Classic course

A Retro Course is a course in Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart Wii, Mario Kart 7, and Mario Kart 8 from past Mario Kart games, not counting the extra courses from Mario Kart: Super Circuit. They come in the Shell Cup, Banana Cup, Leaf Cup, and Lightning Cup. A Mario Kart course has rarely returned as a Retro Course more than once; until Mario Kart 7, Retro Courses were identical to their original counterparts, receiving only graphical updates. In Mario Kart 7 courses appear almost identical to the originals, the only differences being the added underwater and gliding sections. In Mario Kart 8 most of the retro courses are completely redesigned to include new mechanics, new details for the race tracks and completely new background, and support the anti-gravity, underwater, and gliding, as well as have HD graphics. Until Mario Kart 8, Retro Courses' background music's score remains unchanged; in Mario Kart 8 most of the retro courses' background music received an orchestrated remix.

Trivia

 * Mario Circuit, snow or ice-themed, and beach-themed retro courses have appeared in all Mario Kart games that have retro courses.
 * In all of the Mario Kart games, Mario Kart Wii has the most retro Mario Circuit, Peach-themed, beach themed, and Bowser's Castle courses.