Rainbow Road (Mario Kart World theme)
| "Rainbow Road" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| "Rainbow Road" in Mario Kart World | |||
 Image from Nintendo Music | |||
| Composed by: Unknown | |||
| Key | D major | ||
| BPM | 158 | ||
| Time signature | 4 4 | ||
| Appears in | Mario Kart World (2025) | ||
| |||
| |||
"Rainbow Road"[1][2] is a musical theme in Mario Kart World, where it plays when racing on the course of the same name.
History[edit]
Mario Kart World[edit]
Mario Kart World features the first appearance of "Rainbow Road". The theme is divided into five different tracks that play on different parts of the course and have distinct transitions between each of them. The in-game pause menu does not distinguish these tracks from each other, referring to all of them as simply "Rainbow Road"; however, they are separated and given unique names in the Nintendo Music app.
The first section of the course plays the main version of the theme, which is simply titled "Rainbow Road" on the Nintendo Music app. It introduces the main motif of the theme in the A section, which is played on an EWI (resembling the synthesizer used in "Rainbow Road" from Mario Kart 64 and "Rainbow Road" from Mario Kart Wii). The B section consists of a string section that loosely quotes "Super Bell Subway". When the theme loops for the first time, it plays a repeat of the A section, but rather than playing the main motif, it plays a different melody, before going to the B section and looping back to the start. When the player crosses the checkpoint into the second lap, the main instruments of the theme are muted, and after the bar that is playing on the moment ends, it transitions to the second lap theme.
The second section of the course plays a calmer arrangement in 2
2 time, with harp and saxophones underlining the main melody. When reaching the checkpoint, the music changes to an outro without drums, and when it ends, the next theme plays. There are five distinct outros to this theme. It is titled "Rainbow Road (On the Water)" on the Nintendo Music app.
The third section of the course plays a techno arrangement that starts with a 4
4 looping bar with repeated bass drum beats that will loop indefinitely until the player reaches the space station, which will cause the theme to start playing. The intro starts with four bars of a repeating synth melody, which is followed by the main motif playing on a synthesizer. After the intro, the theme quotes "Title Theme" in call and response with an electric guitar melody, modulating into an F major. It is titled "Rainbow Road (Space Station)" on the Nintendo Music app.
At the end of the third lap, before the checkpoint, the music fades to an ambient track. It is titled "Rainbow Road (Final Lap Intro)" on the Nintendo Music app. The track features a faint drum beat, mechanical sound effects and a constant shimmering sound effect reminiscent of the sounds that play at the beginning of Rainbow Road from Mario Kart 64 playing.
The final lap of the track plays a more grandiose arrangement, with a horn section harmonizing alongside the string section, and incorporates "Title Theme" in the B section and "Staff Credits" from Super Mario Kart at the end. It is titled "Rainbow Road (Finale)" on the Nintendo Music app.
When racing on the route from Peach Stadium to Rainbow Road, a pastiche of the theme with EWI solos plays, which transitions into "Rainbow Road" once the course is reached. It is titled "To Rainbow Road" on the Nintendo Music app. This is the only route in the game with a fixed theme (rather than the various arrangements that normally play on routes and in Free Roam). "To Rainbow Road" is also the only course intro theme in the game with a unique name in the in-game pause menu, as other courses' intro themes that play when approaching them are not distinguished from the main course theme.
A faint arrangement of the main motif plays at the very end of the theme that plays in the cutscene where the Special Cup is unlocked, titled "Special Cup Appears" on the Nintendo Music app.
An arrangement of the main motif plays at the end of the intro cutscene for the Special Cup, titled "Opening (Special Cup)" on the Nintendo Music app.
The main motif of this theme is incorporated into an arrangement of "Victory Lap" that plays only during the victory lap of the Special Cup, titled "Victory Lap (Rainbow Road)" on the Nintendo Music app.
This theme is incorporated into an arrangement of "Results Screen A" from the same game that plays at the results screen of any race in Rainbow Road, titled "Results Screen (Rainbow Road)" on the Nintendo Music app. It is arranged with similar instruments to "Rainbow Road".
An arrangement of the main melody of "Rainbow Road" is incorporated at the end of "Staff Credits", which plays during the game's staff credits and is a medley of various themes from the game.
 Rainbow Road (Lap 2 Intro) - The remix heard in Mario Kart World | File info 0:30 |
| Rainbow Road (On the Water) - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart World | File info 0:30 |
| Rainbow Road (Space Station) - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart World | File info 0:30 |
| Rainbow Road (Final Lap Intro) - Plays in the glider ramp before the fourth section of Rainbow Road | File info 0:30 |
| Rainbow Road (Finale) - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart World | File info 0:30 |
| To Rainbow Road - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart World | File info 0:30 |
| Opening (Special Cup) - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart World | File info 0:30 |
| Victory Lap (Rainbow Road) - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart World | File info 0:30 |
| Results Screen (Rainbow Road) - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart World | File info 0:30 |
Gallery[edit]
Image for "To Rainbow Road" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
Image for "Rainbow Road (On the Water)" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
Image for "Rainbow Road (Space Station)" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
Image for "Rainbow Road (Final Lap Intro)" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
Image for "Rainbow Road (Finale)" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
Image for "Opening (Special Cup)" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
Image for "Special Cup Appears" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
Image for "Results Screen (Rainbow Road)" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
Image for "Victory Lap (Rainbow Road)" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
Image for "Staff Credits" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
List of Super Mario appearances[edit]
Games[edit]
| Work | System | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart World | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2025 | Original | "Rainbow Road"[1] | |
| Remix | |||||
| Arrangement | "Rainbow Road (On the Water)"[1] | ||||
| "Rainbow Road (Space Station)"[1] | |||||
| Pastiche | "Rainbow Road (Final Lap Intro)"[1] | ||||
| Arrangement | "Rainbow Road (Finale)"[1] | ||||
| Pastiche | "To Rainbow Road"[1] | ||||
| Arrangement | "Opening (Special Cup)"[1] | ||||
| "Special Cup Appears"[1] | |||||
| "Results Screen (Rainbow Road)"[1] | |||||
| "Victory Lap (Rainbow Road)"[1] | |||||
| "Staff Credits"[1] |
Albums[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart World (Nintendo Music) | 2026 | Original | "Rainbow Road" | |
| Past arrangement (Mario Kart World) | "Rainbow Road (On the Water)" | |||
| "Rainbow Road (Space Station)" | ||||
| Past pastiche (Mario Kart World) | "Rainbow Road (Final Lap Intro)" | |||
| Past arrangement (Mario Kart World) | "Rainbow Road (Finale)" | |||
| Past pastiche (Mario Kart World) | "To Rainbow Road" | |||
| Past arrangement (Mario Kart World) | "Victory Lap (Rainbow Road)" | |||
| "Special Cup Appears" | ||||
| "Results Screen (Rainbow Road)" |
Names in other languages[edit]
"Rainbow Road"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | レインボーロード Reinbō Rōdo | Rainbow Road | [1] | |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 彩虹之路 Cǎihóng zhī Lù (Mandarin) Chói'hùhng jī Louh (Cantonese) | Rainbow Road | [1] | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 彩虹之路 Cǎihóng zhī Lù (Mandarin) Chói'hùhng jī Louh (Cantonese) | [1] | ||
| Dutch | Regenboogbaan | Rainbow Track | [1] | |
| French | Route Arc-en-ciel | Rainbow Road | [1] | |
| German | Regenbogen-Boulevard | Rainbow Boulevard | [1] | |
| Italian | Pista Arcobaleno | Rainbow Track | [1] | |
| Korean | 무지개 로드 Mujigae Rodeu | Rainbow Road | [1] | |
| Polish | Tęczowa Droga | Rainbow Road | [2] | |
| Portuguese | Estrada Arco-Íris | Rainbow Road | [1] | |
| Russian | Трасса Радуга Trassa Raduga | Rainbow Track | [1] | |
| Spanish | Senda Arco Iris | Rainbow Trail | [1] | |
| Thai | เรนโบว์โร้ด Reenboo Róot | Rainbow Road | [2] |
"To Rainbow Road"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | レインボーロードへ Reinbō Rōdo e | To Rainbow Road | [1] | |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 前往彩虹之路 Qiánwǎng Cǎihóng zhī Lù (Mandarin) Chìhnwóhng Chói'hùhng jī Louh (Cantonese) | Heading to Rainbow Road | [1] | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 前往彩虹之路 Qiánwǎng Cǎihóng zhī Lù (Mandarin) Chìhnwóhng Chói'hùhng jī Louh (Cantonese) | [1] | ||
| Dutch | Naar de Regenboogbaan | To the Rainbow Track | [1] | |
| French | Vers la Route Arc-en-ciel | Towards the Rainbow Road | [1] | |
| German | Zum Regenbogen-Boulevard | To Rainbow Boulevard | [1] | |
| Italian | Alla Pista Arcobaleno | At The Rainbow Track | [1] | |
| Korean | 무지개 로드로 Mujigae Rodeuro | To Rainbow Road | [1] | |
| Polish | Ku Tęczowej Drodze | Towards Rainbow Road | [2] | |
| Portuguese (Brazil) | Para a Estrada Arco-Íris | To the Rainbow Road | [1] | |
| Portuguese (Europe) | Em Direção à Estrada Arco-Íris | Towards Rainbow Road | [1] | |
| Russian | К Трассе Радуга K Trasse Raduga | To Rainbow Track | [1] | |
| Spanish (Latin America) | A la Senda Arco Iris | To the Rainbow Trail | [1] | |
| Spanish (Europe) | Hacia la Senda Arco Iris | Towards the Rainbow Trail | [1] | |
| Thai | สู่เรนโบว์โร้ด Sùu Reenboo Róot | To Rainbow Road | [2] |
"Rainbow Road (On the Water)"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | レインボーロード（水上） Reinbō Rōdo (Suijō) | Rainbow Road (On the Water) | [1] | |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 彩虹之路（水上） Cǎihóng zhī Lù (Shuǐshàng) (Mandarin) Chói'hùhng jī Louh (Séuihseuhng) (Cantonese) | Rainbow Road (On the Water) | [1] | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 彩虹之路（水上） Cǎihóng zhī Lù (Shuǐshàng) (Mandarin) Chói'hùhng jī Louh (Séuihseuhng) (Cantonese) | [1] | ||
| Dutch | Regenboogbaan (op het water) | Rainbow Track (on the water) | [1] | |
| French | Route Arc-en-ciel (sur l'eau) | Rainbow Road (on the water) | [1] | |
| German | Regenbogen-Boulevard (Auf dem Wasser) | Rainbow Boulevard (On the Water) | [1] | |
| Italian | Pista Arcobaleno (sull'acqua) | Rainbow Track (on the water) | [1] | |
| Korean | 무지개 로드 (물 위) Mujigae Rodeu (Mul Wi) | Rainbow Road (On The Water) | [1] | |
| Portuguese | Estrada Arco-Íris (Na Água) | Rainbow Road (On The Water) | [1] | |
| Russian | Трасса Радуга (на воде) Trassa Raduga (na vode) | Rainbow Track (on the water) | [1] | |
| Spanish | Senda Arco Iris (sobre el agua) | Rainbow Trail (on the water) | [1] |
"Rainbow Road (Space Station)"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | レインボーロード（宇宙ステーション） Reinbō Rōdo (Uchū Sutēshon) | Rainbow Road (Space Station) | [1] | |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 彩虹之路（太空站） Cǎihóng zhī Lù (Tàikōngzhàn) (Mandarin) Chói'hùhng jī Louh (Taai'hūngjaam) (Cantonese) | Rainbow Road (Space Station) | [1] | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 彩虹之路（太空站） Cǎihóng zhī Lù (Tàikōngzhàn) (Mandarin) Chói'hùhng jī Louh (Taai'hūngjaam) (Cantonese) | [1] | ||
| Dutch | Regenboogbaan (ruimtestation) | Rainbow Track (space station) | [1] | |
| French | Route Arc-en-ciel (station spatiale) | Rainbow Road (space station) | [1] | |
| German | Regenbogen-Boulevard (Raumstation) | Rainbow Boulevard (Space Station) | [1] | |
| Italian | Pista Arcobaleno (stazione spaziale) | Rainbow Track (space station) | [1] | |
| Korean | 무지개 로드 (우주 정거장) Mujigae Rodeu (Uju Jeonggeojang) | Rainbow Road (Space Station) | [1] | |
| Portuguese | Estrada Arco-Íris (Estação Espacial) | Rainbow Road (Space Station) | [1] | |
| Russian | Трасса Радуга (космическая станция) Trassa Raduga (kosmicheskaya stantsiya) | Rainbow Track (Space Station) | [1] | |
| Spanish | Senda Arco Iris (estación espacial) | Rainbow Trail (space station) | [1] |
"Rainbow Road (Final Lap Intro)"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | レインボーロード（ファイナルラップ イントロ） Reinbō Rōdo (Fainaru Rappu Intoro) | Rainbow Road (Final Lap Intro) | [1] | |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 彩虹之路（最后一圈 序曲） Cǎihóng zhī Lù (Zuìhòu Yī Quān Xùqǔ) (Mandarin) Chói'hùhng jī Louh (Jeui'hauh Yāt Hyūn Jeuihkūk) (Cantonese) | Rainbow Road (Final Lap Overture) | [1] | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 彩虹之路（最後一圈 前奏） Cǎihóng zhī Lù (Zuìhòu Yī Quān Qiánzòu) (Mandarin) Chói'hùhng jī Louh (Jeui'hauh Yāt Hyūn Chìhnjau) (Cantonese) | Rainbow Road (Final Lap Prelude) | [1] | |
| Dutch | Regenboogbaan (laatste ronde - intro) | Rainbow Track (last lap - intro) | [1] | |
| French | Route Arc-en-ciel (dernier tour - intro) | Rainbow Road (final lap - intro) | [1] | |
| German | Regenbogen-Boulevard (Letzte Runde – Intro) | Rainbow Boulevard (Last Lap – Intro) | [1] | |
| Italian | Pista Arcobaleno (ultimo giro - intro) | Rainbow Track (last lap - intro) | [1] | |
| Korean | 무지개 로드 (파이널 랩 인트로) Mujigae Rodeu (Paineol Raep Inteuro) | Rainbow Road (Final Lap Intro) | [1] | |
| Portuguese | Estrada Arco-Íris (Introdução à Última Volta) | Rainbow Road (Introduction to the Last Lap) | [1] | |
| Russian | Трасса Радуга (финальный круг — вступление) Trassa Raduga (finalnyy krug — vstupleniye) | Rainbow Track (final lap — introduction) | [1] | |
| Spanish | Senda Arco Iris (última vuelta - introducción) | Rainbow Trail (last lap - introducction) | [1] |
"Rainbow Road (Finale)"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | レインボーロード（フィナーレ） Reinbō Rōdo (Fināre) | Rainbow Road (Finale) | [1] | |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 彩虹之路（终曲） Cǎihóng zhī Lù (Zhōngqǔ) (Mandarin) Chói'hùhng jī Louh (Jūngkéui) (Cantonese) | Rainbow Road (Finale) | [1] | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 彩虹之路（終曲） Cǎihóng zhī Lù (Zhōngqǔ) (Mandarin) Chói'hùhng jī Louh (Jūngkéui) (Cantonese) | [1] | ||
| Dutch | Regenboogbaan (finale) | Rainbow Track (finale) | [1] | |
| French | Route Arc-en-ciel (final) | Rainbow Road (finale) | [1] | |
| German | Regenbogen-Boulevard (Finale) | Rainbow Boulevard (Finale) | [1] | |
| Italian | Pista Arcobaleno (finale) | Rainbow Track (finale) | [1] | |
| Korean | 무지개 로드 (피날레) Mujigae Rodeu (Pinalle) | Rainhow Road (Finale) | [1] | |
| Portuguese | Estrada Arco-Íris (Final) | Rainbow Road (Finale) | [1] | |
| Russian | Трасса Радуга (кульминация) Trassa Raduga (kulminatsiya) | Rainbow Track (culmination) | [1] | |
| Spanish | Senda Arco Iris (final) | Rainbow Trail (finale) | [1] |
Notes[edit]
- On the Nintendo Music app, "Rainbow Road" is labeled as "Selects", classifying it as one "of the very best tracks from the Nintendo Music library", originating from Mario Kart World. "Rainbow Road" shares this title with "Title Theme" and "Mario Bros. Circuit".
- The Nintendo Music screenshot for "To Rainbow Road" depicts the ending of the cutscene where Special Cup is unlocked, a scenario which the theme cannot play, as "Special Cup Appears" plays instead.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb Nintendo Music
- ^ a b c d e Mario Kart World pause menu
- ^ Cadence Hira (July 15, 2025). The SECRETS that make Mario Kart World Rainbow Road a MASTERPIECE. YouTube (English). Retrieved August 7, 2026.
