Jumping into 200cc mode in Mario Kart 8 for the first time can be quite a jolt. Designed as the game’s ultimate challenge, racing at this speed can sometimes feel extremely punishing. The reason behind this intensity? The numbers can be misleading, as the speed increase in Mario Kart 8 is greater than what the 200cc label would suggest.
As pointed out by the insightful Supper Mario Broth, extensive analysis of the engine classes reveals that the 200cc designation is somewhat of a misnomer. If you’re feeling that 200cc is significantly faster than 150cc, you’re absolutely right—it’s reportedly 38% faster than it should be, based on the speed ratios of the lower classes. Some graphs illustrate this startling finding. The amusing part? The speed referred to as 200cc is actually equivalent to about 415cc in reality.
What’s even more amusing is that players have suspected something was amiss since the original Mario Kart 8 launched on the Wii U in 2014. For nearly ten years, online discussions have seen fans label 200cc as “ridiculous” and “too fast,” often met with comments advising them to simply improve their skills. While some empathize, it’s common to see dismissive replies urging players to get accustomed to it.
To cope with this challenge, players often share tips on how to survive the 200cc mayhem. One of the most frequent suggestions? Embrace braking, and perhaps master “brake drifting,” which involves slowing down slightly before boosting to navigate sharp corners more effectively. Many fans also recommend using lighter characters for better handling.
As for the upcoming Mario Kart World, it remains to be seen whether it will feature 200cc, and if it will accurately reflect the intended speed design. For now, players are thrilled to find out that their frustrations with 200cc in Mario Kart 8 were not unfounded.
“This is so validating,” reads the top comment on Supper Mario Broth’s post. “Aaaaaah, I knew it!!!” another enthusiastically responds.
