Anti-gravity

Anti-gravity is a mechanic in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. When drivers are in anti-gravity mode, they slightly hover above the ground and can drive on walls and upside-down, and their tires turn sideways and glow blue; certain vehicles have blue glows and lights in other places, including the engine in some cases, and the Koopa Clown activates a pair of propellers. Additionally, they can receive a Spin Boost by bumping into other drivers or Spin Boost Pillars. Characters and vehicle parts have different top speed and handling stats in anti-gravity mode that are not shown by the game. Most courses featuring anti-gravity have designated sections in which it is activated that start with Antigravity Panels, though there are some courses set entirely in anti-gravity with all drivers already in anti-gravity mode at the start. Wild Woods uniquely starts in an anti-gravity section with all drivers already in anti-gravity mode but is not entirely set in anti-gravity. The first time a driver enters an anti-gravity section, they will audibly react to this, usually saying something related to the activation of anti-gravity mode.

Every new course in the games except Excitebike Arena, Animal Crossing, and Super Bell Subway features anti-gravity, with Mute City, Big Blue, and Sky-High Sundae entirely taking place in anti-gravity. Additionally, sixteen classic courses feature anti-gravity (seven from the Mario Kart 8 base game, five from its DLC, and four from the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass):
 * (which is notably set entirely in anti-gravity)
 * Merry Mountain
 * (which is notably set entirely in anti-gravity)
 * Merry Mountain
 * (which is notably set entirely in anti-gravity)
 * Merry Mountain
 * (which is notably set entirely in anti-gravity)
 * Merry Mountain
 * (which is notably set entirely in anti-gravity)
 * Merry Mountain
 * Merry Mountain
 * Merry Mountain
 * Merry Mountain
 * Merry Mountain
 * Merry Mountain

Additionally, in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the battle courses Battle Stadium and Lunar Colony feature anti-gravity, with the latter being set entirely in anti-gravity.

Trivia

 * While drifting in anti-gravity mode, the blue glow will match the corresponding level of Mini-Turbo sparks present, which means it will become orange for a Super Mini-Turbo and purple for an Ultra Mini-Turbo.
 * According to Mario Kart 8 producer Hideki Konno, the anti-gravity mechanic was inspired the portion of Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 7 set on the moon. Fittingly, this part of the course would become an anti-gravity section upon its addition in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass, and Lunar Colony also features anti-gravity on the moon.