Mario Kart 8 originally launched on the Wii U in 2013 and was eventually ported to the Nintendo Switch in 2017 asMario Kart 8 Deluxe. The game was already jam-packed with excellent tracks and characters, but in 2022, it was announced that even more content was coming to the game via the Booster Course Pass DLC.
Since then, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been frequently updated with reimagined tracks from older titles in the series and new ones for everyone to explore for the first time together. With an additional twelve cups added through the Booster Course Pass DLC, we have decided to look at each one to determine which is the best of the bunch.
Updated May 28, 2025 by Kyle Chamaillard:Since this list was first posted, the final four cups have been added to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, bringing the total number of tracks in the game from 48 to 96. We are updating the article to officially rank every Booster Course cup in the DLC to see which one comes in first place.
12Boomerang Cup
This is by no means a bad Grand Prix, nor is it “unfun” by any means. Waluigi Stadium stands out as a major GameCube-era revamp, and the muddy jumps and massive Piranha Plants dazzle, but the added upper deck proves an often unworthy detour.
The bookend Tour tracks make this cup feel just a bit tacked on. Still, Singapore Speedway and Bangkok Rush boast beautiful sights and neat references to each city’s architecture and attractions. Mario Circuit is visually delightful but suffers from being a shorter track that doesn’t feel as unique as the rest in the Boomerang Cup.
11Cherry Cup
Cherry Cup was one of the final additions to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but it feels a bit underwhelming for an epic conclusion to the excellent DLC. It mostly suffers from the same mistakes made in the Boomerang Cup - it begins and ends with tracks from Mario Kart Tour, and the other levels feel kind of plain compared to other courses.
Los Angeles Laps and Vancouver Velocity are full of detail and feature amazing music, but they still feel a bit tacked on. Koopa Cape can be more frustrating than fun, and the remake of Sunset Wilds feels like it didn’t reach its full potential.
10Golden Dash Cup
A quartet of independently forgettable tracks makes a surprisingly fun pairing in this cup. Toad Circuit has wide and long turns which are perfect for building up a triple-slide boost. Choco Mountain and Coconut Mall, however, are a somewhat milquetoast way to end what is ultimately a well-matched Grand Prix.
To elevate this on the list, it could switch Toad Circuit with Sky-High Sunday, and really lean into the “desserts in Paris” theme. Toad Circuit, though, does allow for a soft, pastel warmth to the palette of preview images in the cup selection menu.
9Turnip Cup
The Turnip Cup might have some ofthe most challenging courses in the entire game. New York Minute, like the city that never sleeps, is a speedy whirlwind race that moves too quickly to truly take in the sights. It’s quickly followed up by Mario Circuit 3, a fan-favorite from the original Super Mario Kart.
Is there anything more thrilling than racing a train in Kalimari Desert, or dodging the deadly pinballs in Waluigi Pinball? These are some tough tracks that reward risky maneuvers and require you to stay on your toes at all times.
8Propeller Cup
The Propeller Cup is an excellent example of what each Booster Course Cup should look like. All the returning courses are from different games, the updates to them feel significant, and there is a brand-new track to act as the cherry on top of the package. Sydney Sprint is the weakest of the bunch, but it’s still exciting to race through the beautiful city.
Mushroom Gorge is one of the more memorable races in Mario Kart history, and it shines with updated graphics. Who doesn’t love bouncing off of all those mushrooms? Snow Land is absolutely gorgeous while Sky-High Sundae, the new track, makes for a fresh and exciting finale, skirting across a number of giant desserts that look good enough to stop and eat, albeit without a banana peel.
7Feather Cup
Similar to the Propeller Cup’s formula, the Feather Cup features three remastered tracks from different generations of Mario Kart and wraps up with a mesmerizing new course. Athens Dash is one of the better tracks from Mario Kart Tour, so having it first is a great way to start the Grand Prix.
Daisy Cruiser and Moonview Highway are both considered to be some of the best tracks from their original games, and the lighting used in the remade versions makes them feel even more alive and immersive. Squeaky Clean Sprint isone of the best tracks in the gameand has you racing through a bathroom full of Easter eggs and hidden details.
6Rock Cup
The dutiful reconstruction of London Loop starts to feel overly familiar, but the pace and the feeling of the miniaturized streets shine. If your timing is just right, the famousraising arms of Tower Bridge can give you a boost.
Boo Lake is eerie and challenging, while Rock Rock Mountain provides an adrenaline-fueled drive through the heights of the Mushroom Kingdom. The last race, Maple Treeway, is often considered to be one of the best tracks in the series. The tree-house vibes are unforgettable, and the warm environment is even more immersive in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
5Acorn Cup
The Acorn Cup succeeds by leading with Rome Avanti, one of the better courses from Mario Kart Tour. Then, it brings back two iconic tracks - DK Mountain and Daisy Circuit - and somehow improves them with jaw-dropping visuals and hypnotic rearrangements of the original songs.
Piranha Plant Cove is a brand-new track that takes a familiar formula - a beachside location with lots of sand and water - and turns it into an unforgettable underwater adventure. There are so many things to see, you might want to hop onto the course by yourself in Time Trials to explore everything it has to offer.
4Spiny Cup
The Spiny Cup and the Acorn Cup were the final additions to the Booster Course Pass DLC, and they both feature some of the best tracks in the bundle. The former barely beats the latter with its epic scale and quality. Madrid Drive is another fantastic race from Tour that sets the bar for the rest of the cup.
It’s a fantastic juxtaposition to include remakes of iconic stages from the first game in the series and the latest entry before Mario Kart 8 launched. It’s hard to think of a better way to wave farewell to this massive DLC than the inclusion of Rainbow Road from Mario Kart Wii, which is somehow more fun to race on than it was back in 2008.
3Fruit Cup
It’s difficult to say what makes a great course, but Amsterdam Drift must qualify. Between driving along a curvy dirt road lined by traditional windmills, or bursting from the water into a massive flower garden, it’s a contender for best track in the DLC.
Riverside Park tries its best to follow and hopefully delights fans of the Game Boy Advance entry. DK Summit is yet another reminder of just how great Mario Kart Wii was, and how fun it is to be shot out of a canon. Yoshi’s Island is an exceptional new track that is full of homages and references to the titular SNES game.
