For decades, Mario has held the kart racing crown. However, after a week with Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, I'm convinced the blue blur has finally lapped the plumber. Sega hasn’t just delivered an adequate a rival — it’s built a racer that feels faster, fresher, and frankly, streets ahead of Nintendo's newest racing game, Mario Kart World.
Trust me, this is the last thing anyone who knows me would expect me to admit. Back in the '90s, I was that kid passionately defending Mario against my misguided classmates who dared to side with Sonic. Of course, this was long before Sega dropped out of the console race entirely.
I've also spent the last decade obsessed with Mario Kart 8, starting way back in 2014 on the Wii-U and continuing on with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the original Switch. Its flawless gameplay, amazing tracks and steady flow of DLC have kept it endlessly entertaining without ever getting old — if only that magic had carried over to Mario Kart World.
Fortunately, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has arrived at the perfect time, providing an amazing alternative for anyone, like me, let down by Mario's latest racing adventure. Though it's still early days, it already feels like Sonic has sped into the lead and is poised to claim the title of this year's best kart racer.
Mario Kart has veered off track
My excitement reached new heights with the announcement of Mario Kart World — especially since it would be launching alongside the Nintendo Switch 2. The prospect of a fresh installment in my favorite kart racing series, paired with a brand-new console, seemed like an unbeatable combination.
Sadly, the excitement faded quickly in the months following Mario Kart World's release, as the game failed to meet my high expectations. To begin with, it simply isn't as enjoyable as its predecessor, swapping tight, intense tracks for wider ones filled with long, straight sections that feel slow and boring.
Combine a lackluster open world component, limited customization options, and character and costume unlocks that feel like a tedious grind, and it seems to me that the Mario Kart series has veered off course.
Sonic saves the day
Thankfully, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds captures the spirit of Mario Kart 8 in almost every aspect while adding its own unique twists. Its track design stands out, offering a comparable level of polish and delivering the same thrilling, theme park-like excitement throughout.
While Mario Kart World's interconnected tracks are visually impressive and ambitious, the wide-open roads, designed for twice as many racers as Mario Kart 8, compromise gameplay and balance — races start off far too chaotic and then drag on with long, dull stretches.
I'd also argue that having 24 racers on the track instead of 12 doesn’t automatically make races more fun — it often just means handling more bots, even when playing online with friends.
Speaking of online, the game also offers cross-play functionality, so while I'm playing the game on Xbox Series X, I will still be able to compete against friends playing on PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch (a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will be released later in the year).
Of course, there's more to Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds than being a competent Mario Kart alternative — it also has a few tricks up its sleeve that help to invigorate the kart racing experience.
Mid-race portals are a game changer
Without question, the most distinctive and defining gameplay mechanic in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is its use of mid-race portals, which sets it apart from every other game in the kart racing genre.
The start of each race plays out exactly how you'd expect, however, the game throws a spanner in the works at the start of the second lap — the racer in first place gets to pick from one of two portals, which will instantly whisk all the competitors away to one of 15 unique CrossWorld tracks.
These tracks, which range from the prehistoric Dinosaur Jungle to the Casino-themed Roulette Road, are only accessible through these portal jumps and cannot be selected as individual race tracks.
This ensures each race is unpredictable, immediately immersing you in a new environment and compelling you to adapt your strategy spontaneously. By comparison, Mario Kart World's tracks feel staid and unimaginative, no matter how rails you can grind on.
Another cool new feature is the rival system, which assigns you a fully voiced opponent for each cup. These rivals will trash-talk you during races, giving the game more personality and someone specific to chase after.
Robust customization options
Based on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, I expected Mario Kart World to offer a similar level of customisation for vehicles, such as the ability to choose different bodies, wheels and gliders which affect your performance stats.
Needless to say, I was quite surprised to discover that all of that has been stripped out in the latest Mario Kart game. Instead, performance stats are now determined solely by the chosen character and vehicle combination.
Meanwhile, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds continues directly from its predecessor, Team Sonic Racing, enabling players to fully customize their vehicles, or "machines," as they're referred to in the game.
These machines come in five types: Speed, Acceleration, Handling, Power and Boost. Each one has its own special ups and downs when it comes to stats, and your chosen driver will play a part in that, too. Want to tweak things even more? You can swap out parts like the front, rear and wheels to really dial in those stats.
Of course, you'll have to ride like the wind in order to earn Donpa Tickets, the in-game currency which allows you to buy said parts, and which you get by winning races, completing challenges and collecting all the red rings in each track. You can also customize your machine's appearance with paint jobs, decals, and a glowing aura for an otherworldly look.
On top of all of this, players also have a Gadget Plate, which can be used to apply both active and passive perks and buffs. These include starting races with multiple boosts, extending slipstreams, or enhancing specific stats. Gadgets are earned by finishing a set number of races, completing a Grand Prix, or achieving higher ranks in the online World Match mode.
Will Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds maintain its momentum?
Based on my first week with Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, I'm confident that it will maintain my interest for a while to come.
It's also encouraging to know that developer Sonic Team has already mapped out its DLC well into next year — Hatsune Miku is already available as a playable character at launch, who will be joined by Joker from the Persona series in October, and Ichiban Kasuga from Like a Dragon in November.
It's also been announced that CrossWorlds' initial season pass will introduce characters from Minecraft and SpongeBob SquarePants. Following this, Pac-Man, Mega Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and Avatar Legends are slated for release throughout 2026.
In other words, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has a long and promising road ahead of it, and I can't wait to see how it plays out.
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