‘Mario Kart 64’ Track Ranking: From Choco Mountain to Rainbow Road

Mario Kart 64 is just timeless, isn’t it? And for completionists, the average completion time for each track is a little over three minutes. That’s a lot of racing. Time well spent, depending on who you ask. There are tracks that we all love and hate and tracks we hated but grew to love.

Let’s countdown the tracks we played repeatedly on Nintendo 64!

16. Choco Mountain

The road, while not narrow by the standards of other tracks, curves between a wavy mountain for most of the track. All it takes is the slightest touch against the mountain to cause your kart to flip and roll around on the ground. Those three seconds are easily lost. The road becomes clustered with other drivers, and before you know it, you’re nudged against the mountain.

15. Moo Moo Farm

This track is quite low on my list, but I don’t hate it. It’s kind of unfair, honestly. There is nothing at all that I remotely dislike about this track. The thing is, there isn’t a whole lot to like either. Moo Moo Farm is incredibly short. The breeziest track in the entire game. Just as soon as you start, it seems as if the race is over.

If Choco Mountain can be criticized for being a pain, this one can be criticized for its simplicity. Watch out for the gophers, and you’ll claim an easy victory.

14. Sherbet Land

Those penguins. You can have the biggest lead only to hit a penguin, spin out, and maybe throw the controller. It never fails. It’s a gorgeous track to look at, no doubt. The reflection of everything on the glazed ice is a nice touch. I also really enjoy the way you freeze if you fall into the water. It gives you an incentive to avoid the edges altogether.

13. Banshee Boardwalk

Banshee Boardwalk is amazing. From the distracting visuals to the mysterious score (which happens to be my favorite music in the game), it is a marvel. But… this is the most difficult track in Mario Kart 64.

While other tracks curve, the boardwalk is cornered, which makes these turns quite dangerous. If I were basing this list on which track was the best, Banshee Boardwalk would certainly be higher. I love winning, though, and this track hinders that.

12. Luigi Raceway

The first track in the game is Luigi Raceway – the most basic track in Mario Kart 64. However, much like pumpkin spice, basic isn’t always a terrible thing. Luigi Raceway is very much like a standard Nascar track, which isn’t exciting but isn’t totally boring either. It actually makes for a nice contrast with some of the more ambitious tracks in the game. It’s a perfect starting point for a beginner, unfortunately, it isn’t good for much else.

11. Mario Raceway

Some of the curves were impossible, and it’s easy to spend most of your time in the grass. But Mario Raceway nearly cracked the top ten. The only track holding it back is…

10. Royal Raceway

The third and final raceway – known by most as the one with the castle – is also the one with the gnarly speed boost jump. I nearly had this one missing the top ten in favor of Mario Raceway, but the jump, as well as the length of the track, put this one narrowly ahead. Peach’s Castle is a nice inclusion, especially for fans of Super Mario 64.

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9. Frappe Snowland

The snow track! The snowmen are a problem here if you’re a newcomer, but if you’ve played Mario Kart 64 as often as I have, they aren’t really a factor unless you’re in multiplayer. Even then, if you keep your eyes on your own screen, you shouldn’t have any problems.

8. Bowser’s Castle

Another track to hate as much as you love. It’s relatively simple, even on 150 cc. However, victories here still aren’t easy to come by. It’s a nerve-wracking final track of the Star Cup.

7. DK’s Jungle Parkway

This. Track. Is. Beautiful. The jungle setting is an amazing thing to behold. Jungle Parkway is nuts, though, which works in its favor. Everything about the track is faster than the rest of the game. Blink, and you might miss something.

And for the love of God, stay on the road.

6. Kalimari Desert

Canyons, cliffs, cacti, and a desolate train that goes round and round. The final track of the Mushroom Cup is great. If you stay off the sand and avoid running into the train, this is an easy victory. But something about this track keeps you invested and coming back for more.

5. Toad’s Turnpike

Toad’s Turnpike is nearly perfect. It’s tough, but not too tough. But it doesn’t let you relax. One slip-up and you might end up getting hit by four or five vehicles, destroying your wonderful streak of not throwing the game controller.

4. Yoshi Valley

This track might be perfect. The mystery of not knowing which position you are in is intriguing, as are the options of which path you should take. This isn’t your cookie-cutter course. Yoshi Valley allows you to make your own decisions, which can be tricky.

3. Rainbow Road

Many fans claim Rainbow Road as their favorite track. The road itself is brilliant, and the inclusion of character faces painted against the sky is perfect. The only gripe is that it takes six minutes to finish. I understand wanting to supersize the final race, but it isn’t really difficult. If you find yourself in first place, it’s a long, boring coast to victory. If it were a bit shorter and a bit more exciting, it’d likely still be number one. But third place is still rewarded, right?

2. Koopa Troopa Beach 

How did a Mushroom Cup track end up ranked second? The shortcut, that’s how. I’ve always loved this track, even before I mastered the shortcut, but being able to build a sizable lead is certainly advantageous. The beach is a fun setting for a race, and the tropical score is fun to listen to also. This is a perfect, mostly underrated track that nearly took the top spot.

1. Wario Stadium

Did you see that coming? Wario Stadium has always been one of my favorite tracks, and it wasn’t until recently that I decided it was my actual favorite. The outdoor stadium is a great setting that makes for an endless amount of fun. There are so many jumps here, including the most intense jump in the game.