Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is the newest arcade racer from Sega and may be the biggest competitor in the genre, dethroning Mario Kart, especially in the PC market. The game feels absolutely solid, with great controls (even on keyboard), flashy tracks, and a phenomenal cast of characters that appeal to both die-hard Sonic fans and those who are new to the series. The biggest downside to the game is the price of entry, as with everything it has to offer I can’t rightfully say that it warrants a $70 price tag. You can decide for yourself if what I describe in this review is worth the price.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a kart-racing style multiplayer game where players take the role of Sonic characters (and others) and compete in exciting, high-speed races. Similar to other titles in the genre, these races defy the laws of physics and provide players with a series of whacky tools used to gain an edge over the other racers, whether those are speed boosts or bombs to knock the player in first place back down to last.
The big gimmick in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is the titular “cross worlds,” a mechanic that switches up tracks in the middle of a race. At around the halfway point on a track, the road will lead you directly into a portal, which sends the entire race onto a new track, one that is thematically and physically different from the one you were racing on before. This mechanic adds an element of unpredictability to each race, keeping you on your toes as you never know exactly which track you’ll end up on, something that can also help players lower in the rankings pull ahead and steal first place.
Drifting and air tricks are the key to winning races. Every turn in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is designed to be drifted, with different turns demanding different timing on the drift mechanic to properly slide through. Drifting as well as doing tricks whenever your car is in the air is the main way to gain speed, with both mechanics providing boosts depending on how well you pull them off.
While they provide a break from the regular racing mechanics, I wasn’t a big fan of the air or water track segments. They slowed down the sense of speed a lot, especially in the air segments, but not enough to take away from the overall experience.
As I mentioned before, power-ups and traps exist throughout the map to give you an edge during a race, but you can also bring in your own preloaded gadgets. This is a form of light progression, requiring you to unlock more slots to use these gadgets, and it provides a more competitive element to the online play, as players can bring in their own “builds” to try and steal first place.
The biggest draw to Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, of course, is the game’s cast, primarily pulled from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Fan favorites from Sonic games, including the titular hedgehog himself, Amy Rose, Shadow, and others, make up the game’s initial cast, which surprisingly also dips into other franchises with “guest” racers, with Hatsune Miku, Joker from Persona 5, and Ichiban Kasuga already making an appearance, with many others cited to join the game in the future. As interesting as it is to include Hatsune Miku in the roster, I wish the game focused on bringing in some fan-favorite Sonic characters from the IDW comics. Whisper the Wolf or Surge would have been fantastic additions, and ones I would prefer over SpongeBob or Pac-Man.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds launched with 15 maps and 5 vehicle types, with each of the vehicles fully customizable for a variety of looks and mechanical changes. It’s quite a bit of variety, especially considering the emphasis on online play. There’s plenty of content without so much that new players feel overwhelmed while trying to keep up with more experienced racers.
What interests me the most about the content in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is not what currently exists but the promise of future additions. The game has already promised consistent releases of new maps and racers, both free and as part of the season pass.
This brings me to the one glaring negative with Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds: the price. For everything the game offers, I’m still not convinced that it’s worth the $70 entry. While this is the new industry standard being pushed, I’m not sure any game is really worth that price. This is especially true when you add the season pass, a paid DLC for future content, on top of the already steep cost.
For as much fun as I had in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, I can’t give the game a full 10 rating because I simply do not agree with the price. With everything included, I would say the game is worth a solid $50; no more, no less. Some players may see the game and everything it offers and decide that $70 is fair. My recommendation, however, is to wait until it goes on sale and pick it up at a reduced price.
The Final Word
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is the best arcade racer on the market, especially for PC players. However, the steep price feels too high, even with everything the game offers, and the choice to include characters from outside the franchise while beloved Sonic characters are still missing leaves this reviewer disappointed and a bit perplexed.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds was reviewed on the PC. Find more detailed looks at popular and upcoming titles on our Game Reviews page! Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is available on Steam, Epic Games, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.
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