Bowser variant Meowser from Super Mario World 3D is set to make his debut in kart-racing mobile game, Mario Kart World Tour. Meowser, a feline take on Mario's arch-nemesis, first appeared in the 2013 Wii U game before appearing again in the popular Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, which released on Nintendo Switch earlier this year.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury put a focus on cats, specifically as part of the Bowser's Fury content. Multiple characters, enemies, items, and even buildings feature cat ears and designs, leading up to the final battle against the cat version of Bowser, Meowser. With his tiger-like design, red-and-white hairstyle, and comically large paws, many fans have shown their appreciation for Meowser and his unique character features. While Meowser can still breathe fire, he can also swipe with his feline paws, and even use his tail in combat. Despite being a formidable Super Mario boss, the variant has become a firm favorite Mario cat character.
Announcing the news on Twitter, Mario Kart Tour has confirmed that Meowser will come to the game as part of its New Year's 2022 Tour. Along with Meowser, players can also expect to race within the 3DS Bowser's Castle, with the developer teasing "extreme heat and extreme races" for the new content. The announcement comes with a short trailer showing Meowser and Cat Peach racing to the finish line in the new Bowser's Castle. The Mario Kart World Tour New Year's 2022 Tour will start on December 28 at 10:00 am P.T/December 29 at 7:00 am CET.
Mario Kart Tour marks the first time a Mario Kart game has been available on non-Nintendo platforms. As a mobile game, Mario Kart Tour is available on both iOS and Android, and as such, has seen lots of success since its release in 2019. The title is far from the experience users have with a console version of Mario Kart though, with automatic driving and a focus on point-collecting. Mario Kart Tour has been criticized for microtransactions as well as its non-traditional control scheme, but its events and seasonal content have helped keep the game fresh and exciting for its many players.
Thanks to the success of Super Mario World 3D + Bowser's Fury, the addition of Meowser in Mario Kart Tour could see new players testing out the free-to-play game for the first time. The cat version of Bowser has proven to be a hit with gamers both young and old, which could lead to an increase in player numbers when Bowser joins the title this week. Mario Kart Tour is still some way from the success of its console counterparts, with Mario Kart 8 the best-selling racing game in US history, but the addition of Meowser could be a win for players.
Source: Mario Kart Tour/Twitter