Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 83 | 200 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 85 | 2 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 93% | 87 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 90 | 444 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 90% | 84 | 839 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jun 24, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 839 total reviews in window · weighted 166.6 up / 18.9 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (151)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 85
“Crossworlds has a really unique concept, combined with an arcade style, great dynamics, and solid gameplay, making it a strong competitor to Nintendo's Mario Kart.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“At the end of the day, you can be an eggy robot if you want, and isn’t that what’s important?”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a huge step forward for the Sonic series in this field. Its strength comes from polished driving that gives every movement its own weight, a deep customization system that motivates you to experiment and try things out, and diverse and rich tracks that make every race a visual and mechanical adventure. The innovation of 'cross-worlds' is the touch that gives the game a renewed personality and makes it truly different from its competitors. Despite some negatives, such as the variation in local play or some performance issues, the game remains deservedly one of the best games in this category, one of the best Sonic character releases in recent years, and one of the best kart racing games of all time.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a game that effectively blends accessible and dynamic gameplay, capturing the best elements from Sonic’s racing titles of the past 15 years while maintaining the expected chaos of the kart racing genre. The online modes, with active events and crossplay, create a sense of ongoing celebration, while the customization options and the variety of characters and tracks, along with the dynamic lap-switching mechanic, keep the experience fresh and encourage players to constantly rethink their playstyle. Although it lacks a more robust offline mode with additional activities, it stands as one of the best kart racers today and the best entry in the franchise, with great potential for long-term appeal.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“All told, I’d say that this version is certainly worth the punt if you’re invested in playing this on Nintendo platforms - the Switch 2 Edition fixes the issues that were holding this game back from being truly great. Unfortunately, owners of just the Nintendo Switch won’t benefit from these optimisation improvements, but if you already own this game and have a Switch 2, the $10 upgrade feels like a reasonable price to pay for such a notable leap over the old version. I’d suggest picking this up, if only to experience what a great kart racer not made by Nintendo can be like.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“With a fantastic track selection and an excellent online and offline mode, “Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds” is a must have for both Sonic and arcade racing fans. By far one of the best surprises of 2025.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Sonic Racing Crossworlds is a return to form after a disappointing predecessor, bringing inter-dimensional travel to the race track and the result is an extremely fun title with a surprisingly vast amount of content to enjoy.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is the most accessible and engaging kart racing game of the year, and one that has significantly raised the bar for the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sonic Racing: Crossworlds delivers a refreshing Crossworlds system, addictive gameplay, and a spectacular visual style that brings excitement back to arcade racing. While the absence of a story mode is noticeable, the wealth of content and constant challenges ensure hours of genuine fun.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“While there’s fun to be had with the game’s many modes, characters, and customizations, any suggestion that this would compete well with Mario Kart in any way feels exaggerated…”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a real triumph when it comes to kart racing and more than holds its own against the hedgehog’s main rival from Nintendo. The CrossWorlds mechanic introduces a strategic play that keeps things fresh, and the dozens of tracks do a sterling job in really providing a challenge, which also looks and sounds great. While there is maybe a bit too much grinding in order to unlock the many rewards on offer for dedicated players, even those who only want to casually commit to Sonic Racing will still get plenty of fun playing in both single-player and online, especially with a whole roadmap of additional tracks and racers being rolled out in the months ahead. Mario Kart World is an excellent game, but so too is Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a vibrant, addictive, and high-octane kart racer that bravely breaks into a space dominated by Mario Kart - and gives it a run for its money.”
read full review ↗
Gamepressure
The Jimquisition
Eternal Games
GameFM
Nintendo Life
Hu3br
Fun Factor
The Nerd Stash
EmuGlx.org
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
Nexus Hub…and 139 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Ver.1.4.1 Patch NotesJun 24, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Ver.1.3.1 Patch NotesMar 19, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Ver.1.2.2 Patch NotesDec 22, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Ver.1.2.0 Patch NotesDec 4, 2025significant · resets scoring window