Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Hands-On Preview

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is shaping up to be one of the most surprising racing titles of 2025. At first glance, it looks like a familiar kart racer, but my hands-on session at Gamescom revealed a game with far more depth and spectacle than expected.

Sega has crafted something that feels both accessible to casual players and rewarding for those who want competitive complexity.

The character roster alone makes CrossWorlds stand out. Beyond Sonic and his usual friends, players can choose icons from other franchises – Steve and Alex from Minecraft, SpongeBob and Patrick, Pac-Man and the Ghosts, Joker from Persona 5, and Ichiban Kasuga from Like a Dragon. Pair that with a robust garage of vehicles, cosmetic and performance tweaks, and perk systems that let you tailor your racing style, and it’s clear Sega wants this game to appeal to all corners of the gaming world.

My test run featured Sonic in a balanced kart with a perk that let me hold an extra item. The opening lap felt comfortably traditional, but then the magic kicked in. After lap two, the leader could choose between branching track routes, instantly transporting the entire race to a new environment with fresh hazards and mechanics. By the final lap, players returned to the original circuit, keeping the experience both unpredictable and structured. It’s a brilliant twist that constantly keeps racers on their toes.

The mechanics feel tight and polished. Even without perfect drifts, races were exciting, and the mix of items, perks, and track transitions meant no two races played out the same. It’s a formula that should work just as well for quick couch play as it does in serious online competition.

The Gamescom demo was limited to a single four-track cup, but it was enough to prove CrossWorlds has potential to rival the best in the genre. With an open beta arriving August 29 and the full release set for September 25 on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch (with a Switch 2 edition later in the year), fans won’t have to wait long to find out. What’s already clear is that Sonic Team may finally have built a kart racer that balances accessibility, creativity, and skill-based depth in a way few others manage.