A recent Reddit post has gained a ton of traction, showing a Norwegian university hosting a Mario Kart tournament that put a real-world twist on one of gaming’s most iconic franchises. Instead of relying on the game’s built-in soundtrack, the University of Agder (UiA) in southern Norway brought in its own music students to perform the Mario Kart score live — matching each track, boost, and chaotic turn in real time.
The short clip — originally shared to Reddit by user u/gitartruls01 — has racked up thousands of upvotes across r/mariokart, with fans praising both the creativity of the event and the musicians’ surprisingly tight performance. The 49-second video shows Mario Kart 8 Deluxe gameplay projected on a large screen while a small ensemble of UiA music students handles the soundtrack on the fly, from the opening jingle to the full racing theme.
According to the OP, the group prepared extensively. Tournament races were randomized by a “12-slot wheelspin,” meaning the musicians had to be ready for anything: modern Mario Kart tracks, menu themes, classic Super Mario motifs, and even fan favorites like “Coconut Mall.” “They’ve definitely put in the work,” the OP wrote, confirming that the band learned over a dozen pieces — plus some legacy Mario themes they threw in “just for fun.”
The Reddit thread reads like a mix of hype and nostalgia, with users marveling at how perfectly the event captured the over-the-top charm of student gaming culture. One commenter joked that participants got “IRL coconut malled,” while another asked the only question that matters in a Mario Kart discussion: “Pls tell they played Wii Rainbow Road.” (They didn’t — but regular Rainbow Road still made the cut)
The event clearly hit a nerve with longtime fans of the Mario franchise. Threads of comments reminisced about old campus gaming nights, impromptu tournaments, and even late-night music shows performed by students.
The OP also shared a link to the full performance of “Coconut Mall,” which didn’t get as much traction on its own but offers a better look at how fun the arrangement actually was. I don’t know about any of you reading this, but personally, the University of Agder may have accidentally created the gold standard for campus gaming events.
With Nintendo titles frequently inspiring elaborate community projects, this might be one of the most wholesome fan-made Mario Kart moments of the year. And judging by the reactions, players everywhere are ready to see more universities give their tournaments the live-music treatment.
It’s a tough bar to match, but it’ll certainly be fun to watch!
