Mario Kart 8 Deluxe does not have traditional cheat codes. The game includes hidden unlockable parts, a coin-based progression system, and stat combinations that give you a measurable speed advantage in online races.
HIDDEN UNLOCK METHODS
Gold Kart Body:
Win 10,000 coins total across all races.
Coins accumulate from every race regardless of finish position.
You earn 10 coins per race on average. At 10,000 races total, the Gold Kart body unlocks.
Gold Standard Tires:
Get at least 1 star rating on every Grand Prix cup in all four engine classes (50cc, 100cc, 150cc, 200cc).
A star rating requires finishing in the top 3 with a high score.
Gold Glider:
Collect 10,000 total coins (same condition as Gold Kart).
The Gold Glider unlocks alongside the Gold Kart body at the 10,000 coin milestone.
Mirror Mode:
Complete every Grand Prix cup in 150cc class with at least 1 star.
Mirror mode unlocks as a fifth engine class with all tracks flipped horizontally.
200cc Cups:
Complete every cup in 150cc first.
200cc is the fastest engine class in the game and requires different braking and drift timing.
FASTEST COIN FARMING
Race on any track in 200cc with the most coins available.
Coin Runners battle mode gives the highest coin count per minute of any mode.
Each Coin Runners match gives 50 to 100 coins in 3 minutes.
At 10 matches per hour, you earn 500 to 1,000 coins per hour.
BEST KART BUILD FOR ONLINE RACES
The meta build in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe prioritizes top speed and mini-turbo strength.
Best build for 150cc and 200cc online:
Character: Waluigi, Donkey Kong, or Roy (all share identical weight stats)
Kart Body: Biddybuggy or Mr. Scooty
Tires: Azure Roller or Roller
Glider: Cloud Glider or Paper Glider
This combination gives:
- High mini-turbo charge speed
- Good handling for tight track sections
- Top speed competitive with heavier builds when drift boosts are used consistently
DRIFT BOOST MECHANICS
Blue sparks (mini-turbo): Hold drift for 1 second. Small speed burst.
Orange sparks (super mini-turbo): Hold drift for 2 seconds. Medium speed burst.
Purple sparks (ultra mini-turbo): Hold drift for 3.5 seconds. Largest speed burst available without items.
At 150cc and above, chaining ultra mini-turbos on every corner gives you a 5 to 8 percent speed advantage over players who release drift early.
ONLINE VR STRATEGY
VR (Vehicle Rating) is your online ranking points total.
You gain VR for finishing positions relative to your current rating.
A finish in 1st place gives 60 to 80 VR.
A finish in 12th place loses 40 to 60 VR.
Consistent VR growth tips:
Race in 6-player lobbies instead of 12-player lobbies. Smaller lobbies reduce variance.
Avoid item-heavy tracks like Rainbow Road and Rainbow Road variants when your VR is near a threshold.
Learn the two fastest shortcuts on your five best tracks. Shortcuts give you a 3 to 6 second advantage per lap.