Buzz
In the video games Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 8, players can unlock a variety of characters and Grand Prix racing cups, some familiar and others new. This guide will show you how to unlock them.
Steps
Unlocking Cups and Characters in Mario Kart Wii
Follow this guide for the 2008 release of Mario Kart on the Wii console.
- If you are looking for instructions for the 2014 Wii U version, refer to the section on Mario Kart 8. Please note that Mario Kart Wii can still be played on the Wii U console.
Unlock cups by finishing in third place or higher in available cups.
- Each Grand Prix cup (championship race cup) can be unlocked by securing a medal (at least bronze) in the initial cup. Feel free to choose any Engine Class (e.g., 50cc engine). Here’s the step-by-step unlocking process:
- Star Cup: Finish third place or higher in both Mushroom Cup and Flower Cup.
- Special Cup: Finish third place or higher in Star Cup.
- Leaf Cup: Finish third place or higher in both Banana Cup and Shell Cup.
- Lightning Cup: Finish third place or higher in Leaf Cup.
- You can also unlock the "Mirror Mode" for all cups (in which the tracks are reversed left to right) by winning all cups in 150cc difficulty — it’s quite a challenge!
Unlock characters by winning in 50cc races.
- Here are some characters you can unlock in the easiest mode, so focus on unlocking them first:
- King Boo: Win the 50cc Star Cup.
- Diddy Kong: Win the 50cc Lightning Cup.
- Baby Daisy: Achieve at least one star in all 50cc Cups (including Mushroom, Flower, Star, and Special) on the Wii console.
Unlock characters in 100cc races.
- Next, unlock the following characters while playing at a higher difficulty level:
- Dry Bones (Koopa skeleton): Win the 100cc Leaf Cup.
- Mii Outfit A: Win the 100cc Special Cup.
- Bowser Jr.: Achieve at least one star in all 100cc Cups (including Shell, Banana, Leaf, and Lightning).
Unlock characters in 150cc races.
- Show your skills by unlocking the following characters at the highest difficulty:
- Daisy: Win the 150cc Special Cup.
- Dry Browser (Bowser skeleton): Achieve at least one star in all 150cc Cups (including Mushroom, Flower, Star, and Special) on the Wii console.
Unlock characters in Time Trial mode.
- In Time Trial mode, you’ll race against a "ghost" racer, which represents the record you need to beat. If you manage to surpass the ghost by a significant margin (sometimes 2 seconds or more), you’ll be notified that you’ve unlocked a "pro ghost" (with faster speed). You don’t need to beat these pro ghosts, but unlocking them (by beating regular ghosts in the required number) can unlock the characters listed below.
- Funky Kong: Unlock four pro ghosts.
- Baby Luigi: Unlock eight pro ghosts.
- Birdo: Unlock sixteen pro ghosts (or play online until you surpass 250 players).
- Toadette: Complete all 32 tracks in Time Trial mode (winning isn’t required).
- Mii Outfit B (in Mario/Peach costume): Unlock all 32 pro ghosts. This character has the same stats as the Mii unlocked by winning the 100cc Special Cup. Instead of wearing a regular Mii outfit, this Mii will wear a Mario-like outfit (if male) or a Peach-like outfit (if female).
Unlock Rosalina.
- There are two ways to unlock Rosalina, the character from Super Mario Galaxy. You need to complete one of the following tasks:
- Finish first in all 150cc Cups to unlock the Mirror Mode, then earn 1 star in this mode across all eight cups.
- Alternatively, install Super Mario Galaxy on your Wii, start a Galaxy game and save, then race any track in Mario Kart Wii until Rosalina appears.
Master advanced racing to unlock more difficult items.
- Whether you're racing in Time Trial mode or the 150cc circuit, knowing advanced racing techniques can save you hours of effort. Learn how top players race to conquer challenges, and also check out these tips:
- Use heavy vehicles in Time Trial mode, as they have the highest top speed. Acceleration isn't as important since no competitors will block your path.
- Look for secret shortcuts. There are many hidden shortcuts in the game, such as a dirt path near the start line in Maple Treeway, or a small path under a mining cart in Wario's Goldmine. If you're struggling with a track, search for online videos to discover new shortcuts.
Unlock cups and characters in Mario Kart 8
Apply this guide to the Wii U version of the game.
- The video game Mario Kart 8 was released in 2014 for the Wii U. If you are playing Mario Kart on the classic Wii console, refer to the section on Mario Kart Wii.
Unlock characters by winning every Grand Prix Cup.
- If you finish first in a full cup (not just a single race), you'll unlock a randomly selected new character from the free character list that you haven't unlocked yet. Winning the same cup multiple times won't unlock a new character, but if you choose a different Engine Class (such as 50cc or 100cc), it counts as a different cup. For example: Winning the 50cc Mushroom Cup and the 100cc Mushroom Cup unlocks two characters. The following characters can be unlocked in this way:
- Metal Mario
- Toadette
- Lakitu
- Rosalina
- Baby Rosalina
- Pink Gold Peach
- Iggy Koopa
- Roy Koopa
- Ludwig von Koopa
- Lemmy Koopa
- Larry Koopa
- Morton Koopa Jr
- Wendy O. Koopa
Unlock Mii.
- Mii is a special character whose weight class is determined by the current height and weight of the Mii avatar. There are several rumors circulating online about how to unlock Mii, but it is likely that this character is unlocked in a similar manner to other characters: by winning cups.
Unlock new cups.
- Unlock the next Grand Prix Cup by finishing first in the previous cup (which includes four races). Once the cup is unlocked, you can race with any type of engine. There are two different sequences to complete cups, and an additional special mode can be unlocked:
- Mushroom Cup → Flower Cup → Star Cup → Special Cup
- Shell Cup → Banana Cup → Leaf Cup → Lightning Cup
- Win all eight 150cc engine cups to unlock the Mirror mode for all cups, where every race track is reversed left to right.
Buy additional characters and cups.
- Connect the Wii U to the internet and purchase DLC Packs for extra gameplay. Two DLC Packs have been released.
- DLC Pack 1 (currently available):
- Characters: Tanooki Mario, Link, and Cat Peach
- Cups: Egg Cup and Triforce Cup
- DLC Pack 2 (released in May 2015):
- Characters: Isabelle, Dry Bowser, and Villager (from the Animal Crossing video game series)
- Cups: "Crossing Cup" and "Bell Cup"
Tips
- There are no cheat codes in Mario Kart Wii or Mario Kart 8.
Warning
- If a character is not listed in this article, it means that character does not exist. Do not believe rumors online about "Mii Outfit C" or other non-existent secret characters.
- Do not press Quit Game (exit race) if you're playing a special mode. Instead, turn off the Wii or join another Grand Prix (championship cup).
