How to Play Mario Kart with One Joy Con (Can You Do It?!)

Can You Play Mario Kart With One Joy-Con?

Mario Kart is like that old buddy you never get tired of hanging out with. Whether you’re flying solo or chilling with your pals on the Switch, it’s always a blast!

You can play Mario Kart on Switch by yourself or with your friends – it will, either way, be really fun!

 

Wondering if you can Mario Kart with just one joy-con or if you need a pair? Well, Gaming Power Up has the inside scoop on that, so let’s dive in and find out!

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Do You Need 2 Joy-Cons for Mario Kart?

No, you do not need 2 Joy-Cons to play Mario Kart. According to Nintendo, you can play Mario Kart with Friends or by yourself with only one joy-con per person.

This means that two joy-cons are not extremely necessary, but we would recommend having them because playing with two joy-cons is way more comfortable than doing so with a single one.

Therefore, you can either use a single or two joy-cons to play Mario Kart 8 on your Nintendo Switch – as simple as that.


So, Can You Play Mario Kart With One Joy-Con?

Yes, you can play Mario Kart with just one joy-con. In this case, you will use the joy-con in a horizontal position to start playing and racing against your friends and other players.

The game will run just fine on your Nintendo Switch if you play it with just one joy-con (unless your Nintendo Switch Starts Blowing Air!).

Nonetheless, if you have big hands, then it will be a little more problematic to control your character in Mario Kart.

This doesn’t necessarily have to be a limitation, but in our opinion, playing the game with a Nintendo Wheel or two joy-cons feels way, way better.


Can You Play 2 Player Mario Kart With One Switch?

Yes! Up to two players can play Mario Kart on the same Nintendo Switch console. If you want to play with more people, then you will indeed need more than one Nintendo Switch.

Some Nintendo Switch Games Need Two JoyCons, and some don’t.

In the case of Mario Kart, you do not need two joycons at all – one joy-con per player will do the trick, and you can both be on the same console, so worry not!


So, How Many Joy-Cons Do I Need for 2 Players in Mario Kart?

You need a single set of JoyCons, which are two individual pieces of JoyCon, for 2 players in Mario Kart.

You do not need to buy extra gear, but you could if you want to be more comfortable while playing the game against your friends locally.

Needless to say, you can simply grab the set of JoyCons that comes with your Nintendo Switch, use them both individually, and play Mario Kart 2 players easily. 


How to Play Mario Kart With One Joy Con

It is common knowledge now – you can play Mario Kart Switch with just one joycon, but how do you do it?

If you are having problems while trying to set up the game with just a single joycon, then these are the quick steps that you need to follow.


Step 1: Turn On Nintendo Switch Console and Launch Mario Kart

Simply turn on your Nintendo Switch as you normally do while connected to the TV or in portable mode, and launch the Mario Kart game.

You must do this while having a single JoyCon turned on.


Step 2: Press the SL and SR Buttons On Mario Kart’s Menu

Before starting the game, the main Mario Kart menu will ask you to press the buttons on your controller.

Here, you must just press the SL and SR buttons on the single Joy-Con you have at hand. This will let the game automatically know that you will be using a single JoyCon, so it will automatically take it as one.


Step 3: Play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch with One JoyCon!

From now on, the game will be set to play with just one joy-con. Therefore, you don’t need to do anything else!

If you want a friend to join locally, then simply make them press the same SR and SL buttons for their Joy-Con to pair with the game.


Gaming Summary: Can You Play Mario Kart With One Joy Con?

Yes, you can play Mario Kart with just one joy-con! This is a great alternative if you want two individuals to play on the same console, or if you like the old Nintendo Wii way of playing Mario Kart back in the early 2000s.

Doing so is quite easy, so simply follow the steps in this guide so you can start playing Mario Kart on Switch with just one joycon controller.


Gamers Also Ask

How Many Players Can Play Mario Kart With a Single Nintendo Switch? 

Up to four players can play Mario Kart on a single Nintendo Switch. No more than four players can join the same local session, so keep this in mind before you have a sleepover and invite more than four friends to play with you!

How Many Players Can Play On a Local Mario Kart Game? 

Up to 8 players can play locally on Mario Kart by using Local Wireless Play, which is a feature integrated into your Nintendo Switch. Of course, you will need multiple Nintendo Switch consoles in order to achieve this, which is a story for another day.