The video game industry is big business. Yes, many of us remember that it seemed like a nerdy thing outside the mainstream — now it’s worth an estimated $455 billion.
One of the industry originators is, of course, Nintendo. It was founded in 1889. Initially, it produced and distributed Japanese playing cards. Less than 100 years later, in 1970, that would change dramatically as Nintendo entered the electronics market.
In 1985, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) hit the market and, well, the rest is history. A mustachioed plumber from Brooklyn named Mario, alongside his brother Luigi, became a household staple for good times and occasionally rage if you just couldn’t make that jump or dunk on Bowser.
Now, few things can produce video game rage like an intense game of Mario Kart. There is a nonzero chance I have had friendships destroyed by this series, as I’m sure many of you have.
With Mario Kart 9 around the curve, pun intended, prediction market Kalshi is very curious about who might be playable at launch. Here’s who could get behind the wheel.
The usual suspects
Only 17 seconds of the next Mario Kart game were shown during the official Nintendo Switch 2 teaser, but we can see the franchise standards hit the starting line: Mario (duh), Luigi (also duh), Princess Peach, Bowser, Daisy, Donkey Kong, and so on. So who’s next?
King Bomb-omb
A long way from Super Mario 64, King Bomb-omb is at the top of the charts on Kalshi with a 97% predictive chance of making it into the next Mario Kart iteration. But there’s another contender hot on his (explosive) heels.
Hammer Bro
Hammer Bro, often called Hammer Brothers since there tended to be two of these guys on the screen, dates way back to the original Super Mario Bros. That he/they haven’t been in a Kart game yet is a bit surprising, but it’s got a 97% rate on Kalshi.
Goomba
I’m sorry for stomping on your head and the heads of your family for 40 years, little Goomba. Well, I’m not really that sorry. You were trying to kill me, after all. But Goomba has a projected 96% chance of making its way into the next Mario Kart. Perhaps it will get its revenge then …
Chargin’ Chuck
Chargin’ Chuck was the bane of many of my Super Mario World playthroughs. He was tough and burly and you seemingly had to give him repeated CTE by bonking his head before you could progress. I am not a fan, and it seems like the market isn’t either since he’s got a 20% chance.
Captain Falcon
Captain Falcon is actually the protagonist of the F-Zero franchise, which was a wonderfully intense racing game that started on the SNES, so it makes some sense that he’d appear in a Mario Kart game. Most people probably know him from Super Smash Bros. series, however (“Flacon … punch!”) and he was always a huge jerk to play against. He has a null rating on Kalshi, but who knows? I look forward to red-shelling him.
