The Top 5 Greatest & Best Time Saving Mario Kart 64 Shortcuts

It’s not a cheat if the game allows you to do it, right? With this in mind we explore the wildest shortcuts that will have you crowned both the King of Rainbow Road and the karter nobody wants to play with. RetroCollect introduces the greatest and most useful glitches to take of advantage of in Mario Kart 64.

Released in late 1996 in Japan (and 1997 for the rest of the world), Mario Kart 64 became an instant classic, building upon the strong foundations its predecessor had built. The glorified Nintendo locations and 3D renditions of Super Nintendo track locations made for an enjoyable experience, only bettered by its multiplayer features.

Everyone by now should have at least battled it out on Mario Kart 64’s Mario GP mode. Today, we’re going to show you how to take advantage of it and gain a competitive edge, as long as you’re willing to be labelled a cheat.

Buckle in and step on the gas, cause we don’t need blue shells where we’re going!

5. Frappe Snowland Shortcut

Ask yourself this question. When have you ever intentionally reversed in Mario Kart 64? Probably never, however, today is the day you’ll unleash the power of holding Down and the B Button.

By simply rearing up the final section of the track, jumping off the wooden bridge and then driving off into the deep unknown, our trusty companion Lakitu will get rather confused. Once he recovers your snow-laden kart, you’ll be placed back on track with the finish line in front of you. Crossing the line now will result in the challenged Lakitu waving the 2nd lap flag at you as if you had really driven through the entire track.

Rinse and repeat!

4. Royal Raceway Shortcuts

Throwing yourself into a river isn’t exactly the most helpful thing to do in a video game, unless of course you’re racing on the Royal Raceway.

There are two incredibly difficult to reach spots within the curving track’s river that bring a high, although wet, reward. By launching yourself off the track towards these places, the computer will assume that you’re further on in the race having dipped into the water nearby.

Upon being fished out, you’ll be well ahead of the pack, as long as your go kart still works after swimming with the fishes.

3. Wario Stadium Shortcut

Let’s face it, we all find Wario Stadium to be quite the chore. Its ever-winding course and widespread road can be rather cumbersome after time, but this shortcut will whisk away any racing woes.

By making use of the first few bumps in the track you meet, a carefully timed jump off the final one will send your go kart next door, literally. With the track being so carefully intertwined, your character will simply fall over the wall, ready to continue the race a good section ahead of your rivals.

That is of course if you’re able to time this correctly. Good luck!

2. DK’s Jungle Park Shortcut

This, without a doubt is one glitch Nintendo never noticed during bug testing - one which has since become a time trial record breaking trick. Being able to complete an entire three lap race of DK’s Jungle Park in seconds is now possible, albeit deceitful.

Similar to our frosty hijinks, you’ll need to reverse away from the starting line and perfectly line your character up for a jump into a cave wall. If carefully placed, your go kart will fly through the rock and land below. By doing this once more, Lakitu’s drunken flag waving will make an appearance, signalling your sinful driving grin onto the second lap.

And once again, repeat until you’ve destroyed this course in a matter of seconds.

1. Rainbow Road Shortcut

Ahhh, Rainbow Road, the race of dreams. As it’s the longest track in the entire game, being a good distance away from the race leader can be quite frustrating. This shortcut manages to eliminate ever worrying about being last, as long as you can pull it off.

Possibly the greatest in-game shortcut of all time, you must carefully jump off the side of the starting line, in the hope of landing on distant track.

Timing, however, is everything. Launch too early and you’ll faceplant into the nearest barrier. Jump too late and you’ll fall deep into the depths of space, where all of Mario’s extra lives retire to.

Hopefully by now you’ll be quite the Mario Kart 64 expert, but should you be wanting a few more challenges or hidden tricks, you’re in luck. Not only are there many shortcuts to be enjoyed, but also a hidden island to reach in DK’s Jungle Park and even tricks to send you flying (literally) over Peach’s Castle.