There's Only One Way To Get Three Stars In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
"Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" may offer a ton of casual fun just from tossing bananas and shells at friends in the game's multiplayer races, but the title still provides plenty of deeper challenges for those that want to test their mettle. From time trials to a plethora of unlockable car parts, it can take quite a while to achieve everything in the game. However, arguably the most significant time sink for "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" is attaining all of the three-star golden trophies in each of the game's Grand Prix cups.
Based on how players perform in each Grand Prix, they'll potentially be rewarded with a trophy at the end of the cup. There are typical bronze and silver trophies for third and second place, respectively, but attentive players may notice that the game ranks players based on a three-star system on top of the golden trophy awarded for getting first place. Getting a golden trophy with three stars is the highest rank that can be achieved on a Grand Prix cup, but it's also a feat that'll require some serious skill (and, perhaps, one of the fastest "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" kart setups). Here's how to pull it off.
Three-star trophies demand perfection
To get a three-star golden trophy on a Grand Prix cup in "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe," the game expects perfection — or, at least, pretty close to it. Simply getting first place at the end of the Grand Prix is not enough to secure a three-star rank. Instead, players must individually attain first place in each of the four consecutive races (each worth 15 points) throughout the cup for a total score of 60 points at the very end.
There's no room for error here. Anything less than a 60-point total will not award three stars. Thankfully, it doesn't matter what shenanigans happen for the majority of each race. Players can lag behind for the first two laps of a race and still get the full point total, so long as they're the first to cross the finish line at the end of the third lap.
Getting a three-star golden trophy, especially on the tougher 150 CC, 200 CC, and Mirror Mode Grand Prix cups, is quite the accomplishment, but the reward for doing so is essentially bragging rights. There are unlockables for doing well in Grand Prix, such as the elusive Golden Mario, but none require three-star ranks. Nonetheless, accumulating golden three-star trophies across the game's 60 cup variants (120 with the DLC tracks) is undeniable evidence of a truly skilled and patient "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" player.