80
It's not doing anything revolutionary on it's own, but serves the loyal audience with the best offering Nintendo can muster – and that's pretty good indeed.
70
Unless you are a big Mario Kart-fan, this game might not be worthbuying. By all means, it's fun the way only Mario Kart can be, itlooks more stunning than ever before and if you need new tracks it caneasily offer hours of entertainment. But Nintendo must have made this game on autopilot.
60
Arcade racing game cooked by well-tried foolproof recipe entertains you most of the time but there are a few frustrating moments too. [Christmas 2011]
10
Please just go play this for your selves. This game is so fun you just have to try it
8
One of the best Mario Kart games. The debut gliding mechanic has become a staple in the franchise. However, 100% completion is incredibly tedious and requires many hours of grinding.
9
Un racing game di tutto rispetto che da secondo a secondo è un prodotto che continua sempre a divertire 8.6/10
Mario Kart 7
3DS
Released On:
Dec 4, 2011
Metascore
Generally Favorable
85
User score
Generally Favorable
8.1
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable
88% Positive
64 Reviews
64 Reviews
12% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Dec 2, 2011
100
With almost ten years of thrilling races behind them, even the most fine-tuned racing fireballs can show signs of fatigue. But rather than risking a break-down, Nintendo was smart enough to dismantle its Mario Kart core formula in order to correctly refreshen each and every one of its clogs before putting them back together. As an added bonus, the mechanic repainted it nicely and added some of the latest technologies. The end result roars at soon as the engine starts, and promises to run nicely for quite some time thanks to solid online features.
Nov 28, 2011
93
The best Mario Kart game yet with an online platform that'll keep you racing for years.
User score
Generally Favorable
76% Positive
940 Ratings
940 Ratings
20% Mixed
251 Ratings
251 Ratings
3% Negative
42 Ratings
42 Ratings
Feb 15, 2026
10
Please just go play this for your selves. This game is so fun you just have to try it
Aug 16, 2025
10
Since I haven’t played any other Mario Kart games (except for the SNES version), I can’t compare it to the others. But as a standalone game, I absolutely loved Mario Kart 7. I have the feeling, this game doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. I perfected every cup, every track, and every time trial, and it was just wonderful. The music is fantastic, the 3D effect is great, and the gameplay is just right. For example, drifting around corners feels very satisfying. The random factor is also kept within limits, because once you’ve broken through the skill barrier and learned the tracks, you can pull away from the field of drivers, so that random elements (like blue shells) hardly play a role anymore (I am speaking about single player). You can also drag items behind you to protect yourself from enemy attacks. All in all, one of the best games I've ever played.
Dec 5, 2011
90
Mario Kart 7 offers up some StreetPass functionality this time around. You can view stranger's profiles, stats, VR rating, and even acquire ghost data for you to beat.
Nov 29, 2011
88
Nintendo hasn't recreated the wheel with Mario Kart 7, but the time spent in the garage has paid huge dividends. With a console-worthy list of modes and options, brand new gameplay paradigms, the best track roster in series history, and new customization depth to plumb, it certainly makes a case to be the best Mario Kart yet. It doesn't turn kart racing on its end, but it finds a near-perfect medium of similarity and discovery as it walks the fine line of risk and reward without spinning out.
Dec 13, 2011
80
While the game is starting to show its age and display a slight lack of imagination, it's safe to say that there aren't too many Nintendo 3DS games that can match the enjoyment derived from Mario Kart 7.
Nov 29, 2011
50
As derivative as a game can get, and while we pour scorn on so many other games for rehashing themselves, something tells me this will get a free pass from many critics and gamers. That strikes me as ironic since Mario Kart 7 is the one game I'd hold up as the least deserving of any kind of leniency. It being an unadventurous and predictable retread, however, is only half of Mario Kart 7's problem. The other half is the fact that it's a lethargic and mundane game, easily outpaced by games that could be considered knock-offs of the formula Nintendo itself perfected.
Jul 7, 2025
10
I have always just vibed with this game amazing track selection and flawless online keeps me always coming back the one game that defined my childhood i cant give this anything but a 10.
Mar 4, 2025
7
Mario Kart 7 out of 10 is nowhere near as good as its predecessors. I shouldn't be surprised as most early 3DS titles weren't exactly top tier stuff. The content isn't as interesting as on DS (additional modes are non-existent it seems), and I'd just continue playing MKWii if it was 2011. This was also when the character selection went a bit crazy.
Jul 3, 2017
4
Meh... Single player is too random for me to enjoy. Feels like you constantly need to focus on item management and when to switch positions with someone else. If you immerse yourself to the actual race (like I want to do when playing a racing game) you'll end up losing at the finishing line because of some shell hitting you. And winning because of a finding a good item at the last moment doesn't feel fulfilling either. Multiplayer with strangers is harder but feels more balanced and less random than when playing single player though. Unless you have someone hacking but even then they usually just stay at first place and you can quite often ignore them.
Nov 7, 2016
4
Mario Kart 7 was one of Nintendo's big chance to be recognized, and they failed. Horribly. Mario Kart 7 has good game-play, and customization is fine, its that the character roster is very small, only compromises of 12 characters. Online mode is hacked at times, leaving a player vulnerable to being hacked, or meeting hacker on a race, and leaving servers down for maintenance Speaking of "leaving", Nintendo left some things out. What happened to quick race?! Or what about the beloved missions from Mario Kart DS?!? They decided not to add those. That isn't all, the whole game is one big glitch. Maka Wuhu has a glitch that can skip three quarters of the whole track. What promises to be a revolutionary game would've been one if they fixed everything and added what the players wanted. I would give this game a skip.
SummaryThe latest installment of the Mario Kart franchise brings Mushroom Kingdom racing fun into 3D. For the first time, drivers explore new competitive kart possibilities such as soaring through the skies or plunging to the depths of the sea. New courses, strategic new abilities and customizable karts bring the racing excitement to new levels... Read More
Rated Efor Everyone
Platforms:
- 3DS
Initial Release Date:Dec 4, 2011
Developer:
- Retro Studios
- Entertainment Analysis & Development Division
Publisher:
