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What if Super Mario Kart got the sequel we always dreamed of on the SNES? Horizons delivers 20 new tracks, new music, and pure nostalgia. From grassy plains to abandoned mines, Super Mario Kart – Horizons takes the SNES classic to new places. It feels like Mario Kart 2.0… and you can play it today! Super Mario Kart – Horizons: The Romhack That Feels Like a True Sequel. Watch the video or read the full review below.
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Super Mario Kart has been endlessly tinkered with, celebrated, and reshaped by fans since its original release in 1992. Yet every so often a project emerges that does more than offer a few new courses or palette swaps. It delivers something that feels like a full-fledged sequel. That is exactly what Super Mario Kart – Horizons, a 2024 romhack by gridatttack, accomplishes. It is a project brimming with ambition, polish, and heart, giving long-time fans a reason to dust off their SNES and dive headfirst into new racing adventures. Or… fire up an emulator.
You can download Super Mario Kart – Horizons here: On Romhacking.net or On Romhack Plaza!
A Fresh Horizon for a Classic
The first thing players will notice is how much care was poured into presentation. From the very moment the title screen loads, Horizons sets itself apart. A vibrant new logo, revamped menus, and modernized sprites breathe fresh life into the Mushroom Kingdom. Characters like Toad and Donkey Kong Jr. sport redesigned looks that feel both familiar and newly animated, adding charm without straying too far from the original aesthetic. Even before hitting the track, you feel like you are stepping into a lovingly crafted reimagining.
Then the music begins, and the transformation is undeniable. Horizons does not recycle the familiar jingles from 1992 but instead offers a brand-new soundtrack, composed specifically to match the hack’s diverse new environments. These tunes complement the racing action perfectly, from the high-energy bounce of the plains courses to the mysterious hum of jungle ruins. They even extend to victory themes, menus, and credits, ensuring every corner of the game resonates with something new.
It is rare that a romhack feels this complete. With its graphical overhauls, soundtrack, and customized interface, Horizons easily gives the impression of an official sequel rather than a fan project.
Track Design That Honors the Original
Of course, presentation means little if the tracks themselves do not deliver. Fortunately, Horizons shines in this department. Featuring 20 brand-new courses spread across 8 custom themes, each track manages to strike a balance between creativity and driveability. You will find yourself zipping across serene grassy plains one race and then navigating the claustrophobic twists of abandoned mines the next. From jungle ruins to sunrise mountaintops, the variety is impressive and instantly memorable.
Where many romhacks falter in playability, Horizons succeeds by remaining approachable. Roads are wide enough to allow comfortable maneuvering, while arrow indicators and track markers guide players with a gentle hand. This design philosophy makes the game challenging without feeling unfair, especially when tackling higher speeds at 150cc.
The hack also includes four entirely new battle arenas, each designed with the same attention to balance and creativity as the main circuits. For players who grew up tossing shells at friends in classic split-screen battle mode, these arenas breathe new life into those timeless showdowns.
Difficulty, Balance, and Replay Value
Balance in Super Mario Kart hacks is tricky, yet Horizons nails it. The artificial intelligence is smart enough to keep things competitive but never drifts into outright frustration. In fact, it manages to avoid the common issue of CPU racers getting stuck in corners, a problem even present in the vanilla game. Each difficulty mode offers the right amount of tension, with 50cc being accessible, 100cc offering fair challenge, and 150cc pushing your skills to the limit.
Replay value is boosted even further by unlockable features. Horizons introduces both Mirror Mode and a hidden Hard Mode, which flips familiar courses on their heads and tests even the most seasoned racers. These additions give longtime players reasons to return and master every inch of the track. For completionists, it feels like a reward for dedication, a thoughtful design choice that deepens the experience.
Mechanics have also been fine-tuned. Players now only need to place seventh or higher to advance, a tweak that reduces unnecessary frustration while still keeping the competition tense. Even the points distribution has been reworked to reflect this balance, showing just how much thought was invested in refining the gameplay loop.
The Nostalgia of Horizons
What makes Horizons so special is that it does not simply modernize Super Mario Kart, it captures the heart of why the original was so beloved. The wide tracks, intuitive design, and balance remind players of those long nights huddled around a glowing CRT television with friends, fighting for every red shell and power slide.
Yet Horizons is not content to stop at nostalgia. It feels like Mario Kart 2.0 on the SNES, the kind of sequel we never got in the 1990s but always dreamed about. The romhack uses modern tools like Epic Edit with precision, showing restraint where necessary and creativity where it matters most. The result is a game that respects its roots while branching into something bold and new.
Fans who have played countless Mario Kart romhacks will immediately recognize the difference in polish here. Horizons stands as one of the most professional and well-rounded projects in the scene. The presentation, track design, and overall cohesion elevate it far beyond novelty into the territory of a true labor of love.
Final Thoughts on Super Mario Kart – Horizons
Super Mario Kart – Horizons is more than just another fan project. It is a testament to what passionate creators can achieve with vision and patience. From its vibrant presentation to its expertly designed tracks, it delivers the kind of experience that feels like a natural evolution of the 1992 classic.
Whether you are revisiting the Mushroom Kingdom after decades away or you never put down your SNES controller in the first place, Horizons is a must-play. It is nostalgic yet fresh, accessible yet challenging, and above all, fun in a way that only Mario Kart can be.
For retro enthusiasts and newcomers alike, Horizons stands as one of the finest examples of romhacking done right. It does not simply expand the game, it reinvents it. And in doing so, it offers the kind of joy and excitement that reminds us why we fell in love with Super Mario Kart all those years ago.
Check out this other cool Mario Kart hack, Hyper Street Kart: The Road Warriors, here.
