
On April 23, 2019, Nintendo opened applications for participating in a closed beta test of the game to Android users in North America and Japan, which began on May 22, 2019, and ended on June 4, 2019. The game was first announced during a financial briefing on January 31, 2018. In addition, the game introduces some features new to the Mario Kart franchise, such as reversed courses, trick courses, and the ability to deploy a large amount of any item during a race, including Spiny Shells and Bullet Bills.

The game reuses many assets from Mario Kart 7 and Mario Kart 8, as well as gameplay mechanics such as gliding, underwater driving, and character-specific special items. Like Super Mario Run, it is free-to-start from the App Store and Google Play.

Mario Kart Tour is a mobile game in the Mario Kart series.
