Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds review — Rolling around at the Speed of Sound
Summary
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a fast, polished kart-racer that leans hard into both Sonic nostalgia and fresh multiplayer ideas. The standout mechanic is the CrossWorlds teleport feature that shifts races mid-lap, keeping chaos high and races unpredictable. Grand Prix events combine three branching courses plus a final skill-focused race; collectible Red Rings and a Rivals system add objectives and personality to matches.
The game offers varied vehicle states (cart, boat, plane), extensive customisation and gadget cards, couch co-op and team-based Race Park modes, plus a loud, excellent soundtrack that nails Sonic’s signature energy. DLC roadmaps already include crossover characters such as Hatsune Miku, Joker and Ichiban Kasuga, with more tie-ins like Minecraft and Spongebob announced. Performance on PS5 is smooth with only minor, easily fixable glitches observed.
Key Points
- CrossWorlds mechanic teleports players between visible and mystery courses mid-race, adding unpredictability and variety.
- Grand Prix structure: three branching races plus a final combined lap that rewards pure driving skill.
- Red Ring collectibles (five per race) reward players with tickets for in-menu purchases and retries.
- Rivals system gives characters banter, in-race taunts and persistent records for beating them.
- Vehicles shift between cart, boat and plane, changing handling and offering varied gameplay moments.
- Difficulty scales rapidly; novices should start on the easiest setting, while experienced racers will find higher tiers challenging.
- Race Park offers team-based modes (Triple Team Tap Boosts, Extreme Match, Double Team Shoot-Out) and plays best with friends.
- Deep customisation: vehicle types, paints, decals and gadget cards that upgrade and shape playstyles.
- Excellent soundtrack delivers classic, fast-paced Sonic vibes across varied tracks.
- Minor bugs reported (temporary glitches, a fixed T-pose) but overall stable performance and short load times on PS5.
- DLC plan is robust, bringing high-profile crossovers that expand the roster and longevity.
Context and relevance
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds arrives in a crowded kart-racing space but differentiates itself with inventive course-shifting, strong Sonic theming and substantial customisation. For fans of character-driven racers and anyone who enjoyed titles like Diddy Kong Racing or team-based kart modes, CrossWorlds offers both nostalgia and meaningful new twists. The announced DLC crossovers suggest a long tail of post-launch content, increasing its relevance for players seeking multiplayer longevity.
Why should I read this?
Quick version: if you like speedy chaos, catchy tunes and messing about with custom cars while trash-talking rivals, this review saves you a bunch of time — CrossWorlds is genuinely fun, full of stuff to unlock and built for repeat play. If you care about whether the Sonic name still means proper speed and big personality in a racer, this one actually delivers.
