Generally speaking, if you want to play the Mario Kart series, you either need a Nintendo console or the mobile version. However, recently, the YouTube channels Atlas Arcade and Animated Subtitles teamed up to create a Mario Kart-style interactive video in a really creative way. What’s more, when watching on desktop, you can even use your keyboard to move the character left and right and dodge obstacles along the track.
Of course, this isn’t a new Nintendo title, nor does YouTube actually have a built-in Mario Kart. It’s more of a fan-made experiment using YouTube’s 360-degree video and subtitle features — small in scale and incomplete in content, but the presentation is pretty fun.
Image source:Atlas Arcade and Animated Subtitles
You Can Now Play Mario Kart-Style Games on YouTube! Creator Makes 1-Minute Interactive Race With 360-Degree Video
Recently, Atlas Arcade and Animated Subtitles teamed up to upload an interactive video titled “Mario Kart but it’s a PLAYABLE YouTube video!”
The most interesting thing about this video is that it wasn’t accomplished through cheats, web-based mini-games, or other platforms—it was done directly within the YouTube video player itself. When watching on desktop, players can use the keyboard to pan the view left and right, guiding the character to dodge obstacles on a track similar to Rainbow Road.
Image source: Atlas Arcade and Animated Subtitles
In other words, this interactive video doesn’t embed a game engine into a YouTube video; rather, it packages the viewer’s ability to change perspective as a left-right obstacle-dodging mechanic.
Since it’s merely a 360-degree interactive video, it naturally wouldn’t have the complete systems from Mario Kart like items, drifting, boost pads, and racing against opponents. However, the fact that a single video can make users feel like they’re controlling a character is indeed an interesting presentation approach.
Image source: Atlas Arcade and Animated Subtitles
What’s even more interesting is that they also transformed YouTube’s subtitle menu, turning the subtitle options into a character selector. Viewers can switch between different subtitles to transform between characters like Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Wario, and even Bowser.
The English subtitles are Mario:
Image source: Atlas Arcade and Animated Subtitles
English (Canada) subtitles are by Luigi:
Image source: Atlas Arcade and Animated Subtitles
However, when you actually play it, it’s still quite different from the real Mario Kart.
The full version of the game features complete tracks, characters, vehicles, items, online multiplayer battles, and racing against other players. This YouTube interactive video, meanwhile, is more of a small experiment—there are no items to pick up, no other players or AI opponents, and the whole experience lasts only about a minute.
It’s less about playing a racing game and more about experiencing just how far YouTube videos can be turned into something playable.
For the best experience, it’s recommended to open this YouTube video in a desktop browser. The video description also notes that this interactive feature works best on PC, giving you an experience closer to what the creator intended.
If watched on a mobile phone or played in an environment that doesn’t support 360-degree video controls, you may only see a regular video image, and may not be able to fully use interactive features like panning left and right or switching characters.
Source: KOCPC Chinese