Mario Kart World may be one of my favorite games from last year, but as the only person with a Nintendo Switch 2 in my family, Mario and co. are sitting there, gathering dust and waiting for an excuse to be played. Now you have even less reason to race down Rainbow Road because its best alternative is on sale. I personally think Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds may be one of the best kart racers on the market. Sorry, my Italian plumber friend, maybe another day.
Of course, I’m being a bit dramatic—Mario Kart is still fun. But Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds benefits from a lightning-fast pace that makes every race pump adrenaline through my veins. And, eventually, yours too. As you race across each track, you’ll eventually find yourself at one of two giant rings before being taken across the multiverse and dropped into different worlds, hence the name of the game.
Each race feels as energetic as the last, delivering fast speeds that make Mario’s karts feel like snails. If you’re below 100 miles per hour, you’re going too slow. As a Shadow fan first and foremost, I’ve been constantly playing as him (sadly, lacking his guns), but there’s also a multiversal amount of other characters, including the likes of Steve from a little indie gem called Minecraft and Joker from Persona 5. In fact, it’s like the Smash Bros. Ultimate of racing games. Quote me on that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYoiL2lbYEcWhat makes Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds even more interesting is the fact that items aren’t the only in-race benefits you can use to your advantage—although there are plenty of them. Gadgets allow you to adjust your vehicle, fine-tuning it to your playstyle to give yourself that much-needed boost and, hopefully, earn you the win. It makes those moments outside each race just as essential as getting your wheels on the track, adding some strategy to an already-solid racer.
What makes it even more worthwhile isn't just the sale, but the fact that it's on PC. That means you don't need an additional console, and alongside cross-play, you don't need a Switch 2 to play alongside your friends. You can play on PC, Switch Lite, Switch 2, and PS5, all in one match. I love modern gaming for this reason, as it lets me play Sonic Racing with my son, who enjoys it on the Switch Lite.
If you’re looking to get yourself in the driver's seat, you can grab Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds for just $22 / £19.24 at Fanatical. That's 45% off the usual price, making this the cheapest the game has ever been. Lucky you. Don't take my Shadow away from me.
Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom. This story was created in collaboration with Fanatical’s deals team.