Top 10 Best Mario Kart Wii Characters

When it comes to Mario Kart Wii, the characters you choose can really make or break your race. While each racer brings their own style and stats to the track, some characters consistently rise to the top thanks to their unique combination of speed, handling, and sheer fun factor. This game offers a roster packed with variety, from beloved favorites like Yoshi and Peach to hidden gems that might surprise you with how well they perform.

The great thing about Mario Kart Wii is that each character has their own strengths, and certain players might click with different ones depending on their driving style or personal preferences. Whether you prefer lighter, more agile characters for quick maneuvers or heavyweights that bulldoze through the competition, the game gives you plenty of options to experiment with. And let's be honest - sometimes it's less about stats and more about which character makes you smile as you speed past your friends on the final lap.
The Top Ten
Yoshi A cheerful, green dinosaur with an iconic long tongue, Yoshi is known for his versatility and well-balanced stats in Mario Kart Wii. He hails from Yoshi's Island and is a fan-favorite character.

Yoshi has always been my favorite. He is my go-to Mario Kart Wii character. I usually play him with the Supa Blooper. The combo works well and is a good speed for automatic racers like me. I don't like Yoshi just because he's cute (although that is part of the reason). I like him because he's a good size for me and has a good attitude.

Yeah, I know he's really good, but why are you judging just for his looks? I bet half of you voted just because he's "adorable," and that does not matter!

But anyway, I like him, but I'm just here to point out that people are always judging by their looks!

Funky Kong A laid-back, sunglasses-wearing ape, Funky Kong excels with high speed stats, making him a popular choice among experienced racers. He originates from the Donkey Kong series.

I'm sorry, how is this dude not #1? Don't get me wrong, I love my boy Yoshi, but look at this guy's design! Not only is Funky Kong one of the more obscure characters, who also happens to have like, the coolest design of any character in the game, but using him and the Flame Runner is one of the best combinations in the game.

Again, I love Yoshi. But as a Mario Kart character, Funky Kong is much more interesting. I'm super glad he's in MK8 Deluxe now.

What has been said about Funky Kong that hasn't already been said? He's one of the best characters in the game with his absurd speed boost, which is helpful for the Offroader. He's a beast on vehicles like the Flame Runner and the Spear. He's definitely a must-have character to unlock in the game, and the one I'd recommend getting after Rosalina.

Dry Bones This skeletal Koopa is a lightweight character with quick acceleration, appearing as a more eerie alternative to his living counterpart. Dry Bones is known for his agility on the track.

It's completely obvious that Koopa Troopa got ditched and replaced by Dry Bones in Mario Kart DS. Dry Bones may look creepy, but he is actually pretty cute for a skeleton turtle, especially if you see Mario Kart Wii's ending screen.

Dry Bones deserves the top spot, not Yoshi. Most people always play as Dry Bones in the Bullet Bike and the Mini Beast, and they are invincible! Nobody can defeat them! You rock, Dry Bones!

Cutest character ever! I like Dry Bones with the Bullet Bike and the Duck Bike thing. I think he is even cuter than Yoshi!

Dry Bones: 100/100. Masterpiece of a character.

Dry Bowser A fiery skeletal version of Bowser, Dry Bowser is a heavyweight character with strong speed and drifting abilities. He is an intimidating figure with a fearsome presence on the track.

First, let me explain some concepts of Mario Kart characters, and then I will describe why Dry Bowser is the best. In Mario Kart Wii, the characters themselves don't have much impact. It's the karts that determine everything. However, certain karts are only available to specific characters, so characters do have a slight influence.

There are three weight categories: small, middle, and heavy karts. Small karts are slower but have better acceleration and agility, middle karts have decent overall stats, and heavy karts are fast but have poor acceleration and turning abilities. Characters are also associated with specific weight categories, meaning small characters can only use small karts, middle characters can only use middle karts, and so on.

Therefore, regardless of your preferred character, you would be equally skilled using any other character in the same weight category. Dry Bowser is a heavy character, so I would be just as good with Bowser, Diddy Kong, etc., as they are all heavy characters. Ultimately, this list boils down to who looks the coolest, as Dry Bowser doesn't offer any advantages over other characters. However, he looks awesome and far cooler than any other character.

Daisy The energetic princess of Sarasaland, Daisy is a medium-weight character with well-rounded stats in Mario Kart Wii. She is known for her tomboyish attitude and vibrant personality.

Same speed stat as the legendary Funky Kong, a massive +4 speed, plus an extra mini-turbo stat, which is more valuable than Funky Kong's off-road on certain tracks. The main thing holding her back is vehicle choice, but if she had access to the Flame Runner, I'd imagine she'd reach the same popularity as the legend Funky Kong himself.

Daisy is just plain awesome. I can never stop playing as her, but she's the hardest female to unlock! I got Rosalina first, but she sucks and I hate playing as her. She cheats too. Some people, like Daisy and Yoshi, don't cheat and play the game without winning and sore losing like Rosalina.

Baby Luigi The infant version of Luigi, Baby Luigi is a lightweight character with great acceleration and handling. He adds a cute, playful vibe to the racing roster.

Baby Luigi! He's the bomb! He is better than the girls because he doesn't fully cry. He doesn't need a pacifier like those whiny brats in diapers. Baby Luigi is a big boy who is a monster on the track. Baby Luigi, let's go!

To me, he is the cutest baby character. Very helpful when using the Bullet Bike, Booster Seat, and the Falcon one. He is overall badass, and when I unlocked him, I never was any other character afterward.

Tied with Baby Mario for the heaviest lightweight, but he has an impressive speed boost.

Peach The princess of the Mushroom Kingdom, Peach is a lightweight character with good acceleration and handling in Mario Kart Wii. Her signature pink attire makes her easily recognizable.

Peach and Yoshi are the cutest characters. Peach has cool pink cars, and she says, "Oh, next time" if she loses. Though I like Mario, it's his fault Peach is always kidnapped. He is too late to defend her.

I just love Peach. Lately, I've been choosing either her or Yoshi. I always play time trials with her. Though I do adore Daisy, I haven't had the chance to play her, so, as of now, you go Peach!

Peach. My friend and I have cosplayed as her a few times. Not only is she good at Mario Kart Wii with the Mach Bike, but she is also a little prettier than Daisy. (Sorry, Daisy, no offense, but Peach wins this time.)

Toad Toad is a light and nimble character, offering excellent acceleration and handling, making him a beginner-friendly choice. He serves as Princess Peach's loyal attendant in the series.

He is the king of Mario Kart! Although most think Funky Kong is much faster than this little mushroom, for scientific reasons, they are all wrong. Let me explain:

1. Toad has the best acceleration in the game, and you need acceleration to get to high speeds.
2. Toad is a lightweight, so he'll whizz as he's not putting much pressure on the kart/bike he is using.
3. Finally, Toad, in the actual games (like New Super Mario Bros. Wii), is always the quickest dude on the block, and Funky Kong is quite slow when running, which is rather shocking.

I found out all of this from my general knowledge and scientific research.

Luigi Mario's younger brother, Luigi has similar balanced stats but with a slightly different handling style. His green outfit and quirky personality make him a popular choice.

Luigi is my favorite just because I can always win using Luigi if I'm playing in manual. I also really like Yoshi, Toad, Dry Bowser, and Waluigi.

I can relate to Luigi way too much. I'm clumsy, I'm scared, but I'm also protective of my loved ones.

In my opinion, the best character in every single Mario and Luigi game.

Rosalina A cosmic princess from the Super Mario Galaxy series, Rosalina is a heavyweight character in Mario Kart Wii. Her high speed and strong presence make her stand out among the racers.

Rosalina is really cool, has good manual stats, and looks awesome with her little Luma! She is actually really easy to unlock and is the only female heavyweight. She should be at No. 1. She is at a whole new level when playing with manual.

Pretty terrible for beginners on automatic (except for the handling), though.

My top 10 would be:

1. Rosalina (if playing manual)
2. Daisy
3. Mii (heavy)
4. Dry Bones (if playing manual)
5. Peach
6. Yoshi
7. Koopa Troopa (if playing manual)
8. Luigi
9. Toad (great drift but pretty bad for automatic)
10. Baby Mario

Those are the top 10 best characters. Baby Luigi and Funky Kong would top Peach, but I never play time trials and haven't unlocked them yet. Get Rosalina at Number 1!

The Newcomers

? Baby Peach Baby Peach is the infant version of Princess Peach, offering strong acceleration and nimble handling. She brings a playful charm to the competitive roster.

Baby Princess Peach is adorable and less annoying than others, such as Funky Kong and the other babies, Mario and Luigi. Baby Princess Peach rocks like Princess Peach.

When I was a kid (3-5), all I would ever do was play as Baby Peach on the monster truck thingy. And only on Luigi Circuit or Moo Moo Meadows (I was afraid of falling off the course). I must have played it about half an hour a day!

Kinda annoying sometimes, I will admit, but she is my lucky character. I cannot tell you how many times I have won with her.

The Contenders
Koopa Troopa A small, turtle-like character, Koopa Troopa is a lightweight racer known for his speed and agility. He first appeared in the original Super Mario Bros. as a common enemy.

Koopa is a lightweight, and he has the worst karts, but he is the only character in the lightweights that goes faster in the marina courses with the Cheep Cheep car.

Pick Koopa, Daisy, or the blue dress princess, and I guarantee you'll win the game.

I love Koopa Troopa! Forget about that son of a gun Mario! Koopa Troopa is the best!

I always use Koopa, and hey! I always win. He's amazing and cute.

Mario The all-around hero of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario offers balanced stats in Mario Kart Wii, making him a reliable and versatile racer. He is the central figure of the series.

Mario's speed and jump might be lower than Yoshi, who I prefer to use, but I find Mario should be ranked around 4th or higher. They top the characters according to their stats, not about being the main character or whatsoever.

Mario should totally be #1. He's the very character who started the whole series. Screw you people who think Mario is just a fat, stupid Italian plumber. I think he's awesome!

I think Mario should be number 1-3 on this list. He always plays very well, and with the Mach Bike, I've beaten the expert staff ghost data on so many courses!

Toadette Toadette, the female counterpart to Toad, is a lightweight racer with strong acceleration and good cornering. She is known for her pink pigtails and cheerful demeanor.

Toadette is a very good Mario Kart Wii character because she gets a boost for off-road and speed. She's lightweight, so most of her karts or bikes have good acceleration. If you get hit by a pesky blue shell, you'll recover in no time.

She is super cute! But even if she wasn't, she is a fast character who is good for off-road courses. If she is hit by a blue shell, a red shell, or anything else, she can easily recover and go back to first in no time!

She's my main, basically my Mario Kart Ulala (she's my main in Sonic and SEGA All-Stars Racing). I'd highly recommend using her with the Tiny Titan or Booster Seat.

Bowser Jr Bowser's mischievous son, Bowser Jr. is a small but feisty character with medium stats. His sneaky personality reflects in his determined racing style.

Come on, everyone, make this higher! Bowser Jr. is my all-time favorite character in not just the whole of video games but in the history of all fictional media! He's cute and mischievous, so please vote!

When I do a single-player versus match in Mario Kart Wii, I play a team race as Bowser Jr. with Dry Bones and Koopa Troopa on my team. That is just the way I do things. I like Dry Bones and Koopa Troopa!

Bowser Jr. is my favorite character, and he has the best cars. He is the fastest one when I play him, and I think that he should be #2.

Mii Miis are custom characters that can be created and used as racers in Mario Kart Wii. Their stats vary depending on the weight class assigned during creation.

Should be number 3 on the list stats-wise if large or medium weight. One of the most underrated characters in the game. Better than Yoshi with the Mach Bike. I can even beat some Funky's and Daisy's online too!

The Mii is the best character because you can customize everything about him or her - the face, the weight class, and, if you have Mii Outfit B, their clothes.

Miis are actually very good characters in performance too, especially at weight Medium.

Mii should be higher than Peach! I'm sick of those Peach fans who think Peach should be number one. Screw that! Mii, Yoshi, and Rosalina are all way better than Peach!

Diddy Kong The energetic sidekick of Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong is a lightweight racer with quick handling and acceleration. His athletic and adventurous nature shines on the track.

I love to play as Diddy Kong with the Sprinter and the Super Blooper because he helps them in the stats they aren't good in. He's always been my favorite character because he's a chimp, and it's fun to watch him do those backflips.

Diddy Kong has a great mini-turbo boost and also a decent drift boost. I even used him on the Mach Bike to get Funky Kong.

How is Peach above Diddy? I used Diddy to unlock a lot of characters and vehicles. Make him higher. Take Peach off. She sucks.

King Boo A ghostly heavyweight, King Boo hails from the Luigi's Mansion series and is known for his tricky, sinister nature. He possesses strong speed and drifting abilities.

He's the easiest to unlock, making him beneficial (because Dry Bowser is incredibly hard) since he's helped me defeat everyone. He may not seem fast, but his handling is incredible. Also, I think some people have noticed this: King Boo is easily the lightest of the large characters, which helps. 10/10.

I unlocked most of my characters because of him! Mainly the harder ones to unlock like Rosalina (the hard way) and Dry Bowser. He rocks!

He was supposed to be a normal weight, but since he lacks arms, the developers put him in the Heavyweight class. Shame on you, Nintendo!

Baby Mario The infant version of Mario, Baby Mario is a lightweight racer with excellent acceleration and tight handling. He adds a touch of nostalgia with his youthful charm.

Baby Mario is my favorite because he has Mini Beast and Bit Bike, the two best vehicles in the whole game. I always win as him. Rock on, Baby Mario!

He should be number 1. He has Mini Beast and Bullet Bike and the Bit Bike, which is one of his best bikes!

Tiny is mighty! Baby Mario should be in the top 5. Plus, he is a lightweight, so he's really fast!

Waluigi Tall and lanky, Waluigi is Luigi's mischievous rival and a medium-weight character. His unique physique and chaotic personality make him a fun choice for players.

I'm gonna say, Oh yeah, Waluigi time! Waluigi is the best in my opinion. He and Yoshi are the ones I use the most. He isn't in Mario Kart 7 because they didn't add him! That game sucks altogether. Metal Mario and Honey Queen? God, no! He and Diddy should have got into that game. He's the third best for me to use after Yoshi and, surprisingly, Diddy Kong! So, you better fear because Waluigi is in town!

He's a large-weight, so he gets a weight bonus from his karts and bikes, plus he statistically has massive bonuses in drift, acceleration, and off-road. What more could you ask for?

Bowser The king of the Koopas, Bowser is a heavyweight character with high speed but lower acceleration. His powerful presence makes him a dominant force in Mario Kart Wii.

How is Bowser way lower than his dry counterpart? Dry Bowser is literally just Bowser but dry, yet he is more popular than Bowser just because he "looks cool and breathes blue fire." Come on, Bowser himself is way cooler than Dry Bowser and should be higher than him.

King Bowser, he is the king. He needs to be hailed. How can you like Dry Bowser over Bowser? People bash Bowser, yet pick Dry Bowser. FYI, they are the same person. Dry Bowser is simply an undead version of the king himself, Bowser. I've always picked Bowser in every game: Mario Kart, Smash, Parties, etc.

Donkey Kong The powerful ape from Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong is a heavyweight racer with high speed and strength, excelling on long straightaways. His brute force is a key asset.

I love Donkey Kong! He is awesome. He is the only character that I ever use.

Come on! The first Mario game was named Donkey Kong! Make him higher, guys!

Should be WAY higher, best guy ever. So fast and strong, gets me first place all the time!

Baby Daisy Baby Daisy is the infant counterpart of Princess Daisy, known for her quick acceleration and light handling. She adds a cute and competitive spirit to the game.

I have played her many times and, despite how light she is, she is a really good character. Plus, she is so much less annoying than Baby Peach.

I love this baby. She is so cute and adorable. She is my 2nd favorite Mario Kart character. I don't get why so many people hate her. Anyway, I don't care if they dislike my comment. I love Baby Daisy.

Baby Daisy is in the top 3 for best babies because she is adorable, fast, and is the little version of awesome Daisy!

Birdo A colorful, egg-shooting dinosaur, Birdo is a medium-weight character with good all-around stats. Known for her distinctive snout, she adds flair to the race.

How is Birdo the worst medium? It is a boy, it is a girl! Whatever! Why does everyone care so much about gender? Gender and voices don't make a character. It's personality and who is good or not!

Anyway, you can all blame Birdo for the worst characters and not Yoshi? Because basically, Birdo protects the egglings and got her nose cut off in a battle. Besides, the nose gives Birdo more power, and for Yoshi, he needs Birdo, or else he'll have blind and deaf Shy Guy and babies.

Rosalina sucks because she cheats, and Birdo is original. She is from the Super Mario Bros Super Show! Birdo is ugly, but she is powerful, and she is great to play as. Today, dialogue states Birdo as a she.

Wario Mario's greedy rival, Wario is a heavyweight character with strong speed and off-road capabilities. His aggressive nature and chaotic driving style make him a formidable opponent.

Wario is the best character in Nintendo, in my opinion! I know he's fat, greedy, and mean, but guess what? I'm starting to grow fat, I like money, and I can be a little negative now and then. And who isn't?

Plus, I like how he has the W on his cap. He is a winner!

This guy is the most underrated character. With him on the Flame Flyer, his stats match Funky Kong on the Flame Runner. I am serious. He needs to be more liked in Mario Kart Wii because he is one of the best characters.

Wario's the best character in the game for me! I like using him in the Offroader because it helps me perform shortcuts and the Flame Runner because it's the most used vehicle!

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