Which game introduced the anti-gravity mechanic?

Which game introduced the anti-gravity mechanic? The answer is Mario Kart 8. Released for Wii U in 2014, Mario Kart 8 introduced sections where racers can drive across walls, ceilings, and other surfaces that would normally be impossible to race on. The game signals these sections by rotating the kart’s wheels into an unusual orientation and changing the visual flow of the course.

Anti-gravity is more than a visual trick. When racers collide with one another or with special spinning objects in these sections, they can trigger a boost called a Spin Boost. This turns contact between competitors from a simple obstacle into a potential source of speed.

Mario Kart 7 had already introduced underwater driving and gliding, which sometimes causes players to credit it with anti-gravity. Those are separate mechanics. Mario Kart 8 combined the series’ expanding range of terrain with twisted track designs built specifically for wall and ceiling racing. The mechanic returned in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch, alongside redesigned and additional courses.