GBA Sky Garden

Sky Garden is the second race course of the nitro Lightning Cup in Mario Kart: Super Circuit. The track takes place on a cobbled road atop clouds, with bridges connecting them and beanstalks scattered around the clouds. This course has no major obstacles, although players can easily fall off of it. The Luigi blimp from Luigi Circuit can be seen in the background.

Sky Garden returns as the third course of the retro Lightning Cup in Mario Kart DS, the signature course of the Sky Tour in Mario Kart Tour, and the third course of the Lucky Cat Cup in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass.

Course description
There are three shortcuts in this course. One is at the beginning of the course. There is a ramp, and if the player uses a mushroom, they will fly onto a set of clouds. From there, the player can either use a mushroom to glide across the gaps or just can hop over them. The next shortcut is on the right of the small boost ramp that leads to an item. A mushroom is required to make it across. This is the shortcut used by the staff ghost. The last shortcut is right after the straight away and turn. If the player turns left there will be a huge floating cloud. Once again, the player can either use a mushroom to glide across the gaps or can hop over them. A similar course with several shared names in other languages known as Cloudtop Cruise appears in Mario Kart 8.

Mario Kart DS
Sky Garden reappears as a retro track in Mario Kart DS, as the third course of the Lightning Cup, holding the distinction of being the only track to appear in the same cup twice. There is an added shortcut in this version. After going across the small boost ramp leading to an item, the player must use a Mushroom and hop at the exact right second to get across the large gap. The shortcut can also be done with a well placed jump over the large gap if the player is using a high acceleration kart without a Mushroom, but is very difficult to perform. This is possible in the original game, but the player will fall right over the other side no matter what. Additionally, the first shortcut has an added longer cloud in front of the original one at the gap's end. The staff ghost is Daisy.

Mission 6-5 takes place here, where the player has to pass through eight gates in order as Peach.

Mario Kart Tour
Sky Garden returns in Mario Kart Tour starting from the Sky Tour. It was first teased through a screenshot on the game's official Twitter and Facebook accounts in January 2022. It is the second classic course in Mario Kart Tour (the first being GBA Sunset Wilds) to receive a new arrangement for its music. There are now two blimps; both use the appearance from Singapore Speedway. The giant beanstalks that previously only appeared in the background are now closer to the course, and one of them features a red Toad House on a cloud.

A course banner is added at the starting line, featuring the classic Mario Kart logo in a round frame supported by two beanstalks, which grow from earthenware planters. The road is also now made entirely of gray stone files, formed in an arched pattern, and features flowerpots and fences in the off-road areas. The course has been simplified, with some of the bends being removed. The first shortcut now features players performing Jump Boosts on giant leaves while the last is now under the beanstalk that supports the Toad House. The second shortcut is removed; the ramp now leads to a Mushroom Trampoline on the main route. The straightaway near the finish line is replaced with a gliding section.

The course is a favorite of Peach (Explorer), Tanooki Mario, Tanooki Rosalina, Mario (Aviator), Rosalina (Volendam), and Waluigi (Vampire), and the Rosalina Mii Racing Suit. It can also be a favorite of the Silver Mii Racing Suit if it reaches level 3, and Birdo (White) if she reaches level 6. Like all other courses, Sky Garden has a R variant known as Sky Garden R, and a T variant known as Sky Garden T. In the reverse variant, many propellers that blow out wind are added to the course. In the trick variant, there is a moving platform with a Dash Panel ramp near the final section.

For this course's tour appearances, see List of GBA Sky Garden tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Sky Garden returns in the Booster Course Pass DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It is the third course of the Lucky Cat Cup released in the first wave in March 2022, nearly a month after its inclusion in Mario Kart Tour (the shortest gap between reappearances of a retro course in different games), though it was revealed in gameplay form in a February 2022 Nintendo Direct prior to its addition to said game. It derives its appearance and layout from Mario Kart Tour, except with orange stone tiles instead of gray and an animated cloud texture (though the trailer, Nintendo eShop page, and official artwork for the Booster Course Pass show screenshots of the Mario Kart Tour version). Unlike Tour, the leaf shortcut is reflected on the minimap. Many Mushroom Trampolines can be seen growing from underneath the course, and several airships from Cloudtop Cruise appear in the background instead of the blimps. Koopa Paratroopas appear as spectators on the course.

Like many other retro tracks in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the music has been redone with live instruments, featuring a saxophone, piano, and electric guitar lead instead of the original song's synths.

Mario Kart DS

 * European website bio: "In this race above the clouds, don't let the beautiful view go to your head. One false move and it's a very long way down to the ground. You'll need boosts aplenty to make the most of Sky Garden's numerous short-cuts, but don't be afraid of using your brakes too."

Trivia

 * Excluding the Mario Kart: Super Circuit Extra Cups, this is the only course that appears in the same cup in two different games, as the Lightning Cup was repurposed as a classic cup in Mario Kart DS.
 * Both of the Staff Ghosts in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are possible references to the cloud theme, Lakitu in 150cc, referencing the cloud that he rides, and Ludwig in 200cc, referencing him being the boss of Meringue Clouds in New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U.