Mario Circuit (Mario Kart 8 theme)
- Not to be confused with Mario Kart Stadium (theme).
| "Mario Circuit" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| "Mario Circuit" in Mario Kart 8 | |||
 Image from Nintendo Music | |||
| Composed by: Shiho Fujii[1] | |||
| Key | D Mixolydian | ||
| BPM | 144 | ||
| First appearance | Mario Kart 8 (2014) | ||
| Latest appearance | Mario Kart World (2025) | ||
| |||
- “This track takes the form of a kind of Möbius Strip and also suggests the number eight, to signify its place in the series. The synthesiser sound we used for the melody here was meant to give the feel of the anti-gravity effect which features in this title.”
- —Liner notes in the Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack
"Mario Circuit"[1][2] is a musical theme composed by Shiho Fujii for Mario Kart 8, where it plays in the race course of the same name.
History[edit]
Mario Kart series[edit]
Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]
- Main article: Mario Kart Stadium (theme)
Mario Kart 8 marks the first appearance of "Mario Circuit". A looping drum set beat is layered on top of the theme whenever the player is driving at top speed while in first place.
An orchestral and ceremonial arrangement of "Mario Circuit" with an entirely unique bridge section plays in Mario Kart Stadium. It is likewise titled "Mario Kart Stadium" in the Nintendo Music app and the official Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack album. It was arranged by Yasuaki Iwata.
An arrangement of "Mario Circuit" is incorporated into the beginning and middle sections of the theme that plays during the staff credits. It is likewise titled "Staff Credits" in the Nintendo Music app and the official Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack album. The entire theme was arranged by Ryo Nagamatsu.
"Mario Circuit", "Mario Kart Stadium", and "Staff Credits" all return in the Nintendo Switch port, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, for the same purposes.
 Mario Circuit (Frontrunning) - The remix heard in Mario Kart 8 | File info 0:30 |
| Mario Kart Stadium - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart 8 | File info 0:30 |
| Staff Credits - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart 8 | File info 0:30 |
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit[edit]
In Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, the original version of "Mario Circuit" plays in Slick Circuit.
Mario Kart World[edit]
In Mario Kart World, a bebop arrangement of "Mario Circuit" can play in Free Roam during the day and on any VS Race route during nighttime. As with other arrangements of themes from Mario Kart 8, the source game listed in the pause menu is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
| Mario Circuit - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart World | File info 0:30 |
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the original version of "Mario Circuit" can play in the Mario Circuit stage. It is titled "Mario Circuit (Mario Kart 8)" in the game's sound test.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the original version of "Mario Circuit" can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Mario Kart-series stage. It titled "Mario Circuit - Mario Kart 8" in the game's sound test.
Gallery[edit]
Image for "Mario Kart Stadium" from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Music
Image for "Staff Credits" from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Music
List of Super Mario appearances[edit]
Games[edit]
| Work | System | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart 8 | Wii U | 2014 | Original | "Mario Circuit"[1] | Shiho Fujii |
| Remix | |||||
| Arrangement | "Mario Kart Stadium"[1] | Yasuaki Iwata | |||
| "Staff Credits"[1] | Ryo Nagamatsu | ||||
| Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | Wii U | 2014 | Original | "Mario Circuit (Mario Kart 8)"[3] | Shiho Fujii |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | Nintendo Switch | 2017 | Original | "Mario Circuit"[1] | Shiho Fujii |
| Past remix (Mario Kart 8) | |||||
| Past arrangement (Mario Kart 8) | "Staff Credits"[1] | Ryo Nagamatsu | |||
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Nintendo Switch | 2018 | Original | "Mario Circuit - Mario Kart 8"[4] | Shiho Fujii |
| Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit | Nintendo Switch | 2020 | Original | Shiho Fujii | |
| Mario Kart World | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2025 | Arrangement | "Mario Circuit"[5] |
Albums[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack | 2015 | Original | "Mario Circuit" | Shiho Fujii |
| Past arrangement (Mario Kart 8) | "Staff Credits" | Ryo Nagamatsu |
Other media[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Music | 2024 | Original | "Mario Circuit" | Shiho Fujii |
| Past arrangement (Mario Kart 8) | "Staff Credits" | Ryo Nagamatsu |
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | マリオサーキット Mario Sākitto |
Mario Circuit | [2] | |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 马力欧赛道 Mǎlì'ōu Sàidào |
Mario Racetrack | [2] | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 瑪利歐賽道 Mǎlì'ōu Sàidào |
Mario Racetrack | [2] | |
| Dutch | Mario's Circuit | - | [2] | |
| French | Circuit Mario | Mario Circuit | [2] | |
| German | Marios Piste | Mario's Track | [2] | |
| Italian | Circuito di Mario | Mario's Circuit | [2] | |
| Korean | 마리오 서킷 Mario Seokit |
Mario Circuit | [2] | |
| Portuguese | Circuito do Mario | Mario's Circuit | [2] | |
| Russian | Трасса Марио Trassa Mario |
Mario's Track | [2] | |
| Spanish | Circuito Mario | Mario Circuit | [2] |
