CrossWorlds Raises the Bar for Mario Kart 9

The year 2025 is gearing up to be an exciting one for fans of kart racing games. Following last month’s much-anticipated announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2, it seems we’re also on the brink of a new Mario Kart installment, rumored to be exploring some significant changes to its classic gameplay. In the same spirit of excitement, Sony’s latest State of Play showcase gave us a full glimpse of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds.

Sonic the Hedgehog has a long-standing legacy in racing games, beginning way back in 1994 with Sonic Drift on the Game Gear. Throughout the years, the franchise hasn’t settled on just one name or style, trying something new and different in games like Sonic Riders and Sonic Rivals despite their close release dates. However, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds seems like the natural next step for Sonic’s racing lineage, potentially raising the bar for the upcoming Mario Kart on the Nintendo Switch 2.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds brings a fresh twist to the series. Over the past decade, Sonic’s racing games have continually evolved, introducing us to other Sega characters through Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing in 2010, shape-shifting vehicles in 2012’s Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, and innovative co-op play in Team Sonic Racing. Now, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is taking yet another leap forward with its standout feature – the Travel Rings, allowing racers to jump into new dimensions mid-race. Once the leading racer hits the first lap, they get to select one of two worlds for everyone to explore in the following lap. Each world features unique tracks, obstacles, and visuals.

According to a PlayStation Blog post, Sega mentioned that these tracks will be dynamic, similar to those in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, smoothly transitioning among ground, air, and sea terrains. This feature will make the karts transform accordingly. By offering tracks that aren’t static and the ability to explore new worlds during a race, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds promises more replayability than many of its competitors.

While Sega hasn’t officially revealed which other Sega universes will appear in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, they have hinted at exciting crossovers that fans can look forward to.

Shifting over to Mario Kart, the franchise is no stranger to innovative gameplay changes. Over the years, we’ve seen everything from the dual drivers in Double Dash to kart customization, gliding, and underwater driving introduced in Mario Kart 7, as well as anti-gravity tracks in Mario Kart 8. So, it’s reasonable to anticipate that the new Mario Kart for the Nintendo Switch 2 will come bundled with its own unique features. There’s buzz in the gaming community speculating about what these might be, ranging from 24-player races to more expansive and open tracks. There’s even talk that Mario Kart 9 might adopt track-shifting mechanics, although Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds might have stolen the march on that innovation. Mario Kart 9 is bound to be another home run for Nintendo, yet it’ll be interesting to see if it can outshine CrossWorlds’ fresh new concept.

With so much to look forward to, 2025 seems set to be a thrilling year for kart racing enthusiasts, with both Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and the new Mario Kart vying for the top spot in everyone’s gaming library.