10 Unexpectedly Good Drivers To Use In Mario Kart 8

With over 40 Nintendo characters to choose from in Mario Kart 8, players often select such iconic and popular fan favorites as Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Bowser, Princess Peach, and more. However, there are several other low-key characters who have tremendous driving stats across the board, including some characters like Baby Rosalina who are making their debut in the Mario universe for the first time.

In addition to a character’s weight class, Mario Kart 8 driving stats include speed, acceleration, handling, traction, and mini-turbo rankings (via nintendolife.com), all of which combine for a total score ranging somewhere between 20.5 and 21.75. Believe it or not, some excel way more than the most celebrated characters of all time.

Inkling Boy

Despite rarely appearing during online play, Inkling Boy boasts extremely well-balanced driving stats that should be given chance by skeptics. A jack of all trades and master of none, Inkling Boy holds 3.5 speed, 3.75 acceleration, 3.75 handling, 3.25 traction, and 3.5 mini-turbo scores, all of which combine to equal the total scores of Mario and Luigi.

Considering how easy it was to defeat Inklings in their own 2015 game Splatoon, where they simply dissolved in water on contact, it’s pretty shocking to see how well Inkling Boy can drive, especially underwater without being harmed.

Lakitu

Lakitus are so cute, adorable, and harmless that it’s very easy to underestimate their ability to outrace the competition in Mario Kart 8. But the fact remains that Lakitus have a combined driving score of 21.75, higher than any character in the game (save for Koopa Troopa and Bowser Jr.).

With high marks in acceleration (4.0), handling (4.5), traction (4.25), and the highest mini-turbo score available in the game (3.75), Lakitu uses its lightweight body (2.5) to stay on course at all times without being sidetracked or derailed.

Villager Girl

Villager Boys and Girls were added to Mario Kart 8 from the beloved Animal Crossing series in 2015 as part of the DLC. If a player were to choose between the two, Villager Girl is slightly better. This is due to her solid 4.0 acceleration and handling scores to go with 3.25 speed and 3.5 mini-turbo stats.

Combined with her 2.75 bodyweight and 3.75 traction stats, Villager Girl holds the second-highest overall score (21.25), which is on par with some of the most celebrated characters like Yoshi, Peach, and Daisy. For an unassuming character rarely chosen by anybody to play with, Villager Girl is sneaky good.

Iggy Koopa

In the same weight class as Mario, Luigi, and Ludwig, and sharing the exact same stat line as Luigi, Iggy Koopa is an unlockable DLC character in Mario Kart 8 who can burn up the track with the best of them. With an extremely balanced line ranging from 3.25-3.75  across the board in all categories, Iggy has very few weaknesses.

Thanks to his midweight frame, Iggy has solid speed, acceleration, handling, traction, and turbo boost, making him an ideal match for the game’s two most cherished characters.

Rosalina

While Baby Rosalina has proven herself to be a worthy mini racer after joining the game for the first time, full-grown Rosalina is not to be trifled with on even the worst Mario Kart tracks of all time. The tall princess is on the heavier side (3.75), which may seem like a disadvantage, but actually helps her pick up speed when going downhill.

Combined with a superior 4.0 speed, 3.75 traction, and 3.25 handling, acceleration, and mini-turbo scores, Rosalina is one of the most formidable racers in the game. In fact, she’s the most skilled princess in the game other than Pink Gold Peach, which comes as a bit of shock in outranking Daisy.

Ludwig

Surprisingly, Ludwig von Koopa is the only character in the game to share the exact same stat line as Mario himself. The eldest Koopaling boasts the most well-balanced driving record across all categories, showing very few vulnerabilities.

With a 3.25 mini-turbo score, 3.5 weight, acceleration, traction, and handling marks, as well as a 3.75-speed score, Ludwig is heavy enough to ramrod rivals off the track with ease, yet agile and nimble enough to outrace competitors all the way to the finish.

Roy Koopa

Who knew Roy Koopa was such as big bad blazer? On par with all-time formidable Mario Kart racers like Donkey Kong and Waluigi, Roy holds the second-highest speed score in the game (4.5) and a decent acceleration rate (3.25) to stay ahead of most of his competition. For someone making their debut in this game, Roy’s racing prowess is pretty staggering, especially when considering his fastest car combos in Mario Kart 8.

Heavier races also have the upper hand when it comes to mounting speed downhill, and thanks to Roy’s superior 4.0 weight score, he does just that with the best of Bowser, Wario, and other well-known heavy speedsters.

Shy Guy

What Shy Guy lacks in topline speed (3.0) he more than atones for through his superior acceleration (4.0), handling (4.25), traction (4.0), and mini-turbo (3.5) scores to become an underrated competitor and one of the best characters to play as in Mario Kart 8. His lightweight body (2.75) enables Shy Guy to stay in control of his vehicle no matter the terrain.

With a combined score of 21.5, Shy Guy is one of the most well-rounded drivers despite sharing a weight class with some of the weaker drivers like Cat Peach, Larry, Inkling Girl, and more. Even cooler, he comes in 8 different colors in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

King Boo

For an ostensibly weightless roaming vapor with no legs to reach the gas pedal, the ghostly King Boo is far heavier and faster than players would think. Combined with a 3.75 weight, King Boo uses its surprising bodyweight to reach a stellar 4.0-speed mark to conquer even the hardest tracks in Mario Kart 8.

Sharing a weight class with Link and Rosalina, King Boo boasts a combined stat line of 21.25, the second-highest in the game behind Lakitu and Bower Jr. Ghosts driving in the first place is as stunning as can be, but driving this well is downright unfathomable.

Morton

The character who proves to be the most surprisingly excellent driver in Mario Kart 8 is Morton Koopa Jr., the only heavyweight besides the almighty Bowser. Both Morton and Bowser are the heaviest (4.5) and fastest (4.75) characters in the game, who easily use their hulking frames to bully foes of the road with ease.

While Bowser is expected to be a superior driver in the game, Morton is not. He is one of nine newcomers added to the game and is the only one on par with the most frightening villain in the Super Mario canon. While he lacks great handling skills, Morton will bash and outpace the field with the best of them.