PixlBit

Wii U, 2014

Composers: Shiho Fujii, Atsuko Asahi, Ryo Nagamatsu, Yasuaki Iwata

Mario Kart games always have good music, but by far the best OST in the series is Mario Kart 8. The majority of the soundtrack is high-octane jazz, which is truly spectacular, but there’s quite a bit of variety between tracks. While there are four composers, they didn’t work together on compositions, instead choosing to do separate songs. This certainly made it more manageable for them since the OST is pretty big. These are fantastic songs, full of life and personality, and they’re just really fun to listen to. It’s especially great that a real orchestra played the songs. The remixed songs from past Mario Kart games are also handled with care and are a major nostalgia trip. 

Mario Kart Stadium 

This is the opening course of the game, and the music here sets the tone for the rest of the game. It’s upbeat, fun, and inspiring. Trumpets proudly blast out the melody, followed by a piano, and finally, an electric guitar. The music is such that it truly feels like an event, and somehow they were able to catch that stadium feel (if you know what I mean). It’s excellent. 

Sunshine Airport 

This song has very happy vibes. The violins are beautiful as they play a sweeping melody, but what’s strange is that there are synth sounds used that somehow mesh with everything else. At 32 seconds the strings disappear, only to re-emerge triumphantly at the 44-second mark, and it sounds so good! It’s a very fun melody with a pulsating beat. Love it! 

Toad Harbor

Another very happy song. A clean electric guitar takes the melody, backed up by an acoustic guitar and maracas. At 29 seconds, the song becomes even more hopeful with a kind of exuberance that you won’t get tired of hearing. This is a very catchy song, and everything here combines amazingly, even the little details.  

Mount Wario

This course is perhaps the best in the game, as it starts you off at the top of the mountain and ends at the very bottom. The music actually follows the course, becoming more exciting each time you reach a new section (instead of laps). By the time you get to the third movement, the song is completely electrified—the word is “epic.” Because of such awesome music, this course is the most intense one you’ll play, and for that reason, it is probably the most memorable course in the game. Spectacular! 

Rainbow Road 

Rainbow Road music is always great, and MK8 is no exception. This song will lift your spirits. The electric guitar sounds excellent as it plays a powerful melody. There are some synth sounds and spacey SFX mixed throughout, and of course, it all combines beautifully. The song ends with sweeping space sounds before ramping back up into the melody. What I love about the Rainbow Road themes are that they tend to hearken back to older Rainbow Roads in both theme and style, and this creates a nostalgic feeling for the longtime Mario Kart gamer. 

Also check out: all the other Mario Kart OSTs

Download this OST here