Classic course

A Retro Course is a past Mario Kart game's nitro course, not counting the extra courses from Mario Kart: Super Circuit. They appear in Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart Wii, Mario Kart 7, and Mario Kart 8. 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 8, Retro Courses were identical to their original counterparts, receiving only graphical updates. For example, in Mario Kart 7, courses appear almost identical to the originals, the only differences being the added underwater and gliding sections, while in Mario Kart DS, most Retro Courses appear to be scaled down in graphics due to system limitations of the Nintendo DS.

In Mario Kart 8 all of the retro courses are completely redesigned for HD graphics. They usually include new mechanics, new details for the race tracks, and completely new backgrounds, and also support the anti-gravity, underwater, and gliding mechanics. Also new to Mario Kart 8, most Retro Courses has new remixed and/or remastered music.

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, DK-themed, and Bowser's Castle courses.
 * Mario Kart 8 is the only game with retro tracks in the series that does not feature a retro Bowser's Castle course.