How To Get Gold Mario In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe unlockables, including how to unlock Gold kart parts and Gold Mario

Prepare to play a lot of tracks to get everything you need.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe unlockables are a little more straightforward than its Wii U counterpart, with most things already available from the get go.

However, those in need of an incentive to play are in luck, with one of the toughest challenges yet hiding one of the more attractive characters, while kart parts follow a familiar process as previously.

If you need more help with other parts of the game, consult our Mario Kart 8 guide, tips and tricks page.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Switch vs 3DS/Wii U - The Ultimate Handheld Mario Kart

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe unlockables

Here is how you unlock all aspects of Mario Kart 8 for both Switch and Wii U:

Characters: The Switch version automatically unlocks all characters from the get go, bar Gold Mario (which you can read about more below). On Wii U, a character will unlock at random upon each cup win, apart from DLC characters which are already available.
Courses: The Switch version automatically unlocks all tracks from the get go, including the later added DLC. You'll need to unlock these gradually on Wii U by completing prior cups.
Modes: All modes unlock automatically on Switch. On Wii U, Mirror Mode is available once you complete all cups on 150cc, while 200cc is available as part of a free game update.

The Koopa Clown kart is new to the Switch version.

Kart Parts: On both platforms, all parts - whether bodies, wheels or gliders - will unlock as you collect Coins, which are littered on tracks during races. Parts will unlock at random every 30 coins collected on Switch (or per 50 coins collected on Wii U) which increases to 50 coins at the 500 coin milestone (or every 100 coins at the 1,000 coin milestone on Wii U).
The exception to the random drops is on Wii U, where DLC parts will be available automatically upon purchase. On Switch, the DLC parts (including the Mercedes DLC) is thrown in as part of the roster.

On Switch, the unlockable parts in numbers are:

23 karts (including the Switch's new Koopa Clown)
17 bikes (including the Switch's two new Splatoon vehicles, Inkstriker and Splat Buggy)
21 wheels
14 gliders

Need more help? Our Mario Kart 8 guide, tips tricks and everything we know about Deluxe can help improve your racing game. Elsewhere, we have a description of shortcuts on every course, a breakdown of characters and weight classes, unlockables including Gold karts and Gold Mario and an amiibo and Mii racing suit list.

How to unlock Gold Mario and Gold kart parts Gold Standard, Gold Wheels and Gold Glider

To unlock Gold Mario - which is a skin replacement for Metal Mario - you must win all cups in the Grand Prix at 200cc, the fastest speed and also the hardest difficulty in the game.

The new Gold Mario is one of the game's toughest challenges.

While not confirmed, it's assumed you can simply win them - and not have to get three stars - on each cup in order to unlock Gold Mario.

There are also three Gold parts you unlock through play, on both Wii U and Switch:

Gold Standard kart: Win every Cup with a single star on both 150cc and Mirror Mode in Grand Prix.
Gold Tires: Beat every Staff Ghost in Time Trial mode at 150cc.
Gold Glider: Collect 5,000 coins in total (or 10,000 coins in Mario Kart 8 on Wii U).