Completing a certain cup unlocks a new item. Some drivers can obtain special items that other drivers cannot obtain, much like Mario Kart: Double Dash! The player can use only three per race, and each track has a different selection of items to use. Unlike other Mario Kart games, Mario Kart Arcade GP has 93 items, of which 72 are new. Either way, they have to pay the machine in order to race again. If the player places first, they will move on to the next course, and if they receive any lower rank, they must redo that same course.

When that's over, the item descriptions show up, and the player attempts to learn how to use it. After that, a roulette of basic items comes up, and if the player stops the roulette, they receive the items in the rows whenever they get an Item Box. If the player picks a cup, they cannot play a locked course: they have to play the available courses in the cup to unlock the other reversed courses.

But if they pick 'Time Trial', they attempt to beat a race-time record in one of the 24 courses in this game with the Triple Mild Mushrooms. If the player picks 'Grand Prix', they can pick any cup to play within the time limit. When that is done, the player will pick a mode on the screen 'Grand Prix' or 'Time Trial' again within the time limit. The Photo taken will frame the player's face with Mario's Hat and Moustache. Then they have to take a picture of themselves within the time limit: if the player didn't take the picture a countdown starts to force them to take it. After that happens, the player can choose a character to play with. First, they can adjust their seat within the time limit by moving a lever near their feet and sliding to any position on the arcade machine. To play the game, the player has to insert a certain amount of money or tokens into the game or in some cases, swipe a special card such as a Timezone Powercard.

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