Don-Chan, the mascot of Taiko no Tatsujin, became playable in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX.
Don-Chan is the cheerful taiko drum character associated with Namco Bandai’s rhythm-game series Taiko no Tatsujin. The character’s design reflects the games’ central instrument: a Japanese taiko drum with a face, arms, and expressive features. His inclusion gives the arcade racer a direct link to another major Namco property.
Mario Kart Arcade GP DX added a set of courses themed around Taiko no Tatsujin and made Don-Chan a playable character. The game also introduced features such as gliders, underwater driving sections, and a cooperative mode in which two players share a vehicle, showing how the arcade series evolved beyond the first GP title.
Mametchi belongs to the Tamagotchi franchise and was added in Mario Kart Arcade GP 2. Blinky and Pac-Man are characters from the earlier Pac-Man-themed roster. They are all plausible Namco guests, but neither identifies the Taiko no Tatsujin mascot introduced as a racer in DX.