For years, Mario Kart has been the king of kart racing. It’s the go-to party racer, the series everyone compares newcomers to. But now, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds has entered the track with its own flashy ideas, deeper customization, and some mechanics that genuinely shake up the formula. The big question fans are asking is whether Sega’s bold new racer can actually stand toe-to-toe with Mario Kart.
Crossworlds doesn’t shy away from comparisons; it almost invites them. Sega has built a game that blends Sonic’s high-speed chaos with kart racing fundamentals, then layers it with features Nintendo has never attempted.
Is Sonic Racing: Crossworlds the Mario Kart killer?

No, calling anything a “Mario Kart killer” is risky. After all, Nintendo’s series has decades of goodwill and arguably the most recognizable roster. It’s undeniably one of the best racing games available. However, what Sonic Racing: Crossworlds does differently is push presentation and mechanics to a louder, bolder extreme.
Its courses are wild, often transforming mid-race through portals that fling players into entirely new environments. One lap might be a neon-lit city, the next above the clouds where cars morph into planes. That unpredictability injects a sense of drama Mario Kart’s static three-lap tracks rarely match.
The rivalry system also raises the stakes. Instead of faceless AI blending into the chaos, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds designates a specific character as your rival, constantly hounding you with more aggressive behavior. Beating them feels personal, and that extra tension makes even CPU races feel competitive. Mario Kart thrives on party chaos, but Crossworlds sharpens that chaos into something more strategic and layered.
Difference between Sonic Racing: Crossworlds and Mario Kart

At first glance, the differences might seem surface-level, but once you’ve played both, the gap feels bigger. Mario Kart keeps its racing clean and accessible: pick a character, select a kart, and dive into tracks that are bright, polished, and reliable.
Crossworlds, by contrast, feels like it’s constantly throwing curveballs. Customization is one of the clearest divides. While Mario Kart limits you to kart, wheel, and glider combinations, Crossworlds offers gadget-based builds with more than 70 options.
You can lean into raw speed, boost tricks, or fine-tuned handling. It’s almost RPG-like, letting players experiment with playstyles rather than sticking to fixed presets. This added layer will appeal to anyone who loves tinkering with setups to gain an edge.
Social features also show where Sega pushes ahead. Lobbies aren’t just waiting rooms, they’re interactive spaces with emotes and options to fine-tune vehicles before races. It makes multiplayer feel less transactional and more like an event. Mario Kart lobbies, by comparison, are functional but barebones.
Why Sonic Racing: Crossworlds feels fresh compared to Mario Kart

The biggest thing working in Crossworlds’ favour is variety. It doesn’t just stick to traditional track racing; it mixes in flying, underwater sections, and hoverboard sequences that feel like a nod to Sonic Riders. None of these shifts slow the pace; instead, they expand what a “kart” racer can be. Add to that the portal mechanic, and suddenly every race feels like a journey through multiple dimensions rather than a loop around a single circuit.
That said, Sega isn’t just piling on gimmicks. Crossplay across PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC ensures a massive, unified community. Competitive players also get a ranked system, something Mario Kart never fully embraced. Combined with a larger starting roster and DLC potential from Sonic’s universe, there’s a sense that Crossworlds is designed to keep evolving long after launch.
Why Mario Kart still has the edge over Sonic Racing: Crossworlds

Despite all that, it’s not fair to dismiss Mario Kart. Its strength lies in simplicity. Anyone can pick up a controller and feel at home within seconds. The polish on its tracks, the perfect balance of chaos and skill, and the iconic characters keep it timeless.
Sonic Racing: Crossworlds may innovate, but it also risks overwhelming new players with mechanics, portals, and customization systems that aren’t as instantly digestible. We will learn more when the game fully launches. Untill then, you can enjoy the Open Beta.