Mario & Sonic Kart: Double Dash

Mario & Sonic Kart: Double Dash!! is a racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Switch and the first main installment of the Mario & Sonic Kart series. It was released in November 2020 worldwide, being released in Japan first. The game, while retaining many aspects of the previous Mario & Sonic games, such as selecting a Mario or Sonic franchise character as the player's driver and the familiar item-based weaponry that the series employs, introduces a feature that is unique to this entry in the Mario & Sonic Kart series: the two-person karts, hence the title of the game. Two characters handle a single kart, where one character steers and the other deals with items, and they can switch positions at any time if necessary. This is the only game in the franchise where two players can play cooperatively in one kart, with each player handling a single character, though the option to play in separate 2-person karts for each player is still available. In addition, the game introduces Special Items, items that are exclusive to a pair of characters, which is another feature unique to this game. The game is one of the few games to take advantage of LAN Mode via the Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter, which allows up to sixteen players to participate in a single race.

New features
As with the new Mario & Sonic Kart game, Mario & Sonic Kart: Double Dash!! shows several new features, granting a new style of playing for the users. Apart from that, there are two characters per kart; the number of playable characters was increased to join the race. As implied in various Mario series games, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! contains many elements to unlock as well. By beating the cups available in every engine level, the player unveils other hidden levels, karts, and other playable characters in the game. Furthermore, there is a very dynamic selection of karts: Every kart has specific stats that distinguishes from the others, as well as capturing their respective character's style; for instance, Mario's kart, the Red Fire, and Sonic's car, the Blue Comet.

Items are the main element presented in every Mario & Sonic game, and Mario & Sonic Kart: Double Dash!! is no exception. These are obtainable via Item Boxes, where characters can receive any standard Item or a Special Item. The latter is an item that a specific pair of characters can receive, while all others cannot. Additionally, power-ups dropped on the course will instantly effect the kart that would pick on it as a Banana, Coins, Rings, Koopa Shells, Lighting, Chaos Emerald, or a Mushroom or Star. The effects of certain items have changed considerably as well.

Another notable change featured in the game is the point system given to the racers after a competition in Grand Prix mode. Starting from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! onward, this new system is used for the newer Mario Kart installments that were developed after this one. Also, players cannot retry a failed race in Grand Prix mode.

Characters
Because of the team mechanic, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! includes 40 playable characters, with 20 returning characters and 20 newcomers, the second most introduced in any Mario Kart game. The game also introduces Toadette to the Mario Racing franchise and Cream in a Sonic Racing franchise. This is the first Mario & Sonic Kart game to feature more playable characters than it does race courses. Characters are divided into three classes depending on their weight: ,, and . There are twenty default teams and twenty unlockable teams, a total of 20 teams and 40 individual characters which can be combined in any way, giving 200 possible character combinations. Pressing and together before selecting any character will choose a random pair of characters and a random kart to play as. In multiplayer mode, it'll randomize everyone's character and kart.

Starting teams
and Luigi
 * Mario


 * Sonic and Tails

and Princess Daisy* and Birdo* and Baby Luigi* and Paratroopa* and Diddy Kong* and Bowser Jr.* and Waluigi*
 * Princess Peach
 * Amy Rose and Cream*
 * Blaze and Rouge
 * Shadow and Rouge
 * Knuckles and Vector
 * Dr. Eggman and Metal Sonic
 * Yoshi
 * Yoshi
 * Baby Mario*
 * Koopa
 * Donkey Kong
 * Bowser
 * Wario

Unlockable teams[edit]
and Toadette** and King Boo* * -  indicates a new character to the Mario & Sonic Kart series. ** -  indicates debut appearance of the character in question.
 * Toad
 * Petey Piranha*