SuperTuxKart
Kart racing chaos for the whole couch.
The PlayBound Bar
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.
Genuinely free
No trial, no paywalled campaign, no pay-to-win, no cosmetic treadmill. Free means free, forever.
Finished enough to enjoy
Playable and satisfying start to finish today — not a promising alpha you should check back on.
Actively maintained
A release or meaningful commit within the last twelve months. Someone is still looking after it.
Stands on its own merits
Good enough that we would recommend it even if it cost money. Free is not the reason it is here.
Won't disappear
Open-source or self-hostable, so no shutdown, delisting or licence expiry can take it away from you.
SuperTuxKart last verified against the bar on . Read the full standard →
About SuperTuxKart
Mario Kart requires buying Nintendo hardware. SuperTuxKart requires a computer you already own, and it is the closest free equivalent that exists.
This is a kart racer with the full formula intact: drifting, item boxes, defensive and offensive power-ups, rubber-banding to keep races close, and tracks designed with shortcuts worth learning. There are dozens of tracks and arenas, a story mode with a proper progression of challenges, time trials, and — importantly — local split-screen for up to four players on one machine. Online racing works too, with public servers and no account requirement.
What makes it more than a curiosity is that the track design is genuinely good. Several courses stand comparison with commercial kart racers, with layered routes and shortcuts that reward learning. Handling is slightly floatier than Nintendo's and drifting takes some acclimatisation, but it is consistent and satisfying once you adjust.
The roster is open-source mascots rather than familiar characters, which will either charm you or leave you cold. Presentation is bright and competent without matching Nintendo's polish, and there is no getting around the fact that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a more refined product. But Mario Kart 8 Deluxe costs money and needs a Switch, and this does not.
At roughly 1 GB it runs on modest hardware, and gamepads are properly supported — which matters, because this is a couch game first.
Why we picked it
Local split-screen multiplayer is a dying feature and SuperTuxKart has it for four players, for free, on hardware you already own. The track design is better than a free kart racer has any obligation to be, and it is the game we recommend most often to anyone who needs something for a room full of people.
Who it's for
Great if you want
- Four-player local split-screen on one machine
- Anyone who wants Mario Kart without Nintendo hardware
- Family and living-room play with gamepads
- A story mode with real progression, not just quick races
- Free online racing with no account required
Look elsewhere if
- You want Nintendo's characters and polish specifically
- You are used to frame-perfect Mario Kart drift timing
- You want a large competitive online population
- You dislike open-source mascot characters
Features
System Requirements
Minimum
2 GHz CPU · 2 GB RAM · OpenGL 3.3 GPU · 1 GB storage
Recommended
3 GHz CPU · 4 GB RAM · GTX 750 or better · 2 GB storage
Frequently asked questions about SuperTuxKart
Is SuperTuxKart free?
Yes, entirely. SuperTuxKart is open-source under GPL-3.0 with no purchases, cosmetics or advertising.
Does SuperTuxKart have split-screen?
Yes, local split-screen for up to four players on one machine, with full gamepad support. It is one of the game's strongest features.
Is SuperTuxKart a good Mario Kart alternative?
It is the closest free equivalent. Drifting, item boxes, power-ups, split-screen and a story mode are all present, and several tracks are genuinely well designed. Handling is slightly floatier and the presentation is less polished than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but it costs nothing and needs no console.
Does SuperTuxKart have online multiplayer?
Yes, with public servers and no account requirement. Live server and player counts are shown on the SuperTuxKart servers page.
Will SuperTuxKart run on a low-end laptop?
Yes. It scales down well and runs acceptably on integrated graphics, though a dedicated GPU gives smoother frame rates at higher settings.
