Sonic Racing CrossWorlds – A New Attempt to Give Sonic His True Racing Identity 🎮🚀

Since the Sonic racing series appeared, it has always been compared to Mario Kart. Sonic has speed and characters with huge popularity and a legacy across generations, but the challenge was always finding a unique identity for his games in the crowded kart racing scene. Some older attempts were praised for creative ideas like flying or transformations, but others failed to leave a mark and were quickly forgotten.

In recent years, there has been a sense that the series was stuck in the middle ground—good efforts that didn’t quite reach the level needed to compete directly with the big games. Each release brought small improvements or surface-level additions, but it always lacked the depth that makes players return again and again in parties and gatherings.

Today, with Sonic Racing CrossWorlds, Sonic is back with a bigger and bolder attempt. The game is not just a small expansion or a repeat of what came before—it presents itself as a new plan to give the series a true racing identity. From the very announcement, fans have been watching with excitement; so, will we finally see a Sonic racing game that stands beside the giants not just as an alternative, but as a game with its own unique style and spirit?

Game Content

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds offers wide and detailed content that keeps the experience going for a long time. The roster of characters is a big strength, bringing almost every fan-favorite face—Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Shadow, Rouge, Silver, Blaze, plus full teams like Team Chaotix and Babylon Rogues. The lineup doesn’t stop at the classics, as the plan from the start was to expand with crossovers like Hatsune Miku, Persona heroes, and even TMNT. This ensures that races feel fresh with every update.

The tracks are numerous and diverse enough to make every race different. There are 24 main circuits inspired by iconic locations like Radical Highway, Metal Harbor, and Market Street, plus 15 bonus tracks that appear through Travel Rings in the second lap. These sudden changes mid-race keep the pace fast and unpredictable, especially since the third lap also changes, opening new routes or obstacles like a missile blast altering the course or a collapsing path that forces you onto an alternate route.

Game modes are designed to suit every type of player. Grand Prix Mode offers cups with four races and rewards Donpa Tickets that can be spent on unlocking parts, colors, stickers, or improving bonds with characters to gain unique perks. Race Park is a loud arcade-style mode, online or offline, with rules like collecting the most Rings or hitting the most opponents. Time Trials focus purely on speed and perfect lines, with classic Sonic music tracks unlocking as you climb rankings, which can even be played in races.

Customization is one of CrossWorlds’ standout features. The Gadget Panel allows building different Loadouts depending on your playstyle or track. Each gadget has real effects—higher top speed, better cornering, shorter recovery time after being hit, or starting with stronger items. You can save multiple panels and switch between them before races, adding a clear strategic layer to the competition.

Online play supports full crossplay between platforms, meaning everyone can race together without barriers. Even better, all your offline progress carries online without repeating the grind.

Gameplay

Gameplay in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is the heart of the experience and what makes it stand apart. Controls are simple at the surface—accelerate, brake, drift, use items—but real depth shows when you learn to chain moves smoothly. Taking a long drift, jumping over a ramp, doing a trick mid-air for a boost, then hitting a dash panel before another turn—these combos make racing look easy but demand real skill.

Speed is the signature here. Races are so fast your eyes barely blink. Even mistakes don’t punish harshly—the game is designed to get you back into action quickly thanks to well-placed boost panels and rings. Rings play an important role: collecting more increases your top speed, while losing them after a hit slows you down and leaves you vulnerable.

The mechanic that changes everything is the CrossWorlds feature. On lap two, you suddenly warp into an entirely different track through Travel Rings. You might start on a normal land course then find yourself in an icy world needing a Boat Transformation, or a city track with aerial sections requiring Flight Form. These aren’t just cosmetic changes—they force you to adapt your strategy mid-race.

The third lap also shifts, opening new shortcuts or hazards like breaking platforms, added boost pads, or a rocket changing the route. This variety ensures no two races feel the same, even on the same track.

The Rivals system adds another competitive layer. Before each Grand Prix, the game assigns you a rival that acts like a skilled human player. Rivals aren’t just fast; they’re smart with items, save defensive tools for the right moment, and take near-perfect lines. This keeps the pressure on, making races feel alive and challenging.

Items return with familiar Wisps giving boosts, drilling, or lasers, along with new ideas like Monster Truck mode that crushes opponents or Tornado that cancels enemy attacks and strikes back. The balance is done well—there’s no overwhelming item like Mario Kart’s Blue Shell, but there’s enough chaos to keep the excitement alive until the finish line.

All these mechanics tie in with the Gadgets system, which shapes your playstyle. You can build setups focused on pure speed, defensive endurance, or offensive harassment. Switching setups based on track and transformations adds depth and keeps races varied.

Graphics

The graphics are designed to enhance speed and chaos without sacrificing Sonic’s iconic look. Colors are vibrant and eye-catching, and every track has a distinct feel—neon cities like Radical Highway, colorful jungles like Mystic Jungle, or open beaches like Coral Town. Lighting changes across laps, especially when moving between worlds via Travel Rings, keeping races visually fresh and full of energy.

Visual effects stand out most in lap transitions. A rocket launching and altering the track, a building collapsing to reveal a shortcut, or a huge wave flooding the path forcing you into Boat Transformation—all are smoothly integrated into the action, not just cutscenes.

Characters are more advanced than any past Sonic Racing game. Each has unique animations while driving—Sonic jokes and waves, Shadow shows off his cold attitude, Big the Cat pulls funny faces. Rivals even have unique voice lines and animations, adding a competitive feel like you’re racing real opponents.

Vehicles and hoverboards are crafted with great detail, from diverse shapes to materials and customizations. Metallic paints, glossy or matte finishes, decals—everything makes your ride unique. Boost effects and explosions during item use look powerful without cluttering the screen or breaking the flow.

Final Verdict

9/10

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds succeeds at a tough balance—keeping Sonic’s fast, chaotic spirit while adding enough depth to make it worth replaying. With diverse track designs that mix past and present, customization giving every player their own style, smooth and strategic gameplay, and impressive graphics, CrossWorlds proves it’s not just trying to compete with Mario Kart but stands as a strong racing game with its own identity. What we have here is a fun, varied racing experience that can hold its ground among the best in the genre.