The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass Wave 1 was the first of six DLC drops for the Nintendo Switch title, officially released on March 18, 2022. It introduced eight remastered courses from previous entries in the series, including the first console appearances for tracks originally designed for the mobile game Mario Kart Tour. Wave 1 Content Overview This wave includes two cups with four tracks each: Golden Dash Cup
Paris Promenade (Mario Kart Tour): A scenic race through the streets of Paris.
Toad Circuit (Mario Kart 7): A classic, beginner-friendly stadium course.
Choco Mountain (Mario Kart 64): A nostalgic, bumpy ride through chocolatey peaks.
Coconut Mall (Mario Kart Wii): A fan-favorite vibrant shopping mall setting. Lucky Cat Cup
Tokyo Blur (Mario Kart Tour): A high-speed dash through the neon lights of Tokyo.
Shroom Ridge (Mario Kart DS): A busy mountain highway filled with traffic.
Sky Garden (Mario Kart: Super Circuit): A remastered race through the clouds.
Ninja Hideaway (Mario Kart Tour): A multi-path course set in a traditional Japanese castle.
How to Access Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass DLC Content Mario Kart 8 Deluxe -NSP--Booster Course Wave 1...
Before proceeding, note that this guide assumes you already have a legitimate copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or are using custom firmware (CFW) on your Switch. Piracy harms developers. Always dump your own NSP files if possible.
Q: Do I need the Base Game to play the NSP? A: Yes. The Wave 1 NSP is only a DLC add-on. You need the base Mario Kart 8 Deluxe NSP or cartridge installed first.
Q: Can I play Wave 1 offline? A: Yes. Once the NSP is installed to the system memory or SD card, you do not need an internet connection to race on Paris Promenade or Ninja Hideaway.
Q: Is the Wave 1 NSP included in the "Update 2.0.0"? A: No. Update 2.0.0 contained the underlying engine changes. The Wave 1 DLC NSP is a separate file containing the actual track data.
Q: Does Wave 1 support 200cc? A: Absolutely. All Wave 1 tracks are fully playable in 200cc, Mirror Mode, and Time Trials.
Revving Up for a Classic: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass Wave 1
When Mario Kart 8 Deluxe first sped onto the Nintendo Switch, it was already considered the definitive kart racing experience. However, the release of the Booster Course Pass Wave 1 took that excitement to a whole new gear. For fans looking to expand their library with the NSP (Nintendo Submission Package) format for their digital collection, Wave 1 marked the beginning of a massive content injection that doubled the game's total track count.
Here is everything you need to know about the first wave of the Booster Course Pass and why it’s a must-have for any Switch racer. The Return of the Classics
Wave 1 introduced eight remastered tracks from across the Mario Kart series, divided into two new cups: the Golden Dash Cup and the Lucky Cat Cup. Rather than just simple ports, these tracks were visually overhauled to match the high-definition aesthetic of the Switch. Golden Dash Cup The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass
Paris Promenade (Mario Kart Tour): A beautiful trip through the streets of France, featuring a dynamic path that changes every lap.
Toad Circuit (3DS): A classic, high-speed introductory track that focuses on pure racing lines.
Choco Mountain (N64): A nostalgia trip through the fog and chocolatey hills of the Nintendo 64 era, now with improved verticality.
Coconut Mall (Wii): Perhaps the most fan-requested track in history, bringing the chaotic energy of the shopping mall to the modern era. Lucky Cat Cup
Tokyo Blur (Mario Kart Tour): A neon-soaked dash through the heart of Japan, shifting routes to keep racers on their toes.
Shroom Ridge (DS): A treacherous cliffside road that requires precise drifting to avoid oncoming traffic.
Sky Garden (GBA): A reimagining of the Game Boy Advance classic, taking the race high above the clouds with modern shortcuts.
Ninja Hideaway (Mario Kart Tour): A fan favorite for its intricate vertical shortcuts and hidden paths through a traditional Japanese dojo. Why the Digital NSP Format Matters
For enthusiasts managing their digital libraries, the NSP file represents the standard format for Nintendo Switch titles and DLC. Accessing the Booster Course Pass via digital download ensures that you can jump into these new tracks instantly without swapping cartridges. Since the Booster Course Pass is an add-on, you must ensure your base game is updated to the latest version to recognize the new content. Performance and Visuals For Nintendo Switch (Atmosphere or SX OS):
While some fans initially noted a difference in art style compared to the base game tracks, Wave 1’s performance is rock solid. The tracks run at a silky smooth 60 FPS in both docked and handheld modes. The music has also been given the "Mario Kart Live Band" treatment, with many of the classic themes being re-recorded with high-quality instrumentation. How to Access the Content
The Booster Course Pass Wave 1 is available through several methods:
Direct Purchase: Buying the pass on the eShop grants access to all six waves (48 tracks total) as they are released.
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack: Subscribers to this tier get the Booster Course Pass at no additional cost while their subscription is active. Final Verdict
The Booster Course Pass Wave 1 breathed new life into a game that was already a masterpiece. Whether you are drifting through the halls of Coconut Mall or dodging cars on Shroom Ridge, this first wave set a high bar for the 40 tracks that followed. It’s the perfect reason to dust off your controller and head back to the starting line.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe -NSP--Booster Course Wave 1.nsp/switch/ or /install/ folder on your microSD card.Wave 1 set the tone for the entire pass immediately. It dropped eight courses, split evenly between the classic and new (sort of). The immediate controversy—and perhaps the biggest talking point—was the visual fidelity.
Longtime fans quickly noticed that many of the tracks, particularly the returning favorites, looked... different. Specifically, they looked like high-definition ports of Mario Kart Tour assets rather than ground-up rebuilds in the style of the base Mario Kart 8 tracks. Courses like Toad Circuit (3DS) and Choco Mountain (N64) lacked the textural richness and dynamic lighting of the base game’s original tracks.
This sparked a debate: Was Nintendo being lazy, or efficient? Wave 1 suggested the latter. While the visuals were flatter, the gameplay remained tight. However, the contrast was stark when compared to the visuals of the base game. It signaled that this wasn't a remaster in the vein of the Link’s Awakening remake; it was a "deluxe-ified" mobile port.
If you are looking for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Wave 1 [NSP], keep the following in mind:
v2.0.0 or v196608. Make sure you have the base game NSP installed first.[Base] + [Update] + [DLC] release.“Async shader building” to avoid stutters on Coconut Mall and Ninja Hideaway.In the context of Nintendo Switch software, an NSP is a digitally signed package format used for distributing games and DLC directly from the Nintendo eShop or via physical cartridge dumps. Unlike XCI (cartridge image) files, NSPs are primarily designed for installation to the console’s internal memory or SD card.