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  1. Games
  2. Platforming Games
  3. Super Mario
  4. Mario Kart World

Mario Kart World suddenly gets a new game mode after Nintendo ruined its own surprise, alongside buffs for blue shells, Bullet Bills, and lightning

News
By Scott McCrae
Published 31 March 2026

Bob-omb Blast is here

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Bee Wario pops a trick off Crown City Bridge in Mario Kart World
(Image credit: Nintendo)
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A Mario Kart World update has added a new game mode that Nintendo accidentally leaked earlier this month.

Mario Kart World launched alongside the Switch 2 last year, and despite theories the game might get a DK-themed expansion thanks to the big gorilla's lack of tracks, costumes, and music despite it releasing before Donkey Kong Bananza – as well some voice actor names spotted in the credits – Nintendo hasn't done much in the way of DLC or massive updates. Many thought the day would be soon approaching as Nintendo accidentally revealed Bob-omb Blast's return to battle mode earlier this month, but instead of arriving alongside a big expansion, Nintendo just dropped it out of nowhere.

Earlier today, Nintendo released an update for Mario Kart World (Ver. 1.6.0), and right there in the top of the patch notes – as nonchalant as can be – is a message: "Added Bob-omb Blast as a Battle mode." And while it has some extra details like players being able to have 10 Bob-ombs at once and change the distance thrown by holding the L button, that's pretty much all there is. While most would announce a new mode with a trailer or something, Nintendo just left it in some notes.

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Alongside the new mode are some balance updates to items. Namely, the once-game-changing Bullet Bill is getting some much-needed love due to it being total crap in World. The bullet has increased movement range and speed on certain stages. Meanwhile the scariest items in the series have been made even more evil as "it is now possible to be hit by lightning and Spiny Shells immediately after being crushed by things, such as Thwomps." At the very least, the Boomerang has been nerfed, with the range and amount of times you can use it being reduced.

Shigeru Miyamoto had to "force" in Super Mario Bros 3's iconic Frog Suit because it was fun even though it sucked.

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CATEGORIES
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Scott McCrae
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Scott has been freelancing for over four years across a number of different gaming publications, first appearing on GamesRadar+ in 2024. He has also written for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, VG247, Play, TechRadar, and others. He's typically rambling about Metal Gear Solid, God Hand, or any other PS2-era titles that rarely (if ever) get sequels.

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