is a 2011
racing video game. It is the seventh major installment in the
Mario Kart series and the third to be released for handheld consoles. It was developed by
Nintendo EAD and
Retro Studios and published by
Nintendo for the
Nintendo 3DS. Similar to previous games in the series, players participate in
go-kart racing on various
Mario-themed
tracks, playing as one of seventeen different
Mario characters. While racing, the players make use of
power-up items that hinder opposing characters. New additions to the game include
hang-gliding attachments for karts, the ability to drive underwater, the ability to drive in first-person, and the ability to fully customize the vehicles' builds.
Mario Kart 7 supports both local and
online multiplayer for up to eight players. The game was released worldwide in early December 2011.