The history of South Park video games is a bit uneven. While newer games have generally been praised (except for South Park: Snow Day! which wasn’t well-received), the earliest games weren’t very good. The first three games, all published by Activision, were critically panned and didn’t leave a lasting impression on players beyond simply recognizing the South Park name.
Looking back, and considering how well recent South Park games have turned out, the 2000 game South Park Rally was a particular disappointment. It was a simple kart racer that didn’t offer much beyond the basic gameplay, despite the fact that a South Park kart racing game could be really fun and deserves a fresh take today.
South Park Rally Was One Of The Franchise’s Early Gaming Misfires
Despite the popularity of the TV show South Park, its early video game adaptations weren’t very successful. The first game was a first-person shooter released on Nintendo 64 and PlayStation. Then came South Park: Chef’s Luv Shack, which tried to blend the show’s humor with a party game style. The third and final game published by Activision was South Park Rally. Released on Dreamcast, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and PC, South Park Rally was a kart racer that largely copied the gameplay of Mario Kart 64, simply adding a South Park theme.
While the game includes some new dialogue from Trey Parker and Matt Stone, it didn’t really feel like a true South Park experience. It lacked the clever and often shocking humor that the show is known for. Later South Park games, like South Park Rally, South Park Let’s Go Tower Defense Play!, and South Park: The Stick of Truth, did a much better job of blending their gameplay with the show’s signature brand of silly, satirical comedy – going beyond just simple crude jokes.
Unlike some games, South Park Rally didn’t really gain much from using the South Park license beyond a distinctive look. However, the game’s blocky graphics on older consoles didn’t quite capture the feel of the show’s signature paper cut-out style. Critics at the time—and even more so today—felt it was a missed opportunity, reflected in its poor scores (between 43% and 47% on Metacritic). Over twenty-five years later, that assessment still holds true.
South Park Rally Could Actually Work Really Well Nowadays
Kart racing games are becoming popular again. Recent titles like Mario Kart World have been particularly ambitious, offering huge, open worlds for players to explore. Kirby’s Air Riders brought a fast-paced, colorful style to the genre, becoming one of Nintendo’s top games in 2025. Competitors such as Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds have also shaken things up, demonstrating that Sega can create racing games on par with Nintendo’s best. The most successful kart racers stand out with a unique visual style, responsive gameplay featuring diverse characters and karts, and exciting, memorable environments.
With its long history and many memorable locations, South Park is perfectly suited for a kart racing game – something the earlier South Park Rally couldn’t quite achieve. Unlike that older game, a new South Park racer could feature a huge range of environments from the show, like Canada as seen in the ‘Wizard of Oz’ parody, the sprawling world of Imagination Land, and even the iconic Casa Bonita. Plus, after so many seasons, there’s a massive roster of characters to choose from, making it a great foundation for a really expansive racing experience.
South Park Digital Studios seems to have a good understanding of what makes a fun game, suggesting they could partner with a developer to create an excellent kart racer. This game could be a clever way for South Park to satirize the world of competitive gaming, offering a fresh take compared to the humor in Stick of Truth and The Fractured But Whole. The show’s rich universe would translate well to a kart racing format, and updated graphics could capture the show’s unique art style with more energy. While challenging to create, a South Park kart racer has the potential to become a major player in the genre, something South Park Rally never quite achieved.
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2026-01-06 00:11