Mario Kart DS codes

Bonus karts
Win a Gold trophy in all cups in the Nitro Grand Prix in the 100cc class to unlock a third kart for all characters. Win a Gold trophy in all cups in the Nitro Grand Prix in the 150cc class to unlock a total of seven karts for all characters.

Play as Daisy
Win a Gold trophy in all Cups in the Nitro Grand Prix in the 50cc class to unlock Daisy.

Play as Dry Bones
Win a Gold trophy in all Cups in the Retro Grand Prix in the 50cc class to unlock Dry Bones.

Play as Shy Guy
Play a Download Play game against another player to have the option to play as Shy Guy. Note: Shy Guy can only be used Download Play mode.

Play as Waluigi
Win a Gold trophy in all Cups in the Retro Grand Prix in the 100cc class to unlock Waluigi.

Hint: Throw a banana peel forward
Press UP while throwing a banana peel.

Higher jump
To jump higher when you are going over a jump, press R. This requires some practice and precise timing.

Save time with sandy pits
On any sandy pit on a curve that would normally slow you down, use a mushroom to cross over it.

Inflate balloons faster
Instead of holding Select, blow into the microphone.

Shortcut in Bowser's Castle
When you get to the rotating floor, go around it all the way until you see the small entrance.

Shortcut in Delfino Square
Near the halfway point of the course, use a mushroom to cross the water and land on a dock. This is not easy, but saves a lot of time.

Shortcut in Sky Garden
When you get to the second green bridge, look to the left to see a cloud that goes across to the other track. Hop over it to get to it, then hop back off to avoid falling off. Note: This may require some practice.

Hint: Wario Stadium: Shortcut:
This is one of the longest tracks in the game, but it has a super shortcut that can cut a lot of time off your lap. It is possible to jump over the wall to the left of the starting line by using any one of the four small jumps there. Although you can make it over the wall without the assistance of any speed boosting item, a Mushroom or Mini-Turbo assist is helpful. Approach the wall at high speed so that you are driving directly at it as you reach the peak of the small hill. Jump just before you hit the wall and you will sail over. The timing requires some practice, but once you master it, it is not too difficult. It is also possible to jump back over the wall on the other side of the starting line, but the return jump is much more difficult and requires precise jump timing and aim.

Shortcut in Yoshi's Circuit
Just after the first two turns, go straight and you will see a gap in the wall. Hop over it to get ahead.

Hint: Yoshi's Valleys: Shortcut:
This course is a tangle, as shown in the introductory map. However, there are a few shortcuts that will allow you to defeat just about anybody. Follow the course until you hit the maze part. Immediately go left and remain to the left. The first part of the shortcut is to stay left and on the narrow part of the course. After managing to do that, you will hit a little checkered ledge, and see a big red and white sign on the left pointing to the right. This is the difficult part. Accelerate as fast as possible and stay to the far right. As soon as the rail on the left side ends, pull a hard left powerslide off the road. You will continue the powerslide onto the upcoming road after you land, and done correctly, you will have shaved off at least ten seconds or lead the pack. This requires a lot of practice.

Hint: Using the ? boxes correctly:
Use the following trick to help your chance of winning in almost every mode of play. When getting a "?" box, wait until you see another item box one before planting mine. If timed correctly, the ? box that was laid down will be directly on top of where the original one was. If anyone tries to get it, they will not be able to tell it is a fake until they hit it.

Hint: Lighting bolt:
On the Wario Stadium, Royal Raceway or DK Jungle Parkway tracks, use a lightning bolt just before someone reaches the jump. They should fall off the jump, costing them time. Do not use it when they are on the turbo pads because it will not affect them.

Hint: Retro mode levels:
Shell Cup
Mario Circuit 1: SNES
Moo Moo Farm: Nintendo 64
Peach Circuit: Game Boy Advance
Luigi Circuit: Gamecube

Banana Cup
Donut Plains 1: SNES
Frappe Snowland: Nintendo 64
Bowser Castle 2: Game Boy Advance
Baby Park: Gamecube

Leaf Cup
Koopa Beach 2: SNES
Choco Mountain: Nintendo 64
Luigi Circuit: Game Boy Advance
Mushroom Bridge: Gamecube

Lightning Cup
Choco Island 2: SNES
Banshee Boardwalk: Nintendo 64
Sky Garden: Game Boy Advance
Yoshi Circuit: Gamecube

Star Cup
Win a Gold trophy in the Mushroom Cup and Flower Cup to unlock the Star Cup for that class.

Special Cup
Win a Gold trophy in the Star Cup to unlock the Special Cup for that class.

Rainbow Cup
Beat all the Staff Ghost Data on the Retro tracks to unlock the Rainbow Cup in the Retro Grand Prix.

150cc Mirror Mode
Win all Gold trophies in all cups in the Retro Grand Prix 150cc class to unlock 150cc Mirror Mode.

Mission Mode mission 7
Get a 1 Star or greater rank on each level of missions 1 through 6 to unlock mission 7.

Play as Dry Bones
Win a Gold trophy in all cups in the Retro Grand Prix in the 50cc class to unlock Dry Bones.

Play as R.O.B.
Win a Gold trophy in all cups in the Mirror Mode Nitro in the 150cc class to unlock R.O.B.

Play as Shy Guy
Play a Download Play game against another player to have the option to play as Shy Guy. Note: Shy Guy can only be used Download Play mode.

Alternate title screen
Win all Gold trophies in all cups and classes to change the title screen.

Skip credits
Press Select + Start to skip the credits to the congratulations screen.

Quick start
During the initial countdown, hold down the gas (A) about a half of a second to a second after the number "2" appears to get a large boost when the race starts. You may have to practice to get the correct timing.

Extra boost while driving
Press R to hop while turning or when making a turn. While you are sliding, or immediately beforehand, keep pressing Left then Right (or vice versa) to acquire a blue flame behind your kart. Release it to get a slight boost. If you keep pressing Left then Right (or vice versa) some more while you have the blue flame, you will get a red/orange flame for an even better boost. You may or may not notice the blue flame when getting the red/orange flame.

Star next to name
Win all cups in all classes with a 1 Star or greater rank for a star to appear next to your name in Multiplayer mode and on the "Records" screen.

Development team ghost times
Successfully complete the indicated circuit with a time less than the target to unlock its development team ghost racer, with the corresponding best time:

Nitro Cup: Airship Fortress: 2:10:000
Nitro Cup: Bowser Castle: 2:20:000
Nitro Cup: Cheep Cheep Beach: 1:45:000
Nitro Cup: Delfino Plaza: 1:55:000
Nitro Cup: Desert Hills: 1:35:000
Nitro Cup: DK Pass: 2:15:000
Nitro Cup: Figure-8 Circuit: 1:38:000 (1:36:481 best time)
Nitro Cup: Luigi's Mansion: 2:00:000
Nitro Cup: Mario Circuit: 1:57:000
Nitro Cup: Peach Gardens: 1:53:000
Nitro Cup: Rainbow Road: 2:17:000
Nitro Cup: Shroom Ridge: 2:06:000
Nitro Cup: Tick-Tock Clock: 1:55:000
Nitro Cup: Walugi Pinabll: 2:24:000
Nitro Cup: Wario Stadium: 2:15:000
Nitro Cup: Yoshi Falls: 0:58:000
Retro Cup: Baby Park: 0:55:000 (0:50:920 best time)
Retro Cup: Banshee Boardwalk: 2:15:000
Retro Cup: Bowser Castle 2: 1:53:000
Retro Cup: Choco Island 2: 1:02:000
Retro Cup: Choco Mountain: 2:16:000
Retro Cup: Donut Plains 1: 1:09:000
Retro Cup: Frappe Snowland: 2:09:000
Retro Cup: Koopa Beach 2: 0:55:000
Retro Cup: Luigi Circuit: 1:37:000 (1:29:759 best time)
Retro Cup: Mario Circuit 1: 0:51:000
Retro Cup: Moo Moo Farm: 1:18:000
Retro Cup: Mushroom Bridge: 1:31:000
Retro Cup: Peach Circuit: 1:13:000
Retro Cup: Sky Garden: 1:45:000
Retro Cup: Yoshi Circuit: 1:49:000