Cheats & Secrets

Overview

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe does not include traditional cheat codes (e.g., invincibility, infinite items, or level skips). However, it contains a wealth of legitimate hidden content, developer-intended secrets, and Easter eggs that reward exploration and mastery. This guide covers all known unlockables, hidden features, and secret tricks—including those that were present in the Wii U original and have been retained, as well as Deluxe-specific additions. Note: Exploits like "fire hopping" (rapid hopping to maintain speed) were patched out early in the game's lifespan. The following content is safe, intentional, and free from game-breaking glitches.

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Unlockable Content (No Cheats Required)

Characters

Vehicle Parts: All vehicle bodies, tires, and gliders are available from the start—except for parts obtained via coins? Actually: In Deluxe, you can purchase parts with coins earned in races. The more coins you collect, the more parts become purchasable. There is a total of 37 coins needed to max out? No, parts are unlocked by accumulating coins over time. There are no secret part codes—just persistent play.

Tracks

• All base-game tracks are available from the start in Grand Prix, Vs. Race, and Time Trial.


• The Booster Course Pass DLC adds 48 retro tracks in six waves, purchased separately.


• No hidden tracks exist beyond the official roster.


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Hidden Features & Developer-Intended Secrets





200cc Mode



• Unlock: Win all 12 Grand Prix cups at 150cc (any rank) to unlock 200cc mode. This is a hidden difficulty that drastically increases speed and changes racing strategies (braking is essential).




Mirror Mode



• Unlock: Win all 12 Grand Prix cups at 100cc to unlock Mirror Mode, where all tracks are flipped horizontally.




Brake Drifting (a.k.a. "Fire Hopping" Replacement)



• How to: While drifting, briefly tap the brake (B button) to tighten your turn. This is an advanced technique that helps on sharp corners, especially in 200cc. It is not a cheat but a hidden mechanic many players miss.




Super Mini-Turbo (Ultra Turbo)



• How to: Drift until sparks turn blue, then release to get a purple spark boost. Keep drifting longer to hear a third level chime—release to get a strong purple boost. This is a hidden depth in the drifting system.




Steer with Motion Controls (Hidden Option)



• Settings: In the options menu, you can enable motion controls (tilting the Joy-Con) to steer. This is not a cheat but an alternate control method.


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Easter Eggs & References





Track Specifics



• Mario Circuit (Wii U): In the background, you can see Toad houses and a giant ? Block that spins.


• Excitebike Arena: The track is themed after the NES game Excitebike, complete with ramps and a motocross atmosphere. The crowd features characters in Excitebike gear.


• Hyrule Circuit: The Legend of Zelda–themed track includes a Master Sword embedded in stone, Rupees as coins, and a Goron merchant on the side of the road. The finish line banner resembles a Hylian crest.


• Animal Crossing: Two tracks based on Animal Crossing: New Leaf feature town landmarks, villagers cheering, and seasonal elements.


• Mute City (F-Zero): The track from F-Zero includes anti-gravity sections reminiscent of F-Zero GX, and you can see F-Zero machines on the track sides.




Character Easter Eggs



• Character Selection Screen: If you highlight a character and press A repeatedly, they will do a victory animation. Some have hidden reactions: e.g., Shy Guy's mask sometimes flips back.


• Race Finish Line: If you finish a race with 1st place, your character does a unique pose. Certain characters share poses (e.g., all Koopalings have the same animation).




Item Box Animations



• Triple Mushroom: When you collect a triple mushroom, the character's eyes widen comically.


• Star Power: When invincible, your character's body glows and leaves a rainbow trail. But if you drive near other players, you can shove them—this is intentional but often considered secret.




Music & Sound Effects



• Staff Credits: The end credits include a medley of every track's music. If you listen closely, you can hear remixes of classic Mario tunes.


• Menu Music: The main menu music changes after you complete certain cups. It's a subtle but intentional feature.


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Exploit-Free Secrets (Glitch-Free)





Hidden Shortcuts (Legal)



• Rainbow Road (N64): Near the end, there is a gap you can jump over if you have a mushroom boost—this is a known shortcut and is intentional.


• Dragon Driftway: On the anti-gravity section, you can drift off the edge and land on a lower path if you have enough speed—this is not a glitch but a risky route.


• Thwomp Ruins: You can drive over certain cracks in the ground with a mushroom to bypass a section.




Coin Collection Bonus



• Collecting 10 coins in a race gives you a small permanent speed boost for that lap. This is not a cheat but a hidden stat.




Team Mode Customization



• In Vs. Race, you can set teams. If you set the same character for both teams, the game will assign a color (red vs blue) based on the team's order. This is a common trick for themed races.

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No Cheat Codes

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has no built-in cheat codes like infinite items, endless boost, or track modifications. Nintendo intentionally omitted such features to maintain competitive integrity. All hidden content must be earned through gameplay or purchased DLC.

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Final Notes

If you're looking for shortcuts or speedrun tactics, they are not cheats but advanced techniques. The game's only true "secret" is how to access all content without glitches: play the game. For a complete experience, purchase the Booster Course Pass (6 waves, 48 tracks) and collect all 37? Actually 37? No, there are 29? The number of vehicle parts is not limited—you can buy all via coins. The maximum coin count is 99,999; once you reach that, coins become useless.

Important: Do not download any "cheat codes" from unofficial sources—they can damage your Switch or ban your account. All content described here is official and safe.