CrossWorlds Raises the Standard for Mario Kart 9

2025 is turning out to be a thrilling year for kart racing enthusiasts. Just last month, the gaming world buzzed with excitement as Nintendo unveiled the much-anticipated Switch 2, hinting at a fresh Mario Kart installment likely to bring innovative changes to the classic formula. Not to be overshadowed, Sony’s recent State of Play showcased Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds in all its glory.

Since its inception with 1994’s Sonic Drift on the Game Gear, Sonic racing games have often defied consistent naming conventions or gameplay principles. Take Sonic Riders and Sonic Rivals, for example; released within mere months, yet remarkably distinct. But now, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds feels like a natural step forward for the series. Its unique twist might just elevate the standards for the anticipated Mario Kart on Nintendo’s new console.

Jumping into the evolution of Sonic Racing, it’s clear that Sonic’s track record in the racing genre has been quite varied. However, over the past decade, we’ve seen a steady progression in features and mechanics, beginning with 2010’s Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing which introduced other Sega icons. Then, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed gave us shape-shifting vehicles, and Team Sonic Racing added cooperative elements.

Now, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is poised to take another bold leap. Its standout feature is the Travel Rings, allowing racers to warp to new dimensions mid-race. As the driver leading in the first lap, you’ll get to select one of two mysterious realms, setting the course for the second lap. These alternate worlds bring their own unique challenges and visuals to the table.

In addition to these dimension-hopping antics, Sega revealed via a PlayStation Blog post that tracks themselves will change dynamically throughout each race, echoing the alterations we loved in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. This includes switching seamlessly between land, air, and sea routes, forcing your vehicle to adapt on the fly. With its dynamic tracks and world-bending feature, CrossWorlds promises a level of replayability that might just outshine some of its biggest rivals.

Interestingly enough, Sega teased that some of the worlds you’ll visit in CrossWorlds could hail from other beloved Sega franchises, though they’ve yet to reveal which ones.

Meanwhile, Mario Kart needs to bring its A-game. The Mario Kart series has always embraced quirky gimmicks, from the tandem driving in Double Dash to underwater racing and custom karts in Mario Kart 7, and the anti-gravity tracks that spiced up Mario Kart 8. It makes sense to expect that Nintendo’s latest iteration for the Switch 2 will offer something fresh.

Speculation is rife about what intriguing gimmicks could pop up in the new Mario Kart. Some fans are hoping for larger, 24-player races and more expansive tracks. Rumors also circulate about track-shifting mechanics, now possibly overshadowed by Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds striking first. That said, Mario Kart 9 is likely to be a monumental success for Nintendo, but overshadowing CrossWorlds’ inventive ideas might require some genuinely groundbreaking innovation.