Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario have shared a good-natured rivalry for over three decades. While Mario Kart is the household name when it comes to mascot racing games, Sonic has steadily carved out his own place in the genre over the years. Sega’s latest racer, **Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds**, brings the Sonic crew back together with a key focus on track variety. Though it won’t reinvent the racing wheel, it stands as a solid effort in its own right.
### Characters and Customization
At launch, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds features a lineup of recognizable series characters, fan-favorites like Big the Cat, and newcomers such as Sage from *Sonic Frontiers*. Character selection is just one piece of the puzzle; the game also offers total vehicle customization.
Players start with dozens of vehicle parts, and many more can be unlocked using Donpa Tickets—a currency earned through natural gameplay. This system lets racers craft vehicles tailored to their playstyle, whether focusing on speed, acceleration, power, or handling.
For those who find tinkering with parts overwhelming, pre-built vehicles perform perfectly well. But the more intriguing customization lies in Gadgets, which further define a racer’s style. Loadouts enable players to boost stats and add special qualities—for example, quicker drift boosts, starting a race with specific items, increasing the ring cap, or earning bonuses for successfully hitting the starting boost.
Players can equip as many Gadgets as their loadout allows, with capacity expanding as more races and Grand Prix circuits are completed. This progression system encourages ongoing play and experimentation—rewarding players when they finally settle on the perfect build.
### Solo Versus Co-op Progression
While the progression system of earning vehicle parts and Gadgets is a great feature for solo racers, it can feel unbalanced in local co-op play. In my experience, my co-op partner was unable to access any of the unlocked parts or Gadgets and had to rely solely on pre-built options.
Although it’s not impossible to win with the limited pre-assigned Gadgets, this certainly places solo players with unlocked equipment at an advantage. It’s a minor downside but one that could impact the multiplayer experience.
### Hitting the Track
All the customization and unlocks are just the preamble—because none of it matters if **Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds** isn’t fun to play. Fortunately, it delivers a blast on the track.
While the core of the game centers on car racing, many of the tracks are designed to include air and sea sections. Each mode feels distinct, requiring different strategies to succeed. Air tricks, activated by flicking the right thumbstick, provide speed boosts, while keeping an eye on the drift meter is essential across all terrain types.
The variety of land, air, and sea racing also brings diverse scenery to the game. Powered by Unreal Engine, CrossWorlds boasts incredible visuals, with carefully crafted environments that feel alive and vibrant. Each course exudes personality, drawing inspiration from Sonic Superstars, Sonic Frontiers, Sonic X Shadow Generations, and other classic titles.
This distinctiveness in track design adds charm, though the busy backgrounds can occasionally be distracting—leading to accidental crashes if you’re not paying close attention.
### Travel Rings: A New Twist
One of the biggest additions in CrossWorlds is the **Travel Rings** mechanic. After the first lap, the race leader chooses a different world (the titular “CrossWorlds”) for the second lap. While the choice is somewhat limited—typically between “World A” or a random option—it still adds meaningful variety to each race.
Though these second lap worlds aren’t as recognizable as the main tracks, they’re well-designed and contribute additional flair without detracting from the core racing experience.
### Grand Prix and Rivalries
In the traditional Grand Prix mode, CrossWorlds introduces a rivalry system. Watching the banter between rivals before each race adds some entertainment, although in local multiplayer this dynamic appears reserved for the first player.
Rivals put up a tough fight, sometimes feeling a bit relentless, especially in tight races. Fans of Mario Kart who dislike the infamous Blue Shell will find CrossWorlds’ items similarly unforgiving—with some aimed directly at first and second place that are nearly impossible to dodge.
However, if a Grand Prix outing doesn’t go your way, you can spend Donpa Tickets to re-race. Since these tickets are relatively easy to earn back, this option often feels worthwhile.
### Race Park: Team-Based Fun
Beyond Grand Prix, **Race Park** offers team-based competitions reminiscent of earlier Sonic Racing games. Some races pit three teams against each other; others divide players into two teams. Traditional individual races with special rule sets are also available.
Though Race Park races aren’t the core focus, they’re enjoyable and factor into Gadget plate progression. They also provide unlockables of their own, making this mode feel like more than just a side activity.
### Gotta Drive Fast
Strangely enough for a game about touring multiple worlds, **Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds** mainly succeeds because it nails the fundamentals. The course design is solid, driving mechanics feel sound, and there’s genuine satisfaction in building your ideal vehicle and loadout.
The Travel Rings add a sprinkle of variety to every race, even if your actual choices there are somewhat limited. The gimmicks are fun, but it’s the solid core gameplay that truly makes the experience work.
With recent marketing and release timing, comparisons to *Mario Kart World* are inevitable. However, after spending time with both, CrossWorlds feels like apples and oranges—more like F1 versus NASCAR.
Ultimately, **Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds** is good enough to stand on its own and even surpass previous Sonic racing titles. So, just put the car in gear and enjoy the ride!
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146000/sonic-racing-crossworlds-review-score
