Sonic Racing: Crossworlds Review: Super Sonic Racing Reborn
Summary
Sonic Racing: Crossworlds doesn’t reinvent kart racing, but it delivers a fast, competitive experience that often outpaces its rivals. The game emphasises head-to-head competition: before each Grand Prix you’ll pick from iconic Sonic characters and a rival opponent (or two), and the AI will push you hard — taking drifts, shortcuts and items with frightening efficiency on higher difficulties. Character banter before races adds charm and personality.
Vehicles come in clear classes (speed, power, Extreme Gear) and are customisable with parts, colours, stickers and auras, though the parts selection feels limited and Extreme Gear lack a distinct playstyle. Tracks are a highlight: the Crossworlds gimmick sends you to alternate track variants mid-race via huge golden rings, drawing from Sonic’s long history and other SEGA IPs for varied, nostalgic courses.
The game leans more competitive than Mario Kart: item boxes can disappear too long after being hit, and getting struck by items costs a lot of momentum, making comebacks frustrating. Gadgets — equippable upgrades that alter item probabilities, stamina on bumps, or reduce stun time — help mitigate these issues and will likely shape online meta. Overall verdict: a fantastic, tight racer that will especially appeal to players who want a more punishing, skill-forward experience. Score: 9/10.
Key Points
- The game focuses on competitive, skill-based racing rather than casual chaos.
- Rival system selects AI opponents for each Grand Prix, offering scalable challenge choices.
- Character interactions and pre-race banter add personality and charm.
- Vehicles have clear classes (speed, power, Extreme Gear) but customisation parts are limited.
- Crossworlds track mechanic sends racers to alternate track variants mid-race, keeping replays fresh.
- Item box timing and heavy momentum loss when hit can make comebacks feel unfair.
- Gadgets allow meaningful build variety and will likely dominate online play.
- Excellent roster of tracks and characters; overall highly enjoyable and competitive.
Why should I read this?
If you want the short version: Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is proper competitive kart racing that’ll make you rage and grin in equal measure. Read this if you care whether Sonic’s racer actually competes with Mario Kart — the review breaks down what works (track design, rivals, gadgets) and what trips it up (item timing, brutal momentum loss), so you’ll know whether it’s your sort of chaos or not.
Source
Source: https://www.gamingbible.com/reviews/sonic-racing-crossworlds-review-161402-20250918