What’s the best kart racer ever? The answer is, of course, Mario Kart, but Nintendo has, wisely, kept the series to its own platforms. The good news is that, while you won’t be giving other players the Luigi death stare, there are still some amazing racers out there. So we’ve revved up our engines and chased down the best kart racing games on Xbox.
There are plenty to choose from, too. Sega may have exited the hardware business but mascot Sonic the Hedgehog has stuck around and his racing-exploits are well worth experiencing. Disney has their own free-to-play racer, Disney Speedstorm. Even Shrek has got in on the act, though Dreamworks’ effort isn’t going to be making this list. Here, then, are the best kart racing games on Xbox.
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1. Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled
Are Crash and friends back in an all-new kart racer? Technically, no: Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is a remake of the original PlayStation racer. But it’s an absolute blast, whether you’re a Crash fan or not, with some ridiculous tracks, high-octane races and 25+ characters to choose from, including some surprise guests. Who wouldn’t want to burn rubber as Spyro the Dragon?
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2. Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway
If you’re a fan of Spongebob Squarepants, Jimmy Neutron or any of their Nickelodeon pals, Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway will be right up your street. It’s as silly as you could want and even throws the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in there too. There’s slime aplenty and while we suspect it could have been done as DLC for the previous game, it’s a fun little racer.
Read our review of Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway
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3. Disney Speedstorm
Not only is Disney Speedstorm one of the best kart racing games on Xbox, it’s also free to play. That does mean it has its fair share of microtransactions, however, but they can be ignored. If you’re willing to overlook them, it’s an awful lot of fun. There are plenty of tracks to race around, Disney-themed racers from Elsa through to WALL-E, all with their own themed vehicles, and it’s as chaotic as you’d expect a kart racer to be.
Read our review of Disney Speedstorm
4. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Team Sonic Racing is the latest entry in Sega’s Sonic racing series, but Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed, playable via backwards compatibility, is our favourite. We never get tired of watching our vehicles morph between forms and the stages, DLC included, are just perfect. Who wouldn’t want to race around the carrier from Afterburner?
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5. Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged
What’s better than racing around a track in a toy car? Building the track yourself! Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is wall-to-wall mayhem but putting your own tracks together dials things up to 11. We’re not entirely convinced that a sequel was needed but as we remarked in our review it’s “bigger and better in just about every way”. Between drift events, track building and split-screen racing, this is undoubtedly one of the best kart racers on Xbox.
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