As was the case with its predecessors, Super Circuit is a circuit racing game. In it, the player races against seven opponents, each of which is a character from Nintendo's Mario series, in small go-karts, on tracks set in the Mario universe. Power-ups, strewn across each track, aid the bearer or hinder their opponents, as well as coins; the coins increase the player's top speed.
Tracks
Mario Kart: Super Circuit features twenty unique race tracks, as well as twenty more from Super Mario Kart for a grand total of forty. Each track also has a unique name, with the exception of the four Bowser's Castle tracks. Each set of tracks is organized into five cups of four tracks: the Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup, Lightning Cup (which debuted in this game as an original cup, but was repurposed to a retro cup from Mario Kart DS onwards), Star Cup and Special Cup. Many of the tracks included in Super Circuit are Mario Kart staples including Mario Circuit and Rainbow Road, the final race of the Special Cup in every Mario Kart.
Unlocked tracks (Special and Extra Cups) are only available at the speed they were unlocked with. For example, obtaining a Gold trophy in each of the first four Cups at 50 cc unlocks the Special Cup at 50 cc, but not 100 cc or 150 cc. Time Trial mode for the Extra cups is unlocked when the player unlocks 150 cc.
Extra tracks
The cups and tracks from Super Mario Kart for the SNES are available in Super Circuit. They have been retitled the Extra Cups. These cups are unlockable by winning a Gold Trophy for the corresponding regular cup and then collecting 100 coins in the same cup.
Each race in an Extra cup consists of five laps instead of three, although this can be lowered to three laps in Quick Run mode. The track arrangement has changed due to the number of cups. In Super Mario Kart, there were four cups with five tracks each; in the Extra cups, there are five cups with four tracks each.
These tracks are not exact replicas of the original courses. Many hazards have been removed, such as flashing Thwomps from Rainbow Road. The Super Circuit backgrounds are superimposed on the Extra Cup tracks. Some areas and shortcuts on the SNES tracks are now inaccessible or more difficult to reach due to the removal of the feather item from Super Mario Kart.
Mario GP
The main mode in the game. The player races in a series of "Grand Prix" competitions against seven computer-controlled competitors. Each Cup consists of four three-lap races (five in the Extra Cup). Each Cup may be approached at a speed of 50 cc, 100 cc or 150 cc, which determines the speed of the race.
Like previous Mario Kart games, players use items from item boxes to disable other players. Shells can knock out a player; bananas will cause players to skid. Mushrooms temporarily boost speed (and if the player uses a mushroom just before a jump on any track, except Bowser's Castle, they will fly further and faster). Each racer's finishing position in each race determines the number of points he or she receives ranging from one to nine and at the end, the player with the most points wins. Just like in the previous games, getting fifth or under will restart the race at a cost of one kart. Alternately, the player can restart at anytime for the same price. Losing all of the karts will end the mode.
Time Trial
In Time Trial, the player choose any of the forty tracks they unlocked on Mario GP 150cc. and race for the best record within three laps. The player will start with three mushrooms, which can be used during the race.
Quick Run
The player may choose any unlocked track, from any cup and any speed, and race against seven opponents as in Mario GP mode. The number of laps may be changed between three or five, and the coins and items can be toggled on or off. This feature can also be used to practice for the Mario GP. It is essentially a VS Mode where settings can be modified, though it is not an official VS Mode.