How to Unlock All Characters in Mario Kart Wii

Last Updated: January 1, 2022 Approved

This guide will show you exactly how to unlock every unlockable character within Mario Kart Wii. The Mario Kart Wii characters are divided into light, medium, and heavy; this determines which type of kart or bike the character can use. The characters also have slight differences among them (you may note slight statistic changes while trying different characters in the same vehicle). For instance, Baby Mario has a stat bonus to weight and handling over the similar light character Toad. The differences are very slight and shouldn’t deter you from choosing your favorites. You can check these by testing different characters inside the same vehicles.

Part 1

Part 1 of 11:
Baby Daisy or Daisy

1
Get at least 1 Star Rank for all 150cc or 50cc Wii Grand Prix Cups or race in 1,950 races.^{[1]
X
Research source
Munson, T, (2009), "Video Game Master: Surefire Strategies", ISBN 0-545-17658-1}. Unlocks Baby Daisy.
2
Win first place in the 150cc Special Cup or race in 2,850 races.^{[2]
X
Research source
Munson, T, (2009), "Video Game Master: Surefire Strategies", ISBN 0-545-17658-1}. Unlocks Daisy.

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Part 2

Part 2 of 11:
Baby Luigi

1
Unlock 8 Expert Staff Ghost Data in Time Trials, win 100 Wi-Fi Ghost Races, or race in 10 races.^{[3]
X
Research source
Munson, T, (2009), "Video Game Master: Surefire Strategies", ISBN 0-545-17658-1}. Unlocks Baby Luigi.

Part 3

Part 3 of 11:
Birdo

1
Play Time Trials on 16 different courses, win 250 Wi-Fi races, win the Star Cup or race in 1,350 races.^{[4]
X
Research source
Munson, T, (2009), "Video Game Master: Surefire Strategies", ISBN 0-545-17658-1}. Unlocks Birdo.

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Part 4

Part 4 of 11:
Bowser Jr and Dry Bowser

1
Get at least 1 Star Rank for all 100cc Retro Grand Prix Cups.^{[5]
X
Research source
Munson, T, (2009), "Video Game Master: Surefire Strategies", ISBN 0-545-17658-1}. Unlocks Bowser Jr!
2
Get at least 1 Star Rank for all 150cc Wii Grand Prix Cups.^{[6]
X
Research source
Munson, T, (2009), "Video Game Master: Surefire Strategies", ISBN 0-545-17658-1}. Unlocks Dry Bowser.

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Part 5

Part 5 of 11:
Diddy Kong

1
Win the 50cc Lightning Cup or race in 450 races.^{[7]
X
Research source
Munson, T, (2009), "Video Game Master: Surefire Strategies", ISBN 0-545-17658-1}. Unlocks Diddy Kong.

Part 6

Part 6 of 11:
Dry Bones

1
Win the 100cc Leaf Cup or race in 1,050 races.^{[8]
X
Research source
Munson, T, (2009), "Video Game Master: Surefire Strategies", ISBN 0-545-17658-1}. Unlocks Dry Bones.

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Part 7

Part 7 of 11:
King Boo

1
Win the 50cc Star Cup or race in 750 races.^{[9]
X
Research source
Munson, T, (2009), "Video Game Master: Surefire Strategies", ISBN 0-545-17658-1}. Unlocks King Boo.

Part 8

Part 8 of 11:
Rosalina

1
Attain at least 1 Star Rank for all Mirror Grand Prix Cups, race in 4950 races, or race in 50 races and have Super Mario Galaxy game files saved to your Wii and make sure you have saved the file of the Mii you have in Mario Kart Wii. ^{[10]
X
Research source
Munson, T, (2009), "Video Game Master: Surefire Strategies", ISBN 0-545-17658-1}. Unlocks Rosalina.
2
Win all 150cc cups. Beat 18 Staff Ghosts. This will also unlock Rosalina.

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Part 9

Part 9 of 11:
Toadette

1
Play Time Trials on all 32 different courses, win 1,000 Wi-Fi races, or race in 2,550 races^{[11]
X
Research source
Munson, T, (2009), "Video Game Master: Surefire Strategies", ISBN 0-545-17658-1}. Unlocks Toadette.

Part 10

Part 10 of 11:
Mii

1
Win the 100cc Special Cup. Unlocks Mii (Outfit A).
2
Unlock all (32) Expert Staff Ghosts in Time Trials or win 5000 Times In Nintendo WFC. Unlocks Mii (Outfit B).

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Part 11

Part 11 of 11:
Funky Kong

1
Unlock 4 Expert Staff Ghosts in Time Trials, win 25 Wi-Fi races, or play 2,250 games to unlock Funky Kong!

Community Q&A

Question

What are the "retro stages" for Bowser Jr.?

Community Answer

The bottom four cups like the Shell Cup, Lightning Cup, Banana Cup, and Leaf Cup.
Question

How do you avoid the pow block?

Community Answer

You shake the wifi remote as the pow goes off. If it doesn't work the first time, keep trying, because it does work.
Question

How do I check how many races I've been in?

Community Answer

Go to you Mii profile. It will say how many races, battles, hits delivered, etc.
Question

What are some of the shortcuts on courses?

Community Answer

On Maple freeway, at the start go right instead of straight forward. There should be a secret path.
Question

Why can't I unlock Toadette if I've raced in every time trial?

Community Answer

Try restarting the game. Then, go back into your license and it should say that you can now race as Toadette.
Question

Why do I only have 3 rows for characters instead of 4?

Community Answer

If you have fewer than 19 characters, you will have 3 rows. If you have 19 characters or more, you will have 4 rows.
Question

How come I don't have characters that require 90 or so races when I have raced in 780 races?

Community Answer

You need to do more than just race in races. You need to get 1-star ranks, play time trials, and win cups
Question

Do battles (like coin runners or balloon battles) count as races to unlock characters?

Community Answer

No, because a race requires a finish line. Battle courses don't finish until time runs out.
Question

Do I have to win all time trials to unlock Toadette?

Community Answer

No, you just have to play all of the 32 courses to unlock Toadette. But there are some other characters who require you to win some races.
Question

What is an expert staff ghost?

Community Answer

When you beat the nin* on the track, if you do it successfully it will say: "You have unlocked an expert staff ghost record".

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Warnings

All unlockables must be completed on Single Player only.

Thanks!
Helpful 38 Not Helpful 4
It can take a long time to unlock all characters.

Thanks!
Helpful 35 Not Helpful 12
Toadette may not be unlockable on certain consoles because of Nintendo server glitches.

Thanks!
Helpful 31 Not Helpful 11