MK8DX - Retro Rally | March 14th, 2025 — May 10th, 2025 (2025)

Note: This tournament will be run within the MKCentral MK8DX Community Discord Server, so be sure to get the Retro Rally role by clicking the reaction in the #tournament-roles channel to get the latest tournament information. You will also gain access to the accompanying chats designated for this tournament.

Introduction

Welcome to Retro Rally! This brand-new tournament series aims to celebrate the Mario Kart series by reflecting on its history. As such, we will be revisiting the past through a series of nine specially themed FFAs. Join MK8DX Staff as we embark on a travel through time, setting the course for the year 1992 and slowly working our way back to 2025. All are welcome to join us for this voyage. Before we begin our trip, we must go over some common rules and procedures that will be in effect for all nine FFAs.

• With the exception of the final two FFAs, all FFAs are scheduled for Friday nights in America and Saturday mornings in Europe. The first seven FFAs will start promptly at 9:00pm EDT, with a mandatory check-in period being open from 7:00pm EDT to 8:00pm EDT.
• The final two FFAs are scheduled for Saturday afternoons in America and Saturday nights in Europe. The final two FFAs will start promptly at 1:00pm EDT, with a mandatory check-in period being open from 11:00am EDT to 12:00pm EDT.
• The first eight FFAs will feature a gimmick of some kind — be it character, vehicle and/or track related — so please read the information listed below carefully to avoid penalties. Penalties are typically worth -15 points to a player's score.

Lastly, before our departure, we must make sure that everyone is well-informed on how to register for this little spacetime vacation. Please note that there are no safety waivers to sign, but "takesy backsies" after our departure are prohibited. Those who register acknowledge the dangers of time travel and assume all liability for any consequences that may arise from time travel.

Registration Instructions

▶ How to sign up on the MKCentral Registry

Check-In Tutorial

Tournament Rules

▶ MKCentral Universal Ruleset for MK8DX FFA Tournaments

With that said, let us now depart.

Event #1 — SNES and GBA Tracks

This FFA is scheduled for Friday, March 14th, 2025. The gimmick for this tournament is as follows:

• All players must select a character that initially debuted in either Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 64, or Mario Kart: Super Circuit. Players who do not use a legal character will receive a -15 point penalty for each race a rule violation occurs. The list of legal characters is as follows:
  • Mario
  • Luigi
  • Peach
  • Yoshi (alternate colors are allowed)
  • Toad
  • Koopa Troopa
  • Donkey Kong
  • Wario
  • Bowser
• Additionally, all players are limited to using the Pipe Frame with either Standard or Blue Standard tires as their vehicle setup. Players have free choice on which glider to use. Players who do not use a legal vehicle setup will receive a -15 point penalty for each race a rule violation occurs.
• The track pool is limited to tracks that have debuted in either Super Mario Kart or Mario: Kart: Super Circuit. There are only twelve tracks total that are able to be selected. Picking any other track will result in a -15 point penalty.
  • Due to the limited track pool, an individual track may be played up to two times per tournament round. Picking a track that has already been played twice will result in a -15 point penalty. Finally, players may not pick the last track that was just played in any given tournament round. This will again result in a -15 point penalty. As per usual, track selections are reset with each tournament round.
  • We strongly discourage players from picking the random course option due to its unpredictable nature. If the random course option results in one of the three scenarios above (it picks an illegal track, it picks a legal track for the third or more time, or it repicks the most recently played track), a -15 point penalty will be given.

Event #2 — N64 and GCN Tracks

This FFA is scheduled for Friday, March 21st, 2025. The gimmick for this tournament is as follows:

• All players must select a character that initially debuted in Mario Kart: Double Dash. Players who do not use a legal character will receive a -15 point penalty for each race a rule violation occurs. The list of legal characters is as follows:
  • Daisy
  • Birdo (alternate colors are allowed)
  • Baby Mario
  • Baby Luigi
  • Toadette
  • Diddy Kong
  • Bowser Jr.
  • Waluigi
  • King Boo
  • Petey Piranha
• The track pool is limited to tracks that have debuted in either Mario Kart 64 or Mario: Kart Double Dash. There are only twelve tracks total that are able to be selected. Picking any other track will result in a -15 point penalty.
  • Due to the limited track pool, an individual track may be played up to two times per tournament round. Picking a track that has already been played twice will result in a -15 point penalty. Finally, players may not pick the last track that was just played in any given tournament round. This will again result in a -15 point penalty. As per usual, track selections are reset with each tournament round.
  • We strongly discourage players from picking the random course option due to its unpredictable nature. If the random course option results in one of the three scenarios above (it picks an illegal track, it picks a legal track for the third or more time, or it repicks the most recently played track), a -15 point penalty will be given.

Event #3 — DS Tracks

This FFA is scheduled for Friday, March 28th, 2025. The gimmick for this tournament is as follows:

• All players must select a character that initially debuted in Mario Kart DS. Players who do not use a legal character will receive a -15 point penalty for each race a rule violation occurs. The list of legal characters is as follows:
  • Dry Bones
  • Shy Guy (alternate colors are allowed)
• The track pool is limited to tracks that have appeared in Mario Kart DS, either as a nitro track or a retro track. There are only eleven tracks total that are able to be selected. Picking any other track will result in a -15 point penalty.
  • Due to the limited track pool, an individual track may be played up to two times per tournament round. Picking a track that has already been played twice will result in a -15 point penalty. Finally, players may not pick the last track that was just played in any given tournament round. This will again result in a -15 point penalty. As per usual, track selections are reset with each tournament round.
  • We strongly discourage players from picking the random course option due to its unpredictable nature. If the random course option results in one of the three scenarios above (it picks an illegal track, it picks a legal track for the third or more time, or it repicks the most recently played track), a -15 point penalty will be given.

Event #4 — Wii Tracks

This FFA is scheduled for Friday, April 4th, 2025. The gimmick for this tournament is as follows:

• All players must select a character that initially debuted in Mario Kart Wii. Players who do not use a legal character will receive a -15 point penalty for each race a rule violation occurs. The list of legal characters is as follows:
  • Baby Peach
  • Baby Daisy
  • Rosalina
  • Funky Kong
  • Dry Bowser
  • Mii (all Mii Racing Suits are allowed)
• The track pool is limited to tracks that have appeared in Mario Kart Wii, either as a nitro track or a retro track. There are only fifteen tracks total that are able to be selected. Picking any other track will result in a -15 point penalty.
  • From here on out, each track is only allowed to be played once per tournament round. Picking a track that has already been played will result in a -15 point penalty. As per usual, track selections are reset with each tournament round.
  • We strongly discourage players from picking the random course option due to its unpredictable nature. If the random course option results in one of the two scenarios above (it picks an illegal track, or it picks a legal track for the second or more time, a -15 point penalty will be given.

Event #5 — 3DS Tracks

This FFA is scheduled for Friday, April 11th, 2025. The gimmick for this tournament is as follows:

• All players must select a character that initially debuted in Mario Kart 7. Players who do not use a legal character will receive a -15 point penalty for each race a rule violation occurs. The list of legal characters is as follows:
  • Metal Mario (Gold Mario is allowed)
  • Shy Guy (alternate colors are allowed)
    • Despite debuting in Mario Kart DS via DS Download Play, Shy Guy did not make his proper debut until Mario Kart 7. As such, he will be allowed to be selected in this tournament.
  • Wiggler
  • Lakitu
  
  
• The track pool is limited to tracks that have appeared in Mario Kart 7, either as a nitro track or a retro track. There are only sixteen tracks total that are able to be selected. Picking any other track will result in a -15 point penalty.
  • Each track is only allowed to be played once per tournament round. Picking a track that has already been played will result in a -15 point penalty. As per usual, track selections are reset with each tournament round.
  • We strongly discourage players from picking the random course option due to its unpredictable nature. If the random course option results in one of the two scenarios above (it picks an illegal track, or it picks a legal track for the second or more time, a -15 point penalty will be given.

Event #6 — Wii U Tracks

This FFA is scheduled for Friday, April 18th, 2025. The gimmick for this tournament is as follows:

• All players must select a character that initially debuted in either the original Mario Kart 8 or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Players who do not use a legal character will receive a -15 point penalty for each race a rule violation occurs. The list of legal characters is as follows:
  • Baby Rosalina
  • Pink Gold Peach
  • Lemmy
  • Larry
  • Wendy
  • Ludwig
  • Iggy
  • Roy
  • Morton
  • Tanooki Mario
  • Cat Peach
  • Link (both outfits are allowed)
  • Male Villager
  • Female Villager
  • Isabelle
  • Inkling Girl
  • Inkling Boy
  
  
• The track pool is limited to tracks that have debuted in the original Mario Kart 8. This only includes the original sixteen nitro tracks and the nine original tracks that were released as DLC; retro tracks are banned from being picked. There are only twenty-five tracks total that are able to be selected. Picking any other track will result in a -15 point penalty.
  • Each track is only allowed to be played once per tournament round. Picking a track that has already been played will result in a -15 point penalty. As per usual, track selections are reset with each tournament round.
  • We strongly discourage players from picking the random course option due to its unpredictable nature. If the random course option results in one of the two scenarios above (it picks an illegal track, or it picks a legal track for the second or more time, a -15 point penalty will be given.

Event #7 — Tour Tracks

This FFA is scheduled for Friday, April 25th, 2025. The gimmick for this tournament is as follows:

• All players must select a character that initially debuted in Mario Kart Tour. Players who do not use a legal character will receive a -15 point penalty for each race a rule violation occurs. The list of legal characters is as follows:
  • Kamek
  • Peachette
  • Pauline
  
  
• The track pool is limited to tracks that have debuted in Mario Kart Tour. This only includes the fourteen city tracks and the six nitro tracks; retro tracks are banned from being picked. There are only twenty tracks total that are able to be selected. Picking any other track will result in a -15 point penalty.
  • Each track is only allowed to be played once per tournament round. Picking a track that has already been played will result in a -15 point penalty. As per usual, track selections are reset with each tournament round.
  • We strongly discourage players from picking the random course option due to its unpredictable nature. If the random course option results in one of the two scenarios above (it picks an illegal track, or it picks a legal track for the second or more time, a -15 point penalty will be given.

Event #8 — Throwback Throwdown (Pre-Wave 4 Meta FFA)

This FFA is scheduled for Saturday, May 3rd, 2025. The gimmick for this tournament is as follows:

• All players must select a character that dominated the meta before Wave 4 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass released. Players who do not use a legal character will receive a -15 point penalty for each race a rule violation occurs. The list of legal characters is as follows:
  • Waluigi
  • Roy
  • Donkey Kong
  • Wario
  • Dry Bowser
    • Characters who share a weight class with these characters but were unlocked after the release of Wave 4 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass (e.g. Wiggler and Funky Kong) are prohibited from being selected.
    • Additionally, players are prohibited from selecting a heavy Mii, as there is no reasonable way to determine a Mii's weight class visually unlike Mario Kart Wii or Mario Kart 7.
• Additionally, all players are limited to using one of the following vehicle setups that dominated the meta before Wave 4 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass released. Players who do not use a legal vehicle setup will receive a -15 point penalty for each race a rule violation occurs. The list of legal vehicle setups is as follows:
  • Vehicles
    • Biddy Buggy
    • Mr. Scooty
    • Yoshi Bike
    • Wild Wiggler
  • Tires
    • Roller
    • Azure Roller
  • Gliders
    • Players have free choice on which glider to use.
• Lastly, all 96 tracks are able to be selected during this tournament.

Event #9 — The Final Free-For-All

This FFA is scheduled for Saturday, May 10th, 2025.

There is no gimmick for this tournament. This will be a traditional, no-frills Free-For-All, with players having free choice to select any character, vehicle setup and tracks they wish. This tournament serves as not only a finale for Retro Rally, but a finale for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as a whole.