Mario Kart World features 50 playable characters.
The roster is the largest character lineup described for the game and includes familiar Mario characters alongside unusual drivers and obstacle characters. The expanded cast fits the game’s broader world, where many inhabitants can appear on roads instead of being merely background scenery.
Twenty-four playable characters have alternate unlockable costumes. Players access those costumes by consuming food items found during races, adding a collection element to the character system.
Most of the remaining characters also appear as obstacles on the tracks. This can make the roster easy to misremember, because some characters are seen driving or moving around the world before players use them as racers. The total of 50 refers to playable characters, not every costume variation.