Nintendo made a name for its great party games. Just pop a Mario Kart and you and your friends can enjoy racing against each other for hours.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch is no exception. Featuring an array of beloved Nintendo characters like Mario (Super Mario Bros.), Link (The Legend of Zelda), and Donkey Kong, and lots of game modes and race tracks, this refreshed version of the 2014 Mario Kart 8 is a joy to play according to reviews.

Read what gamers have to say about Mario Kart 8 before it hit the shelves on April 28 for Nintendo Switch.

IGN (9.3/10)

Jose Otero of IGN thinks that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is just "as addictive as it was in 2014," referring to the Wii U version before it was ported to the Switch. He likes the game's art direction, particularly the race tracks which he calls topnotch. The primary reason to play the game for him is the revamped Battle Mode, which for him brings unique competitive styles for each of the eight courses.

"This is the best entry in the series so far, and it has all the content you'll need. Returning players have seen a lot of this game before, but the overhauled Battle Mode and its five additional ways to play are a great reason to pick it up," he concludes.

Gamespot (9/10)

Kallie Plagge of GameSpot calls Mario Kart 8 Deluxe a "joy(-con) ride." She thinks the overhaul done to the Battle Mode is the reason for it. An erstwhile lackluster feature, the revamp Battle Mode made the game even more enjoyable with its tweaks, both small and big. Battle mode comes with eight race tracks (five new + three retro) and five submodes. With its different combinations, this is "the varied, exciting Battle Mode that Mario Kart 8 should have had all along," she writes.

Kotaku

Rich Stanton of Kotaku writes that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe remains the same Mario Kart 8 that everyone loves, putting "fun above fairness." It also retains the beautiful graphics and SFX.

What makes the Nintendo Switch version are the changes that polished an already gem of a game. The kart customizations, 42 characters, the little details like "Luigi's death stare" and Villager dance; these tweaks are what make Mario Kart 8 Deluxe a pure joy to play.

"If you could program happiness, it might look like this," he writes.

Polygon

Allegra Frank of Polygon writes that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe gets its biggest plus by "ditching the unlockables." She refers to the features that were previously unavailable to the Wii U version. These are: 42 characters, 48 racing tracks, and the revamped Battle Mode. With these available on the get-go, it means more time is spent in actually playing and enjoying the game, instead of grinding countless hours digging the hidden contents.

"Mario Kart 8 Deluxe becomes a stronger experience by removing the wall that separates the players from the full game," she writes.