Mario Kart World: How to Unlock Costumes

Want to change your character’s look in Mario Kart World? Unlocking costumes is not only fun, it’s also a great way to show off your progress and style. Here’s everything you need to know about how to unlock costumes in Mario Kart World step-by-step.

How Costume Unlocks Work

Costumes are unlocked by using special food items found in the game world. These are not random drops or menu unlocks. You need to explore the maps and interact with the right items to collect costumes for each character.

Step-by-Step: How to Unlock Mario Kart World Costumes

  1. Enter Free Roam Mode
    • From the main menu, press the plus sign (+) on your controller to enter Free Roam mode.
  2. Find a Food Vendor or Flaming Bag
    • While exploring, look for small food vendors scattered across the map.
    • They sell special food items that trigger costume transformations.
    • You can also find flaming bags of food on the ground. These are instant-use and will automatically apply to the character you’re controlling.
  3. Use the Food Item
    • Once you interact with a food item or bag, your character will transform into a new costume.
    • That costume becomes unlocked and available for future use.
  4. Switch Characters and Repeat
    • Press the plus sign (+) again to bring up the character select menu.
    • Choose a different character.
    • Return to the same food location and run over the flaming bag to unlock the same costume for this new character.

Pro Tips for Unlocking All Costumes

  • Some costumes are character-specific, so make sure to repeat the process with each one.
  • Free Roam mode makes it easier to explore without racing pressure.
  • Keep track of which characters you’ve already unlocked costumes for to avoid missing any.
  • Vendors and flaming bags often respawn or can be found in multiple spots per map.

Why It’s Worth Unlocking Every Costume

Costumes in Mario Kart World aren’t just cosmetic. They often come with unique visual flair and may even tie into special events or seasonal updates. Plus, they’re a fun way to make each character feel more personal.

By following these steps, you can quickly unlock every available costume and make sure your full roster is looking their best.