Unfortunately, no, you cannot play Mario Kart on PS5 or on any other PlayStation console because it is owned by Nintendo.
If you are a gamer worth your salt, you would have definitely heard about Mario Kart at some point in your life. It is one of the most defining games in the racing genre.
I know this game holds a special place in the heart of many gamers out there because, however, the answer to the question “Can you play Mario Kart on PS5?” is a no.
And it has always been this way. There is simply no cross-platform support for exclusive games out there. Just as you cannot play Horizon Zero Dawn on Nintendo, you cannot play Mario Kart on PS5.
But let me explain this a bit more below.
Mario Kart Redifined the Racing Genre
The reason why Mario Kart is perhaps one of the most popular racing games out there is because it literally redefined the racing genre.
The first game of this franchise was released all the way back in 1992 on the Super Nintendo System (SNES) and of course, it has gone through serious evolution over time.
Now at a time when racing gamers were trying to be as realistic as possible (Forza, Need of Speed series, etc.), Mario Kart came out as a breath of fresh air and I still find it to be so with every new release.
This cartoony game full of color and love is a game where you can seriously just sit back and relax with your family. Speaking of which, this is a game that does not require you to emulate a professional driver (as most tend towards).
Instead, it is a game that can be played by your 7-year-old kid all the way to your grandma.
Can You Play Mario Kart on PS5?
Unfortunately, no. None of the games in the Mario Kart series can be played on PS5 for one and one reason only: exclusivity.
Mario Kart CAN ONLY be played EXCLUSIVELY on Nintendo consoles.
Exclusivity is a curse that we gamers have to bear. It is a phenomenon where one console brand refuses to release its exclusive games on a rival’s console.
Of course, from the business perspective it makes sense to have exclusive games so that gamers are attracted more to a certain console over the other, for gamers who want to enjoy all the best games out there, this tends to be a huge issue.
Halo is exclusive to Xbox, Metal Gear, and Horizon Series to PS and we have Mario and all of its derivative games such as Mario Kart exclusive to Nintendo only.
Games Like Mario Kart on PS5?
While you cannot enjoy exclusive games from other consoles, PS5 does have a huge repository of racing games, some of which are actually a lot like Mario Kart.
One of the games that compares the best by far with Mario Kart is the Crash Team Racing series with Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fuel the latest iteration.
It has the same non-serious vibes and over-the-top humor that you can expect from Mario Kart.
The original CTR games were released with PS1 admittedly to compete with the Mario Kart series and it was widely successful in doing so.
For the PS5 gamers out there, though, you have Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled which builds up on the successful game.
Another game that you can just sit back and enjoy with your kids and family is the Disney Speedstorm.
It is, in fact, a treat if your kids love the Disney characters.
The best part about this game is that it is free to play.
There are many other gamers like Mario Kart on PS5 including:
- Hot Wheels Unleashed
- KartRider: Drift
- Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3
- Team Sonic Racing
Final Words
The short and simple answer to the question “can you play Mario Kart on PS5?” is a big no. You cannot. This game is exclusive ONLY to the Nintendo consoles.
However, you CAN play games like Mario Kart on PS5 such as Crash Team Racing and Disney Speedstorm.
