M&M's Kart Racing
A kart racer based on the M&M's license.
M&M's Kart Racing is a kart racing game released in 2007 for the Wii and in 2008 for the Nintendo DS. It was developed by Frontline Studios and Calaris Studios, and published by Destination Software. The game is based on the M&M's brand and is the sixth title in the M&M's video game series, coming after the 2007 puzzle game M&M's Break' Em and before the 2008 action-adventure game M&M's Adventure.
Players control one of five M&M's characters—Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, or Orange—in single-player or multiplayer races. The characters themselves do not affect performance, but the go-karts differ in speed, acceleration, handling, and braking. The Wii version has 15 tracks set in environments such as a chocolate volcano, a chocolate factory, a forest, a farm, a sea carrier, a house, a city, the Arctic, an alien spacecraft, and a Roman-style colosseum. Players collect chocolate coins to unlock vehicles like a hovercraft and an SUV. Controls on the Wii involve tilting the Wii Remote to steer and pressing a button to accelerate; spinning the Remote at the start gives a turbo boost lasting three to five seconds, and the B button allows reverse driving after stopping.
Single-player modes on the Wii include Quick Race (racing against AI on one track), Training Mode (free practice on any track), Arcade Mode (earning points by collecting items and performing stunts like jumps or two-wheel driving), and Tournament Mode (racing on all 15 tracks, with finishing position, stunts, and items affecting the score; completing it unlocks advanced tracks). Multiplayer modes offer split-screen: Quick Race (one lap with only human players) and Full Throttle (three laps with human and AI racers).
The Nintendo DS version differs in several ways. It has 11 tracks instead of 15, uses the D-pad for steering, and shrouds tracks in mist to hide limited draw distance. The bottom screen shows a track map, and arrows on the track provide brief speed boosts. Power-ups include a homing missile to slow racers ahead, a barrel of oil to slow those behind, a cup of hot chocolate for a speed boost, and a bag of M&M's that refills a fuel tank (which slows the player as it depletes). Collectibles include rainbow-colored M&M's for score and giant M&M's that serve as checkpoints in Time Trial mode. Single-player modes are Tournament Mode (racing multiple tracks, with the option to replay and swap vehicl
- developer
- Frontline Studios (co-production with Calaris Studios)
- publisher
- Destination Software
- release_year
- 2007 (Wii), 2008 (Nintendo DS)
- genre
- Kart racing
- platforms
- Wii, Nintendo DS
- series
- M&M's video game series (sixth entry)
- director
- Jakub Goryszewski
Lore & Background
M&M's Kart Racing features five playable characters—Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, and Orange M&M's—racing go-karts on tracks themed around environments such as a chocolate volcano, chocolate factory, forest, farm, sea carrier, house, city, Arctic, alien spacecraft, and a Roman colosseum. The Wii version includes 15 tracks, while the DS version has 11. Players collect chocolate coins to unlock vehicles like a hovercraft and SUV. The Wii version uses tilt controls with the Wii Remote, while the DS version uses the D-pad and includes power-ups such as a homing missile, barrel of oil, cup of hot chocolate, and bag of M&M's. The DS version also features mist to obscure draw distance and arrows for speed boosts.
Reader's Guide
M&M's Kart Racing was critically panned upon release, holding a GameRankings average of 22.5%, which earned it a Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2011 award for lowest-rated kart game. Reviewers criticized its poor graphics, vehicle handling, level design, lack of items and music, and underwhelming use of the M&M's license. GameSpot named it the 'Flat-Out Worst Game' in its Best of 2008 awards. IGN reviewers called it a clone of Mario Kart, noting narrow doorways, low frame rate, long loading screens, and repetitive music. The DS version was similarly condemned for blurry textures, abysmal draw distance, and a grating soundtrack. Retrospectively, it is considered one of the worst racing games of all time.
Did You Know?
- The game holds a Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2011 award for the lowest-rated kart game.
- GameSpot named M&M's Kart Racing the 'Flat-Out Worst Game' in its Best of 2008 awards.
- The Wii version features 15 tracks, while the DS version has 11 tracks.
- The DS version includes power-ups such as a homing missile, barrel of oil, cup of hot chocolate, and bag of M&M's.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is M&M's Kart Racing?
It is a kart-racing advergame built around the M&M's candy brand, letting players compete in single-player or multiplayer go-kart races. It shipped in 2007 for the Wii and in 2008 for the Nintendo DS.
Who developed and published M&M's Kart Racing?
Frontline Studios handled the main development with co-production support from Calaris Studios, while Destination Software took on the publishing role.
What platforms is M&M's Kart Racing available on?
The game launched on the Wii in 2007 and was later ported to the Nintendo DS in 2008, making it a two-platform title.
Which M&M's characters can you drive in M&M's Kart Racing?
Players pick from five characters—Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, or Orange—but the character choice does not alter kart performance; the go-karts themselves are what create handling differences.
Where does M&M's Kart Racing fit in the M&M's video game series?
It is the sixth entry in the M&M's game lineup, slotting in after the 2007 puzzle title M&M's Break' Em and before the 2008 action-adventure game M&M's Adventure.
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