# Mario Kart: Super Circuit
***Mario Kart: Super Circuit*** (マリオカートアドバンス, *Mario Kart Advance* in Japan) is a kart-racing game for the [Game Boy Advance](https://www.edgepedia.org/game-boy-advance), developed by [Intelligent Systems](https://www.edgepedia.org/intelligent-systems) and published by Nintendo in 2001[1](https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/amkj/index.html). The first portable entry in the [Mario Kart](https://www.edgepedia.org/mario-kart) series, it pairs 20 new courses with all 20 courses of the original Super Mario Kart as unlockable extras[2](https://traxion.gg/mario-kart-super-circuit-for-game-boy-advance-now-available-on-nintendo-switch-online/) • [3](https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Game-Boy-Advance/Mario-Kart-Super-Circuit-266980.html).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer and publisher | Intelligent Systems; Nintendo[1](https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/amkj/index.html) |
| Japanese release | July 21, 2001, at 4,800 yen before tax[1](https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/amkj/index.html) |
| North American release | August 26, 2001, per Metacritic[4](https://www.metacritic.com/game/mario-kart-super-circuit/) |
| UK release | September 14, 2001[5](https://www.cubed3.com/games/reviews/game-boy-advance/mario-kart-super-circuit) |
| Players | 1 to 4, with multi-cartridge and single-cartridge link play[1](https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/amkj/index.html) |
| Courses | 20 new, plus 20 unlockable classic courses[3](https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Game-Boy-Advance/Mario-Kart-Super-Circuit-266980.html) |
| Metascore | 93, from 24 critic reviews[4](https://www.metacritic.com/game/mario-kart-super-circuit/) |
## Gameplay
The roster has 8 drivers: [Mario](https://www.edgepedia.org/mario), Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Wario, and Bowser[1](https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/amkj/index.html). Races run in a Grand Prix mode at 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc, and a time trial mode that records times to the hundredth of a second and lets a player race a saved ghost of an earlier run[5](https://www.cubed3.com/games/reviews/game-boy-advance/mario-kart-super-circuit) • [1](https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/amkj/index.html). Items include Red Shells, Bananas, and the Spiny Shell[3](https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Game-Boy-Advance/Mario-Kart-Super-Circuit-266980.html).
**Coins.** As in the first [Super Mario Kart](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-mario-kart), coins lie on the track; in Super Circuit they raise a kart's speed during a race and also count toward unlocking courses[5](https://www.cubed3.com/games/reviews/game-boy-advance/mario-kart-super-circuit). Players open the classic Super Mario Kart courses through strong finishes and coin collection, which gives the cartridge 40 tracks in all[5](https://www.cubed3.com/games/reviews/game-boy-advance/mario-kart-super-circuit) • [3](https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Game-Boy-Advance/Mario-Kart-Super-Circuit-266980.html). New courses include Shy Guy Beach, Broken Pier, several Bowser's Castle tracks, and a Game Boy Advance version of Rainbow Road[2](https://traxion.gg/mario-kart-super-circuit-for-game-boy-advance-now-available-on-nintendo-switch-online/).
**Multiplayer.** In versus play each player races on an individual screen[1](https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/amkj/index.html). With a single cartridge, linked players can still race on the classic tracks, with the players driving Yoshis in different colors; players can also trade saved ghost data with friends[5](https://www.cubed3.com/games/reviews/game-boy-advance/mario-kart-super-circuit). Battle stages are included as well[5](https://www.cubed3.com/games/reviews/game-boy-advance/mario-kart-super-circuit).
## Reception
Metacritic lists a score of 93 from 24 critic reviews, all positive, with a user score of 7.3 from 439 ratings[4](https://www.metacritic.com/game/mario-kart-super-circuit/). Cubed3 gave it 9 out of 10, while finding the controls cramped on the handheld's layout when a player has to juggle the shoulder buttons, the handling looser than on the Super NES and [Nintendo 64](https://www.edgepedia.org/nintendo-64) games, with more hopping than drifting, and the music not to every taste[5](https://www.cubed3.com/games/reviews/game-boy-advance/mario-kart-super-circuit).
## Re-releases
The game returned in 2011 on the [Nintendo 3DS](https://www.edgepedia.org/nintendo-3ds) and in 2015 on the [Wii U](https://www.edgepedia.org/wii-u)[2](https://traxion.gg/mario-kart-super-circuit-for-game-boy-advance-now-available-on-nintendo-switch-online/). The Wii U Virtual Console release in Europe came on April 23, 2015, supported 1 player only, and dropped the original's Multi-Pak and Single-Pak link features; Wii U eShop sales ended on March 27, 2023[3](https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Game-Boy-Advance/Mario-Kart-Super-Circuit-266980.html). On February 8, 2023, it joined the Game Boy Advance library of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, where up to 4 players can race online[2](https://traxion.gg/mario-kart-super-circuit-for-game-boy-advance-now-available-on-nintendo-switch-online/).
## References
1. [マリオカートアドバンス (Mario Kart Advance), Nintendo Co., Ltd.](https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/amkj/index.html)
2. [Mario Kart: Super Circuit for Game Boy Advance now available on Nintendo Switch Online, Traxion](https://traxion.gg/mario-kart-super-circuit-for-game-boy-advance-now-available-on-nintendo-switch-online/)
3. [Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Nintendo UK](https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Game-Boy-Advance/Mario-Kart-Super-Circuit-266980.html)
4. [Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/game/mario-kart-super-circuit/)
5. [Mario Kart: Super Circuit review, Cubed3](https://www.cubed3.com/games/reviews/game-boy-advance/mario-kart-super-circuit)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Video games and digital play › Games and gameplay › Individual game titles › Individual Nintendo-platform game titles › NES and SNES titles*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license