Mario Kart World’s Knockout Mode in 2025 has brought a whole new twist to racing games. It’s not just about speeding anymore – it feels like a full-on adventure across an interconnected world. In this new mode, players participate in a 10-minute elimination race, where the bottom four racers are eliminated at every checkpoint. The pressure is real – just like the final lap of a Grand Prix!
In this post, we’ll talk about all eight knockout rallies in Mario Kart World. We’ll rank each one based on how fun, thrilling, and well-designed they are for this knockout-style racing. Let’s find out which rally gives the most exciting experience in the game.
🏁 Ranking Criteria for Knockout Rallies:
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| 🚗 Track Design | Is the route fun? Are there shortcut opportunities? |
| 🌍 Transition Quality | Are the intermissions creative and natural? |
| 🔚 Final Lap | Is the ending exciting and satisfying? |
8. Cherry Rally
This one ranks last – and for good reason. It’s filled with straight paths, boring transitions, and way too much water. It starts strong with Peach Beach and Dino Dino Jungle, but things quickly go downhill with Koopa Troopa Beach. The route here is just plain and slow. Even DK Spaceport and Whistle Stop Summit feel wasted because their best elements are skipped. The final lap on Desert Hills doesn’t help much either. A tropical summer rally could have been great, but this one just doesn’t deliver.
7. Golden Rally
Designed for beginners, this rally is simple and safe. Starting at Desert Hills, it includes Mario Bros Circuit, a quick pass through Choco Mountain, and a nice transition to Moo Moo Meadows. From there, you go through Mario Circuit 3 and end at Acorn Heights. It’s not bad, but it’s not very exciting either. A good starter rally, but lacks high-stakes thrill.
6. Moon Rally
This one is a mixed bag. It starts with a bang at Bowser’s Castle and Toad’s Factory, but then slows down big time through Dandelion Depths and Cheep Cheep Falls. These tracks are overly straight and not very exciting. It ends at Faraway Oasis, which is pretty and atmospheric, but not enough to save the whole rally. Great start, but loses momentum halfway.
5. Ice Rally
Starting in the snowy northeast at Sky-High Sundae, this rally makes its way down to Crown City. Some transitions like from DK Pass and past Peach’s Castle are fun, but it suffers from repeated routes like Cheep Cheep Falls, which show up in other rallies too. Still, the snowy theme and solid layout give it a nice charm – it’s good, just not great.
4. Acorn Rally
This rally features one of the coolest intermissions in the game – the LA-river-style route from Toad’s Factory to Wario Stadium. You then jump into Choco Mountain, cruise past Peach’s Castle, and drive through Cheep Cheep Beach before finishing on DK Pass. While it feels a little too familiar, the track transitions and racing quality are top-notch. A well-balanced rally.
3. Spiny Rally
This one is visually stunning and starts off incredibly strong with Boo Cinema and Sky View Peak. The icy intermission between them is beautifully designed. But it stumbles during the Peach Beach and Salty Salty Speedway sections, which are boring straight paths over water. Thankfully, the final lap on Mario Shipyard saves the day. It’s the best water track in the game and adds tension and thrill that fits perfectly with a knockout finale.
2. Heart Rally
As the final rally of the game, this one delivers a dramatic journey. Starting at Shy Guy Bazaar, you head to Airship Fortress with one of the best transitions in the game. You then cruise past Dry Bones Burnout, take a lap on Mario Circuit 3, and finally head down Moo Moo Meadows into a sky-high showdown at Peach’s Castle. The theme of starting near Bowser’s Castle and ending at Peach’s Castle makes it feel like a race home. It’s emotional, intense, and very well done.
🏆 1. Cloud Rally – The Best Knockout Tour of All
This rally is pure chaos in the best possible way. It starts at Airship Fortress, glides into Shy Guy Bazaar, and then goes through Mario Circuit and Crown City. What comes next is an insane bridge sequence with bomb cars, item drops, and traffic chaos. You finally drive through Faraway Oasis and finish at the epic Question Block Ruins. This final track is just brilliant – multiple paths, skill vs. luck mechanics, and tight turns that can make or break your win.
This rally combines everything that makes Mario Kart World great – speed, danger, shortcuts, and fun. It’s the ultimate knockout experience.
Knockout Rally Rankings (Summary):
| Rank | Rally Name | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1 | Cloud Rally | Best variety, exciting transitions, epic finale |
| 🥈 2 | Heart Rally | Emotional journey, strong finale |
| 🥉 3 | Spiny Rally | Beautiful start, strong ending, weak middle |
| 4 | Acorn Rally | Great intermissions, solid driving flow |
| 5 | Ice Rally | Snowy charm, okay pacing |
| 6 | Moon Rally | Great start, boring middle |
| 7 | Golden Rally | Beginner-friendly, not very thrilling |
| 8 | Cherry Rally | Too many straights and too much water |