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How to unlock Gold Mario and Gold kart parts in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

How to get the most elusive character in the game.

Matthew Reynolds avatar
Guide by Matthew Reynolds Contributor
Updated on

Gold Mario in Mario Kart 8 is a new character added to the Switch version of the game.

Though there are still plenty of other unlockables when it comes to kart parts, when it comes to characters, all others are available from the get go - aside from this elusive gold-coloured skin.

Unlocking Gold Mario requires one of the toughest challenges in Mario Kart 8 - and if you want a complete Gold kart parts set, then there are more to accomplish.

If you need more help with other parts of the game, consult our Mario Kart 8 guide, tips and tricks page.

How to unlock Gold Mario in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

To unlock Gold Mario - which is a skin replacement for Metal Mario - you must come first in all cups in Grand Prix at 200cc, the fastest speed and also the hardest difficulty in the game.

To clarify, you simply need to place first overall - not win every course within that cup, or get three stars - in order to unlock Gold Mario.

Even with these slightly lenient requirements, 200cc is very challenging. Most courses are not designed with such a high speed in mind, requiring heavy use of the brake while keeping aggressive competitors at bay.

Unlocking Gold Mario is one of the game's toughest challenges.

It's worth working up each cup in sequence to learn each track and pick up good Grand Prix strategies, and having plenty of luck and patience on your side. Good luck!

How to unlock Gold kart parts Gold Standard, Gold Wheels and Gold Glider

As well as Gold Mario, there are three Gold parts you unlock through play, whether that's on Wii U or Switch:

  • Gold Standard kart: Win every Cup with a single star on both 150cc and Mirror Mode in Grand Prix.
  • Gold Tires: Beat every Staff Ghost in Time Trial mode at 150cc.
  • Gold Glider: Collect 5,000 coins in total (or 10,000 coins in Mario Kart 8 on Wii U).

You don't need to have unlocked Gold Mario to unlock the above - so feel free to work on any of the above challenges in an order that works for you.

Once done, you'll be in the envy of everyone online. Good luck!

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