After debuting in 1992, “Super Mario Kart” spawned an entire franchise for Nintendo. The series has been a staple on virtually every Nintendo platform since, providing chaotic and accessible racing fun to millions of gamers worldwide. True to its titular premise, the games primarily revolve around kart racing, with a whole selection of power-ups to even the score. This is buoyed by a colorful cast of characters, largely from Nintendo’s “Super Mario” franchise.
If you’re looking for kart racing titles that aren’t part of the “Mario Kart” franchise, there are plenty to choose from. With that in mind, we’re highlighting the best racing games similar to the broader “Mario Kart” experience. Those searching for more realistic racing games like “Gran Turismo” need not apply for the wacky titles we’re including here. These are the five best racing games like “Mario Kart,” each adding their own high-octane thrills to the kart racing subgenre.
Diddy Kong Racing
The eternal debate for Nintendo 64 fans is if “Diddy Kong Racing” or “Mario Kart 64” is the better game. There’s no denying that “Diddy Kong Racing” is one of the best retro racing games of all time. Even decades after its release in 1997, it remains one of the best kart racers around, and certainly one of the most ambitious. The game has Diddy Kong and his friends rally to take on the villainous Wizpig, who has corrupted the guardians of a peaceful island. This is done through various racing challenges around the island’s distinct environments, with players using karts, planes, and hovercrafts to navigate the tracks.
“Diddy Kong Racing” is so beloved because it thought outside the box, changing what people thought was possible for a kart racing game by bringing in boss battles, pickup challenges, and a light story mode. At the same time, the game is just a wholly enjoyable racer that boasts up to four-person local multiplayer and a variety of modes. After Nintendo lost Rare to Microsoft, the game stands as a clear high point in the developer’s time before moving to the Xbox. A colorfully fun experience that quietly pushed racing game boundaries in its own way, “Diddy Kong Racing” is one of the best racing games of its generation.
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled
PlayStation introduced a kart racing title of its own to compete with its counterparts on the Nintendo 64 with “Crash Team Racing” in 1999. The game takes cues from “Diddy Kong Racing” by providing players with a full-on adventure mode in addition to the usual competitive racing modes. It received an enhanced remaster for modern platforms in 2019 under the title “Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled.” In addition to updating the classic title for more contemporary sensibilities, “Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled” added more classic characters to the mix.
“Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled” is the definitive way to play Crash Bandicoot’s automotive adventures. The gameplay has been noticeably refined while the technical presentation has been improved significantly from its 1999 source material. The game also embraces the possibilities of online gameplay with “Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled” adding skill-based matchmaking to its features. A solid kart racing title originally for PlayStation, “Crash Team Racing” provides its own quirky take on the genre.
Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway
Nickelodeon’s animated properties have a surprisingly long history of starring in kart racing games — there are even some forgotten arcade games based on Nickelodeon cartoons. The most recent title is “Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway,” which was released in 2022. The game features an impressive playable roster of 40 characters from throughout Nickelodeon history, with everyone from SpongeBob SquarePants to the Ninja Turtles joining the fun. Driving on slime spread across the tracks tops up a meter that, once full, allows characters to unleash their unique abilities to turn the tide of a race.
“Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway” really is a game best enjoyed by fans of Nickelodeon cartoons, as one might imagine. The gameplay itself is fine, but the individual personalities and charm behind these familiar faces is what distinguishes the game from the competition. While it’s available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, the game is best experienced on current platforms, where it performs a lot better. A solid kart racer with a colorful cast, “Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway” is a lightweight blast.
Disney Speedstorm
Disney threw its hat into the kart racer ring with 2023’s “Disney Speedstorm,” a free-to-play game that features a massive roster of Disney and Pixar favorites — there are over 100 playable characters from dozens of franchises. This extends to live-action properties, with “Tron” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” joining the mix with their own sets of racers and tracks. Gameplay-wise, the title handles like “Mario Kart” or “Diddy Kong Racing” but with its own distinct flourishes, like assigning pit crews to racers.
“Disney Speedstorm” earns its revenue through in-game microtransactions, like season passes, each with their own characters and cosmetics. Though this element can seem intrusive at times, the game itself handles well and there is a wealth of content to keep things feeling fresh. The game plays into the appeal of its properties, particularly with its vibrant level design, making “Disney Speedstorm” the perfect kart racer for Disney fans of all ages.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Sonic the Hedgehog has been starring in kart racing games since 1994’s “Sonic Drift” for the Game Gear, with varying levels of success. However, his most recent game, 2025’s “Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds,” stands as an unmitigated triumph for the spin-off series. It retains the gameplay mechanics of drifting and performing mid-air tricks for speed boosts as well as the franchise staple of collecting rings. But the game’s real appeal is its insane roster of racers, which includes characters from Sega properties like “Yakuza” to third-party properties like “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “Neon Genesis Evangelion.”
Easily the best racing game in the Sega franchise, “Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds” succeeds in going bigger and better. The kart handling has been improved compared to 2019’s “Team Sonic Racing” and the tracks are more engagingly designed. The growing roster is certainly a major plus, while the game provides players with a rival in grand prix mode to heighten the stakes. The triumphant culmination and celebration of all Sonic racing games before it, “Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds” is one of the best modern kart racers around.
