Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Review – A New Era for Kart Racing?

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is Sega’s latest attempt to create a top-tier kart racing game. It blends high-speed action, customization, and a fresh set of worlds into one thrilling experience. From intense tracks to creative gameplay, this game tries to bring something new while keeping the fun of past Sonic racing titles.

We tested the game during its Closed Network Test and were impressed by how much promise it shows. While there are still bugs and missing features, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has the heart of a great kart racer.

Let’s dive into everything this game does right, what it needs to improve, and why it might be the next big thing in racing games.

A Racing Game with a Twist

At its core, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a kart racer like Mario Kart or Crash Team Racing. You pick your favorite character and race on colorful, creative tracks. But Sega goes a step further with a few new ideas:

• CrossWorlds Travel Rings that change the track mid-race
• Morphing vehicles (car, boat, and plane) depending on the route
• A huge list of power-ups, gadgets, and car parts

This game doesn’t just copy what works—it tries to build on it. That’s what makes CrossWorlds stand out.

Gameplay: Speed with Strategy

The gameplay is fast. Like, really fast. When you start a race, you’re immediately hit with speed lines, glowing tracks, and boosting power-ups. The controls are smooth, though at times the high speed can make it tricky to take tight turns.

There are 24 tracks in total, and each has different environments, hazards, and challenges. These aren’t just pretty backgrounds. They affect how you drive. One second you’re cruising on a beach. The next, you’re dodging cannonballs from a pirate ship.

Each lap in a race brings something new. After the first lap, the leader gets to choose a Travel Ring. This ring takes all racers into one of 15 CrossWorlds. These CrossWorlds include:

• A neon city
• A floating candy land
• A dinosaur jungle
• A haunted castle

The result? Every race feels fresh and unpredictable.

The Return of Transforming Vehicles

Fans of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed will be happy to see this feature return. Your vehicle changes shape during a race depending on the terrain.

• On roads: You drive your regular kart.
• On water: Your kart becomes a boat.
• In air: You transform into a plane.

Each form has its own controls and challenges. Water sections require balance and turning. Air sections have vertical movement and more room to explore shortcuts. These transformations keep the gameplay exciting and full of variety.

Customization: Build Your Dream Machine

CrossWorlds offers a ton of ways to personalize your kart.

Each vehicle is made up of three parts:

• Front
• Back
• Tires

You can mix parts from different vehicles in the same class. For example, take the front of Sonic’s ride and the back of Shadow’s. Each part affects stats like speed, handling, acceleration, and boost.

Characters also matter. They give passive bonuses. Tails might improve handling, while Knuckles might boost power. Finding the right combo of parts and characters is key to winning races.

Gadgets and Donpa Tickets

Before each race, you can choose Gadgets. These are like perks that give you special bonuses:

• Faster drift charge
• Extra rings when using boost
• Better item pickups

At first, you only have three slots for Gadgets. To unlock more, you need to play and earn Donpa Tickets, the in-game currency. You get these by racing, completing missions, and doing daily challenges.

Gadgets add a layer of depth. They let you play the way you like. Whether you love speed, prefer defense, or want to earn more items—there’s a Gadget for you.

Visuals and Performance

The game looks beautiful. Environments are rich with detail. From the glowing lights of the casino world to the dinosaur bones of prehistoric tracks, each place is designed with care.

The particle effects are top-notch. Speed lines, explosions, and power-up effects fill the screen. The visuals give a sense of movement and danger, especially when racing at full speed.

That said, it’s not perfect. During our test, we encountered:

• Occasional crashes
• Falling through the map
• Characters getting stuck after being hit

These bugs can break the flow. But since this was a beta test, we expect most of these issues to be fixed before the full release.

AI and Multiplayer

During early gameplay, most races are filled with bots. Only a few real players appear, especially at the lower ranks. This is understandable because not everyone has access to the test.

Bots are surprisingly smart. They drift, boost, and use items well. Sometimes they’re even hard to beat. Still, racing against humans is always more fun. From C-rank and above, more human players appear in each race.

Once the game is fully released, this issue should disappear as more people join.

The Roster: A Mix of Fan Favorites

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds starts with 9 characters, but 23 will be available at launch. Sega promises more in future updates.

Confirmed characters so far include:

• Sonic
• Tails
• Knuckles
• Shadow
• Amy
• Eggman

Fans are hoping for returns of classic Sega characters like:

• AiAi (Super Monkey Ball)
• Billy Hatcher
• NiGHTS
• B.D. Joe (Crazy Taxi)

CrossWorlds might even feature guests from other Sega games like Like a Dragon or Shin Megami Tensei.

This wide selection gives players the chance to race as their favorites and try different strategies.

Power-Ups: Classic and New

Power-ups are part of the fun in any kart racer. CrossWorlds has 23 power-ups, including returning classics and brand-new ones.

• Red Missile: Locks onto the racer ahead.
• Yellow Drill: A speed burst similar to Mario Kart’s Bullet Bill.
• Monster Truck: Turns your kart huge, letting you crush enemies.

These items help even the playing field. If you fall behind, one good power-up can bring you back to the top. But you’ll also need skill and timing to avoid hazards and keep your lead.

Track Design: Changing with Every Lap

Each track in CrossWorlds is more than just a road to the finish line. They evolve.

For example:

• Wonder Museum starts as a peaceful track. By lap three, the exhibits come alive, and you’re dodging T-Rex skeletons.
• Metal Harbor begins as a standard track. Later, a rocket launches, and you use its blast to jump across the sky.

These changes keep the gameplay exciting and make players adapt. It also makes each lap feel fresh and full of surprises.

Grinding and Unlocks

Customization is great, but it comes at a cost. To unlock new parts, Gadgets, and cosmetics, you need a lot of Donpa Tickets.

This means you have to play a lot. Some players may find the grind tiring. But if you love the game, the effort feels worth it.

You can also expect daily missions, limited-time events, and possibly season passes to keep things interesting over time.

Music and Sound Design

Sonic games are known for their music, and CrossWorlds doesn’t disappoint. The soundtrack mixes techno beats with rock themes and fast-paced jazz.

Each track has its own background music, matching its theme. The haunted track has spooky tunes, while the neon city features upbeat electronic music.

Voice acting is minimal, but characters have catchphrases and reactions during races. Sound effects for power-ups, boosts, and drifts are clear and satisfying.

What Needs Work

Every good game needs polish, and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is no different. Here are a few things that need improvement:

1. Bugs and Crashes – Sometimes the game crashes mid-race. Characters might fall through the floor. These issues break immersion and need fixing before release.
2. Handling Problems – Even with high-handling karts, turning can feel off. Sometimes you hit walls for no reason. This should be tightened up.
3. Limited Online Players – Races with bots are fine, but not as fun as real competition. The player base will likely grow at launch.
4. Grinding – Unlocking items takes a lot of time. Some players might feel frustrated if rewards come too slowly.

Final Thoughts: Is Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Worth It?

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is shaping up to be one of the best kart racing games in recent memory. It brings back what worked in older Sonic titles while adding new and bold ideas. The Travel Rings, CrossWorlds, and transforming vehicles all offer a fresh take on kart racing.

It’s not perfect yet. Bugs, long grind times, and awkward controls need to be fixed. But the game has huge potential. With 23 characters, over 24 tracks, and deep customization, there’s plenty of content for both casual and hardcore fans.

If Sega continues improving the game, supports it with updates, and listens to feedback, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds could become a real competitor to Mario Kart.

Our Verdict (Beta Review):

• Graphics: 8.5/10
• Gameplay: 9/10
• Controls: 7.5/10
• Customization: 9/10
• Fun Factor: 9.5/10
• Overall (Beta): 8.7/10

FAQs – Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds