A Parent’s Guide to Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds

You’re sitting on the couch next to your best friend, controllers in hand. They’re shouting and leaning in to block your view of the TV as you try to overtake them on the next turn to snag first place. You get into the perfect position to draft off the air current and WOOSH! – You’ve taken the lead! One of the most thrilling competitive games that nearly anyone can play is a racing game. Add to that a splash of randomization, original power-up items, and a roster of iconic characters spanning the SEGA catalogue, and you’ve got a surprisingly deep kart racer that stays with you long after you’ve crossed the finish line.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds offers a kart racing experience for your family to compete in countless hours of challenges, triumph, and fun. It supports single-player, split-screen multiplayer, and online play, making it easy for kids to jump in with friends or siblings. But is Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds appropriate for your kids?

Is Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Appropriate for Kids?

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB with a Content Descriptor for Mild Fantasy Violence, and the In-Game Purchases Interactive Element. According to the Rating Summary, as players race in karts across fantastical landscapes, they can use cartoonish power-ups (e.g., spike balls, boxing-glove missiles, saw blades) to slow opponents’ progress and knock them off balance. Being hit by a power-up causes characters’ karts to blink red and slow down. Characters emit small cries when hitting or being hit by an obstacle (e.g., t-rexes, trucks).

While an E for Everyone rating means the game is likely appropriate for all ages, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s playable for all ages. Some kids may find the controls for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds to be perfectly manageable, while others may need some more time to learn. Fortunately, there are settings to help younger or less experienced players enjoy the game on their terms. The single-player challenge level of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds may be adjusted by selecting your desired speed (the higher the setting, the faster all karts in the game will go). There is also a new Rival System where players choose between an “easy” or “difficult” randomly assigned Rival to playfully taunt you with unique dialogue interactions, allowing for fun competition and encouragement. Players can also customize their karts by choosing from different vehicle types (such as Speed or Handling) and equipping a combination of Gadgets that alter kart performance or grant special gameplay advantages. While these systems add variety and depth, they are optional – so you can still enjoy the game by selecting your favorite character and jumping right into the race.

Where can I Play Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and How Much Does It Cost?

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is available for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC, starting at $69.99 for the Standard Edition. There is also a Digital Deluxe Edition available for $89.99, which includes:

• The full game
• A Sonic Prime character pack providing access to three new drivers
• A Season Pass providing access to six future content packs (new characters, vehicles, tracks, and more)

The Nintendo Switch 2 version will be available for pre-order at a later date, with an upgrade path that allows players to carry over their progress from the Switch.

Additionally, the game offers the ability to purchase additional content, like characters, tracks, etc., with real money. Remember to set parental controls to manage (or block!) your kids’ ability to make in-game purchases or buy new games without your permission!

Players will need a stable internet connection for online multiplayer and PS Plus on PlayStation platforms, Xbox Game Pass Core on Xbox, and Nintendo Switch Online for Switch consoles.

How Does Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Play?

In Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, you select a racer from a roster of classic Sonic characters like the titular hedgehog, his best buddy Tails, Dr. Eggman, and more, in addition to universe-skipping cameos from other SEGA franchises such as Super Monkey Ball, Like a Dragon, and more. (Additional future content updates are included in the Season Pass, which comes with the Digital Deluxe Edition.)

A typical race lasts 3-5 minutes and comprises 3 laps. Players will choose their kart and Gadget plate, and after a 3-2-1 countdown, they’ll speed off, maneuvering around course hazards, special items, and other players as they drift around corners and boost through rings or dash pads to gain speed. Randomized item boxes grant temporary power-ups to players who drive into them and can be used to help the player gain an advantage or attack their opponents. Throughout the race, a new Travel Ring feature allows the race leader to shift everyone into a different world mid-course, keeping matches unpredictable.

There are several game modes supporting single-player, local multiplayer, and online multiplayer racing:

Grand Prix

Race alone or with friends in split-screen co-op across seven cups (four races each). Earn points based on your end-of-race placement – the highest scorer wins!

Time Trials

Racers complete a set number of laps on the track in the shortest time possible in this single-player only mode. After finishing, players have the option to save their “Ghosts” and race against their previous performances in an attempt to achieve an even faster time.

Race Park

This new offline multiplayer mode features six creative race formats with distinct goals and conditions. In Race Park, players can choose from a variety of challenge modes, including:

• Triple Team Ring Grab – Earn bonus points by collecting the most rings as a team
• Triple Team Tap – Earn bonus points by boosting off your teammates
• Double Team Shoot-Out – Earn bonus points by hitting other players with items
• Double Team Dash Panel – Earn bonus points by driving through dash panels
• Extreme Match – Every item box is replaced with special heavy-hitting items!
• Quick Match – Drop right in and race through a single course
• Custom Match – Customize all aspects of a race, including Speed, Team Type, Course & CrossWorlds, AI Difficulty, Frenzy Gates, and Items

Remember to set parental controls to manage (or block!) your kids’ ability to make in-game purchases or buy new games without your permission!

Making Sure Your Kids’ Video Game Experiences Are Appropriate

Even if you don’t nail that photo-finish, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds can be a blast with friends or playing solo. The allure of “just one more round” can be strong, so parents should discuss screentime limits and set clear boundaries on how long kids can race across the universe each day. There are plenty of tools, tips, and resources to help you steer your kids down the right track in the ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide. While there is no direct messaging in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, competitive online play – with either friends or strangers – is also important to consider and may be prohibited through parental controls via each console’s settings. The ESRB offers step-by-step parental controls guides at ParentalTools.org to help you keep your family’s gaming journey on course!

Riana is a seasoned gaming and entertainment industry professional with credits on titles like Halo, Ghostbusters, and Wu-Tang: Rise of the Deceiver. She’s a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and has appeared on shows for Kinda Funny, IGN, and Paramount Plus. As co-founder of D&R Media Consulting, Riana helps clients elevate their brands and reach wider audiences, bringing expertise from her previous roles across Xbox, Comcast/G4, and as a professional content creator.