How I Became a TOP 10 Player in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

This is the story of how I achieved a top 10 ranking in Mario Kart, my race with Rod @RTAT120, and the ultimate challenge to beat Alberto @Alberto_MK8 the GOAT, on Hyrule Circuit 150cc Time Trials. I hope you enjoy!

I was inspired by @SummoningSalt and @Skilloz for the style of this video.

0:00 The story begins
5:58 Shortcat VS RTAT120
15:45 How to improve (ft. Alberto)
24:22 Race to 1:48
30:44 Ascent
35:53 The Cursed Shortcut
43:51 Race to 1:47
52:22 Alberto is #10
54:38 Climb
59:09 Mirage
1:14:34 Forge
1:19:15 Push
1:39:09 Summit

Music:
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Start Screen - 0:14
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Main Menu - 0:32
Mega Man 11 - Fuse Man Stage Theme (jesterdist Remix) - 1:53
Wii Party Soundtrack - Main Menu Music - 2:28
Mario Kart 8 - Rainbow Road (Neon X remix) - 4:45
Splatoon 3 - What’s Your Style - 6:08
Nintendo Wii U - Editing a Mii - 9:31
Mario Kart 8 - Sunshine Airport (Neon X remix) - 10:19
Super Mario RPG - Forest Maze - 11:53
Super Mario 64 - Powerful Mario [Qumu Remix] - 12:33
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Neo Bowser City - 15:35
Pokémon DPPt - Cynthia (Qumu Remix) - 17:22
Nintendo Wii U - Editing a Mii - 17:53
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Ribbon Road - 19:37
Nintendo Wii U - Editing a Mii - 21:02
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Electrodrome - 22:46
Mega Man Zero 2 - Departure (jesterdist Remix) - 24:22
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - The Grand Finale - 27:10
Super Mario Galaxy - To the Gateway - 28:46
A Link to the Past - Overlord theme (Neon X remix) - 31:06
Wii Party Soundtrack - Main Menu Music - 33:46
Splatoon 3 - What’s Your Style - 35:53
One Man Symphony - Collateral Damage Car Chase Theme - 37:19
Super Mario 64 - Powerful Mario (Qumu Remix) - 41:59
One Man Symphony - Collateral Damage Action 04 - 44:21
Nintendo Wii U - Editing a Mii (Mii Maker) - 46:29
One Man Symphony - In The Blink Of An Eye Time Is A Multiplier - 47:33
Qumu - PROTO - 48:12
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Rock Rock Mountain - 48:46
Mario Kart 8 - Rainbow Road (Synthwave Neon X remix) - 50:47
One Man Symphony - Collateral Damage Stealth Theme - 52:23
Nintendo Wii U - Editing a Mii - 53:15
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - SNES Bowser Castle 3 - 54:37
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Toad Harbor - 55:21
Super Mario Galaxy - Gusty Garden Galaxy (Qumu Remix) - 57:12
One Man Symphony - In The Blink Of An Eye Time Is A Multiplier - 59:35
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - The Grand Finale - 1:03:11
One Man Symphony - Collateral Damage Stealth Theme - 1:04:03
Super Mario Galaxy - To the Gateway - 1:06:38
Mega Man Zero 2 - Departure (jesterdist Remix) - 1:07:47
Josh Lippi & The Overtimers - St. Francis - 1:08:55
Qumu - PROTO - 1:11:02
Nintendo Wii U - Editing a Mii (Mii Maker) - 1:12:59
Mario Kart 64 - Rainbow Road (Qumu Remix) - 1:14:34
Challenges (Mega Man 11) - GaMetal Remix - 1:17:24
One Man Symphony - Collateral Damage Stealth Theme - 1:19:16
Red Battle Theme (jesterdist Remix) - 1:19:54
Mega Man 2 - Dr. Wily Castle (jesterdist Remix) - 1:22:43
Eunoia - Memories - 1:24:49
A Link to the Past - Overworld theme (Neon X remix) - 1:26:03
A Link to the Past - Overworld theme (Neon X remix) - 1:28:29
Synth Kid – They Mostly Come at Night... Mostly... - 1:29:55
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - N64 Rainbow Road - 1:39:09
Nintendo Wii U - Editing a Mii - End

[Alberto_MK]

so proud of your achievement and how well you’ve been able to document all of the story, a lot can be learned from this video. huge congrats 🫂

[dirkswart]

the lakitu saying "you lose" after completing a run was not a supporter for the mental health

[guardian_OfEden]

There's something so wholesome about the message "I can help you take my spot" (52:44). Recognising the capacity for someone to become better than you and not just encouraging it, but helping make it happen.

[Herbu]

-"What are we watching tonight?"

-*Shortcat's new movie.*

[ShadowMudkip]

52:23 Alberto shows up like “congrats on beating the tutorial. Now it’s time to race”

[TheCursedJudge]

I have not found a better video than this at conveying the true scale and difficulty and length of grinding for something challenging

[k_Ashxs]

Shortcat with an extremely long video is just a sign for pure excitement

[jakko_]

Shortcat, I really admire your mindset when playing this game. Even though you've had multiple heartbreaking failures, your reaction always was "I was so close, let's try again!". You have this positive mindset in online races as well, instead of getting mad at other players, you congratulate them for getting good plays. This is not an easy mindset to maintain, and I applaud you for your achievements! Congratulations!

[EliasEgal-xi]

1:34:10 bro was so happy he started to cry, love it

[altair]

It is honestly insane just how talented of a player shortcat is. It took him TWO YEARS of playing this game seriously to get a top 10 time in the world, something that most of us could never dream of doing. Even looking at his first video posted, the difference in his driving skill is night and day. I'm so excited to see how much better he gets as he keeps improving at this game!

[mrartistimo]

I spent a lot of my teens pressured into not feeling. My thoughts and mindset being that I should be logical, rational. Not genuine.

I have since spent a lot of my short, ever so short adult life span (just four years now) breaking the facade and becoming more passionate, letting my emotions show. And being better than I ever was in my teens.

When you got the record and proved that you had it, that you could do something beyond what you could do in your teens. It was inspiring.

Amazing movie man, loved it and am looking forward to what you achieve and put out in the future :)

[RTAT]

HUGE congrats on this bro and respect for red yoshi ❤

[prodmaigel]

Crying with Shortcat wasn’t on my bucket list for this year

[josiahtheawkward]

1:31:43 Brilliant fakeout, I immediately knew once you started the race from the very beginning it f Lap 1, that this was the run. I did NOT expect the burnout lmao, that really got me

[highlightermarca-texto]

The genuine reaction at the end was so good. I'm actually in my early 20s now and I've started feeling existential dread over what you described, not being able to improve as quickly in new activities etc. This was really inspiring.

[ChocoCoco]

Your videos have always taught me so much about playing better in this game, but never expected to learn a life lesson in this way.
Congrats for your achivement and thanks for making this video, shortcat! Maybe I should also try stop putting limitations on what I can do because I am grown.

[Shortcat]

This is 100% the best comment section I've ever had the pleasure of reading. You're all amazing and I'm so happy you enjoyed the video. I wish I could respond to all of you but just know that I am reading all of it and also i'm not crying, you're crying! 🫣

[TheCanadianWifier]

As an older youtuber who put 2000 hours into Mario Kart 8 U, and had a Canadian top 10 on MW, I really REALLY related to and enjoyed this video. Excellent pacing and editing, and I remember a lot of what you went through despite never reaching the same highs myself. I actually remember a day where Diogo (one of the gods on 8u) coached me on rYV on stream at 5am lol, kind of took me under his wing to help me improve and that's something I look back on even today as being really special. So when Alberto helped you out it really hit home how the MK community doesn't ever change in morals, it just changes hands to new characters. Great people helping other great people want to achieve great things.

Congrats on your ww tops, that lap 3 made me cry I was really hoping you'd end up with a mid .4, but I guess that's what keeps us all coming back to these games ahha, always wanting more. Great video and congrats on the success

[sead-s]

This video is nothing short of a masterpiece! The level of dedication you showed in not only becoming a Top 10 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe player but also crafting such an incredible video is beyond impressive. Every edit, every piece of storytelling, and the journey itself were done to perfection. It’s rare to see someone put this much effort into both their gameplay and the content they create—hands down the best video I’ve watched all year. Keep up the good work!

[lammk]

your improvement at this game has been nothing short of impeccable, huge props for achieving this milestone! 😼