With Grand Theft Auto 6 pushed back to 2026, all eyes are on the recent launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its crown jewel: Mario Kart World. As a highly anticipated follow-up to one of the best-selling games ever, you'd think this title would be an automatic rival for Game of the Year at The Game Awards later this year. But think again.

Despite favorable reviews, Mario Kart World is unlikely to even sniff a nomination, regardless of its critical reception. Even with a stellar Metacritic rating of 96, this racing game faces a steep uphill battle. Why? The Game Awards has a notorious bias toward genres like action-adventures and RPGs, especially those with rich storylines. Unfortunately, racing games, along with sports, sim, and strategy titles, don't get a fair shot.

A look back at previous Game of the Year nominees reveals a disheartening trend for racing titles. Take Mario Kart 8, often hailed as a pinnacle of the franchise. Released in 2014, the same year The Game Awards debuted, it garnered strong reviews but was overlooked for the top honor, despite winning Best Family and Best Sports/Racing Game.

Then, there's Forza Horizon 5, which wowed critics upon its launch in 2021. Despite being one of the highest-rated games that year, it still failed to secure a nomination, losing out to the co-op game It Takes Two.

Currently, Mario Kart World sits at a respectable 87 on Metacritic. Yet, its innovations, particularly in open-world gameplay, have also drawn some critique. While Nintendo hopes for better luck with Donkey Kong Bananza or Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which could potentially scoop nominations, the prospects for Mario Kart World seem dim.

This brings us to the uncomfortable truth: the gaming jury at The Game Awards largely sidelined genres like racing, viewing them as less capable of achieving greatness. Even with 68 million copies of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold, suggesting widespread appeal, the critical community still struggles to see these genres as artistic contenders. It's a bias that really deserves reevaluation!