Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds takes its cast of Sonic characters into races that shift between land, sea, air, and space. Its signature Travel Rings send racers to another dimension and course during the second lap, where special rules and challenges alter the route; the final lap returns to the opening course with parts of the track changed. That structure makes each race a sequence of connected, shifting circuits rather than a straightforward run around one track.
Vehicle and character choices give the racing a layer of buildcraft. Players select among five classes, then tune performance with vehicle parts and gadgets that affect attributes such as boost efficiency, item chances, and recovery time. The game also features a Rival system: a randomly selected character challenges the player in each race, with defeating that rival offering bonus rewards and additional dialogue. These systems sit alongside the roster of Sonic characters and customizable vehicle paint and decals.
The format ranges from solo time trials and local co-op to team-based Race Park rulesets and online World Match lobbies for up to twelve players. Grand Prix links four courses into a points competition, while World Match offers online races with players worldwide.
