Top 20 Kart Racing Games, Ranked

Kart racing games are consistently popular because they’re quick, competitive, and delightfully unpredictable – and that appeal has spanned many gaming consoles and years. The most successful games balance precise controls with creative, exciting tracks and power-ups that can instantly change the outcome of a race. While playing with friends locally is still a big part of the fun, good online features and ongoing updates have helped the genre evolve. Here are some of the best games that get the mix of physics, track design, and gameplay just right.

20. Garfield Kart: Furious Racing

This fun racing game is easy to learn and play, with straightforward controls. The tracks are based on popular comics and include shortcuts and power-ups to keep the action going. While the number of characters and carts is limited at first, you can unlock more as you play. It’s great for quick, local multiplayer with family and friends, though the game does help players who fall behind to stay competitive.

19. Pac-Man World Rally

This retro-style game features Namco’s beloved characters racing on vibrant tracks packed with fruit and power-ups. The drifting is easy to pick up, and skillfully navigating corners gives you a quick speed boost. Competitive arenas offer a different experience with maze-like designs that stay true to the game’s roots. It’s best enjoyed as a local multiplayer game, offering fair items and clear warnings for obstacles on the track.

18. F1 Race Stars

Codemasters has created a fresh take on Formula One racing, featuring over-the-top track designs, cartoonish drivers, and fun power-ups. Tracks are built with steep banks and speed boosts to encourage close racing and teamwork. Pit stops let you fix damage and add a simple strategic element to the game. It’s easy for newcomers to pick up, but offers enough depth to keep seasoned racers engaged.

17. Chocobo GP

Final Fantasy-style items called magicite let you combine weaker spells into more powerful ones. Courses cleverly redesign classic areas with alternate routes and helpful jump pads. Beyond simple racing, there are dedicated time trial and series modes for structured challenges. Updates after release have made it easier to progress and unlock the characters and tracks you like best.

16. Beach Buggy Racing 2

This game started as a popular mobile title and translates well to consoles and PC, running smoothly with precise controls. It features over a dozen fun power-ups that add excitement while still requiring skillful timing. You can improve your driver and kart, offering a sense of accomplishment without making the game overly complex. Plus, fast loading times and four-player split-screen make it a great choice for playing with friends.

15. Kirby Air Ride

This beloved GameCube game has a special way of building speed that emphasizes choosing the best racing line and mastering gliding. Its City Trial mode transforms open-world exploration into a pre-race challenge where you improve your vehicle before a surprise final event. The game encourages you to try out every vehicle and track with its unique challenges. It’s a creative approach that still feels innovative and fun today.

14. LittleBigPlanet Karting

As a fan, I’m really excited about this game! It’s all about creating your own tracks, and they’ve given us some seriously powerful tools to do it – we can build anything, add crazy hazards, and even program events. What’s cool is the campaign isn’t just a story mode, it actually *teaches* you how to use the editor as you go. And the best part? We can share our creations with each other and race on tracks made by other players – some of them are surprisingly complex! Plus, the controls are easy to pick up, so you can quickly test out your ideas and see if they work.

13. Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway

The latest installment features complete voice acting and a huge cast of characters from both new and old shows. Players can now race in karts, on motorcycles, or with hover vehicles, adding fresh ways to experience well-known tracks. Customization is available through crew and vehicle parts, letting you tweak performance without complicated menus. Both online and local multiplayer are reliable, with easy matchmaking and a great split-screen experience.

12. KartRider: Drift

This free-to-play racing game focuses on a unique drift boost mechanic, where skillful timing and accuracy are key to success. The game is regularly updated with new tracks, licenses, and customization options for all players. Competitive racers will appreciate the separate ranked modes for item-based and speed-focused racing, ensuring fair competition. Plus, you can easily play and continue your progress with friends on any platform.

11. ModNation Racers

The game truly shines with its easy-to-use track editor, allowing you to quickly shape landscapes. A strong community shares and rates creations, greatly expanding the game beyond the main story. Once you get the hang of it, drifting and boosting feel really good. Plus, customizable items add depth without making races confusing.

10. Team Sonic Racing

This game emphasizes teamwork, with advantages gained through drafting (slipstreams), sharing items, and coordinating boosts – all of which heavily influence race outcomes. Different characters have varying weights and handling characteristics, making team composition crucial. Wisps are back as collectible items that provide offensive, defensive, and healing benefits. The adventure mode is designed to teach players cooperative strategies that are useful in online racing.

9. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

During races, vehicles seamlessly transform between car, boat, and plane, ensuring each lap feels new and exciting. Driving on water and in the air feels completely different, requiring players to master unique techniques to achieve top speed. The World Tour mode offers diverse challenges that improve drifting skills and overall control. With a large cast of Sega characters and ever-changing tracks, the game provides a lot of replayability.

8. Mario Kart: Super Circuit

The Game Boy Advance version streamlines the core racing gameplay into fast-paced, skill-based tracks. The simple graphics and well-defined track boundaries make it easy to see what’s happening while drifting and using items on the small screen. Plus, unlocking classic retro courses provides a lot of extra content. It’s still a popular handheld choice thanks to its precise controls and straightforward racing experience.

7. Mario Kart 64

This game really brought four-player split-screen racing to the forefront, and introduced courses that would become fan favorites. A new power sliding mechanic let players control their speed and drift through corners with timing and precision. Items were balanced so that players in the back could catch up, but skillful drivers still had an advantage. Experienced players could also test their limits with time trials and discover hidden shortcuts.

6. Mario Kart DS

Mission mode offers quick challenges to help players master advanced skills and learn how to defeat bosses. Online play lets you race against people around the world on the go, with a simple matchmaking system. Skilled players can use ‘snaking’ – a difficult technique – to really push their limits. With a great selection of tracks and clear graphics, this is a top choice for retro racing on handheld devices.

5. Mario Kart 7

As a huge fan, I love how this game lets you build really creative tracks with gliders and underwater sections – it never feels choppy! Plus, being able to customize your kart and choose first-person gyro controls really lets you make the experience your own. And the online features were awesome – I was always racing against others, whether through online communities or just bumping into people with SpotPass. The tracks themselves are brilliantly designed, rewarding smooth driving but also letting you take some risky shortcuts if you’re feeling brave!

4. Mario Kart Wii

I’m so excited they added bikes to the game! They’ve really changed things up with this new ‘inside drifting’ mechanic – it lets you take super tight corners and stay in control. And the trick boosts off ramps are awesome – nail the timing and you’ll keep your speed up. You can play with motion controls if you want, but I think the wheel accessory is going to make playing with friends locally even more fun. The races are packed with twelve racers, and the item balance is perfect – it means anyone can pull off a huge comeback, and it makes every race so memorable!

3. Diddy Kong Racing

Adventure mode lets you explore different worlds, compete in boss races, and find hidden collectibles. Driving different vehicles like planes and hovercrafts offers fresh ways to approach each track. Completing silver coin challenges pushes you to master the tracks by discovering new routes and improving your turning skills. This game continues to be a top pick for its engaging single-player experience in the kart racing genre.

2. Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled

As a huge fan, I was so excited for this new version! They brought back the classic campaign I loved, but also included content from later games – it’s the best of both worlds. The drifting is seriously satisfying; it’s all about mastering the timing to get these awesome boost stages. And the best part? They’ve kept the game alive with online races and tons of cool seasonal items. It looks fantastic and runs smoothly, which makes it perfect for anyone who loves competitive racing.

1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

This is the ultimate version of the game, featuring a large cast of characters, responsive controls, and a ton of tracks. The anti-gravity sections add exciting speed boosts and new paths, making fast-paced racing feel incredibly smooth. Both local and online multiplayer are reliable, with plenty of options for setting up races, battles, and custom game modes. The included booster courses complete a package designed for hours of fun.

Tell us your favorite kart racer and the item you swear by in the comments.

2025-10-20 02:18