SuperTuxKart

Overview

SuperTuxKart (STK for short) is a free, open-source 3D go-karting racing game inspired by the Mario Kart series, but featuring an open-source project mascot (like Tux for Linux) as the main character, emphasizing fun, ease of play, and multiplayer. Maintained by community developers and hosted on supertuxkart.net and GitHub, it supports platforms such as Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Haiku OS, and is suitable for desktop, mobile, and handheld devices (such as Raspberry Pi). SuperTuxKart is licensed under the GPL v3 license, uses the Irrlicht/Antarctica engine, and offers single-player campaigns, local/online multiplayer battles, time trials, and battle modes. The game prioritizes fun over realistic physics and includes 20+ tracks, 25+ characters, and various power-ups (such as gunpowder barrels and banana peels).

History and Development

• Origins:
  • April 2000: The TuxKart project was launched, developed by Steve Baker and his son, Oliver Baker.
  • March 2004: TuxKart development stalled; the community forked SuperTuxKart, but it was initially unplayable.
  • 2006: Official fork; version 0.2 released in September 2007.
• Development Timeline:
  • 2010: Version 0.7 switched to the Irrlicht engine.
  • 2015: Version 0.9 introduced the Antarctica engine.
  • April 20, 2019: Version 1.0 released, supporting online multiplayer.
  • September 28, 2021: Version 1.3, supporting force feedback.
  • October 21, 2025: Version 1.5 released, featuring major graphics overhaul, benchmarking, and Egg Hunter mode; the final version of the 1.x series.
  • Future: SuperTuxKart Evolution (version 2.0) is under development, including new tracks and gameplay improvements.
• Community and Support:
  • Community-driven, hosted on supertuxkart.net, GitHub, and SourceForge.
  • Multilingual support (English, Spanish, etc.), documentation includes FAQs and a Wiki.
  • Reddit users have called "SuperTuxKart 1.5 the pinnacle of open-source Mario Kart."
• Open-source License:
  • GPL v3.

Key Features

SuperTuxKart is a casual game focused on fun racing, multiplayer, and open-source characters. Key features include:

1. Game Modes
   • Single Player: Story Mode, Time Trial, Grand Prix.
   • Multiplayer: Local Split-Screen (8 players), Online Battle (32-player server).
   • Special: Soccer Mode, Egg Hunt Mode, Battle Mode.
2. Characters & Tracks
   • 25+ Characters: Open-source mascots (e.g., Tux, Gnu, Wilber), with Nolok as the villain.
   • 20+ Tracks: Diverse environments (e.g., underwater world, jungle, desert), 1.5 graphics upgrade (x16 anisotropic filtering, LOD, shadows).
3. Items & Game Mechanics
   • Items: Nitrogen Barrel Boost, Banana Peel Slippery, Bubble Gum, Bomb Cake, etc.
   • Mechanics: Collect Nitro Boost, Drift, Battle Mode.
4. Graphics and Performance
   • Antarctica Engine: OpenGL 3.3+, supports PBR, shading, and DOF.
   • Benchmarking: Version 1.5 includes a built-in FPS test.
5. Cross-Platform Support
   • Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS beta.
6. Hardware Compatibility
   • Minimum Requirements: 1 GHz CPU, 512 MB RAM, OpenGL 2.1.
7. Development Support
   • Open Source Code: Supports Mods and Add-ons.

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• Open Source and Free: GPL v3, cross-platform.
• Multiplayer: Up to 32 players online, endless fun.
• Graphics Upgrade: Version 1.5 PBR/LOD, improved visuals.
• Active Community: Over 3.2 million downloads on GitHub/SourceForge.

Limitations

• Non-Professional Physics: Prioritizes fun, not a racing simulation.
• Not available on Steam: Manual download required.
• Community size: Smaller than Mario Kart.
• Comparison games:
  • Mario Kart: Commercialized, more refined.
  • Crash Team Racing: Richer 3D models.

Summary

SuperTuxKart is a free and open-source 3D kart racing game. The latest version, 1.5 (October 21, 2025), is based on the Irrlicht/Antarctica engine, supports Linux/Windows/macOS/Android/iOS, and offers single-player/multiplayer modes, 20+ tracks, and an item system. Compared to Mario Kart (commercial) and Crash Team Racing (richer 3D models), SuperTuxKart's open-source nature and fun factor make it suitable for entertainment on systems like Ubuntu.