After the instantly viral announcement of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and its promise of cross-platform play, I was immediately intrigued by the obvious David-versus-Goliath story SEGA was trying to stage against other popular kart racers (especially one that rhymes with “swirled”). So, when I had the chance to go hands-on early with the next contender in the genre, my hand shot up faster than the teacher’s pet in a classroom.
My preview build of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds did not include the recently announced Minecraft, Persona or Pac-Man levels, and the characters were not yet available. What it did offer, however, was the chance to get behind the wheel as Like a Dragon’s Ichiban Kasuga and the world’s most popular animated superstar, Hatsune Miku, along with the other confirmed roster additions so far.
After a brief session on its intricately designed courses, it is clear that CrossWorlds is not just a celebration of Sonic with race cars. It is a celebration of SEGA itself, disguised as a polished kart racer that breaks down platform barriers and lets fans compete together regardless of console allegiance.
“Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has pulled out all the stops to allow players to customize their machine, and the possibilities — although this is a preview — feel endless.”
Each racer in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds carries a specific designation, shifting the focus from blind luck to strategy. Players are no longer just hoping for the best upgrades from an item box (though plenty of those remain). Sonic, for example, is tagged with the “Speed” designation. This does not necessarily make him the fastest character in the game. Instead, it means he pairs best with karts carrying the same classification. The same rule applies to Knuckles, who belongs to the “Power” class, and to every other character in the roster.
On the next screen, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has pulled out all the stops to allow players to customize their machine (the Sonic word for Kart), and the possibilities —although this is a preview— feel endless. You can even use karts that are pulled from the guest character’s native titles. Ichiban’s Dragon-Koi tattoo translates to a cart incredibly, keeping the startled look on the dragon’s face. While only a select few ‘guests’ have been revealed, it remains to be seen if other characters (like SEGA’s Shinobi, Jet Set Radio, etc) will hit the tracks. Hilariously, the kart is still called ‘Dragon Brave’ even though the machine’s face looks more scared than anything else.
Karts can be customized well beyond a character’s preset, giving players more control over their playstyle. Each kart comes with building pieces called Gadgets, and I was able to tune my machine more deeply than in any other kart racer, choosing Gadgets that suited the way I wanted to race. These internal builds allow CrossWorlds to channel its best Need for Speed: Underground or Fast and Furious impression (though Dominic Toretto remains unconfirmed).
Unlike most kart racers, CrossWorlds encourages experimentation. Players can swap preset Gadget builds — up to three per Grand Prix — between races if something doesn’t feel right. Characters can be paired with their natural strengths or built in unorthodox ways to match the track’s design. For example, if you’re running a Speed character like Sonic on a winding course, you might want to boost acceleration to help manage tight turns.
These mid-prix adjustments prove effective in practice. A heavy racer like Big the Cat might perform better in a slimmer machine on tracks filled with jumps or narrow paths. Sonic Team provides the stages, characters and framework, but the player remains in full control. You are the true driver.
Sonic Team is catering to longtime fans of Sonic Racing with the return of the fan-favourite Extreme Gear hoverboards from Sonic Riders, which are once again a joy to control. This expands vehicle choices in a way only Sonic Team could deliver. SEGA also says there are more than 70 Gadgets available to outfit your racer, giving players what feels like limitless options and combinations. Customization goes beyond colour schemes: you can apply stickers from SEGA history and even adjust the size of your machine.
“Unlike most kart racers, CrossWorlds encourages experimentation.”
After juicing up a particularly gnarly rig and selecting Hatsune Miku, I jumped into my first Prix race. There are four speed presets to hit, and I selected the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds equivalent to 100cc to get my bearings. Each Grand Prix comes with four races, and while other racers like Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled have a track you lap three times, CrossWorlds deploys what SEGA calls a “Travel Ring” to transport racers to a selected different terrain. I call it a kart racing roguelike mechanic.
After starting a race, it’s obvious that Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds wanted smooth racing gameplay to be the focus (even outside of the staggering amount of customization options), because machines play smoothly. Each turn hits sharply, and drifting feels damn good.
A word to kart-racing veterans: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds eliminates the hop mechanic common in other racers when you start a drift. This forces players to rethink how they approach turns. Once you adjust, drifting in CrossWorlds feels smooth and rewards precision, allowing up to three levels of boost speed depending on drift duration and timing. It’s a high-risk, high-reward system.
During a race through Aqua Forest, the track transformed into a completely different stage on the second lap, and it was genuinely exciting. This shift occurs through the travel rings found in each course. Instead of navigating endless pools, I was suddenly transported to a sky stage, piloting my machine through aerial obstacles rather than crashing into waves. While jarring, it kept the action fresh.
Another clever touch: Sonic Team allows players to interrupt one another while travelling through these CrossWorlds portals. At one point, I launched a rocket-powered fist — seemingly pulled from one of Dr. Eggman’s machines — through a travel ring, causing an opponent to spin out on the other side. The game rewards well-timed plays much like the mainline Sonic titles.
Another clever addition to courses is the Red Star Rings scattered throughout each stage. While regular Sonic rings give a speed boost, collecting Red Star Rings provides coupon currency that can be spent in the shop to upgrade your machine. The real highlight of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds remains its track design. Sonic Team built everything else around that focal point, and so far, it plays beautifully.
“Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is shaping up to be the next great kart racer.”
While racing as Hatsune Miku, you can trigger a speed boost in midair, with the final boost increasing based on the number of midair rotations you complete. On water stages, these spins can be chained to build maximum speed if your timing and skill are sharp. Smashing an opponent with an item and passing them delivers its own rush of adrenaline, as does crossing the finish line first. And, fittingly, when Hatsune Miku wins, she sings a victory song, tying her signature character design into CrossWorlds. It’s a delightful touch.
The game also introduces a rival system. Racing against Sonic or Shadow the Hedgehog as your rival means they’ll taunt you after losses and vow revenge after defeats of their own. The personality-driven banter fits seamlessly, with Big the Cat standing out as an unusually friendly opponent. His charm is so disarming that you almost want to lose just to let him win. It’s an amusing twist on the racing dynamic.
All in all, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is shaping up to be the next great kart racer. It has everything Sonic fans could hope for, wrapped inside courses built for speed. The character roster is expansive, drawing from across SEGA’s history with additions like Persona, Pac-Man and Like a Dragon, while the machine options feel nearly limitless.
Rather than simply celebrating Sonic, these features turn CrossWorlds into a celebration of SEGA itself, presented through the lens of a kart racer. I’ve only scratched the surface, but I came away impressed. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is firmly on my radar when it launches Sept. 25.
