There are over 179,000 character and vehicle combinations in Mario Kart 8 for Wii U, so choosing the best one to suit your driving style isn’t an easy task. But with Configure MK8, a free app now available in Google Play, you can compare each and every one of them on your smartphone to help you decide which setup you’ll use the next time you sit down to play.

Configure MK8 is an unofficial app — Nintendo still won’t make software for mobile — but that doesn’t mean it isn’t terrific. If you’re a Mario Kart 8 player (and you should be because it’s awesome) it’s a must-have, and it could be what gives you the edge over your friends when it comes to choosing the best vehicle for those all-important lap times.

Every track in the game plays differently, so achieving the best time and beating your friends can depend on a number of things. Some tracks are better suited to heavier characters, and others are better suited to bikes. Some require plenty of drift, while others are easier if you have good handing for those tight turns.

Configure MK8 app has every character, kart, bike, tyre, every glider — and you can mix and match them all to find the best combination for you, whether you want the fastest speed possible, quick acceleration, the best traction, or great handling. You can also save vehicle combinations and compare them.

The app also has a helpful FAQ section that explains what all these attributes mean, and the difference between things like ground speed, anti-gravity speed, air speed, and water speed.

I first downloaded Configure MK8 last night after stumbling across it on Reddit, and it has already helped me out tremendously. For weeks, I’ve been trying to get three stars in the Star Cup on 150cc, but there’s a track in it called Dolphin Shoals that’s mostly underwater, that I just couldn’t finish in first place.

Using Configure MK8, I was able to find a character and kart combination that offered the best possible speed under water — something you cannot find using the simple stats displayed in-game — and within two tries, I had three stars on Star Cup.

It really is that useful, and I urge you to go download it now if you’re a Mario Kart 8 player. Just follow the Google Play link below.

• SourceGoogle Play