It’s hard not to get excited about a new Sonic racing game, and in this Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds preview we’ll look at what the game offers so far. The game takes the chaos of kart racing and combines it with the speed and unpredictability you’d expect from the Blue Blur. Developed by Sega, this entry draws inspiration from Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, bringing back morphing vehicles, wild tracks, and high-speed gameplay.
As part of the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds closed network test, I got to experience the game’s online play firsthand. This early version let me dive into World Matches, giving Sega a chance to fine-tune online play and spot potential issues before release.
At its core, CrossWorlds feels like a modern evolution, ditching the team mechanics from Team Sonic Racing and opting for a more competitive, everyone-for-themselves format. The CrossWorlds mechanic lets the leading racer pick a new track for the next lap, adding variety and unpredictability to each race.
With customization, morphing vehicles, and a chaotic racing experience, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds brings a new take to kart racing. After spending about 10 hours playing the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds closed network test, here are my early thoughts and impressions on this upcoming racer.
Speed, Chaos, and Customization
After spending time with the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds closed network test, it’s clear that speed and chaos are at the heart of the experience. The game takes inspiration from Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, with vehicles that morph between cars, planes, and boats. This keeps each race unpredictable, making you constantly adapt to whatever comes your way.
One race during the closed network test stood out. I was in first place as we entered a dinosaur-themed world for the second lap. Playing as Sonic, my car morphed into a plane, and suddenly I was flying over huge dinosaurs, dodging obstacles and pulling off air tricks. Even in this early version, the mix of fast-paced action and unpredictability made the race exciting.
Customization plays a big role in CrossWorlds, letting you tweak vehicle stats by swapping out parts for speed, handling, or acceleration. After some experimenting, I found that mixing Shadow’s car parts with Sonic’s created a good balance of speed and control on tighter tracks. There’s also room for visual customization with decals and colours to make your ride feel personal.
The CrossWorlds gameplay mechanic keeps races interesting, letting the leader pick the next world for each lap. This unpredictability, along with items like homing punches and wild gadgets, creates a fast-paced and chaotic experience. While it’s still a work in progress, there’s already a solid foundation for something special here.
Racing in Style
Even in this early closed network test preview, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds makes a strong first impression. The game’s stages include tracks like Rainbow Garden and Wonder Museum, plus familiar spots like Metal Harbor and Ocean View. The CrossWorlds mechanic adds variety, with themed stages like Sky Road and Dinosaur Jungle mixing things up during races.
The way vehicles morph between cars, planes, and boats adds a cool touch, making each lap feel different. The character models are clean and move smoothly, which is important when the screen gets packed with racers and chaos. While the game handled the action well, it’ll be interesting to see how performance holds up in the final release.
The soundtrack has some energetic tracks that match the fast-paced gameplay, but not all of them hit the mark. One interesting feature is a third-lap chanting effect, where the music adds cheering sounds as you reach the final lap. In theory, it’s a cool idea that makes it feel like a crowd is cheering you on, but it sometimes overpowers the main music and feels distracting when you’re trying to focus on the race.
Early on, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds’ presentation shows a lot of promise. The game already looks good, and there’s a strong foundation here. I’m curious to see how the final version builds on this.
Chaotic Online Racing
During my time with the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds closed network test preview, I jumped into several World Matches to see how the game handles online play. Right away, the chaos was in full swing. In one match on Metal Harbor, I was doing well in the top three until a Warp Ring teleported me into a wall and a Homing Punch sent me spinning into a rocket launch hazard. I went from second place to dead last in seconds. Moments like that happened often, creating a wild and unpredictable experience that kept me on my toes, even when it got frustrating.
The online performance during the closed network test was mostly stable, with only minor hiccups. Even when the screen was packed with racers and chaos, I didn’t notice any major lag. However, I did experience moments where collisions felt a bit off. For example, there were several times when I’d lose rings even though it didn’t look like I bumped into another racer. Times like these made it difficult to keep momentum and control, especially when trying to stay in the top 3 positions.
A neat touch is that you can see other racers’ vehicle builds before each match. It adds an element of strategy since you can get a sense of what you’re up against. I saw several players using builds focused on boosting and stealing rings, which turned races into chaotic bumper car-like battles.
The online component shows potential, and I’m curious to see how it evolves. The unpredictable nature of CrossWorlds makes each race feel like anything can happen, which is both frustrating and fun. I’m curious to see how Sega balances the game’s chaotic elements before launch later this year.
A Promising Start for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
After spending time with the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds closed network test, it’s clear that Sega wants to deliver a chaotic and fast-paced racing experience that captures Sonic’s signature speed. The mix of morphing vehicles, the CrossWorlds gameplay mechanic, and wild track designs create a racer that stands out from the crowd.
The game’s customization options and focus on strategy add a lot of depth, but the chaotic nature of the races can be both a blessing and a curse. While it keeps things exciting, there were moments where luck seemed to matter more than skill. Hopefully, Sega will use feedback from this test to balance item distribution and make races feel more rewarding for skilled players.
The presentation already looks promising, with fun track designs and a variety of music tracks. The third-lap chanting effect has potential but could use some refinement to avoid overpowering the main soundtrack.
Overall, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has a solid foundation and plenty of potential. I’m looking forward to seeing how the final version shapes up. There’s a lot to be excited about, and I can’t wait to see what surprises Sega has in store for launch.
Are you excited about Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds? What features or characters are you hoping to see? Let me know in the comments!
As always, remember to follow us on our social media (e.g., Threads, X (Twitter), Bluesky, YouTube and Facebook) to keep up with the latest news.
