Mario Kart World fans have discovered a way to zoom around the game's open world in Mirror Mode — and the way to access it is a cool throwback to a classic Nintendo platformer.
Remember warping through the paintings in Princess Peach's Castle in Super Mario 64? You can use a similar method to access Mirror Mode in Free Roam for Mario Kart World by driving over and scaling the same royal castle's roof.
A fair warning: you must first unlock Mario Kart World's main Mirror Mode to make this secret work. IGN has confirmed that attempting this method without unlocking Mirror Mode first yields no results.
So, if you haven't done it yet, you'll need to unlock the Mirror Mode option for Grand Prix and Knockout Tour. This requires completing all cups on 150cc and finishing several P-Switches, Peach Medallions, and Question Panels in Free Roam.
Once Mirror Mode is unlocked, you can proceed to discover the secret that lets you explore Free Roam in Mirror Mode as well.
Load the central Princess Stadium course in Free Roam (remember, you can fast-travel there from the world map by pressing Y). As you spiral upward with the castle on your right, leap off the road. Aim to land on the large red roof below, then drive over to the castle's main turret. In front of you is a large stained glass window featuring Princess Peach... and you'll know what to do next.
Driving through the window creates a ripple effect reminiscent of the paintings in Super Mario 64, warping you to a mirrored version of Mario Kart World's open world. Ta-da! Even your world map is flipped.
You can see all of this in action in the video embedded below:
Some nice Mirror Mode Easter egg haha pic.twitter.com/7q5GIqZ91l
— Ninjinaut (@Ninjinaut) June 7, 2025
Earlier this week, Nintendo fans completing Mario Kart World noticed that Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto was missing from the game's credits, though his absence might not be entirely surprising. Meanwhile, a farmer in Japan has praised the game's portrayal of its fan-favorite Cow character — specifically, its muddy hindquarters.
Check out our Mario Kart World guide to learn how to unlock every hidden character and understand how Kamek Unlocks work — essential for unlocking NPC Drivers. We also have a guide to all the Mario Kart World food scattered across the open world and their locations, which will help you permanently obtain all Mario Kart World outfits and costumes.
