Maybe more impressive than the graphics are the character animations. The Luigi death stare has had more impact that the whole year plus dedicated to him. And thanks to the option to upload replays to YouTube Mario Kart 8 memes and showdowns can reach an even wider audience. But the audience for Mario Kart is pretty wide. The same classic gameplay returns; rewarding seasoned vets and newcomers alike. Players following the series will notice game changing tweaks, starting with the most obvious: new power-ups. Finally, an item to thwart the dreaded blue shell has been added to the mix making holding a lead a little less nerve-racking. We are also treated to a new drivers, for better or worse, and new kart customizations. These are unlocked in random order through the steady drip-feed rate of coin collecting during races.
Racing with friends is made even easier (a major selling point for us) with Nintendo cleaning up the online capabilities. Coach co-op is still ideal but online works well with better than average stability. Speaking of Nintendo embracing online functionality, the DLC for Mario Kart 8 has been a hit. Adding new tracks, karts, and blurring the lines between franchises with the appearance of Link (and Animal Crossing folks in 2015) for a surprisingly reasonable price improves nicely on the already impressive package.
It’s the perfect time to come back to the series for those who have strayed or been unimpressed by previous games. And it’s a staple in the Wii U library. Mario Kart 8 is the best game of 2014 since it’s the remarkable combination of simple and robust, approachable and complex, and unabashed fun.
Runners up: 2. Wolfenstein: The New Order 3. Dragon Age: Inquisition 4. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U 5. Monument Valley