The 10 best kart racers of all time –

10. Speed Freaks

It’s largely forgotten today, which is sad because the PlayStation game Speed Freaks deserves better. I remember it fondly for being 1,000 years old – and I still appreciate it. Unfortunately, Sony rolled out this game the same month they (also) released Crash Team Racing, and this stroke of genius meant Speed Freaks fell into oblivion faster than Sony could scream “we ruined it.” The lightning-fast go-karts and stylish graphics, however, made me stay.

9. Sonic and All-Stars Racing transformed

The formula Sega introduced in this game would be plagiarized by Nintendo itself four years later in Mario Kart 8, which says a lot about how much fun it really was. The fact that your kart could turn into a plane or a boat, depending on how the track changed, was a nice twist that added to an already successful formula.

8. Crash Team Racing

After the success of Mario Kart 64, Naughty Dog and Sony decided it was time for official PlayStation mascot Crash Bandicoot to take a seat behind the wheel of a colorful racer. Crash Team Racing set the bar for kart racers made by companies other than Nintendo with its fast pace, precise controls and now iconic boost system. The adventure mode also gave the game a depth that few other titles in the genre had at the time, and frankly, it was only the PlayStation 1’s performance that kept it from being even higher on this list.

7. Mario Kart World

How do you move on after a game as complete as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ? The answer is, you don’t, you do something new. Nintendo went for an open world and, as usual, did it their way. Knockout Tour is the best new game mode in the series since Mario Kart 64, and it’s so packed with content that it blows everything else in the genre out of the water. We suspect it will score even higher once DLC is released, but it is already a modern classic.

6. Sonic & Sega All-Stars racing

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing accomplished something that few expected, namely seriously challenging Mario Kart. It combined Sega’s renowned racing expertise with phenomenal controls, and Sega also dared to use its entire game library, treating us to plenty of love from Shenmue, Super Monkey Ball and Jet Set Radio, among others. What set the game apart, however, was not only the fan service, but also how balanced the racing was. Sure, there were bonus items available, but they were less chaotic than in many other kart games, which meant that skill was more important without compromising the entertainment value.

5. Crash Team Racing on nitro fuel

Crash’s comeback to the racing genre six years ago was almost unanimously praised, and it is known as one of the best kart racers thanks to its driving feel and technical depth. Many consider it a challenger to Mario Kart, and the boost system in particular is praised as it rewards precision and means that skill is often more important than luck…. Something not always obvious in this subgenre. The combination of charming graphics, good track variety and plenty of content makes it a game that is both nostalgic and relevant today.

4. Super Mario Kart

This is the game that not only defined its own subgenre, but also laid the foundation for what kart racing looks like today. It may be technically modest, but thanks to the controls’ focus on timing, drifting and positioning, it still holds up today. Weapons and items are available, but are much more subtle than in later installments, meaning races are often decided by skill rather than chance. In addition, Mode 7’s graphics are used better than in any other game, creating something that remains iconic today, complete with a delightful soundtrack. Looking back, it is a piece of gaming history held back only by the fact that it could only be played by two people.

3. Diddy Kong racing

Rare also wanted go-karting a year after Mario Kart 64 and launched the more technically impressive Diddy Kong Racing. As in Crash Team Racing, there was an adventure mode to play through, which was greatly appreciated and made it stand out from the crowd. Instead of lining up race after race, it offered an open hub world, boss fights and other challenges. We could also choose between karts, hovercrafts and planes, which added to the variety of gameplay and felt ahead of its time. Even today, many still hope for a sequel, and Diddy Kong Racing remains unique in many ways, even decades later.

2. Mario Kart 64

Mario Kart 64 fixed the few flaws that still existed in its Super Nintendo predecessor. It made the jump to the 3D era and allowed us to play four at once, setting the standard for what karting games would look like in the near future (at least so far). Compared to Super Mario Kart, the driving experience was much more forgiving, but at the same time more unpredictable, and the blue scale meant we could never be sure of victory, causing both frustration and laughter in roughly equal amounts. The tracks were iconic, ranging from the simplicity of Luigi Raceway to the chaos of Rainbow Road and the ingenious design of Yoshi Valley. We are happy to overlook the fact that it has its technical flaws, with uneven frame rates and somewhat sluggish controls, as this was more than offset by its charm, variety and a multiplayer mode that became a staple at countless parties and game nights. One of the most memorable party games ever.

1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Whether Mario Kart 8 would have been enough for first place may not be entirely certain, but the deluxe edition for Switch was the icing on the cake. This is kart perfection with incredible tracks split between brand new tracks and interpretations of classics, complete with racing through games such as Animal Crossing, F-Zero and The Legend of Zelda. The game design caters to both beginners and amateurs who can casually enjoy action-packed races without getting frustrated by unnecessarily complicated mechanics. Along with a clever balance between luck and skill, this creates an atmosphere where every race feels exciting and unpredictable. Another aspect that makes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe special is the social element, as it’s the perfect party game, whether you’re sitting on the couch with friends or playing online with people from all over the world. In summary, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is so insanely good that Nintendo itself considered it perfection and did something completely new with World instead of trying to build on it, and first place is a given.