Fans Refuse To Let Mario Kart DS Cross The Finish Line

Mario Kart DS marks its 20th anniversary today, November 14, 2025. Here’s a look at how its fan community has kept online play alive long after Nintendo’s official servers were shut down.

When Mario Kart DS launched in 2005, it felt like a genuine glimpse into the future. For the first time, Nintendo’s frantic, item-filled kart racer could be played online, letting players around the world compete in real time. It was a leap very few handheld titles had taken at the time.

Two decades later, the original Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection servers are long gone, but the racing never stopped. Fan-made tools, open-source servers, and emulation projects have kept Mario Kart DS alive and thriving—sustained by a dedicated community unwilling to let it fade away.

At its debut, the Nintendo DS was introduced as a “third pillar” alongside the GameCube and Game Boy Advance—a quirky dual-screen experiment. Mario Kart DS didn’t rely heavily on touch controls; instead, it refined the series’ approachable gameplay and pushed it forward. GameSpot praised the title upon release, calling it one of the strongest games on the system.

"Mario Kart DS is without a doubt one of the best games to hit the Nintendo DS to date," GameSpot’s review stated. "The online play is undoubtedly the icing on an especially yummy cake."

Using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, players could race online through hotspots or home internet. Its online features weren’t perfect—limited track options and cumbersome friend codes—but it introduced a new era of handheld competition. For many players, it was their first real taste of portable online gaming.

Beyond online play, Mario Kart DS set a new benchmark for handheld racing. It introduced retro cups that brought back classic tracks and popularized “snaking,” an advanced drifting technique that allowed skilled players to chain mini-turbos and reach incredible speeds.

The shutdown of Nintendo’s online servers in 2014 seemed like the end. But instead, fans stepped in. Through reverse engineering and open-source efforts like Wiimmfi and AltWFC, online play returned. With custom patches or DNS tweaks, players could continue racing with others around the world.

Even in recent years, players shared excitement about reconnecting online. One user wrote in 2024 that matches were still available, even if quieter than the Wii’s community.

Today, organized tournaments and regular race nights continue thanks to active communities. Players often direct newcomers to a thriving Discord server, ensuring the game remains active.

This ongoing support highlights the importance of fan-driven preservation. In a time when online games can disappear suddenly, Mario Kart DS is a testament to what communities can achieve—using technical know-how and determination to preserve a beloved experience.

Despite its age, Mario Kart DS still feels remarkably tight today. Its track design, balanced item system, and responsive controls deliver a near-perfect blend of chaos and competitive depth. Without later-series mechanics like anti-gravity, bikes, or heavy motion controls, it embodies the classic Mario Kart feel many players still prefer.

Its simplicity contributes to its longevity. While Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and newer entries offer huge feature sets, DS focuses on short, intense bursts of fun best suited for handheld play. Its roster of 12 familiar characters and fast-paced structure remain iconic.

The game also rewards advanced skill. Snaking and precision drifting turned MKDS into one of the most technical games in the franchise. Top players could maintain almost constant boosts, creating an extremely competitive environment. While later entries toned this down, Mario Kart DS still stands as the series’ most technical racer.

Now 20 years old, the game’s community continues to welcome new racers. For many, keeping the game alive is less about nostalgia and more about preserving access to great games that corporations have long moved on from.

As Mario Kart evolves—with experiments like Mario Kart World and Mario Kart Live—DS remains a foundational entry. It proved handheld online play could work and that strong design endures across generations.

Twenty years later, the finish line isn’t even in sight. Races continue on Delfino Square, Waluigi Pinball, and countless fan-organized lobbies—drivers still drifting, boosting, and holding the throttle down.