Skip to main content

Mario Kart 8 Duos Game Manual

Fall 2026​

📄 Official Source: View the definitive ruleset on Google Docs →

Schedule

Match Day: Thursday

THIS TOURNAMENT IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH, SANCTIONED OR SPONSORED BY NINTENDO OR ANY OTHER GAME DEVELOPER OR PLATFORM.

Competition​

Platform & Format Requirements

Platforms​

  • Nintendo Switch only

Series Lengths​

  • Match: Matches are a total of 12 races (3 heats of 4 races per heat)
  • Heat: A set of 4 races
  • Format: 2v2v2v2 (4 teams of 2 players each)

Players​

Roster​

  1. A team roster must consist of at least 2 players (more is strongly advised) and no more than 4 players
  2. A player is allowed to represent only 1 team's roster in the same MiHSEF Mario Kart 8 competition
  3. Any number of players may be substituted before a match, or between heats, as long as they are officially rostered on the Fenworks team
  4. Teams must be created in Fenworks, fully rostered with a minimum of 2 players

Minimum to Compete​

  • Teams must provide a minimum of 1 player for all matches
  • If a team is unable to field the required number of players for any races, they will forfeit the remainder of the match
  • Teams may agree to play out matches in good faith

Pre-Match​

Lobby Setup

Lobby​

  1. There will be 4 teams of 2 players in a lobby (total of 8 players)
  2. A match will cover 3 heats of 4 races in the same lobby
  3. The highest seeded team will create the lobby and provide the room name and code
  4. The lobby will be set up as follows:
    • Game Style: 150cc Race
    • Teams: No Teams
    • Items: Normal Items
    • COM: No COM
    • Race Count: 4 Races
Character/Kart Selection Rules

Character/Kart Selection​

  • During kart selection players must have smart steering turned off
  • During kart selection players must have auto acceleration turned off
  • Players may change karts/characters before the match and/or between heats
  • Players cannot change karts/characters during a heat

Player Names​

  • Each team must declare the usernames of their 2 players in the Fenworks match chat prior to the beginning of the match
  • If a team substitutes a new user between heats, the new user must be declared in the Fenworks match chat

Gameplay​

Map Selection Penalty

Map Selection​

  • All players must select "Random" during track selection to ensure fairness
  • Warning: A 4-point deduction will be applied if a player fails to comply
Heats & Transitions

Heats​

  • Teams will be given a maximum of 5 minutes to make any desired substitutions, kart changes, or character changes between heats
  • At the end of 5 minutes play must continue (or sooner if all teams agree)

Scoring​

  • Match: Accumulation of both players' points after a match
  • Season: Accumulation of both players' points after a season
  • Playoff berths: Based upon season scoring (lowest score is best)

Fenworks Scoring Procedure​

Three (3) Games will be displayed in Fenworks (one for each heat). Placements are entered as cumulative running totals:

  1. Game 1 (Heat 1): Add together the total points of your 2 competitors to determine team placement (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th). Input your placement number into Fenworks (1 for 1st, 2 for 2nd, etc.).
  2. Game 2 (Heat 2): Determine your team's placement in Heat 2, then update your score by adding Heat 2 together with Heat 1 (e.g., if you were 2nd in Heat 1 and 1st in Heat 2, input 2 + 1 = 3).
  3. Game 3 (Heat 3): Determine your team's placement in Heat 3, then update your score by adding Heat 3 together with Heats 1 and 2 (e.g., if you had 3 points going into Heat 3 and finished 2nd, input 3 + 2 = 5).
  4. Ties: There is a chance teams tie; simply input your placement score.
  5. Rankings: Rankings are based on the total cumulative placement points at the end of the season — lowest score wins (drop two highest placements to compensate for missed weeks).
  6. Absences: Absent players earn zero points for each heat; absent teams automatically receive 4th place (4 points per heat).

Heat Placement Example​

TeamTotal Points from HeatPlacementPoints into Fenworks (Heat 1)
Team A163rd3
Team B262nd2
Team C124th4
Team D421st1

Stoppage of Play​

Player Disconnect Rules

Player Connectivity​

  1. Should a player disconnect from the game less than 60 seconds into the first race or before the first lap, the game can be restarted if teams agree
  2. Should a player disconnect after the first lap or past 60 seconds, they may rejoin but the match cannot be restarted or paused
Technical Issues & Corrections

Technical Issues​

  • In the event incorrect players are present or incorrect settings are loaded, the match should be stopped and reset
  • If a game is completed before realizing the error, the game results stand
  • Teams will rectify any issues prior to starting the next game

Restrictions​

Code of Conduct​

  1. Players are prohibited from cooperating with other teams to gain an advantage, including:
    • Voice communication
    • Teaming in-game
    • Any other form of collusion
  2. Violations will result in immediate disqualification and potential further punishment
Anti-Cheating Enforcement

Hacking/Exploits​

  • Hacking or using any form of exploitation will lead to immediate disqualification and banning
  • The host must close the room, remove the offender, and reopen the room for a fair race

Resources​

Last Updated: September 25, 2026

Rule Management & Change History​

📋 Rule Administration & Historical Changes

📅 CHANGE LOG​

DateChange TypeDescriptionAffected Section
Sep 25, 2026Rule ClarificationClarified cumulative heat scoring entry for Games 1, 2, and 3 in Fenworks and added example tableGameplay / Scoring
Aug 14, 2026Rule UpdateUpdated track selection penalty from 10 to 4 points; removed outdated Fall 2025 scheduleGameplay, Schedule
Jan 15, 2026Season UpdateUpdated for Spring 2026All

Version Information​

  • Current Version: 1.3.0