Mario Meets Pareto

In Mario Kart 8, selecting your character, kart, tires, and glider is not only about personal preference, but also fundamental to achieving victory. Each of these elements comes with multiple options, each offering distinct statistics that influence your performance. This abundance of choices can be overwhelming, even after removing duplicate options. The question then arises: is there a method to find the optimal build or does it rely on luck? The answer lies in Vilfredo Pareto's principles from over a century ago.

Ranking drivers by speed is a straightforward method to identify the fastest one, but speed alone is not enough to determine the optimal build. You must also consider acceleration, as some drivers may have more acceleration for the same speed, or vice versa. For instance, Cat Peach has superior speed with comparable acceleration, and Toadette offers more acceleration with equal speed.

Clearly, Koopa is not a favorable choice for a competitive build. By identifying drivers that are not dominated on both speed and acceleration, you create the Pareto front, a set of efficient options that offer the best performance relative to others.

However, not all points on the Pareto front are equally suitable. Your play style and skills may favor certain statistics over others. For example, you might prioritize speed over acceleration, or vice versa. This preference will guide you towards the most suitable option from the Pareto front. The Pareto concept is applicable to various scenarios where trade-offs are necessary, such as choosing between a cheap but delicious meal, a well-paid yet fulfilling job, or a fair taxation system that balances efficiency with returns.

In essence, the Pareto front helps you eliminate suboptimal choices and narrows down the options to those that offer the best performance relative to your preferences. While it may not reveal the single best option, it provides a starting point for experimentation and decision-making.