New Universal Nintendo theme park to have Yoshi and Super Mario Kart rides

It’s been five years since Universal Studios announced they had signed a deal to create a number of Nintendo theme parks, and it looks like now the first one is finally set to open in Japan next year.

Speaking during a Comcast event, CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts, Tom Williams revealed that the company was hoping to open Super Nintendo World in Osaka next Spring. He also revealed a little bit about the attractions, too. We now know there will be two rides - based on Super Mario Kart and Yoshi - in the park when it opens. Universal is yet to reveal much about the Super Mario Kart ride, but it was recently suggested by OrlandoParkStop that Yoshi’s Adventures would be an omnimover-style experience with cars designed to look like Yoshi. Visitors to the park as also expected to be given magnetic wristbands that allow them to interact with various games and rides to win them points. Williams also said when visitors leave the park their score could be transferred back to their Nintendo console, so that (in theory) visitors could come back to the park and build on their existing score. It is not yet clear how this will be possible, though some suggest it could be in the form of a new Switch app. If you’re not able to travel out to Japan, don’t worry, there are also plans for Super Nintendo Worlds to be built in Orlando, Hollywood and Singapore (though, we don’t quite know when).

• While you’re waiting, here are our best Nintendo Switch games to play