Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Balloon Boys - PART 1 - Game Grumps VS

Summary

In this Mario Kart 8 Deluxe VS episode, Arin and Dan jump into balloon battle mode with barely any idea of what they’re doing—and that’s half the fun. Arin picks Inkling Girl and goes full chaos mode, laying banana traps, hunting for balloons, and trash-talking everyone in sight. Dan starts off confused but quickly settles into a surprisingly effective passive strategy, cruising around, avoiding conflict, and somehow winning the round. The episode is packed with loud reactions, ridiculous Mario Kart jargon, accidental self-sabotage, and a constant back-and-forth of friendly insults. By the end, Dan proudly claims victory as Light Blue Yoshi while Arin fumes, jokes, and pretends not to care. It’s classic Game Grumps energy: messy, competitive, and very, very funny.

Highlights

• Arin immediately embraces chaos with Inkling Girl and a banana strategy that’s basically warfare 🍌
• Dan’s confusion turns into confidence as he realizes passive play can actually work surprisingly well 😄
• The episode keeps spiraling into absurd trash talk, fake outrage, and over-the-top Mario Kart drama 🎭
• Dan steals the win at the end and Arin reacts like it’s the most annoying thing on earth 🏁

Key Takeaways

• Arin goes full-aggression mode and turns the map into banana hell 🍌
• Dan starts clueless but slowly becomes weirdly effective by playing super passive 😎
• Balloon Battle is a chaotic first-timer experience for both of them 🎈
• Arin’s trash talk and dramatic rage make the whole match way funnier 😂
• Dan wins the round as Light Blue Yoshi and absolutely revels in it 🏆

Overview

The episode kicks off with the usual Game Grumps VS energy: big greetings, goofy banter, and immediate confusion over Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s menus and battle modes. Arin and Dan fumble through character selection, car setups, and the rules of Balloon Battle while making jokes about everything from stylized logos to jazz-band chaos.

Once the match starts, Arin dives into aggressive play, dropping bananas, targeting opponents, and loudly narrating every hit, miss, and accidental self-own. Dan stays much less frantic, gradually discovering that avoiding the carnage and staying alive can be a winning strategy. The contrast between Arin’s reckless attack mode and Dan’s laid-back survival approach drives most of the comedy.

By the end, Dan’s passive style pays off and he wins the battle, which prompts the pair’s trademark victory-loser banter. Arin pretends not to care while roasting Dan’s win, and Dan fully basks in being the champion of the moment. It’s a fun, fast, and very talkative battle episode that leans hard into their competitive chemistry.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 02:30: Intro and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Setup The episode opens with the Game Grumps VS intro and a chaotic, humorous welcome as Arin and Dan react to the music, mic issues, and the flashy Mario Kart 8 Deluxe title screen.
• 02:30 - 05:00: Choosing Balloon Battle and Learning the Controls Arin and Dan choose Balloon Battle and immediately start learning the controls, with Arin explaining basics like moving, shooting, and the radar while joking around about being the yellow balloon character and planning to fill the map with bananas.
• 05:00 - 07:30: Early Chaos and First Hits Arin and Dan start in chaotic Balloon Battle action, reacting to Metal Mario, stars, deaths, and balloon steals as Arin gets excited about surviving and figuring out how to take balloons. They head into Sweet Sweet Cavern/Kingdom, joke about supposed advanced techniques, and Arin commits to playing aggressively while Dan hangs back.
• 07:30 - 10:00: Aggressive Play, Self-Destruction, and Jokes Arin and Dan focus on aggressive Battle Mode play, with Arin repeatedly attacking opponents, celebrating kills, and joking about turning and ramming into enemies while Dan comments on the chaos and laughs along.
• 10:00 - 11:30: Late-Game Comeback and Balloon Count Shifts Dan celebrates a narrow late-game win and jokes that the victory should be framed as the official outcome, even though Arin downplays it and says he doesn’t care much about losing.
• 11:30 - 12:30: Dan Takes the Win and Wrap-Up Tease Dan is declared the winner of the episode, with both Dan and Arin joking about the outcome and Dan being celebrated as the champion despite Arin’s mock disappointment.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Balloon Boys - PART 1 - Game Grumps VS Transcription

• Segment 1: 00:00 - 02:30 ♫ In this corner Grump (I'm a grump) ♫ ♫ In the other corner, Not-So-Grump ♫ ♫ It's Game Grumps VS ♫ (*applause* Woo! Woo! Yeah!) Arin: Hey Dan: Hello! And welcome to Mario Kart Deluxe! Arin: Holy shit, it's Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, brah. Dan: Oh that was- sorry the eight was so stylized, I couldn't even tell. Arin: It was a mobius strap. Dan: Uhhh, oh no. Arin: Wha- Are you okay? You - you okay? Dan: Everything is fine. My - My microphone is fine. Okay, we're good. Arin: Uhh, o - welcome. Wait, what the fuck just happened? What the fuck is this shit? Dan: Oh, I don't know but that jazz band is fucking out of control. Arin: They're going NUTS. Arin: the longer you wait, the more they're like: Dan and Arin: *INTENSE IMITATION OF INSTRUMENTS* Dan: Okay cool. Arin: Alright. Well, we're doing multiplayer and we're gonna do some battle shit, cuz that's the jam. Dan: Yeaaaah, dude. Dan: That is the jam. Oh my god, look at all the controllers. Arin: Go ahead and hit L and R. Arin: Um, so I'm going to be my fucking babe, Arin: Motherfuckin' Inkling girl. Dan: (same time as Arin) Inkling girl? Dan: Oooh, who is she? Arin: She's from Splatoon, dude. Dan: (breathes) She's adorable. Arin: What the hell you talking about, bro? Dan: I've never played Splatoon. Arin: Uhm, well that's because you suck. Dan: Okay. Arin: Yeah, well I don't even I-- I don't mean to be so aggressive about it. Dan: I'll be Yosh, I'll be my boy Yosh. Arin: *moan in backround* Dan: Whoa Arin: You gonna be a pink Yoshi? You gonna be a red Yoshi? Blue Yoshi? Dan: How do I choose my uh. .. How do I. .. Arin: Just select it, select them. With uh, A. A button. Dan: Okay. Dan: *gasps* I can be a light blue Yoshi? Arin: Oh, that's your perfect Yoshi right there. Dan: Dang it, I hit the wrong button. Dan: *gasp* Oh My God, I love him! Arin: *burp* Arin: Eugh. And I'm gonna be. .. Ooh, beetle car is pretty sweet. Dan: Jeepers creepers. Arin: Spliggedy splat car. Dan: Standard Bike. Ah, the City Tripper. Dan: Fuck yeah.
• Segment 2: 00:00 - 02:30 Dan: Standard, monster. .. Boy, Jesus! Mario Kart has gotten out of control. Arin: Yeah, you can. You can do all, all kinds of things. Dan: Parafoil, plane glider, super gli- yeah, I'll super glide. Arin: I'm ready. Dan: I have no idea how to play this. Arin: So we're doing a balloon. .. We can do a Balloon Battle, which means we fight for balloons, and hit each other and stuff, Renegade Roundup. .. I don't even know that one I've never played it. .. Bob-omb Blast, you throw the bomb-omb at each other. Coin, you get a lot of coins. Shine Thief you get a shine, and the longer you have it, whatever probably. So let's do. .. Balloon battle. This is the first time I've played it, so Dan: Oh, ok Arin: Ooh, look at all these fuckin' classic courses. Dan: Let's do Dragon Palace. Arin: You got it, buddy. Dan: That seems like a fun-- yes, start the battle. We know nothing, of course it's time to start. Arin: And then you just hold B or A or whichever to go and then I think the triggers are attack? Dan: Triggers? Okay, got it like ZR and ZL?
• Segment 3: 02:30 - 05:00 Arin: Yeah, something like that. Arin: I'm a little bug girl! Dan: Oh my god. Arin: I've got fucking bug on me, dude. Dan: I love this. I love this! Arin: So you just want to knock out all five of my balloons, bro. Dan: Oh I know it. A is reverse. Arin: A is go. Arin: And, um, I'm going to fuck you guys up. And. .. . fuck are you? Dan: Where are you? How do I know where you are? Arin: Okay so L is shoot your attack. I'm the yellow balloons. Not that I want to give that away or anything but uh Dan: Right but how, like. .. is there a radar of some kind? Arin: Uh, nnn- yes, on the middle of the screen. Dan: HAH, right you are. *laughing* Arin: I'm gonna fucking get you bro. I'm gonna lay like, a thousand bananas everywhere, so anywhere anybody goes is just going to be banana hell. Dan: Banana hell? Arin: See, the trick is you gotta put em- Dan: That's the name of a gay porn I saw once. Arin: *chuckling* Arin: The trick is- Dan: I mean. .. Uh. .. I was told about. Arin: Yeah, no I saw it too. I mean was told about it. By the same person. Dan: Hey, there you are! Whoa. Dan: You banana leaving son of a bitch! They're under all the boxes! Arin: Yeah, I know, that's the point. Dan: That's a dick move! Arin: I know, It's the dickiest move. Arin: And I'm going to keep dickety doing it, because it's the best way to go. Dan: Did you shoot at me? Arin: Yes I did what- what else are you supposed to do! ? Arin: First of all, I'm the king. I have the crown. Dan: You fucking shot at me! Arin: Yeah. Arin: It's probably the best thing I've ever done. Dan: Un. Believable! Arin: One of the best choices I've ever made in my life! Dan: I'm sorry I thought we were friends Arin: Yeah, not in Mario Kart! Arin: Friends don't exist in Mario Kart. Dan: Aw you FUCKER! Dan: Who just hit me? Arin: Don't that suck? Don't that suck? Arin: Gonna lay some more banana peels Arin: right on some item boxes Dan: I've truly done nothing! Dan: What is a feather? Oooh! Arin: Just makes you jump and spin and go fast.
• Segment 4: 02:30 - 05:00 Dan: That's nice. Arin: Is it just me and you right now? Arin: 'cause I'm getting that impression right now Dan: Really? Arin: Oh nope nope there's some other folk Dan: No, there's tons of people Arin: Alright, fuck you! Arin: This is actually really tough! Dan: This is- like, I am so clueless as to what's going on Arin: Aww, here we go. Fucking dammit! Arin: It's like hard to hit people without the homing shit. Dan: OOH that's a bomb! Arin: Oh, did you get hit? OoOoh shit I just got hit, bro! Arin: I got legit hit! Dan: I got legit hit as well. Arin: Aaand drift it- Oh no, I hit a bananer! Dan: Boy, these graphics are beautiful! Arin: Yeah suck me off, suck me off, Peach! Dan: I will do no such thing! Arin: Not you, I don't care about your Yoshi situation I got Peach in my sights! Dan: I got- *laughs* Arin: OW! Dan: *laughs* Arin: Fuck! I got- I got green shelled! Arin: You sonnova B, you fuckin' Metal Mario bastard!
• Segment 5: 05:00 - 07:30 Dan: Woah! Good lord! Arin: Metal Mario hit me, huh? Pshht Arin: Looks like whoever's behind me is gonna get fucked up. Dan: What does this thing do-Whooaaah! Arin: Whoa-whoa-whoa- oh my god I died! Arin: I lost, I died! Dan: Awesome! Arin: I died! Arin: Wait I get health back? I have 3 balloons now. Dan: What, why? How? Arin: Because I'm cool! Dan: That's not the reason. Arin: Obviously because I'm epic! Arin: Fuck you, Waluigi. Dan: Oh now I'm done! Dan: Do I get 3 balloons for being a jackass? Arin: Yeah, I think you stay in. Dan: Oh, yeah. Arin: And fuck you. And oh! Star time! Dan: What- why did we stay in? Because it's about us? Arin: Because we're extreme, dude. Dan: No, we're not extreme. Arin: Oh, I stole a balloon from somebody! That's Fucking AWESOME! ! Dan: Oh, we're outta time. Arin: YES! Dan: Oh you stole a balloon from me! Arin: I'm The Man! Dan: Well. .. Arin: Metal Mario? Fuck you! Dan: Hey we did pretty well! Arin: Fuck you, Metal Mario! Dan: Boy, he's good. Arin: No he's not! He's a metal mother fucker! Dan: I accomplished nothing that round. I just kind of drove around. Arin: Shit, man. Well. .. Arin: At least I know I can steal balloons now, I'm gonna do that nonstop. Dan: How do you do it? Arin: I think you have to get a star. Arin: So we're gonna do Sweet Sweet Cavern or whatever the fuck it's called. Dan: Okay. Arin: Um, and there's 8 players so don't fuck around. Dan: I can't deal with this. .. Arin: Watch the ins and outs! Weave, dodge, and pull! Dan: What? Arin: Um, they're fancy Mario Kart techniques. Dan: Mmm. That Sweet Sweet Kingdom Arin: Uh weave, dodge, pull, run. .. Arin: juke, jib, and jive. Dan: *laughs* Arin: Those are the secrets. Dan: Jump Jive and Wail. Arin: *laughs* Arin: Um, you gotta jump jive Arin: and you wail, you gotta. .. Dan: And you- yeah Arin: Oh no I spun out! Dan: *laughs* Dan: That's 3 balloons right there! Arin: Alright, mother fucker. I'm going aggressive this round. Dan: (meeps to the music) Dan: I'm just gonna kinda laze around at a low speed.
• Segment 6: 05:00 - 07:30 Arin: Oh shit! Being aggressive did not pay off in the least! Arin: Yes! I fuckin' pegged Mario, dude! Arin: I slammed him right up the anal sphincter! Dan: *laughs* Dan: Anal cavity. Arin: I got him right in the anal cavity, dude! Dan: Anus cavity. Arin: Watch this: Whooo! Jumpin'. Arin: And then. .. fuck you! Oh no I threw my banana over the edge! Arin: Now somebody far below us is going to have a horrible day! Dan: Whoap! Arin: That's a real shame Arin: Does this follow Mario Kart rules? Like since I'm doing so well I'm getting shit items? Dan: All I'm doing is cleaning up other people's bananas. Arin: That's nice of you, dude. Dan: It is pretty courteous, I'm not gonna lie.
• Segment 7: 07:30 - 10:00 Dan: *Singing along with background music* Arin: I'm trying to find sombody to Fuck- Yeeaaah! Dan: Oh whoa woah whoa-! Arin: Gotcha right in the anus! Arin: Gotcha right in the bootox! Dan:. ..the bootox. .. Arin: I found out that turning is very, like, not a good thing. Dan: Yeah. Arin: 'cause like you can't tell- Oh fuck I hit myself! Arin: Shit! Dan: *laughs* Arin: Yeah, take that you donkey mother fucker! Arin: Fuckin' monkey-ass bitch. Dan: Ooaa- Arin: Alright here we go here we go here we go here we go Arin: Oh I have little hop. Dan: I love going in reverse. *laughs* Arin: *laughs* Are you just gonna do that the whole round? Dan: It's just like: "Honey! Is there anything behind me?" Arin: *laughs* Arin: Call it out! Call it out! Dan: 'mon back! 'mon back! Arin: Sloooowly. Sloooowly. Arin: Slo- Stop! Stop! Dan: *laughs* Dan: Whoops. Arin: That's always the best when they're just like- Arin: "Come, come- " they do the hand signal that's like Arin: Like the: "Your're good you're good you're good" Arin: And then they're like: "Stopstopstop!" Dan: "You're not good you're not good" Dan: "You're no longer good" Arin: It's like, you're s'posed to fuckin'- Arin: Change to the yellow light version of the hand beckoning. Dan: *Singing along with the background music* Arin: I like just running into dudes. That's fun. Arin: So I'm doing really well apparently. I am the king? Dan: Are you? Arin: Yeah. I have a crown. Dan: *laugh* King of the castle. Arin: Oh no! Oh No! Arin: I just got boo-didly'd! Dan: Aww! How'd they break through my- Arin: Oh shit oh shit- Yes! Dan: Woah Arin: Oh man, I'm still doing the best though. Wait you have 4 though! Arin: How are you not doing the best? Dan: Uh, because I guess you've killed more people. Arin: Wohoo! Arin: I haven't gotten a red shell yet. Dan: I'm a pretty passive player. Arin: How are you a passive player in battle mode? Dan: It's pretty impressive, I'm not gonna lie. Arin: I guess with the 4 balloons, you're good. Dan: Hey, I've got the crown!
• Segment 8: 07:30 - 10:00 Dan: King of da castle. Arin: *gasp* NO! Arin: You fuckin' piece of shit Daisy! Dan: What happened? Arin: I will stab you in the gut! Arin: I will bleed you out onto the ground! Dan: *laughs* Arin: I will watch your cartoon blood pool underneath you! Dan: Wow. Harsh. Arin: As I laugh incessantly! Dan: Aww, that didn't kill anybody? Dan: I was- I was a maniac on the floor for a minute, though. Dan: I think I did pretty well that time. Arin: Oh my god, you got 8 balloons! Dan: Yeaaah! Arin: What the FUCK? ! Dan: Whoooo! Arin: The FUCK? ! Dan: ♫ Light blue Yoshi victory of the world ♫ Arin: Passive playing is the way to go. Dan: Well it's kinda just like. .. you kinda just stay in your lane Dan: and like don't worry about shit, cuz
• Segment 9: 10:00 - 12:30 Dan: if you go trying to kill everyone, you just get killed in the process. .. Arin: *disgusted sigh* Dan:. .. I find. Also there's a good chance that I was just incredibly lucky. Dan: But in any case, Danny Wins! Arin:. ..this episode. Dan: Of course! Arin: But the next time we'll play Renegade Rampage or whatever the fuck it's called. Dan: But most people only watch the first episode of a series so Dan: as far as those people know. .. Dan: Danny Wins. Light blue Yoshi rules. Put it up on the screen. Dan: Danny wins as a light blue Yoshi. Arin: oh yeah that's fine. Dan: Danny's the champion of the world Arin: I didn't wanna win anyway. Dan: and also New Jersey. Arin: I didn't really care. It wasn't a big deal to me. Dan: Fucking nailed it. Matt and Ryan, Arin: Yeah. So. .. Dan: Please put up a picture of me happy and Arin sad. Arin: King of the smallest kingdom in the world. I dunno. Dan: Oh man. Matt and Ryan, Arin: It's kinda like one little castle. Dan: next to that picture of me put a blue #1 ribbon Dan: and next to that Arin picture put a- a small pile of shit. Arin: it's not like. .. it's not like. .. Dan: Thank you, guys. Arin: I built Game Grumps from the ground up or anything. Dan: It's pretty great. Arin: It just matters that you won a game of Mario Kart once. Dan: D. A. N. N. Y. He's a super awseome guy. Arin: It's fine Arin: Yeah. But I'm- But I'm happy for you, you know? Dan: Yeah. No, I know. Arin: You really accomplished a lot Arin: by, uh. .. literally not doing anything. Dan: *laughs* Arin: And, uh, just a really good feeling all around for me. Dan: What does the crown mean? Dan: What does new high score mean? Did I break it? Arin: Alright, next time on fuckin' Game Grumps. Dan: Next time on Game Grumps! Dan: Bye! Dan: Let's get some new characters! Arin: You got it. Arin: You got it.