10 Greatest Spin-Offs In Video Games

Good old Mario Kart. The spin-off that not only became a series in its own right, but created an entire genre off its own back.

Ever since the original Super Mario Kart turbo-drifted into gamers' lives way back in 1992, karting games everywhere have followed the same basic template - players race a collection of the developer's most iconic characters around a set of fantasy race-tracks, using a mixture of power-ups and drift mechanics to gain an advantage. Some details may change (usually in how the game structures its single-player mode) but generally the song remains the same.

And it works. Karting games in general (and the Mario Kart series in particular) provide some of the best multiplayer moments in gaming as you and your friends laugh, shout and attempt to murder whichever bastard used the game's equivalent of a blue shell.

Some people may argue that Crash Team Racing or Sega All-Stars Transformed are the best examples of the genre. That's arguable, quality being subjective and all, but what isn't up for debate is that neither of those series has the consistency or longevity of Nintendo's franchise backing them up.

When it comes to karting, Mario is king.