Mario Kart has an undisputed legacy as one of the best racing games of all time, and the newest entry, Mario Kart World, doubles down on that. With all of the great new additions to the game, you might feel like you’re missing out if you don’t own a Nintendo console to play it on. Fortunately, there to give you a similar experience.
You have plenty of alternatives that offer a whimsical setting similar to Mario Kart. Some even have arguably better power-ups or tracks. But the best part is that a lot of them support cross-play, meaning there’s no need for all your friends to be on the same platform. With all that said, here are the 5 best Mario Kart alternatives.
Lego 2K Drive
LEGO 2K Drive is an open-world, family-friendly game that supports cross-play, making it easy to race with friends regardless of their console. The game features a unique vehicle switching mechanic, allowing you to seamlessly transform between cars, boats, and off-road vehicles as you traverse the map.
This game’s focus on open-world exploration over traditional tracks offers a unique twist on kart racers. Other than standard races, you can take on side missions and freely explore a massive world. A standout feature is the ability to build and customize your own vehicles, brick by brick, allowing for a level of creativity not found in other racing games. The 2-player split-screen feature is another highlight, providing a fun way to enjoy couch co-op with a friend.
Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled
If you’re looking for a true Mario Kart equivalent that’s cross-platform, Crash Team Racing is probably the closest you can get. It has a similar drifting and boost-building mechanics, meaning Mario Kart players will feel right at home here. There’s even a “classic” option in Adventure Mode that requires you to master one chosen racer and stick with them through the campaign. This is an ode to the original experience from the PlayStation game.
Unlike many Mario Kart clones, this one has its own identity and a good amount of challenge. Most of the games that rip off Mario Kart feel too easy or basic, but that’s not the case here. The AI here is challenging, and it can sometimes give even experienced players a tough race. It’s a very enjoyable game, but Sony really needs to add another entry to this franchise with modern mechanics like rail grinding or anti-gravity segments.
Team Sonic Racing
Now this kart-racer brings something new and interesting to the table with team-based gameplay rather than traditional free-for-all races. It provides players with a new dynamic altogether as it focuses on players working in trios, sharing items, slip-streaming, and triggering team boosts. These unique collaborative elements make it an interesting game that’s fun for the whole family.
It possesses a co-op strategy that encourages teammates to communicate, adding tactical depth, which is not common in many racers. On top of that, it keeps players engaged and in the zone with its rocking soundtrack, which consists of energetic remixes of classic Sonic tunes.
While it lacks single-player depth, this game is highly replayable when you have friends or family over. It’s the type of party game that never gets old.
Blur
Fitting the name of the game itself, this title was a blur in time. It came from an era when arcade racers were bold, flashy, and focused on pure fun over realism. Blur can be called ‘Mario Kart’ for grown-ups as it mixes together real-world vehicles and physics with combat racing.
It requires real skill with handling that values braking rather than just button mashing, with you having to rely on skillful evasion to dodge other players’ weapons/attacks. The realistic physics give players a different dynamic, unique from that of Mario Kart, and the visual HUD gives it that futuristic feel.
Unfortunately, as this game has been delisted digitally, it is difficult to track down. You’ll have to find an old copy or find a way to emulate it. If you do get your hands on it, though, you’re in for a blast.
Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway
Mario Kart, but Nickelodeon characters. That’s pretty much what Slime Speedway is all about. The main draw of this game is that you get to race as characters from your favorite Nickelodeon TV shows. This includes characters like SpongeBob, Garfield, and even Danny Phantom. The characters even feature unique voice lines that improve the overall immersion.
It also features a unique visual element where boost is replaced by slime, fitting the theme of the game. Like any other racer, this one also allows players to customize their karts and bikes to some extent, with braking, speed, handling, etc, all being customizable. The different game modes make sure players never get bored with the game, as it offers battle arena, elimination, and free-for-all style modes.
