since the games' initial release these characters haven't exactly been fan favorites due to their lackluster designs, but they deserve more credit for their weight and top speeds in Mario Kart 8.

These two heavy-class characters are both balanced with the same stats. They are perfect for drifting around corners due to their high traction and average mini turbo boosts. Each fall short in regards to handling on land and especially in water, but pair either of these two powerhouses with a kart combination that favors acceleration and they are sure to blow past any opponent's kart.

9 Shy Guy

This iconic Super Mario ghost character returns as a playable character in Mario Kart 8. Ever since being introduced as a guest character in Mario Kart DS, Shy Guy has swiftly grown to be a fan favorite amongst the Mario Kart community. So much so that, for the first time, players can choose from nine different colored skins made available as DLC.

This cute little masked figure has some of the best acceleration in the game. Being in the lightweight class, they will easily be able to weave their way in between other karts with their outstanding traction and handling. But be wary of being trampled over by larger carts when lightning strikes. Although their top speeds are average, it is the combination of well-timed mini turbos and excellent acceleration that makes Shy Guy one of the best light class characters.

8 Donkey Kong

This classic character has been playable since the dawn of the series. Due to Donkey Kong's plethora of preexisting self-titled games to choose from, his status amongst the Mario Kart roster has always made him a popular choice.

His weight and size make him a formidable foe if ever he gets too close. Unfortunately, he is subject to some of the classic pitfalls of heavy class characters. Donkey Kong will weigh down his kart so make sure to choose wheels that balance this out. He may start off slow as the countdown buzzes, but if he manages to maintain a consistent speed and avoid water there are only a handful of characters on the roster that will be able to take him down.

7 Waluigi

As much as Waluigi is forgotten among fans, he should be remembered during the character selection screen. Having once started out as a middleweight character back in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! he returns to Mario Kart 8 as a default heavy class character.

Being another heavy class character, he has decent acceleration as well as top speeds, but his handling on land and water causes a shaky ride. Although his acceleration is average, it is best to choose a kart that favors this in order to make up for slower turbo speeds. Make sure to keep Waluigi in the air for as long as possible. His top speeds while flying are almost unmatched.

6 Mii

First introduced during the Mario Kart Wii era, the Mii has received a variety of mixed reviews. As an unlockable character in Mario Kart 8 the Mii ends up being a trickier choice than others due to a crucial choice the player must make.

The Mii's stats will depend upon the size and width it was given by the player. The Mii that is able to hold its own against the others on this list should fall into the heavyweight class. If the player's Mii is scaled with a heavier build and balanced with a kart that favors good handling it creates a force to be reckoned with. Their land speeds will max out with the rest of the top-tiered characters while their traction and acceleration will average out with the medium and lightweight classes.

5 Morton

This star-faced koopaling goes by Morton Koopa Jr and was introduced back in Super Mario Bros. 3. Normally, he would stand almost statistically identical to his counterpart, Roy, yet in Mario Kart 8 his weight class puts him above average.

An underling of the king of koopas off the track, when he maxes out his top speeds he becomes a top racer. Morton Koopa Jr. hunches tall as one of the top heavyweight characters. His weight allows him to reach speeds most characters can't while also maintaining good control of acceleration. Morton falls under the very heavyweight class which means his handling and mini turbos are some of the worst in the game so his kart build should focus on balancing that.

4 Bowser

Lord Bowser is the primary antagonist of the Mario franchise so it is no surprise that he is one of the most powerful characters in Mario Kart 8. He has appeared in every Mario Kart game and due to his popularity will be a top contender in every game to follow.

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Another character in the VIP very heavyweight section, he is able to max out at speeds only topped by two other characters in the game. Bowser should avoid water and air travel as much as possible. His handling is some of the lowest in the game so he will be difficult to control in those two situations. Although on land, his weight and speed (when kept consistent) will be able to bully opponents behind his kart.

3 Babies

While there are many babies to choose from in Mario Kart 8, it is the two protagonist brothers of the franchise that should be prioritized. The baby princesses lag behind only slightly in speed so they are still are very valid choice, but the baby Mario bros are just ever so slightly faster.

These diaper dashers are the only members of the lightweight class that are able to hold their own with the heavyweights. The babies have the best acceleration and handling in the game. When placed in a Tanooki car combo that accentuates the babies' lack of weight, there's an amazing balance of stats that takes place. Drifting is where the babies excel due to the mixture of spectacular traction, top acceleration, and the best mini turbo boosts in the game.

2 Dry Bowser

Thankfully returning to the Mario Kart franchise in the second DLC pack, Dry Bowser comes in as a top competitor. Although he may just seem like a reskin of Bowser, he is able to differentiate himself with a weight difference that gives a wonderful advantage.

While some of his stats are lower than most light and medium characters in the game, it's his speed that makes him a force to be reckoned with. Dry Bowser is considered a heavyweight character, yet he falls into the sub-category of being very heavy. There are only a few characters within the game that are considered to be in the very heavyweight class. What sets him apart from the others in this class is that his handling and traction are closer to the overall average of lighter choices.

1 Wario

One of the few anti-heroes of the franchise, Wario has been able to distinguish himself from the crowd of characters as a fan favorite. He has been racing in the franchise since Mario Kart 64 and has managed to maintain his appeal in Mario Kart 8 since its initial launch.

Wario leads the way as the top very heavyweight contender in the game and has for years. Whether it be on his personalized motorcycle or in the seat of any combination of karts, his speeds and traction are unmatched. If Wario is able to maintain his top speeds without being hit there are almost no characters who can match him. He is perfect for tightening drift corners and boosting into first. With his years of experience behind the wheel and prolific appearances throughout the Mario Kart series, Wario has positioned himself to be the default racer.

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