SuperTuxKart
Kart racing chaos for the whole couch.
How to install SuperTuxKart for free
SuperTuxKart is a free racing game released under Open Source (GPL-3.0). It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, needs about 900 MB of disk space, and requires no account, payment or trial. The fastest route is the PlayBound Launcher, which handles the download and setup in one click.
One-click install
PlayBound fetches the official release — no third-party mirrors.
Installation steps
- 1
Install the PlayBound Launcher, then find SuperTuxKart and press Install. The launcher downloads the official release, unpacks it and creates a shortcut. This is the fastest route and it never uses third-party mirrors.
- 2
Alternatively, download SuperTuxKart directly from the official site at https://supertuxkart.net. Always download from the official source — third-party mirrors of free games are a common malware vector.
- 3
Official releases are published on GitHub at github.com/supertuxkart/stk-code/releases. Pick the newest stable release matching your operating system.
- 4
Windows
Run the downloaded installer and follow the prompts. If Windows SmartScreen warns about an unrecognised publisher, that is normal for open-source projects without a paid code-signing certificate — choose More info, then Run anyway.
- 5
macOS
Open the downloaded .dmg and drag the app into Applications. On first launch macOS may refuse to open it as unidentified — right-click the app and choose Open to approve it once.
- 6
Linux
Check your distribution's package manager first, which is usually the easiest route. Otherwise download the AppImage from the official site, mark it executable and run it.
chmod +x *.AppImage && ./*.AppImage - 7
Launch the game and look at the settings menu before your first session — resolution and control defaults are worth checking. SuperTuxKart needs roughly 900 MB of free disk space.
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
Install questions
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.