Rainbow Road

Lore & Background

Rainbow Road has appeared in multiple Mario Kart games, each with its own unique incarnation. In Super Mario Kart, it is the fifth and final course of the Special Cup, and the closing course of the game. It was remade in Mario Kart Super Circuit and Mario Kart 7 as a retro track, and appears in Mario Kart 8 as part of the Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 DLC pack, and in Mario Kart Tour. The Mario Kart 64 version, inhabited by Chain Chomps, is the game's last track. Guardrails span the entire road, but it is still possible to fall or knock other racers off of the track, even allowing a significant shortcut near the starting line. The track is of extreme, 'tedious' length. This version was later remade as a retro track in Mario Kart 8, where it is raced in only one lap due to its size. In Mario Kart DS, Rainbow Road is the fourth and final race of the Special Cup and the game's last new track. Set in outer space like the others, it has guardrails along most sections, making falls a constant hazard. Uniquely among Rainbow Road courses at the time, it includes a vertical loop and a twisting corkscrew, both lined with boost pads. In Mario Kart Wii, the track is located above Earth's atmosphere, sending racers burning down toward the planet if they fall off. Wii Rainbow Road is heavily inspired by Super Mario Galaxy, as there are Star Bits floating throughout the track and the climax features a Launch Star that launches players upwards similar to the Mario Kart: Double Dash!! version. Wii Rainbow Road was later remade for Mario Kart Tour with mostly visual improvements and for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, as part of the Booster Course Pass expansion pack, featuring its anti-gravity mechanic throughout the track. 3DS Rainbow Road was remade for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It was also featured as a stage in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. In Mario Kart 8 as well as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the track uses three whole laps again instead of lap sections, and there is again a planet in the background with a higher resolution than the one from Mario Kart Wii. This track is the first one to exploit the idea of gliding upon solar panels on a space station, giving a plausible explanation to the track's premise of a rainbow-colored track suspended in outer space. The ground uses quadratic tiles in resemblance to the original Rainbow Road (Super Mario Kart). At the start/finish line, the track crosses through a space craft filled with Toads who sit on tribunes as on a normal racetrack. Several more space ships carry parts of the track, most notably the one with two circular conveyor belt rotating rings in opposing directions which can speed up or slow down the vehicle that drives upon. As with other Mario Kart 8 tracks, Rainbow Road's surface is wildly twisted, forcing racers to make use of the new anti-gravity feature. At a location, two separated parts of the track cross nearby in different angles, and distant parts of the track can be seen ahead from far away. According to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe producer Kosuke Yabuki, the development team's goal was to create a version of Rainbow Road with a 'near-future' aesthetic when anti-gravity controls were added. Mario Kart Tour features two courses based on the original Rainbow Road from Super Mario Kart. Labeled as 'remix courses' (abbreviated to 'RMX courses') these courses use a different layout compared to the original, and feature new mechanics, such as gliding and bouncy mushroom platforms. These courses are named RMX Rainbow Road 1 and 2, and share their music with the course they are based on. The course makes an appearance in 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie as a celestial highway on which Mario, Princess Peach, Toad, Donkey Kong, and the Kong Army are pursued by Bowser's army. Mario battles the Koopas before he and Donkey Kong are thrown off the course by a Koopa General with a blue shell in a kamikaze attack, while Peach and Toad escape unharmed. When developing the film, directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic sought to recreate Rainbow Road's sense of danger and challenge as they described it as 'The most unforgiving course in the series'. The Rainbow Road scene in the film has been described as the most ambitious animation sequence that Illumination had undertaken compared to their previous films. In Mario Kart World, this version of the course contains multiple sections. The first is similar to other versions of Rainbow Road. The second section has the player 'drive' across a river shrouded in clouds. The third section is very similar to Mario Kart 8's Rainbow Road, as the player drives through a large satellite. The final section of the track contains multiple elements from across the Mario Kart World game, and ends with the player gliding into the finish line. GameSpot praised the design of the course as 'a visual feast', calling this version of Rainbow Road 'an all-time great'.

In Their Own Story

The engine hummed a high-pitched whine as Mario approached the starting line, his kart's tires gripping the shimmering, iridescent surface. Above him, there was no sky, only an endless tapestry of stars and swirling nebulae that seemed to pulse in rhythm with the music. As the green flag dropped, he surged forward, the track curving sharply into a vertical loop that sent his stomach lurching. To his left, nothing but the infinite void; to his right, a wall of neon light that offered no traction if touched too hard. He could see Luigi drifting dangerously close to the edge on the inner lane, and for a heartbeat, Mario thought he saw him vanish into the darkness below before correcting with a burst of speed. This was not just a race; it was a dance on the edge of nothingness.

Reader's Guide

Rainbow Road is characterized by its winding, serpentine layout that often includes steep inclines, sharp banked turns, and vertical loops. The defining feature across all iterations is the complete absence of guardrails; hitting an obstacle or drifting too wide results in an immediate fall into the void below, forcing a lengthy respawn. Hazards vary by game but frequently include slippery surfaces that reduce traction, moving obstacles like giant stars or floating debris, and sections where the track narrows significantly. In some entries, gravity shifts allow racers to drive on walls or ceilings, adding a layer of disorientation to an already difficult course. Shortcuts are rare and usually require precise timing, such as cutting across a central island or utilizing a slipstream from a leading opponent to boost over a gap. The theme remains consistently cosmic, though the color palette shifts from neon grids in early entries to more organic, flowing spectrums in modern games. Each new installment reinvents the track's geometry while maintaining its reputation as the series' most punishing finale.

Did You Know?

• Rainbow Road is referenced as a part of an Easter egg included in the programming of Tesla electric vehicles; according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, once a Tesla car's autopilot mode is activated four times in quick succession, the gray road shown on the vehicle's instrument cluster would transform into a colorful path resembling Rainbow Road, with a cowbell tune playing in the background while this mode is turned on.
• In commemoration of Mario Day celebrations for 10 March 2021, Mattel produced a Hot Wheels Mario Kart track set based on the course on 24 June 2021.
• To coincide with the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., an ice cream cake inspired by the track was released by Cold Stone Creamery from 30 September to 15 December 2020.
• Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, an augmented reality dark ride featured at Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal Epic Universe, takes riders through a variety of locations from Mario Kart 8, including Rainbow Road.
• On 28 April 2017, Rainbow Road was voted as the best course in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe by UK players.