Since his debut in 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog has never stopped going fast. From the earliest days of Emerald Hill Zone to Speed Jungle, SEGA’s blue speedster has blitzed through them all, leaving opponents in the dust while collecting rings en route to the finish line.
But sprinting on foot isn’t the only way to indulge in that need for speed, with the Sonic Racing series offering adrenaline fuel in the form of customisable race vehicles. Marking a welcome return to the race track after six years is Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, delivering the fast-paced and energetic gameplay that fans have come to love, alongside a host of new features.
The fundamentals appear as straightforward and familiar as before. In Grand Prix mode, players compete for the top spot in one of the seven cups and earn points based on their placements at the end of one lap and accumulated after three. Except there’s now a catch.
After finishing a standard course in the first lap, drivers will have to speed through a Travel Ring in the next one, revealing a CrossWorld with new challenges, including Frenzy events. The final lap returns to the original map, updated with new shortcuts, obstacles, rings, and items, complete with reimagined versions of classic Sonic stages from previous outings.
This time, the starting roster comprises 23 playable characters from the Sonic universe, including long-time fan-favourite Shadow the Hedgehog, franchise first-timers like Sage, as well as guest racers in the form of popular virtual idol Hatsune Miku, Joker from Persona 5 Royal, and Like a Dragon protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, each specialising in a particular attribute – Speed, Acceleration, Handling, Power, or Boost. Next comes vehicle customisation, allowing for tweaks to the front, rear, and tyre components to build the ideal racing machine, alongside gadget selection, which grants perks to certain types of power-ups and movesets.
The flag-off is where the chaotic fun begins. Littered along the race course are randomised items that give players an advantage in various ways, be it a speed boost, sabotaging other racers, lowering their visibility, and more. Between that and the option to ram into opponents and throw them off their game, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds promises to ignite the flames of competition in the most enjoyable way possible.
Aside from Grand Prix, four other game modes are also available: Race Park, or Party Mode, featuring support for local split-screen or online play; World Match, where players compete online to increase their global rank; Friend Match, custom lobbies with full control over racing rules; and Time Trial, where you can test your driving skills against the clock.
Victory still reigns supreme regardless, so here are some quick tips to get an edge over your rivals – accelerate and land the arrow in the green sweet spot just as the flag goes down to get a small burst of speed; always keep an eye out for shortcuts in a circuit, as victory can often boil down to a difference in milliseconds; drift to fill the speed metre and gain a boost depending how much it’s charged up; perform a series of air tricks for a great speed boost; and save the offensive power-ups till slightly before the finish line, then launch it ahead and revel in your opponent’s misery.
With the large number of gadgets, vehicles, and characters available, however, it can be difficult to find the right one out of over 70,000 possible combinations (yes, you read that right) for individual play styles. There’s no need to fret, as we have compiled our recommendations for the most optimal custom builds across the three categories, but some of these elements can only be unlocked at a later time.
Machine and Character Customisation
Matching a character’s type to the corresponding vehicle attribute is ideal for playing safe, but there’s only so much it can do. A core element of Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is toying around with individual components and seeing how they all click together, which requires an understanding of each stat – Speed, Acceleration, and Boost are self-explanatory, while Handling refers to the vehicle’s ability to perform tight turns, and Power, its resistance to certain obstacles or collisions.
| Type of Build | Machine + Character Loadout | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Max Speed (Speed: 80; Acceleration: 20; Handling: 52; Power: 60; Boost: 28) | Character: Sonic Front: Speed Starlighting Rear: Speed Starlighting Tyre: Speed Starlighting | For players who want to compete in pure speed battles. Highest top speeds, but low acceleration means slow recovery after taking damage. |
| Speed X Acceleration (Speed: 71; Acceleration: 38; Handling: 43; Power: 54; Boost: 34) | Character: Sage Front: Mirror Jubrade Rear: Mirror Jubrade Tyre: Mirror Jubrade | For those who want a well-balanced playstyle. Offers reasonably high top speed and decent recovery speed. |
| Full Acceleration (Speed: 58; Acceleration: 80; Handling: 30; Power: 50; Boost: 22) | Character: Tails Front: Whirlwind Rear: Pon Caliber Tyre: Whirlwind | For those who want consistent placements. Allows instant recovery after taking damage, but the dash boost is less effective. |
| Acceleration X Power (Speed: 56; Acceleration: 68; Handling: 29; Power: 53; Boost: 34) | Character: Eggman Front: Jamblerage Rear: Jamblerage Tyre: Jamblerage | For players who want to compete aggressively in the middle of the pack. Quickly re-accelerate after taking hits and can withstand collisions. |
| Full Handling (Speed: 20; Acceleration: 60; Handling: 80; Power: 28; Boost: 52) | Character: Amy Front: Pink Cabaret Rear: Pink Cabaret Tyre: Pink Cabaret | For those who want complete control over their vehicle. Precise navigation along desired race lines, but low speed isn’t ideal for straightaways. |
| Handling X Speed (Speed: 38; Acceleration: 52; Handling: 68; Power: 37; Boost: 45) | Character: Shadow Front: Hot Hatch Rear: Hot Hatch Tyre: Hot Hatch | For those who want to overtake opponents during corner turns. Decent speed and high handling make it ideal to cut inside. |
| Full Power (Speed: 47; Acceleration: 33; Handling: 25; Power: 80; Boost: 55) | Character: Omega Front: Road Dragoon Rear: Road Dragoon Tyre: Road Dragoon | For those who want to play without player interference. Can blast through opponents easily, but may drift wide on corners. |
| Power X Speed (Speed: 56; Acceleration: 34; Handling: 29; Power: 67; Boost: 54) | Character: Blaze Front: Night Tank Rear: Night Tank Tyre: Night Tank | For advanced players who want to master controls and aim for top positions. Makes it more difficult to be knocked around while maintaining top speed. |
| Full Boost (Speed: 37; Acceleration: 50; Handling: 59; Power: 26; Boost: 68) | Character: Hatsune Miku (DLC) Front: Diva Machina Rear: Diva Machina Tyre: Diva Machina | For those who want to dash through the course with maximum acceleration. Exceptional boost duration, but may not outpace the pack if caught. |
| Boost X Handling (Speed: 29; Acceleration: 51; Handling: 66; Power: 25; Boost: 69) | Character: Silver Front: Quadcopter Rear: Quadcopter Tyre: Quadcopter | For those who want to leverage course gimmicks to advance. Gives a boost to navigating dash panels. |
Gadget Customisation
While it may be tempting to invest in a loadout that directly benefits the five attributes, the importance of racing basics in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds cannot be overstated. From performing tricks during jumps to gain a speed boost upon landing and collecting Rings to increase the top speed, to drifting through curves to charge a boost, the smallest of actions can be deadly in the right hands, especially with the right upgrades.
- Bumper Combo (Dash on Impact + Steal Rings On Impact) – Allows players to smash into opponents and gain an advantage when paired with a Power-type setup
- Massive Ring Collection (Collect Rings on Dash Panels + Increase Ring Capacity) – Ideal for keeping a high ring count and maintenance of top speed
- Ultra High-Speed Air Trick (Super Speed Air Trick + Collect Rings via Air Tricks) – Recommended for players who want to execute ticks while racing strategically
- Acceleration Item (Deploy Double Boost Items + Increase Boost Item Frequency) – Gives a significant advantage on courses with many run-off areas
- High-Speed Spin Knockback (Knock Back Opponents with High Speed Spins + Easier to Catch Up to Opponents) – Spin relentlessly, knock opponents away, and dominate the track with relentless disruption
- Ultimate Drift (Charge Speed Up Level 1, 2, and 3 + Invincible on Level 4 Drift) – Grants near-constant invincibility when paired with a Boost-Type that charges quickly, such as the hoverboard
- Item Control (Swap Items + Three Items Slots) – Allows complete control over the player’s items, built for holding items and racing strategically
- God of Destruction Monster Truck (Start with Monster Truck + Collect Rings by Attacking) – Use the ultimate item right at the start and crush everyone in the player’s path
- Front-Runner Perfect Game (Invincible for 40 Seconds from Start + Increased Defence Item Frequency) – Rely on defensive items to maintain lead in first place after 40 seconds of invincibility
- All-In On Lap 3 (Super Power-Up on Lap 3 + Reduced Damage Stun Time) – Stage a dramatic comeback victory with an overwhelming advantage in the third lap
Now that the secret to victory is out of the bag, the time has come to put the pedal to the metal and join in on the racing thrills. Courtesy of SEGA, two PC Steam codes for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds are up for grabs, with cross-play functionality allowing players to compete against their friends or other racers on different platforms (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2).
Good luck, and may the best (or most strategic) driver win!
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Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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