Free Alternatives to Mario Kart
Short answer
SuperTuxKart is the best free alternative to Mario Kart: a free, open-source kart racer with power-ups, four-player local split-screen, online multiplayer and a story mode, available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Mario Kart requires Nintendo hardware. The free option runs on any PC, supports split-screen for four players locally, and includes a full campaign plus online racing.
Our pick: SuperTuxKart
SuperTuxKart is a free, open-source kart racer with power-ups, drifting, local split-screen multiplayer, online racing and a story mode. It is the closest free equivalent to Mario Kart that exists.
How it differs from Mario Kart: Open-source mascots rather than Nintendo characters, and handling is slightly floatier. Track design is strong but does not match Nintendo's polish.
All free Mario Kart alternatives compared
| Game | Genre | Size | Licence | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SuperTuxKart | Racing · Arcade | 900 MB | Open Source (GPL-3.0) | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android |
| Hedgewars | Strategy · Arcade | 180 MB | Open Source (GPL-2.0) | Windows, macOS, Linux |
SuperTuxKart
SuperTuxKart is a free, open-source kart racer with power-ups, drifting, local split-screen multiplayer, online racing and a story mode. It is the closest free equivalent to Mario Kart that exists.
The difference: Open-source mascots rather than Nintendo characters, and handling is slightly floatier. Track design is strong but does not match Nintendo's polish.
SuperTuxKart clears all five: free with no monetisation, complete with a full campaign and multiplayer, actively developed, genuinely fun on its own merits, and open-source so it cannot be shut down.
Hedgewars
For the same couch-competitive chaos in a turn-based form, Hedgewars is the other great local-multiplayer pick.
The difference: Turn-based artillery, not racing.
Hedgewars clears all five: free with no monetisation, complete and content-rich, still maintained after two decades, genuinely funny and good on its own merits, and open-source so it cannot be shut down.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Mario Kart?
SuperTuxKart is the best free alternative to Mario Kart: a free, open-source kart racer with power-ups, four-player local split-screen, online multiplayer and a story mode, available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Are these Mario Kart alternatives really free?
Yes. Every game listed here is free with no trial, no paywalled content and no pay-to-win purchases. All are open-source, which means they cannot be delisted or shut down. Each has been assessed against PlayBound's five published criteria.
Do I need to pay for multiplayer in these Mario Kart alternatives?
No. None of these games charge for multiplayer. Public servers are community-run and free to join, and there is no subscription of any kind.
How is SuperTuxKart different from Mario Kart?
Open-source mascots rather than Nintendo characters, and handling is slightly floatier. Track design is strong but does not match Nintendo's polish.
How is Hedgewars different from Mario Kart?
Turn-based artillery, not racing.
Every game here has been assessed against the PlayBound Bar — five published criteria for whether a free game is actually worth your time.