CrossWorlds Raises the Standard for Mario Kart 9

The year 2025 is looking to be a standout for kart racing enthusiasts, with significant developments on the horizon. Recently, Nintendo unveiled the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, bringing rumors of a fresh Mario Kart installment that’s rumored to be shaking up its classic gameplay. Meanwhile, at Sony’s latest State of Play event, we got a glimpse of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, offering its own exciting twists.

Since its inception with 1994’s Sonic Drift on the Game Gear, the Sonic racing series has continually reinvented itself. Despite varying titles and mechanics over the years, like the vastly different Sonic Riders and Sonic Rivals released within a short span, the upcoming Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds appears to build on this legacy effectively. It is poised to set a high benchmark that could pose quite the challenge for the Nintendo Switch 2’s Mario Kart.

In Sonic’s racing saga, each game has stood out with unique mechanics. For instance, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (2010) brought in characters from other Sega franchises, while Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (2012) introduced transformative vehicles. Team Sonic Racing later added co-op elements to the mix. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is now steering the franchise in an ambitious direction with its new Travel Rings feature. During the race, the leading player gets to choose one of two alternate worlds for everyone to drive through in the second lap, each opening up new landscapes and obstacles.

An exciting detail from a recent PlayStation Blog post suggests that tracks in CrossWorlds will transform dynamically, similar to Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. This presents another layer of challenge as players navigate shifts between land, air, and sea. With these dynamic elements and the novelty of dimension-hopping during races, CrossWorlds could offer levels of replayability that other games might struggle to match.

Additionally, Sega teased that some worlds in CrossWorlds might originate from other Sega franchises, although official confirmations are still pending.

Meanwhile, Mario Kart 9 has its own high bar to meet. Known for introducing playful innovations, such as double drivers in Double Dash, airborne and underwater racing in Mario Kart 7, and anti-gravity tracks in Mario Kart 8, Mario Kart’s legacy is characterized by continuous experimentation. Fans are buzzing with speculation about new gimmicks in the works for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 release. Possible features include larger player capacities or more flexible tracks. There’s even talk about track-transforming mechanics that might not feel as fresh following CrossWorlds’ innovations. Nevertheless, Mario Kart 9 is poised to be a major hit, but it may need a creative edge to compete with the innovative promise of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds.