CrossWorlds Establishes a New Benchmark for Mario Kart 9

2025 is setting up to be the ultimate year for kart racing enthusiasts. The recent unveiling of the Nintendo Switch 2 has more or less confirmed that we’ll be seeing a brand new Mario Kart installment, which is rumored to be shaking things up significantly. Meanwhile, the latest Sony State of Play event spotlighted a fresh entry in the world of Sonic racing: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds.

For decades, Sonic the Hedgehog has ventured into racing, starting way back in 1994 with Sonic Drift on the Game Gear. However, the Sonic racing titles have never really stuck to just one series name or gameplay style. Take Sonic Riders and Sonic Rivals, for instance – they’re worlds apart even though they came out just months from each other. But Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds seems like a natural step forward, and its main feature might just raise the stakes high enough to challenge Mario Kart on the Switch 2.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds seems to push the series forward organically. While the Sonic racing games have all had a distinct flavor, there’s been a slow and deliberate evolution across the years. Remember in 2010 when Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing brought in characters from across Sega’s roster? Or in 2012 when Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed introduced transforming karts? And who could forget the fresh cooperative play of Team Sonic Racing? CrossWorlds dives into uncharted territories again with a bold new concept: mid-race dimensional travel through the use of Travel Rings. During a race, the leader gets to choose between two worlds for the entire race lobby to transition into for the next lap, introducing novel tracks, obstacles, and environments.

A recent PlayStation Blog elaborated on CrossWorlds’ dynamic tracks, citing that the new courses will morph throughout the race, much like in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. The races will weave between land, air, and sea, compelling players’ karts to transform along the way. The mix of traveling to new dimensions and adaptive tracks might just give Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds an edge in replayability, even among some of its fiercest contenders.

Though unconfirmed, Sega has dropped hints that CrossWorlds may feature universes borrowed from other Sega properties, adding to the excitement of what’s on offer.

On the other side of the karting spectrum, Mario Kart 9 definitely has its work cut out. From innovative games like Double Dash, known for its duo drivers, to the more recent Mario Kart 8’s thrilling anti-gravity tracks, Mario Kart isn’t a stranger to pushing boundaries with new twists and turns.

With the advent of the Nintendo Switch 2, it’s a given that the next Mario Kart will bring fresh elements to the table. The rumor mill is churning with whispers of potential 24-player races and sprawling track designs that might allow more free exploration. There’s even talk of Mario Kart 9 featuring mechanics where tracks can change mid-race, but with CrossWorlds already showcasing this, Mario Kart might need to dig deeper to truly dazzle its fan base. Regardless of its gimmicks, Mario Kart 9 is bound to be another blockbuster for Nintendo, but matching or surpassing the creativity of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is going to require some serious innovation.

In this colorful clash of titans in the kart racing universe, both franchises seem poised to offer thrilling experiences – and it’ll be up to players to decide which kart they’ll be taking for a spin.