If you‘re a Mario Kart fan, you likely already know about the upcoming Booster Course Pass DLC. This massive expansion unlocks 48 remastered tracks from previous Mario Kart titles for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe over six waves.
It‘s an incredible amount of new content – but also costs $25 if purchased outright. In this detailed guide, I‘ll show you how to access the entire Mario Kart 8 Booster Course Pass at no additional cost.
Free Option: Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack
Let‘s kick things off by covering the free way to get the Booster Course Pass.
The DLC is included as part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. As long as you have an active Expansion Pack membership, you can download and play the Booster Course Pass as soon as each wave is released.
Here‘s a quick overview of how it works:
Nintendo Switch Online: Required base membership for online play, saves, etc. ($20/year individual, $35/year family)
Expansion Pack: Adds Booster Course Pass, N64/Genesis games, Animal Crossing DLC.
Individual Membership: $50/year
Family Membership: Up to 8 accounts, $80/year
To maximize savings, I recommend the family plan. At $10 per account, it comes out to just over $0.80 per month – an incredible value. Considering the Booster Pass alone costs $25, you‘re already saving a ton.
You can upgrade to the Expansion Pack through the eShop or Nintendo website. Then just download the Booster Course Pass from the eShop when each wave releases.
As long as your membership stays active, you‘ll have indefinitely access at no extra cost!
Buying the Booster Course Pass Outright
You always have the option to purchase the Booster Course Pass directly for a one-time $25 fee.
While the Expansion Pack works out to be more affordable long-term, buying the Booster Pass outright means you‘ll own it permanently, even without an active membership.
Plus, it lets you spread the cost out month-to-month with the membership rather than a large upfront cost. Either way, the value is exceptional for the amount of content provided.
To buy the Booster Course Pass, simply find it in the Nintendo eShop and purchase it directly. You‘ll immediately gain access to the currently released courses, and any others as they roll out.
Booster Course Pass Wave Release Dates
The 48 courses included in the Booster Course Pass are being divided into six waves of eight courses each. Here is the tentative release timeline:
| Wave | Release Date |
|---|---|
| 1 | March 18, 2022 |
| 2 | August 4, 2022 |
| 3 | Holiday 2022 |
| 4 | Early 2023 |
| 5 | Mid-2023 |
| 6 | Late 2023 |
Nintendo hasn‘t provided specifics on which courses are in each wave. But fans have mined the game code to find mentions of tracks like Coconut Mall, Tokyo Blur, and Sky Garden.
Each wave will include four cups, with two courses per cup. This drip-feed of content will keep the game fresh and exciting for existing players.
For new buyers, it makes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the definitive edition – packed with an incredible 96 total race courses once all the waves are out.
Is the Booster Course Pass Worth It?
Considering the wealth of content provided, the Booster Course Pass is certainly worth it for most Mario Kart 8 Deluxe players. Let‘s break down the math:
- $25 one-time purchase cost
- 48 remastered courses
- That‘s just $0.52 per course!
Even buying courses individually in past Mario Kart DLC has cost $2-4 per track. So you‘re getting an amazing deal here.
Plus, you can access it indefinitely with an Expansion Pack membership. At $10 monthly for family ($80 annually), it comes out to just $0.10 per course – an absolute steal!
What Players Are Saying
Based on early reception, it‘s clear Mario Kart 8 players agree that the Booster Course Pass is worth the purchase or membership upgrade.
The Booster Course Pass currently scores an 83 on MetaCritic and 8.3 User Score, indicating generally positive reviews.
"A must-buy for any Mario Kart fan," writes Tom‘s Guide. IGN says it‘s "an excellent value" that "breathes exciting new life into the best Mario Kart ever."
User reviews are equally glowing. The courses have been described as "visually stunning," "nostalgic bliss", and a "love letter to longtime fans."
As more waves release through the end of 2024, the value will only improve. But already, the Booster Pass content has exceeded expectations.
Which Courses Are Players Most Excited For?
While we don‘t know the full course selection yet, Mario Kart players seem most hyped for expected retro tracks like:
Coconut Mall (Mario Kart Wii): Frantic shopping center with unique escalators.
Waluigi Pinball (Mario Kart DS): Wild pinball machine track with quick turns.
Sky Garden (Mario Kart: Super Circuit): Beautiful cloudtop raceway.
Maple Treeway (Mario Kart Wii): Fall colors and swinging vines.
DK Summit (Mario Kart Wii): Snowy mountain downhill run.
Tokyo Blur (Mario Kart Tour): Nighttime Tokyo city streets.
These were some of the most popular retros in past Mario Kart games, and players can‘t wait to race them again remastered in HD.
While Nintendo likely has some surprises up their sleeves as well, returning to these classics will trigger nostalgia and ramp up the fun factor even further!
Booster Course Pass Brings Long-Term Value
In terms of sheer gameplay value, the 48 courses included in the Booster Course Pass are hard to overstate.
Each wave essentially doubles the size of the game – something no other Mario Kart DLC has done to this extent.
Having 48 new tracks to master means:
- Tons of replayability perfecting courses, finding shortcuts, optimizing speed.
- Testing out different kart combinations for new racers, karts, and strategies.
- Fun for experienced racers and newcomers alike.
- Exciting online multiplayer with new course variety.
- Long-term engagement – drawing players back with each new wave.
The Booster Course Pass will transform Mario Kart 8 Deluxe into the must-own Switch racer, keeping the online community active for years.
Is Mario Kart 9 Coming?
With such robust DLC support, some may wonder if Mario Kart 9 is still coming or if Nintendo will just keep expanding MK8 indefinitely.
Based on the usual Mario Kart release cadence, I expect Mario Kart 9 will release in late 2024 at the earliest.
Here is a look at previous Mario Kart release timelines:
| Game | Release Date | Time Between Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Kart | Aug 1992 | – |
| Mario Kart 64 | Dec 1996 | 4 years 4 months |
| Mario Kart: Super Circuit | Aug 2001 | 4 years 8 months |
| Mario Kart: Double Dash | Nov 2003 | 2 years 3 months |
| Mario Kart DS | Nov 2005 | 2 years |
| Mario Kart Wii | Apr 2008 | 2 years 5 months |
| Mario Kart 7 | Dec 2011 | 3 years 8 months |
| Mario Kart 8 | May 2014 | 2 years 5 months |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | Apr 2017 | 2 years 11 months |
Excluding the first game, we‘ve historically seen a new Mario Kart every 2-4 years on average.
MK8 released in 2014, and MK8 Deluxe hit in 2017, so we‘re likely due for the next numerical sequel. Nintendo also tends to target holiday releases for big franchises.
I‘d expect a late 2024 or early 2025 release for Switch. The Booster Pass will tide players over until Nintendo is ready to debut a whole new entry.
Until then, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + the Booster Pass is the definitive package for Switch owners. Enjoy it to the fullest!
Key Takeaways
The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass includes 48 new tracks released over six waves through late 2023.
You can access the entire Booster Pass at no extra cost with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership.
Alternatively, the Booster Pass can be purchased outright for a one-time $25 fee, an exceptional value.
The included courses are remastered from previous Mario Kart titles, including many fan-favorite retro tracks.
Each wave essentially doubles the size of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, providing incredible long-term gameplay value.
Early reviews indicate the additional courses live up to the hype and nostalgia.
Mario Kart 9 still likely releases in 2024+ as the next major sequel.
For Switch owners, the Booster Course Pass is a must-have for maximum Mario Kart fun now and into the future!
Don‘t Miss Out on the Mario Kart 8 Booster Pass
As a fellow fan, I can‘t recommend the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass highly enough. It‘s far and away the best DLC add-on in Mario Kart history.
Get it free with the Expansion Pack or grab it outright – either way, you‘re in for a nostalgia-packed good time. With 48 new courses, you could race a different track every day for over a month and still not play them all!
The Booster Pass makes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the must-own kart racer on Nintendo Switch. Make sure you don‘t miss out on the fun. Boost your game‘s content and value tenfold.
Whether you want to relive classics or experience them for the first time, the Mario Kart 8 Booster Course Pass won‘t disappoint. See you online when the green lights flash!
