Keepers is a weekly segment in which I discuss games I’ve played that I’ve seen fit to keep after playing. I generally sell a game that I’ve finished, so the only reason I keep one is because I plan to replay the game some day. Classifying a game as a “keeper” is generally a badge of merit.

Mario Kart. You’ll notice that I left off a version here, because I really think that probably every version of this game is a keeper. I always hear a lot about Mario Kart 64, which I’ve never played, but I have played a couple other versions. The first one I got was Mario Kart DS, which was one of two games I bought with my very first DS: The DS Lite, on its launch day. Great game, and it’s one I’ll always be able to go back to. It’s tons of fun to sit on the couch and race against people from Shelton, Sheboygan, and Shebuya. The maps give me a good variety of maps in previous Kart games I’ve never played, and learning new shortcuts is always fun. Also, plenty to unlock. I actually think it took me over a year to fully unlock everything, playing as casually as I do.

Mario Kart Wii is also a lot of fun, in large part because my wife really enjoys playing it with me. The “Wii Wheel” is her method of choice for steering, although I much prefer the accuracy afforded me by the nunchuck. Online ranked races are great, and Linda and I can play together against people from all over the country. We take note of other couples playing and tend to root for them. It’s also very cool to see peoples’ Miis, and for other players to be able to see your Mii sitting in the Kart.

The Kart games aren’t ones that I’ll play regularly, but I’ll always enjoy going back to them.