Kart Games

Kart games are races in small, light cars with simple handling and tracks full of tight turns. There are about 27 here, free, and many of them are Mario Kart versions you can play in your browser.

Mario Kart and its lookalikes

Most of the list carries the Mario name: Mario Kart Arcade, Mario Kart Challenge, Mario Kart Legend, Mario Kart Revenge, Super Mario Kart Xtreme and several more. These aren't official Nintendo games. They're fan-made or third-party versions, and it shows: each has its own tracks, its own controls and its own difficulty. If one doesn't grab you, try another, because they differ a lot.

The formula they copy is a familiar one: tracks with curves, drifting and items you pick up along the way to pass rivals or slow them down. The items part depends on the game; not all of them have it.

Other characters, and karting without characters

Outside Mario there are Dragon Ball Kart, Ben10 Kart and Tarzan Bike, which swap the characters but keep the arcade-race idea. And if you'd rather skip the licenses, Kart Racing Pro, EG Karting, Tropical Karting, Red Kart Racer, Kizi Kart, Number Karts or plain Karting are closer to a real kart race, with racing lines and fast laps.

Karting tips

Don't push on the first lap. Go around the track slowly to learn where the blind corners and narrow sections are, and speed up from the second lap. The basics are played with the arrow keys, and games with drifting or items usually ask for one more key. Check which before you start.

In a kart, the racing line rules: taking corners on the inside and not hitting the edges matters more than top speed. One crash into the barrier costs you more than you gain by accelerating early. If the game has drifting, use it on long corners, not on the straights.

• To play without fuss: Mario Kart Arcade or Kizi Kart.
• For something closer to real karting: Kart Racing Pro or EG Karting.
• To see other characters: Dragon Ball Kart or Ben10 Kart.