Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on iPhone and Mac (nxnative)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is on the nxnative tested list: the game you own can run as a native iPhone, iPad or Mac app. Here is what the official notes say about the tested version, performance, app size and known issues.
How well does it run?
Plays on the iPhone at 60 fps docked, with about 2.4 GB of memory in a race. A user report on 4.0.1 covers the title, menus and a complete three-lap Grand Prix on iPhone; a build with the Booster Course DLC completed a full race on an iPhone 15 Pro Max and on a Mac.
What to know
- Mii heads are not drawn (they come from Switch system data, which nxnative does not ship); bodies and favourite colours show.
- Both update files (4.0.0 and 4.0.1) need to be in the game folder for a build from the official profile.
- With a controller that has rotating rumble motors, set Rumble cutoff to about 45 % so it rumbles only on crashes and drifts.
Playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on iPhone
You need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer on iOS 26, or an M1 iPad, plus a Mac to build the app from your own game files (see requirements and how to use nxnative). The app starts in the 3D touch layout; a connected controller hides the touch controls.
For longer sessions a controller helps: a phone-mounted USB-C controller such as the GameSir G8 Plus MFi turns the iPhone into a handheld, and the game’s motion controls then follow the iPhone’s own gyro. See the controller guide.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe questions
Does Mario Kart 8 Deluxe work with nxnative?
Yes. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is on nxnative’s tested list (update 4.0.0 and 4.0.1). Plays on the iPhone at 60 fps docked, with about 2.4 GB of memory in a race. A user report on 4.0.1 covers the title, menus and a complete three-lap Grand Prix on iPhone; a build with the Booster Course DLC completed a full race on an iPhone 15 Pro Max and on a Mac.
Which iPhone do I need for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe?
An iPhone 15 Pro or newer (A17 Pro or later) or an M1 iPad on iOS/iPadOS 26, or an Apple silicon Mac. Older iPhones cannot read the BC-compressed textures.
Does nxnative include Mario Kart 8 Deluxe?
No. You need your own copy of the game and your own keys; this site does not provide or explain how to obtain them.
Does Mario Kart 8 Deluxe online play work?
No. nxnative has no online features, so Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is single-player and local only.
All tested games: nxnative games list. Official per-game notes: GitHub.