Mario Kart 73ds Exclusive May 2026

This feature is only possible on the 3DS because of the Stereoscopic 3D Slider.

By: Toad T. Editor, Retro Racer Monthly Date: April 21, 2026

In the sprawling, 50-year history of the Mario Kart franchise, certain entries are rightfully celebrated (Mario Kart DS), some are divisive (Super Mario Kart’s slippery physics), and others are simply lost.

But no title has inspired as much myth, argument, and forum-deep lore as the fabled Mario Kart 73DS.

If you are a younger fan—say, someone who started with Mario Kart 9 on the Super Switch—you might scoff. "73? That skips the numbers." Exactly. That is the first clue that this game was not like the others. mario kart 73ds exclusive

To understand MK73DS, you have to rewind to the dark ages of 2008. The Nintendo DS was king, but internal rumors swirled about a "DS Two" prototype—a handheld with dual-core processing, a bizarre second analog nub, and a short-lived cartridge format called the "NX-Chip."

According to former Nintendo of Japan engineer Kenji Murai (in a recently translated 2023 blog post), Mario Kart 73DS was the launch title for this cancelled hardware. The "73" was not a number. It was a code: 7 for the seventh generation of handhelds, 3 for the "Tri-State Drift" engine.

When the DS Two was scrapped two months before its planned Q4 2009 release, the game vanished. Almost.

Graphics & Performance:
The title screen usually rips assets from Mario Kart 7 or DS, but with amateurishly edited numbers (“73”). Expect glitchy textures, missing animations, and frequent frame drops. On a real 3DS/DS, bootlegs often crash or fail to save. This feature is only possible on the 3DS

Tracks & Characters:
Fake “73DS” versions typically reuse existing tracks from MK7, MKDS, and MKWii, renaming them (e.g., “Luigi’s Mansion 73”). New “exclusive” tracks are poorly designed—walls may be invisible, item boxes misplaced, and lap counters broken. Characters are usually palette swaps (e.g., “Shadow Mario” replacing Metal Mario).

Gameplay:
Driving physics feel off—drifting is either too sensitive or unresponsive. Items may behave erratically (e.g., a Blue Shell that hits only you). Multiplayer (if claimed) rarely works. Save data corrupts often.

Verdict:
0/10 – Not a real Mario Kart game. It’s a scam or fan project at best. Do not buy. Instead, play the actual Mario Kart DS or Mario Kart 7—both are excellent and readily available. If you saw this online, report the listing.

Over the last twelve years, dozens of fan-made "decompilation" projects have claimed to reverse-engineer the Mario Kart 73DS Exclusive. While 99% are obvious fakes, a collective mythology has emerged. According to the most widely accepted fan lore, the game included: Over the last twelve years, dozens of fan-made

By: Retro Racer Weekly Published: 10 Minutes Ago

If you have spent more than fifteen minutes deep in the bowels of Nintendo forums, Reddit threads from 2012, or obscure ROM-hunting Discord servers, you have seen the name. You have heard the whispers. You have probably dismissed it as a typo, a fever dream, or a poorly photoshopped cartridge label.

But the legend of the Mario Kart 73DS Exclusive is not just a glitch in the matrix. It is the white whale of handheld racing games.

Let us be perfectly clear: Nintendo never released a game called Mario Kart 73DS. The official lineup is well-documented: Super Mario Kart (SNES), Mario Kart 64, Super Circuit (GBA), Double Dash (GCN), DS, Wii, 7 (3DS), 8 (Wii U/Switch), and 8 Deluxe. There is no “73.” There is no second “DS” suffix.

And yet… the memory persists.