Start your engine and get your game face on. The lights are about to go out on another ridiculously fun race in Mario Kart Tour – and this time there’s something extra special happening.

The third tour to celebrate one and a half years since the game joyfully raced into our lives is about to launch. Mario and mates will be going bumper to bumper around the new Ninja Hideaway course on the Ninja Tour. Here’s what to expect, Kart fans.

The Ninja Hideaway course takes you through the inside of Ninja Manor and onto the tiled roof outside; the route is divided into upper and lower sections and features beautiful Japanese-style rooms and illuminated cherry blossoms. Take a moment to appreciate the view and then get down to business, as you race with Mario, Bowser, Peach, Luigi and Yoshi.

Racing together along the bridge towards Ninja Manor is a thrill, but don’t just admire the scenery – you’ll need to be on top form to navigate the hidden passages and victory-threatening surprises that await you up ahead.

Ninja Manor is full of unexpected obstacles – like when a ceiling suddenly drops from above with scary shurikens (or ninja stars) sticking out from it.

Keep an eye out for the new character, Ninja Shy Guy – he can turn into a banana thanks to some outstanding shape-shifting skills.

As the tyres screech and the smoke rises, you’ll have to expertly manoeuvre your kart to maintain your winning pace and slip past your rivals. Can you make a clean getaway from Ninja Manor and bag first place?

While there’s pleasure in racing on the ground, nothing quite beats soaring through the sky. This tour introduces the Ninja Scroll, a glider with the word Nindou written on it that flies through the air.

When flying with the Ninja Scroll, look carefully at the course below to find the best place to land – if, for example, you touch down on a curve in the track you’ll be perfectly positioned to overtake your competitors.

As well as Ninja Shy Guy, the Ninja Tour also introduces new drivers Green Shy Guy and King Bob-omb (Gold), whose special Coin Box skill generously spreads coins around.

There are several new karts in the mix as well: the green Jade Hop Rod has the face of a frog, the red-coloured Crimson Hop Rod appears in a special offer and the adorable Sakura Quickshaw has a pink cherry-blossom-patterned body.

Even if you’re leading the pack, don’t get distracted – if you skid on a banana skin or get struck by lightning, your rivals will be only too happy to capitalise on your misfortune. While the location of this tour may be different, don’t forget that the way items and skills are used, in addition to a clever driving technique, will determine who wins and who limps across the finish line.

You could launch a well-timed and perfectly aimed shell to send a hit, or collect three to create a Frenzy and unleash them all at once. Think like a ninja when you’re planning your battle tactics and you’ll be hard to beat.

Like any seasoned Mario Kart Tour player knows, you can’t give your rivals even a hint of an advantage. But if you embrace the ninja mindset and refine the way you use items and skills to outsmart others, you’ll discover new ways to achieve victory.