Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Review! Dimension-Crossing Racing Fun with Sonic and Friends
Note: This review was based on gameplay on the standard PlayStation 5. Experience may differ slightly depending on platform.
When it comes to Sonic the Hedgehog, speed is everything. Over the years, SEGA has experimented with various racing titles for the blue blur, but Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds feels like something more ambitious. Not only does it revive the kart-racing spirit, it introduces the concept of dimension-crossing, offering fresh twists to the formula. Combined with the sheer amount of content SEGA has packed in, the game already impressed during testing phases and now arrives ready to race at full speed.
Back in Top Form – Farewell to Team Racing’s Old Issues
Unlike the team mechanics of Sonic Team Racing, CrossWorlds strips things back to basics—pick your favorite character, choose their vehicle, and race. This direct approach makes gameplay easy to grasp, but it’s the creativity in stage design, item use, and crossover concepts that elevate it. A robust roster brings back fan favorites like Cream and Jet alongside headliners Sonic and Shadow.
Racing follows the kart-party format, complete with collectible items to disrupt opponents. While item balance isn’t perfectly tied to race positions, it’s enough to keep the competition fair without making it impossible for stragglers to catch up. Vehicle handling can feel slightly “floaty” at times, but since realism isn’t the main focus, it’s forgivable.
Multiplayer shines here too. Whether through classic split-screen or online cross-platform play, players can battle across systems without restriction. Online stability, tested during the Network Test, proves solid. Additional modes like Race Park bring variety with challenges such as collecting golden rings or Shoot-out item battles.
Customization Variety and Extreme Gear Excitement
With over 20 starting characters, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds boasts the largest playable lineup in franchise history. Each racer has unique attributes, but vehicles are the real game-changers. Cars differ in speed, control, boost, grip, and attack, with clear strengths suited to different playstyles. On top of this, players can apply custom paint and decals.
Perhaps the most exciting addition for long-time Sonic fans is the return of Extreme Gear hoverboards from the Riders series. These boards, alongside karts, expand racing dynamics across 20+ tracks, each with unique gimmicks and layout challenges. Players can also pull off flashy stunts, making Extreme Gear even more appealing. Still, it’s a missed opportunity not to include motorbikes or more unconventional rides, as all vehicles remain four-wheeled by default.
Plates and Gadgets add further depth. Acting as passive skill trees, Plates allow up to six Gadgets per vehicle, with abilities ranging from boosting support to granting starting items. Stages themselves aren’t limited to land routes—some shift seamlessly to water racing or even aerial segments, reminiscent of Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing: Transformed. This mix of environments helps CrossWorlds feel dynamic and well-rounded.
Cross-Dimensional Racing – The Core of CrossWorlds
The biggest hook is the CrossWorlds system. Midway through tracks, players encounter Travel Rings, golden portals that shift the race into alternate dimensions. Standard races feature 24 main stages, but CrossWorlds introduces 15 unpredictable crossover stages that can shake up the flow, before returning to modified final laps. This unpredictability forces racers to adapt and plan on the fly, keeping every run fresh.
Crossover isn’t limited to Sonic’s universe. Stages include worlds from Galaxy Force II, Pac-Man, and even SpongeBob’s Bikini Bottom. Future updates promise even more, including Minecraft’s Steve, Joker, and Hatsune Miku as racers. These collaborations expand the game’s appeal, making each crossover a surprise to look forward to.
Graphics, Music, and Atmosphere
Visually, the game doesn’t push boundaries, but it delivers sharp resolution and smooth 60FPS performance even during chaotic cross-dimensional effects. Music is a highlight, with tracks like Metal Harbor from Sonic Adventure 2 and Dragon Road from Sonic Unleashed stirring nostalgia. Character dialogue during races adds charm, with rival banter standing out. However, crossover characters sadly won’t feature voice lines, which makes sense but feels like a missed chance for extra personality.
Drawbacks and Missed Opportunities
Two points stand out. First, while simplifying gameplay to focus on pure racing is effective, a bit of narrative or lore explaining the dimensional crossovers would have made the game more immersive. Second, despite the crossover theme, many CrossWorlds tracks are still rooted within Sonic’s canon worlds. A more surreal selection could have enhanced the concept further.
Final Verdict
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a strong return for Sonic’s racing franchise, addressing Team Racing’s flaws while offering a richer roster, vehicle customization, and the standout cross-dimensional gameplay twist. Even without a story mode, the sheer fun of racing beloved characters, both old and new, across creative tracks makes this a must-play for Sonic fans and kart-racing enthusiasts alike. With post-launch content already mapped out, the future looks even brighter.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds launches September 25 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with an upgrade for Nintendo Switch 2 planned for next year. Pre-orders include special items and the Werehog character from Sonic Unleashed.
For fans of speed and surprises, this is the Sonic racing game worth strapping in for.
