You're driving through the open meadows near Moo Moo Farm, the sun is setting, and suddenly you see it—a glowing blue dome with a giant "P" stamped on it. If you’ve spent any time in Mario Kart World on the Switch 2, you know exactly what happens next. You hit that switch, the music changes to a frantic ticking clock, and suddenly you’re not just racing; you’re platforming with a go-kart.
Honestly, the P-Switches in Mario Kart World are the best thing to happen to the series since the drift boost. They basically turned the game into a massive, driveable version of Breath of the Wild. Instead of just looping the same tracks, you’re out in "Free Roam," hunting down these little blue buttons to prove you actually know how to handle your vehicle.
What’s the Deal with 394 P-Switches?
It’s an oddly specific number, right? Most games would round it up to 400. But the community over on Reddit has a pretty wild theory that Nintendo chose 394 as a "Thank You" to fans. If you look at the Japanese wordplay (Goroawase), 3-9-4 can be read as San-Kyu-Yo, which sounds an awful lot like "Thank You."
Whether that’s a coincidence or classic Nintendo nerdery, finding all of them is a massive undertaking. These aren't just collectibles you drive over and forget. Each one triggers a unique mission. Some are easy, like collecting ten blue coins in a straight line. Others? They will make you want to throw your Pro Controller into the nearest body of water.
The Difficulty Spike is Real
I’m looking at you, Shy Guy Bazaar. There’s a P-Switch there that requires you to parkour across rooftops using the new wall-riding mechanic. It’s brutal. You’ve got a tiny time window, and if you miss one jump, you’re tumbling into the sand and starting over.
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It’s a different kind of skill than just being good at items. You have to master the Charge Jump and Rail Grinding—mechanics that many players (myself included) kind of ignored during the main Grand Prix races. The P-Switches are basically the "Jedi Training" of Mario Kart World.
Breaking Down the Regions
The world is huge, so Nintendo split these challenges across ten main biomes. If you’re trying to track them all down, here’s how the landscape roughly looks:
- Central Region: This is where you’ll find the bulk of the "tutorial" style switches. Lots of Moo Moo Meadows and Peach Stadium vibes.
- Forest Region: This area has a staggering 49 switches. It’s dense, it’s green, and half of them are hidden behind Boo Cinema or deep in Acorn Heights.
- Lava Region: These are high-stress. You’re often dodging boulders or driving through Toad's Factory hazards. There are 46 here.
- Desert Region: Shy Guy Bazaar and Desert Hills host 38 missions. Expect a lot of drifting through sandstorms.
- Jungle Safari: 42 switches are tucked away here. If you love Dino Dino Jungle, you’ll be in heaven, but the Great ? Block Ruins missions are tricky.
The coastal and snow regions also have their fair share, usually involving a lot of water-skipping or ice-sliding.
What Do You Actually Get for Doing This?
Here’s the part that divides the fanbase: the rewards. If you were hoping for a secret character like Pink Gold Peach (just kidding, nobody wants that) or a hidden track, you might be disappointed.
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The primary reward for completing P-Switch missions is Stickers.
Yeah, stickers. You use them to customize your kart’s body. Some of them are actually pretty cool—deep-cut references to older games or brand-style logos. But for some players, doing 394 missions just for a few decals feels a bit light.
However, the real "reward" is the mastery. By the time you’ve finished the Lava Region challenges, you’ll be taking lines in multiplayer that other people haven't even dreamed of. You’ll be grinding rails and wall-jumping over Red Shells like a pro.
The Mystery of the Final Switch
For a long time, people were stuck at 393. Streamers like Fir_ spent over 60 hours scanning the map before finally finding #394. It turns out some of these are incredibly well-hidden, tucked behind breakable walls or at the very top of mountain peaks that require a perfect triple-boost to reach.
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Tips for the Completionists
If you’re going for the full 100% save file, stop trying to do them all at once. It’s exhausting.
- Use the Map: Once you trigger a switch but fail, it usually stays marked on your mini-map.
- Master the Charge Jump: Almost all the "Hard" difficulty switches require you to hold the jump button to build height. You can't just hop your way through the late-game missions.
- Check the "Routes": Remember that the open world isn't just the tracks. The "Intermission" roads that connect the courses have plenty of switches hidden in the scenery.
- Look Up: Nintendo loves verticality in this game. If you’re in a city area like Crown City, the switch is almost never on the ground. Check the balconies.
Moving Toward the End Game
The P-Switches represent a huge shift in how we play Mario Kart. It’s no longer just a "party game" you play for twenty minutes with friends. It’s an adventure. Whether you care about the stickers or not, the missions force you to engage with the physics of the karts in a way we haven't seen since the Mission Mode in Mario Kart DS.
If you’re stuck on a specific one, like the infamous "Blue Truck Ramp" mission in Crown City, take a break. Go win a Grand Prix. Come back with a different kart setup. Sometimes a lighter frame with better acceleration makes those tight platforming sections a lot easier.
The journey to 394 is long, but honestly, it’s the most fun I’ve had in a racing game in years. Just don't expect a trophy at the end—the satisfaction of finally nailing that last wall-ride is the real prize.
Next Steps for Players:
Start by clearing the Central Region first to get a feel for the different mission types (Coin Collection, Time Trial, and Obstacle Course). Once you’ve got the basics down, head to the South Sea area to practice the water-skipping mechanics, as these are vital for the high-difficulty switches found in the Lava and Snow regions later on.