Mario Kart 64

Sequel to the tremendously popular innovator of the kart-racing genre, Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 64 builds on an established formula with four-player multiplayer, 3D graphics, and new courses, items, gameplay modes and features.

The gameplay from Super Mario Kart is largely unchanged: players still race around courses inspired by Mario games as Mario series characters, all while attacking each other with items picked up from the track. Courses are divided into multiple cups which are challenged in a Grand Prix event, the reward for which is new courses to unlock. Also available are time trial modes with savable high scores and multiplayer modes, including a battle mode where attacking your opponents, not beating them to a goal, is the objective. Especially notable for this release was the addition of a mini-turbo system which added strategy to how one maneuvered around turns - a feature that went on to become a series mainstay. Selling 5.5 million copies in the United States, Mario Kart 64 helped establish the series as a pillar of Nintendo's success.