Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds – Everything You Need to Know

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Sega expresses optimism as they challenge the dominance of Mario Kart with Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. The Japanese company believes that this time, Sonic might manage to dethrone its rival. Hidden beneath CrossWorlds’ flashy and intense design is a well-crafted racer, filled with intelligent mechanics that elevate the competition. No longer just about style, Sonic Racing now strives for top honors. Therefore, buckle up and prepare yourself: we’re diving into CrossWorlds’ pandemonium to present 15 key points you should know before making a purchase.

Why is CrossWorlds good?

The racing history of Sonic has been a mix of successes and failures. The innovative land, sea, and air transformations, combined with skill-based gameplay, make Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed one of the series’ top entries. However, despite the positive feedback for its customization features, Team Sonic Racing struggled due to repetitive gameplay and limited strategic depth. The upcoming game CrossWorlds aims to combine the best aspects of Sonic’s racing heritage while resolving a long-standing issue: kart control. With improved handling, tighter controls, and numerous customization options, CrossWorlds promises to deliver a satisfying Sonic racing experience that could rival the genre’s top titles.

Expect the unexpected

In a unique twist on the standard three-lap format, races in CrossWorlds undergo a dramatic transformation each lap, with the circuits changing design. The initial laps are filled with the usual karting mayhem as racers vie for the lead. However, on the second lap, competitors are transported through Travel Rings into different realms named CrossWorlds, where they race on an entirely new track before returning to the original course. The final sprint is further heightened by unexpected obstacles, routes, and surprises appearing in the third laps, making the dash to the finish line thrilling and unpredictable.

Vehicle performance is impacted by Gadgets

In CrossWorlds, one of the standout features is its unique Gadgets system. This enables drivers to pick from an array of seventy adjustable options, ranging from fine-tuning performance to designing custom setups for specific race tracks. These Gadgets are categorized, each providing unique benefits such as track bonuses, quicker recharge times, or improved traction on slick surfaces. However, the catch is that the strongest Gadgets take up more spaces on a driver’s Gadget Plate, requiring players to strategize and balance between top speed, usefulness, and finesse.

Building for the unexpected

In CrossWorlds, the Travel Rings aren’t just about altering the race track; they also add complexity to the way racers can fine-tune their vehicles. The unpredictability of races from lap two leaves doubts about the usefulness of a highly specialized setup for a single course. Is it wiser to customize vehicles for the opening and closing laps, or should racers aim for a versatile vehicle that can handle any situation? The struggle for the lead in the initial laps becomes crucial, as the front-runner decides which CrossWorld the pack will plunge into – either a familiar one or a completely unexpected location. In essence: The Gadgets system in CrossWorlds offers strategic richness, and when coupled with early-race contests, it creates an experience that sets it apart among kart racing games.

Kart types

In Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, the game features five distinct machine types: Speed, Acceleration, Handling, Power, and Boost. Players have the freedom to choose any of these types based on their preferences, as their abilities generally align with the category names. For the first time in a Sonic racing game, players can race in both traditional karts and Extreme Gear. The Extreme Gear is exclusive to the Boost type machines, including air boards from the Sonic Riders universe.

Robust vehicle customisation

In the game “Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds” by Sega, there are over 70,000 ways to customize your racer! You can modify everything from skins and designs, to wheels, sounds, auras, parts, and textures. This gives you a vast array of cosmetic options. But it doesn’t stop at looks – you can also combine parts from different vehicle types, merging the front of one type with the back of another. This creates a ride that combines both aesthetics and performance, leveraging the statistical advantages of each half while creating something truly distinctive.

Racetrack variety

In “Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds”, you’ll find yourself racing on a total of forty-five tracks. These include twenty-four primary circuits, with an additional six available through the Season Pass, and fifteen exclusive “CrossWorlds” tracks. Out of these twenty-four main courses, sixteen are new locations, while twenty-two draw inspiration from previous “Sonic” games, including some from his 2D golden era. The primary circuits in the game are divided into seven four-race Grand Prix events. The first three races within each event incorporate mid-lap “CrossWorlds”, and the finale will be a mix of the three courses that have already been raced.

The CrossWorlds in more detail

Let’s focus on the distinctive locations within the game. Each location is inspired by classic Sonic titles and serves as a detour during the middle lap. For instance, Sky Road, with its vibrant colors, is borrowed from Team Sonic Racing, while Holoska offers a reimagined version of the icy tundra from Sonic Unleashed. Digital Circuit mirrors a level from Shadow the Hedgehog, and Cyber Space originates from Sonic Frontiers’ Eternal Highway.

In certain play modes, players can choose to disable the CrossWorld mechanic entirely, while in others, main tracks may appear as CrossWorld laps.

The Rival System

No matter if it’s the gadgets, personalizations, or kind of kart, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds ensures that there will always be one racer who can challenge players to their utmost ability. The Rival System selects a CPU opponent who is more competitive than the player, increasing the tension in every lap. These rivals aren’t just difficult to defeat, but they’ll taunt you every time they pass by. Before each race, players have the option to pick between two Rivals, with one providing a tougher challenge than the other. Defeating a Rival earns a Chaos Emerald, and a Super Race is unlocked once seven Emeralds are collected.

There’re numerous options for local multi-player

In the game called “Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds,” as many as four racers can compete simultaneously on a single device through local play. The speed of the race, team size, tracks, “CrossWorlds,” AI difficulty, item drop rates, and other aspects can all be adjusted to ensure each competition is optimized for every participant. A fresh addition to

Online game modes

In “Sonic Racing: Crossworlds”, as many as twelve players can engage in cross-platform online play. The main attraction of this online mode is World Match, where participants showcase their skills and racing abilities across different stages to accumulate Rank Points and climb global leaderboards. Ranks start from E and extend up to A, with the top performers being given an opportunity to join a prestigious Legends league. Advancement in rank brings along various gadgets and rewards.

Single player modes

In Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, the main mode for solo players will be the Grand Prix mode, where seven distinct Grand Prix events will be available at launch, each consisting of four races. Your position in these races determines your points. Additionally, there’s a Time Trial mode that emphasizes pure speed. Unlike Mario Kart, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds encourages drivers to collect boost items during each lap and strategically use them. Moreover, gadgets can be equipped for custom builds, which might be crucial for achieving the highly coveted S-tier times.

Platforms, release date, and price

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m excited to share that starting September 25th, I’ll be diving into the high-octane world of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds! This thrilling adventure will be accessible on a variety of platforms including PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 1 and Switch 2, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

For those who want to jumpstart their racing journey, the Standard Edition is up for grabs at £64.99 / $69.99. For an even more immersive experience, you can opt for the Digital Deluxe Edition, which comes packed with all Season Pass content, priced at £79.99 / $89.99. So buckle up and get ready to race!

Pre-order bonuses

Purchasing the standard or digital deluxe edition of CrossWorlds in advance provides you with three special bonus items: a new racer, a machine, and a decal, all inspired by Sonic Unleashed’s Werehog character. On top of that, the digital deluxe edition grants you early access to the game for 72 hours before its official release.

PC requirements

To enjoy Sonic and his friends at their peak performance on a computer, the following specifications are recommended:

1. Processor: Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 2600
2. Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti (6GB) or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (6GB)
3. Memory (RAM): Minimum of 12GB

These requirements ensure a smooth and high-octane gaming experience for the game on your PC. The minimum requirements, as per the Steam listing, are:

1. Processor: Intel Core i5-3470 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
2. Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 (4GB), AMD Radeon R9 380 (4GB) or Intel Arc A380 (6GB)
3. Memory (RAM): Minimum of 8GB

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2025-09-12 14:46