Classic Mario Kart 64 gets immersive first-person VR makeover

A new community-made mod lets players experience Mario Kart 64 in virtual reality, placing the user directly inside the kart.

A fan-created virtual-reality modification for Mario Kart 64 has been released, allowing players to view the classic racing game from inside the kart. The mod was highlighted by X user BeardoBenjo, who posted a clip of the Koopa Troopa Beach track rendered in a head-tracked first-person view that many described as nauseating. RaYRoD TV, a developer known for porting other retro titles like Banjo-Kazooie and Star Fox 64 into VR, built the mod on top of the existing SpaghettiKart PC port.

It can be downloaded at no cost from GitHub, but users must already own a Mario Kart 64 ROM or extract one from a cartridge. The package includes a VR options menu for tweaking stereo depth, eye height and HUD positioning. Nintendo has shown little interest in modern VR, limited to the Virtual Boy and a one-off Labo kit. For enthusiasts of the Nintendo 64 who have a VR headset, the mod offers a novel weekend project, though players are warned to avoid eating beforehand.