|map=''Mario Kart 7''<br>[[File:MK7 Bowser'sCastle.png|140px]]<br>[[File:Bowser Castle.png|140px]]<br>''Mario Kart Tour''<br>[[File:MKT Map BowsersCastle3DS.png|110px]]
|map=''Mario Kart 7''<br>[[File:MK7 Bowser'sCastle.png|140px]]<br>[[File:Bowser Castle.png|140px]]<br>''Mario Kart Tour''<br>[[File:MKT Map BowsersCastle3DS.png|110px]]
}}
}}
'''Bowser's Castle''' is the third course of the [[Special Cup]] in ''[[Mario Kart 7]]''. Unlike previous Bowser's Castle courses, it strongly resembles a haunted mansion inside. It features spiderwebs, lava pillars and [[Lava Geyser|geyser]]s, [[Thwomp]]s, and stairs. This course later returns as a [[classic course]] in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', starting with the [[New Year's 2022 Tour]].
'''Bowser's Castle''' is the third course of the [[Special Cup]] in ''[[Mario Kart 7]]''. Unlike previous Bowser's Castle courses, it strongly resembles a haunted mansion inside. It features spiderwebs, lava pillars and [[Lava Geyser|geyser]]s, [[Thwomp]]s, and stairs. This course later returns as a [[classic course]] in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', starting with the [[New Year's 2022 Tour]].
The second portion of this course's music covers the [[Bowser's Castle (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)|Bowser's Castle]] theme from ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''
The second portion of this course's music covers the [[Bowser's Castle (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)|Bowser's Castle]] theme from ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''
==Course layout==
This is the only [[Bowser's Castle]] course from an entry after ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'' to reappear in a later ''Mario Kart'' game. It is also the only track in ''Mario Kart 7''{{'}}s Special Cup to not appear in ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''.
==''Mario Kart 7''==
===Course layout===
[[File:Bowser's Castle Entrance (Mario Kart 7).jpg|thumb|left|The start of the course]]
[[File:Bowser's Castle Entrance (Mario Kart 7).jpg|thumb|left|The start of the course]]
This course starts off on a separate platform with a ramp to glide into Bowser's Castle. There are two entrances, an upper level and a lower level if the upper level is missed while gliding. The two levels have a set of stairs with Thwomps and inclining slopes that lead into one room filled with lava pools and sharp turns. Past that room is a wide wooden [[Turning Floor]] that leads to a [[Underwater driving|lake filled with water]], with some pipes pouring lava and lava-filled edges. Afterward, racers return to land along a cliff side, passing by lava waterfalls as the racers drive. At the end of the outdoor section is a sharp wide turn that ends with a [[Glide Ramp]] leading to the [[Finish Line (object)|finish line]], with a giant ring in the air suspended over the one on the ground highlighting this. The ramp allows for side paths to be taken on laps 2 and 3, which split into two to allow both levels of the castle to be reached. 3DS Bowser's Castle is the only Bowser's Castle course in the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'']] series with an underwater section.
This course starts off on a separate platform with a ramp to glide into Bowser's Castle. There are two entrances, an upper level and a lower level if the upper level is missed while gliding. The two levels have a set of stairs with Thwomps and inclining slopes that lead into one room filled with lava pools and sharp turns. Past that room is a wide wooden [[Turning Floor]] that leads to a [[Underwater driving|lake filled with water]], with some pipes pouring lava and lava-filled edges. Afterward, racers return to land along a cliff side, passing by lava waterfalls as the racers drive. At the end of the outdoor section is a sharp wide turn that ends with a [[Glide Ramp]] leading to the [[Finish Line (object)|finish line]], with a giant ring in the air suspended over the one on the ground highlighting this. The ramp allows for side paths to be taken on laps 2 and 3, which split into two to allow both levels of the castle to be reached. 3DS Bowser's Castle is the only Bowser's Castle course in the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'']] series with an underwater section.
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==''Mario Kart Tour''==
==''Mario Kart Tour''==
[[File:MKT 3DS Bowser's Castle Scene.png|thumb|250px|The course in ''Mario Kart Tour'']]
[[File:MKT 3DS Bowser's Castle Scene.png|thumb|250px|The course in ''Mario Kart Tour'']]
Bowser's Castle makes its [[classic course]] debut in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', starting from the [[New Year's 2022 Tour]]. The sky is less dark, the castle entrance has been redesigned, and an active volcano has been added into the background. The positions of the pipes pouring lava in the underwater section have been slightly altered, with one being outright removed. The ramp in the underwater section is also extended. The mountainous area has been made more open and lacks the mushroom shortcut on the right side. Additionally, Bowser's laugh no longer plays when the player enters the castle at the beginning of the course. In the trick variant, a wide Turning Floor like the one before the underwater section is added to the start of the course. Multiple of these are added at the start of the reverse/trick variant. Like most courses in the game, Bowser's Castle has a reverse variant, a trick variant, and a reverse and trick variant, referred to as '''Bowser's Castle R''', '''Bowser's Castle T''', and '''Bowser's Castle R/T''' respectively. The former two were introduced alongside the normal variant in the New Year's 2022 Tour, while the latter was introduced in the [[Samurai Tour]]. The R/T variant is a bit shorter than the previous three variants, with the knot area being skipped and going straight to the lava waterfall area.
Bowser's Castle makes its [[classic course]] debut in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', starting from the [[New Year's 2022 Tour]]. The sky is less dark, the castle entrance has been redesigned, and an active volcano has been added into the background. The positions of the pipes pouring lava in the underwater section have been slightly altered, with one being outright removed. The ramp in the underwater section is also extended. The mountainous area has been made more open and lacks the mushroom shortcut on the right side. Additionally, Bowser's laugh no longer plays when the player enters the castle at the beginning of the course.
The course also appears as '''Bowser's Castle R''' (reversed), '''Bowser's Castle T''' (with ramps), and '''Bowser's Castle R/T''' (reversed with ramps). The former two debuted alongside the normal variant in the New Year's 2022 Tour, while the latter debuted in the [[Samurai Tour]]. In the T and R/T variants, there is only one [[Thwomp]]; in the T variant, it has been moved to the castle entrance on the lower level. Additionally, the underwater section is almost entirely skipped, and racers can drive through a second [[Turning Floor]] at the start of lap 2. In the R/T variant, the first turn is entirely skipped and racers instead drive through three Turning Floors.
===Appearances===
===Appearances===
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MKT 3DS Bowser's Castle View.jpg|View of the entrance of the castle
MKT 3DS Bowser's Castle View.jpg|View of the entrance of the castle
MKT 3DS Bowser's Castle Interior.jpg|The interior of the castle
MKT 3DS Bowser's Castle Interior.jpg|The interior of the castle
MKT 3DS Bowser's Castle T Scene.jpg|The T variant of the course
MKT 3DS Bowser's Castle T Scene.jpg|The T variant of the course
MKT vs. New Year's Team.png|Various characters racing on the course
MKT vs. New Year's Team.png|Various characters racing on the course
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|SpaM=Bowser's Castle
|SpaM=Bowser's Castle
}}
}}
==Trivia==
*Despite Bowser being voiced by [[Kenneth W. James|Kenny James]] in ''Mario Kart 7'' and ''Mario Kart Tour'', the laugh heard in the castle is actually one of Bowser's laughs from his previous voice actor, [[Scott Burns]].
This course starts off on a separate platform with a ramp to glide into Bowser's Castle. There are two entrances, an upper level and a lower level if the upper level is missed while gliding. The two levels have a set of stairs with Thwomps and inclining slopes that lead into one room filled with lava pools and sharp turns. Past that room is a wide wooden Turning Floor that leads to a lake filled with water, with some pipes pouring lava and lava-filled edges. Afterward, racers return to land along a cliff side, passing by lava waterfalls as the racers drive. At the end of the outdoor section is a sharp wide turn that ends with a Glide Ramp leading to the finish line, with a giant ring in the air suspended over the one on the ground highlighting this. The ramp allows for side paths to be taken on laps 2 and 3, which split into two to allow both levels of the castle to be reached. 3DS Bowser's Castle is the only Bowser's Castle course in the Mario Kart series with an underwater section.
When the player enters the castle, Bowser's laugh can be heard, similar to the Bowser's Castle courses from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Kart Wii.
Mario Kart Tour
The course in Mario Kart Tour
Bowser's Castle makes its classic course debut in Mario Kart Tour, starting from the New Year's 2022 Tour. The sky is less dark, the castle entrance has been redesigned, and an active volcano has been added into the background. The positions of the pipes pouring lava in the underwater section have been slightly altered, with one being outright removed. The ramp in the underwater section is also extended. The mountainous area has been made more open and lacks the mushroom shortcut on the right side. Additionally, Bowser's laugh no longer plays when the player enters the castle at the beginning of the course.
The course also appears as Bowser's Castle R (reversed), Bowser's Castle T (with ramps), and Bowser's Castle R/T (reversed with ramps). The former two debuted alongside the normal variant in the New Year's 2022 Tour, while the latter debuted in the Samurai Tour. In the T and R/T variants, there is only one Thwomp; in the T variant, it has been moved to the castle entrance on the lower level. Additionally, the underwater section is almost entirely skipped, and racers can drive through a second Turning Floor at the start of lap 2. In the R/T variant, the first turn is entirely skipped and racers instead drive through three Turning Floors.
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3. ** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6. *** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8 for High-End items.
Despite Bowser being voiced by Kenny James in Mario Kart 7 and Mario Kart Tour, the laugh heard in the castle is actually one of Bowser's laughs from his previous voice actor, Scott Burns.