Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour mobile game will end service on 30 September 2026, after seven years of operation. The writer, who played daily since launch, says the closure is both a relief—because the game stopped receiving meaningful new content in 2023—and upsetting because years of progress and a long-term goal of completing the game will disappear.

The game succeeded commercially compared with Super Mario Run and kept the writer engaged through weekly rankings, challenges and collectible characters, karts and gliders. However, its gacha-based progression meant unlocking everything depended partly on luck, while Nintendo’s decision not to provide an offline version contrasts with Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp’s permanent “Complete” edition, leaving players without lasting access to their saves.