In Sonic Racing CrossWorlds, players race as Sonic and a wide roster of characters through tracks that warp mid-race into “CrossWorlds”—alternate dimensions accessed via Travel Rings. The game features land, sea, air and space racing forms, vehicle customization with parts and gadgets, and a variety of race modes both offline and online.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the definitive edition of Mario Kart 8 for the Nintendo Switch. It includes the full base game, all previously-released downloadable tracks, a revamped Battle Mode, a large roster of characters, and supports both local and online multiplayer. Racing happens on land, water and anti-gravity surfaces, featuring power-ups, drifting, and high speed competition.

In Hello Kitty Kruisers With Sanrio Friends you join Hello Kitty and her Sanrio friends in a cheerful kart-racing adventure across land, sea, and air. Players choose from a roster of characters, unlock new outfits and vehicles, and race solo or with up to three friends in an accessible, family-friendly format.

Snow Moto Racing Freedom is a snow-mobile centered racing game where you zoom across icy terrain, perform jumps and drifts, and experience snow-based physics. The emphasis is on the feel of racing sleds through winter landscapes rather than chaotic power-ups.

Team Sonic Racing features Sonic characters racing in cars with a twist—it’s all about teamwork. You race as part of a team, share boosts and items, and work together to win. It blends classic kart mechanics with cooperative play and character-based power moves.

Based on the Cars 3 film, this game lets players race as Lightning McQueen, Cruz Ramirez, Jackson Storm and others on tracks inspired by the movie locations. Modes include standard racing, battle races with weapons, stunt/trick challenges and a “Hall of Fame” progression. There are over 20 characters and many tracks to unlock.

Smurfs Kart is a family-friendly kart racer featuring characters from the Smurfs franchise. Players select from the Smurfs cast, each with unique special items, and race on themed tracks. The game emphasizes accessible multiplayer fun, simple controls, and a cheerful atmosphere tailored for younger players or casual gaming sessions.

Blaze and the Monster Machines: Axle City Racers: Based on the kids’ show, this racing game is designed especially for younger players. You control monster trucks driven by Blaze and his friends, with simplified controls, optional assists (like auto-drive), and a focus on fun tracks rather than high-level competition.

Rev Up! RC Grand Prix is a racing title centered around remote-control vehicles—bugs, rally cars, trucks and more—with multiple races, vehicle classes, and on-road/off-road courses. Build and customize your RC cars and challenge friends in multiplayer fun.

A portable entry in the Mario Kart series for the Nintendo 3DS. Mario Kart 7 introduces new mechanics like hang-gliding, underwater driving, and full kart customization (body, tires, glider). Players compete across new and retro tracks in cups and battle modes, and can race locally and online.

I hope you enjoy all these games as much as we do!

Racing Games Gift Guide brought to you by Gaming Chickadee

Chickadee loves to have family gaming days. She loves birds, unicorns, ponies She also likes the Nancy Drew Games. She loves to play as Princess Daisy in the Super Mario Games, Her favorite games change a lot but right they are: Mario Party Superstars, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Pretty Princess Magical Garden Island.

Sonic & SEGA All-stars racing

This was Sega’s first big attempt at a Mario Kart-style racer. It focuses on classic kart racing, featuring Sonic and a wide range of Sega characters like AiAi (Super Monkey Ball), Ulala (Space Channel 5), and more.

Gameplay: Traditional kart racing with drifting, boosting, and item use.

Roster: Wide mix of Sonic and non-Sonic Sega characters.

Tracks: Based on various Sega franchises (Sonic, Billy Hatcher, etc.).

Signature Feature: Each character has a special “All-Star Move” that gives them a temporary power boost, similar to a unique ultimate ability.

Style: Simple, accessible, and a great introduction to Sega’s racing world.

Best for fans who want a straightforward kart racer with Sega flair.

Sonic & All-stars racing transformed

This sequel took the concept and transformed it—literally. The main feature is vehicle transformation, where cars morph into boats or planes mid-race, creating a dynamic and challenging experience.

Gameplay: Cars, boats, and planes all control differently; tracks shift between these forms during races.

Roster: Even bigger than before, including deep Sega cuts (e.g., Vyse, NiGHTS) and special guests like Wreck-It Ralph.

Tracks: Evolving courses that change between laps (e.g., flooding, collapsing, opening aerial routes).

Signature Feature: Transforming vehicles and highly dynamic track design.

Style: Deeper mechanics, more skill-based than the first game.

Best for players who want variety and skill-based racing with a strong Sega celebration vibe.

Team Sonic Racing

This game shifted gears (pun intended) to focus exclusively on Sonic characters and introduced team-based racing mechanics. Sega dropped the wider Sega roster to tell a Sonic-focused story and experiment with cooperative gameplay.

Gameplay: 12 racers split into 4 teams of 3. You win by working together—sharing boosts, passing items, and pulling off coordinated Team Ultimate moves.

Roster: 15 Sonic characters divided into Speed, Technique, and Power classes.

Tracks: All Sonic-themed, inspired by various zones.

Signature Feature: Team mechanics (slipstream trails, item sharing, coordinated boosts).

Style: Emphasizes teamwork over individual glory.

Best for Sonic fans who want to race strategically with friends or AI teammates.

If you’d like to learn more about the game, I wrote a post that you can check out here.

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds is like a upgraded version of Team Sonic Racing that makes it even better. It takes place in different virtual racing worlds created by Dodon Pa, and it borrows many mechanics from Team Sonic Racing.

Gameplay: Focuses on being more like Mario Kart, high-speed racing in a different environments.

Roster: Sonic and friends and more in a cross-over racing world.

Tracks: courses from all different series from Sonic to Pac-Man filled with warp rings and glowing energy trails.

Signature Feature: Crossing between “worlds” mid race and then back again.

Style: A stylized concept blending racing and adventure.

Best for fans of Team Sonic Racing that felt it needed a little more or those curious about a Pac-Man with Sonic or Minecraft with Sonic.

I also wrote a post about the game which you can check out right here.

Summary

Overall, If you want classic Sega nostalgia with simple, fun kart racing go for Sonic & SEGA All-stars racing. If you want the deepest and most dynamic racing experience Transformed is widely considered one of the best. If you prefer Sonic-only content with a unique team-focused twist Team Sonic Racing is the pick. And if you like Team and Transformed combined with crossing to different tracks mid race concepts, CrossWorlds gives a peek at a whole new racing idea and personally my favorite.

• Sonic & SEGA All-stars racing Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.
• Sonic & All-stars racing transformed 8 out of 10 stars.
• Team Sonic Racing 8 out of 10 stars.
• Sonic Racing CrossWorlds 9 out of 10 stars.

What’s the difference between the Sonic Racing games? brought to you by Gaming Chickadee

Chickadee loves to have family gaming days. She loves birds, unicorns, ponies She also likes the Nancy Drew Games. She loves to play as Princess Daisy in the Super Mario Games, Her favorite games change a lot but right they are: Mario Party Superstars, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Pretty Princess Magical Garden Island.

Gameplay Focus

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe puts emphasis on individual racing skill with items that can swing the race at any moment. Whether you’re a seasoned drifter or a casual player tossing shells, the game is designed for anyone to pick up and play. Its mechanics reward both racing lines and clever use of power-ups.

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds, in Race Park it centers around teamwork and high-speed maneuvering in a digital world. It draws clear inspiration from Team Sonic Racing, where players must work together, share boosts, and strategize as a team. Unlike Mario Kart’s free-for-all chaos, CrossWorlds racing is about synergy and coordinated moves. While in the normal Grand Prix mode it works more similar to Mario Kart.

Setting and Tracks

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe thrives on variety. You race through Mushroom Kingdom staples, real-world inspired courses, and wild fantasy settings. Each track is polished, with anti-gravity sections and shortcuts that make every lap feel exciting.

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds takes place in a virtual racing environment created by Dodon Pa. It has glowing, digital landscapes full of sharp turns, energy boosts, and warp paths. The race course have way more detail than Mario Kart’s whimsical worlds, emphasizing speed and detail over goofy obstacles.

Characters and Stats

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe offers a massive roster of Mario and Nintendo characters, each with their own stats. Everyone races individually, and items are the great equalizer.

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds has customizable vehicles, and each character has a stat type that they’re focused on. The types are: Speed (like Sonic, Shadow or Blaze), Acceleration (Tails), Power (Knuckles), Handling (Amy or Cream) and Boost (Jet, Wave or Storm).

Items and Power-Ups

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is famous for its wacky arsenal: blue shells, Bullet Bills, banana peels, and more. Items can completely change the race order, adding a layer of unpredictability.

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds‘s items are a lot like Mario Kart’s. Instead of green shells there’s green fists, instead of blue shells there’s king boom boo etc. However there is some new items in the mix like Void sucks in rings and the monster truck makes your character grow mega sized although there is the mega mushroom in Mario Kart Tour it’s not in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Overall Vibes

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a party game at heart. It’s accessible, chaotic, and endlessly replayable with friends or online.

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds leans toward competitive team play in a sleek, digital world. It’s more about coordination and speed than item-driven chaos.

Summary

While Mario Kart 8 Deluxe remains the gold standard for kart racers, Sonic Racing CrossWorlds offers a fresh take by emphasizing teamwork and futuristic environments. If you love lighthearted, item-filled fun, Mario Kart is the clear pick. But if you prefer speed, strategy, and team synergy, the CrossWorlds concept scratches a different itch entirely.

Sonic Racing VS Mario Kart brought to you by Gaming Chickadee

Chickadee loves to have family gaming days. She loves birds, unicorns, ponies She also likes the Nancy Drew Games. She loves to play as Princess Daisy in the Super Mario Games, Her favorite games change a lot but right they are: Mario Party Superstars, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Pretty Princess Magical Garden Island.

Why Sonic Racing CrossWorlds?

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds isn’t just another kart racer—it’s a full-on celebration of Sega’s history, packed with clever track design, transforming vehicles, and a roster of characters pulled from across the company’s franchises and some cross-overs too. Released after Team Sonic Racing, this sequel raised the bar and is often known as one of the best Sonic racing games ever made.

Your car morphs seamlessly into a boat or plane mid-race as tracks change, forcing you to adapt to shifting terrain and hazards. Each form feels distinct—boats have to deal with rough water currents, while planes emphasize aerial control and dodging. This constant variety keeps races dynamic and exciting, rewarding players who can adjust on the fly.

The racing mechanics themselves are tight and satisfying, with solid drifting, boosting, and item use. The roster of items feel like Mario’ Kart’s. With the Monster Truck being a mega mushroom, drill being a bullet bill, slime being a blooper and king boom boo being a blue shell. Team racing isn’t the focus here (like in Team Sonic Racing), so victory depends entirely on your own skill in the Grand Prix Mode however in Race Park Team Work is the focus.

Tracks are the highlight: Courses are brand new with some refences to Sonic games, PAC-MAN and more. Once on the second lap you cross into another track and then by the third back to the first lap’s track! The dynamic track design makes each lap feel fresh and keeps you on your toes.

The roster is equally charming, pulling in characters from across Sega’s history and other franchises too. Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy of course but Minecraft, PAC-MAN and so many more appeared, adding quirky fun. They also have Cream playable who before this game hasn’t been playable on one single switch game, can you believe that?

The visuals hold up well, with vibrant colors, creative transformations, and lots of background detail that may sometime make it hard to see where you are but still it’s nice. The soundtrack remixes classic Sonic tunes to fit high-speed racing, which longtime fans will especially appreciate.

There’s plenty of content: single-player Grand Prix, Friend Match, Custom Match, Race Park, Time Trial and competitive online multiplayer with World Match. Local split-screen adds replay value for friends, and difficulty scaling makes it accessible for newcomers but challenging for veterans.

Like I said before, Race Park is about team work. In that mode you can chose from different types of challenges like you need to collet lots of rings, beat opponents, help boost each other or just a normal race.

How We Test Games

For testing games we use a Nintendo Switch firmware version 2H. Hardware includes Joy-con and Pro controller on a large screen TV. Tests are done with up to 5 players. We take turns playing and evaluating games.

Whenever possible we play multiple players. We also use a Nintendo 2DS, DS XL, and for PC games we use a Ryzen 7 1700x CPU, AMD RX580, running on Win 10. This game is up to 4-players on Xbox, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Pros

Transforming vehicles add variety and excitement.

Dynamic, cross world tracks based on Sonic and other franchises too.

Large and charming roster.

Strong single-player and multiplayer content.

Fantastic soundtrack full of Sonic remixes.

Cons

Can be hard to see where you’re at because the course are a bit busy.

Steeper learning curve with planes and boats.

Summary

Overall, Sonic Racing CrossWorlds stands out as one of the best kart racers not named Mario Kart. Its transforming vehicles, dynamic tracks, and Worlds other than Sonic or Sega nostalgia gives it a unique identity. While it has a lot of similarities to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, it offers depth, creativity, and a celebration of Sega that makes it unique.

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds – Review brought to you by Gaming Chickadee

Chickadee loves to have family gaming days. She loves birds, unicorns, ponies She also likes the Nancy Drew Games. She loves to play as Princess Daisy in the Super Mario Games, Her favorite games change a lot but right they are: Mario Party Superstars, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Pretty Princess Party.

Why Team Sonic Racing?

Team Sonic Racing takes the high-speed thrills of kart racing and mixes in a unique cooperative twist that sets it apart from other entries in the genre. Instead of every racer competing purely as an individual, the game emphasizes teamwork, making your performance tied to how well you and your partners support each other on the track.

The core racing feels solid, with the familiar Sonic speed flair—loop-de-loops, boost pads, and colorful tracks inspired by locations from the franchise. The big differentiator is the team mechanic. Each race has twelve players split into teams of three. You don’t just race for yourself—you share boosts, items, and strategies with teammates. For example, driving in a teammate’s slipstream gives you speed, passing items lets everyone benefit, and pulling off coordinated actions builds up a powerful Team Ultimate move that can turn the tide of a race.

This makes the game feel less about selfishly getting first place and more about making sure your whole team finishes strong, which can be refreshing but also tricky if you prefer solo-focused play.

The tracks are colorful, creative, and capture Sonic’s charm—from casino-themed speedways to nature-filled circuits. The character models and karts are well-designed, with customization options for performance and looks. The soundtrack, composed by long-time Sonic music veterans, is a highlight—fast, catchy, and perfectly matched to the action.

There’s a story-driven Team Adventure Mode, which introduces the mechanics and offers a lighthearted plot with voice-acted dialogue between Sonic and friends. Beyond that, there’s local multiplayer, online play, time trials, and single races. While fun, the content can feel a bit lighter compared to other kart racers.

How We Test Games

For testing games we use a Nintendo Switch firmware version 2H. Hardware includes Joy-con and Pro controller on a large screen TV. Tests are done with up to 5 players. We take turns playing and evaluating games.

Whenever possible we play multiple players. We also use a Nintendo 2DS, DS XL, and for PC games we use a Ryzen 7 1700x CPU, AMD RX580, running on Win 10. This game is up to 4-players on Xbox, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Pros

Unique team-based mechanics.

Fun, fast-paced racing gameplay.

Colorful tracks and great soundtrack.

Lots of customization options.

Cons

Team focus may not appeal to solo-minded players.

Story mode is light and a bit repetitive.

Smaller content roster compared to some competitors.

Summary

Overall, Team Sonic Racing is a fun spin on the kart racing formula, offering solid controls, great music, and a unique teamwork system. It may not have as much variety as competitors like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but for Sonic fans and players who enjoy cooperative play, it’s an exciting and stylish racer.

Team Sonic Racing – Review brought to you by Gaming Chickadee

Chickadee loves to have family gaming days. She loves birds, unicorns, ponies She also likes the Nancy Drew Games. She loves to play as Princess Daisy in the Super Mario Games, Her favorite games change a lot but right they are: Mario Party Superstars, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Pretty Princess Party.

Windows 98 was there for the introduction of games like Warcraft II, Starcraft, Doom, Quake, and many, many more. While those games aren’t family friendly, there are plenty of family friendly titles from that era. This is a list of those games.

Dust off that old Pentium II in the basement and fire it up for Red Baron II. This game is a classic shooter where you’re a World War I fighter pilot.

The graphics are simple but the gameplay is awesome. For a nearly 30 year old game it holds up surprisingly well. There are 30 missions, each becoming harder than the last. Eventually you run into the Red Baron for an incredible aerial dogfight.

The graphics were state of the art for the time, yet modern gamers might be put off by the low resolution. The graphics don’t get in the way of the action though. The dog fights, bombing, and anti aircraft defenses are very balanced. This is one game still provides a lot of entertainment.

Another Windows 98 era game, Streets of SIM City is still an incredibly fun game. From the music to the missions, this crazy car fighting game doesn’t disappoint. Except when the game crashes.

I’ve never been able to complete the Forever War level without it crashing. Maybe the developers knew this which is why they rated it 5 out of 4 stars for difficulty. Asking whether you can reach level 10 is probably sheer sarcasm since they knew it would crash.

On the other hand, all the other levels in the different channels are loads of fun. From racing, to delivering, to fighting aliens and gangsters this game has a lot to offer.

The upgrades are necessary to complete later missions. At some point you’ll have so much money you can equip yourself any way you want for the missions. Shooting missiles is fun but gets very expensive quickly.

The graphics look like something from a 1980’s arcade but don’t detract too much from gameplay. The soundtrack, sound effects, animations, racing, and fighting are extremely entertaining. Even if the game is nearly three decades old.

There are many racing games out there but this gem from the 1990’s is worth checking out. I’m old enough to remember when most racing games were terrible. The controls were terrible, the physics were terrible, and preventing crashes was impossible.

3-D Ultra Radio Control Racers is a top view fixed screen race. While that limits the track somewhat, there’s still plenty of drifting, jumps, and power ups. I think the top down view actually enhances the racing and eliminates a lot of trouble with the physics that plagued most racing games from that era.

You can see your place at all times, anticipate the next turn or any obstacles. It’s not as glamourous as Mario Kart 8 deluxe, but for an older racing game it’s still a lot of fun.

There’s also 8 tracks, and 4 types of cars to choose from. Each type car offers different racing characteristics. However, they’re well balanced enough that I enjoy racing with the heavy slow car as much as the light fast one. Some games those two extremes are just terrible.

3-D Ultra Radio Control Racers is also two players. We’ve enjoyed many races even though we both had to share the same keyboard. If you enjoy racing games, then this classic is worth checking out.

There are many good games from the 1980s still worth playing today.

My Favorite Retro Games For Windows 98 brought to you by David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.

Our library of Switch games includes several similar games. Not all racing games need be as complicated as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. I have as much fun with a simple racing game as I do with brake drifting in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Racing games are any game that has players moving around a track to be the first to a finish line. It doesn’t matter whether players have cars or are on foot. The object of any racing game is to be the fastest to the finish line.

These games offer co-op or player vs player action. Co-op racing games have players on the same team. While player vs player involves racing head to head.

Not all racing games are equal. Different racing games offer power ups, drifting, weapons, shortcuts, and upgrades. They range from simple racing games like Hello Kitty Racing to complex racing games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Racing games have vastly improved over the years. Older racing games were predictable and boring. Coming back from last place was practically impossible. While learning to exploit weaknesses in the computer players ensured easy wins.

Coming back from last place in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is actually a strategy. Also, staying in first place isn’t a sure thing either in MK8D. By modifying the rules, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe keeps the game competitive and fun.

Many racing games have followed suit and have improved. Even if they don’t offer the complexity of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, they still are fun to play.

Who’d thought Hello Kitty and racing go together. While it’s incredibly simple, it’s a good racing game. Up to 4 players can join. There are many cars to choose from but they basically fall into three categories.

Heavy, medium, and light. There aren’t any stats to compare and the differences are slight. So just pick a car based on how it looks. After several races you may prefer one class over another.

Overall, the racing is simple, but surprisingly fun. Drifting is possible but doesn’t seem to help much. Avoid being hit or hitting obstacles seems to matter the most.

The tracks, cars, and appearance in general is plain. Nothing really stands out as far as graphics or sounds. Except I remember having fun racing with friends. It’s an easy, simple alternative to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

This racing game is similar to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in many aspects. The power ups, cars, characters, and racing mirror Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Although, to me it feels a bit more complicated than MK8D. Getting the startup boost is harder, drifting is difficult to master, and there’s so much on the screen navigating the track requires all your attention. However, it’s still a fun racing game.

There’s also a basic plot to this game. It’s light but offers incentive to win all the races and discover the real story behind Dodon Pa. While it isn’t much of a plot, it kept our interest as the game progressed.

I will say the car and player stats are simpler than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. In Team Sonic Racing, there’s only three types: speed, technique, and power. Each with their unique strengths and weaknesses.

Choose your type wisely. Learning to drive each type takes some practice to master. It gets much easier once you get used to each type.

There aren’t as many tracks as there are in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. But each track seems longer. If you like challenging racing games then Team Sonic Racing is a good choice.

This is another favorite of ours. We like that there’s both off road and on road track. Plus some minigames. You can also create customized cars and tracks.

RC Racing Grand Prix is another simple racing game. There aren’t and advanced drifting techniques or shortcuts like in Mario Kart. Just avoid hitting the walls for the most part.

The off-road tracks have more jumps and drift. While the on-road tracks are faster with sharper curves. There are heavy, medium, and light cars to choose from.

I’m old enough to remember a Commodore 64 game called Racing Destruct. We spent a lot of time customizing tracks to make them more enjoyable.

Creating custom tracks isn’t for everyone. But for those that put in the time it is very rewarding. Rev Up! RC Grand Prix is one of the few games that allows for creating custom tracks.

Building a track to match a cars performance is rare indeed. You can create easy tracks for beginners or harder tracks for a challenge. Every racing game seems to have bad parts and good parts in every track. Not many games offer the ability to alter those parts.

Rev Up! RC Grand Prix is inexpensive which is reflected in the graphics, gameplay, and sounds. But I think it’s a hidden gem of a racing game for those willing to put in the time altering tracks.

Based on the Cars movie, you can race as Lightning McQueen. This racing game is more refined than the others. The sights and sounds are right out of the Cars movies.

If you’re a fan of the movies then this racing game is a good option. One of the few games where the everything actually looks like it does in the movies.

In addition to racing, there’s also a battle mode and freestyle mode. The battle mode is loads of fun in my experience. The freestyle is okay. It’s a great way to get some practice in.

There are over 100 achievements and power ups you can unlock in this racing game. Some need unlocked to progress through the game, including a few boss fights.

I’m not a big fan of having to unlock so many things for the full experience. It seems they went overboard with the Hall of Fame achievements. A few even require multiplayer locally.

It’s on the expensive side, which accounts for the great graphics, sounds, and gameplay. Cars III Driven to Win isn’t as advanced as MK8D, but it’s still an appealing racing game.

Racing gameplay is popular among gamers. The thrill of competing with others and winning adds excitement and adrenaline to any gaming experience in my opinion.

While Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of the top selling games for the Switch. There are other racing games which offer similar experience. Not all are as refined or glamorous as MK8D, but each offers a fun experience in their own way.

Discover the Best Games Like Mario Kart brought to you by David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.

This is mainly due to the hidden mini turbo stat. While Yoshi on Teddy Buggy doesn’t have the highest speed, it does offer a well rounded combination of stats. Plus the highest mini turbo, a hidden stat.

Other combos with the same stats are:

• Daisy, Peach, Birdo, Peachette
• Cat Cruiser, Comet, Yoshi Bike
• Azure rollers
• Cloud glider, Parachute, Flower Glider

These combos have the best mini turbo. Overall it’s a well rounded build for acceleration, speed, handling, and traction.

While I consider the Yoshi, roller, paper glider, and Teddy Buggy the best. The best kart combo for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe comes down to preference and racing style.

That being said, we don’t always play for the best stats. We have personal favorites which we are comfortable playing with. Once we get used to a kart it’s hard to change.

Some of our personal favorites are:

• Rosalina, P-wing, azure roller and parachute
• Peach, Cat Cruiser, roller and Peach Parasol
• Daisy, Sports coupe, sponge and flower glider

When building or choosing a combo mini turbo is the most important stat. Followed by speed. These stats matter above the other stats. Never sacrifice speed or mini turbo for acceleration or handling.

While acceleration and handling matter, they don’t have the advantage speed and mini turbo do. Adjusting your driving for lesser traction or handling is much easier than making up for poor mini turbo or speed. Same for acceleration.

Avoid combos that lack speed or acceleration. While it is possible to still win with any combo. Good mini turbo, speed, and acceleration stats make it easier.

Weight and traction are the least important stat when considering a combo for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Weight matters when being bumped. Being bumped rarely impacts placement so this stat isn’t as important.

For most races, at the start is when you’re most likely to be bumped. During a race being bumped is rare. Annoying, but rare. Missing a double item box due to being bumped is not fun. But it happens so infrequently, weight isn’t a stat to be prioritized over mini turbo or speed.

Traction is important for slippery portions of tracks or when off road. While having more traction helps for these parts of a track. Adjusting your driving is better than increasing your traction.

If you increase traction and sacrifice speed you have to adjust your driving to account for the lower speed anyway. So calculating a drift for slippery conditions while keeping a high speed and mini turbo stat is preferable to traction.

Handling applies all tracks and conditions. It’s how well a cart steers in general. Again, this stat matters. But it should not come at the cost of speed or mini turbo.

Choose a kart with the best handling simply means you have to brake drift less. Which isn’t a good trade. Sacrificing speed and mini turbo for handling is a bad trade off.

The best combo is the one you have the most fun with.

Best Overall Kart Combo for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe brought to you by David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.

Gold Mario

You can unlock Gold Mario by winning all twelve grand prix gold cups at 200cc. Once unlocked Metal Mario can be played and Gold Mario in the same listing.

Gold Parts

Gold Standard Kart can be unlocked by getting at least 1 star ranking in all base-game Mirror Cups.

Gold Tires can be unlocked by completing all the Time Trials in 150cc, not including the downloadable content (DLC). In my opinion this is the hardest to unlock of all the gold parts and Gold Mario.

The Gold Glider is just by collecting 5000 coins.

Good Set-ups

To unlock the Gold Tires I recommend using the following set-ups:

• Daisy/Tri-Speeder/Azure Roller/Paper Glider
• Rosalina/P-Wing/Azure Roller/Parachute
• Yoshi/Teddy Buggy/Roller/Paper Glider
• Bowser/Biddy Buggy/Azure Roller/Parachute

Although some of them have the same stats as others, those are our personal favorites.

Here is a more detailed view:

I hope my guide helps!

How to get Gold Mario from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe brought to you by Gaming Chickadee

Chickadee loves to have family gaming days. She loves birds, unicorns, ponies She also likes the Nancy Drew Games. She loves to play as Princess Daisy in the Super Mario Games, Her favorite games change a lot but right they are: Mario Party Superstars, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Pretty Princess Party.

For starters, bagging isn’t nearly as good on 200cc as it is on 150cc. Frontrunning works best for 200cc. Get in front as soon as possible and stay there to the finish line in 200cc.

This changes item strategy from critical use of mushrooms, stars, or red shells to basically just holding on to defensive items as much as possible in 200cc. Being toward the front of the pack means very few mushrooms, stars, or bullet bills.

Instead of items, the primary focus of 200cc is taking good racing lines to avoid hitting any walls or obstacles. Many times, just avoiding walls and obstacles is all that’s needed to win.

Avoiding the walls, or worse falling off the track, is easier said than done in 200cc. While I rarely use the brake in 150cc, braking is crucial in 200cc. I use it constantly throughout every race in 200cc.

Tapping the brake during drifts gives you just about as much control as the joystick during drifts in my experience. Holding the brake too long results in spinning out or losing the drift boost altogether.

In order to brake drift, start a drift then tap or hold the brake button. During this time you hold the drift with your index finger and accelerate button with your thumb. Then roll your thumb to tap or hold the brake button. This takes some practice but is a crucial skill for 200cc.

Items don’t play as important of a role in 200cc as they do in 150cc. Sure a red shell or well placed banana helps, but overall a 200cc race focuses on racing lines.

In my experience, many races I just get a defense item or two during the race. Avoiding bananas, shells, and obstacles consumes all my attention. I just check to see whether I got a trailing item or not.

In 200cc you can safely trail a bomb for protection. It’s rare but I’ve got caught in the explosion when I was going too slow. 200cc is so fast you can delay, or even put off being hit by a blue shell too.

In Moonview Highway, if you hit all the boost pads leading up to the finish line in 200cc a blue shell can’t catch you until after the finish line. Unfortunately, red shells can still catch you in 200cc.

The goal in most 200cc races is to not fall so far back to even get a red shell. Get in the lead an staying there is the objective in 200cc. A mushroom or red shell is no substitute for good driving.

Good driving involves frequent use of shortcuts. There are shortcuts in every track. Many require mushrooms but some don’t. Some that require a mushroom in 150cc can be done without one in 200cc.

For example, the waterfall shortcut in Yoshi Circuit. In 200cc you need a orange boost and a trick to jump the gap. No mushroom required.

Many of the 200cc shortcuts take practice since the timing and aim is very precise. Of course, racing any track in 200cc requires practice. Once you get comfortable driving in 200cc start trying the shortcuts. Start with the easier ones and work up to the harder ones.

Winning at 200cc requires different skills vs winning at 150cc. Driving skills matter more for 200cc than 150cc. Item management matters less for 200cc than 150cc.

Good driving at 200cc takes a lot of practice. I recommend not switching between 150cc and 200cc until you consistently win at 200cc.

Generous use of brake drifting is crucial in 200cc. At times canceling a drift boost or avoiding a trick boost actually helps in 200cc. It takes a lot of practice to learn when and when not to drift in 200cc.

The first time playing on 200cc is intimidating. It’s easy to fly off the track or constantly bounce off walls. While braking is rarely used in 150cc, it’s required for almost every turn in 200cc.

Keep practicing. Learning each track takes months of practice. Get comfortable holding the accelerate button while tapping the brake button at the same time during drifts. This gives you more control for taking good racing lines.

The better lines you take the less you bounce off walls, hit obstacles, or need to slow down coming out of a turn. Taking good racing lines is the primary skill for winning at 200cc.

How to Win at Mario Kart 8 Deluxe brought to you by David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.