Mario Kart is a series of kart racing games from Nintendo, a spin-off of the Mario games. You race go-karts as Mario characters and use power-up items along the way. The items are what keep it close. Players far behind get powerful catch-up items such as Bullet Bills, while the leader usually gets something small, like a banana or a single shell. A good Mario Kart night ends with somebody yelling about a blue shell. The series began in 1992 with Super Mario Kart on the SNES, and it is the best-selling racing series of all time, with over 208 million copies sold.
Plenty of studios built a kart racer of their own after it, from Sony and Sega to Disney. These are the 25 games players recommend most to Mario Kart fans, ranked by how many different people named each one.
25 Games Like Mario Kart Where One Item Can Change the Whole Race
Looney Tunes: Space Race (2000)
Space Race is a kart racer from Infogrames Melbourne House, first released on the Dreamcast. You race as one of eight Looney Tunes characters, from Bugs Bunny to Wile E. Coyote, across 12 tracks. Acme boxes on the track hold gags you can use as weapons, and that means dropping anvils and pianos on your friends. It feels like a Saturday morning cartoon with a Mario Kart item box.
The big difference is the slapstick. Every hit plays out like a cartoon gag, and the race stays silly from start to finish. Collect five green canisters and you can fire a turbo boost. A Nintendo 64 version was made but never released. Play it on PS2, where it got an exclusive Tournament mode.
Pac-Man World Rally (2006)
Pac-Man World Rally is a kart racer from the Pac-Man series. Up to four players race as Pac-Man characters and stars of other Namco games. Pac-Boxes on the track hold items that speed you up or slow the others down, and a clean powerslide around a sharp corner gives you a quick burst of speed. Players call it an excellent Mario Kart clone that borrows from Crash Team Racing too.
The big difference is the cast. You can drive as the ghosts too, which feels right for a series born in the arcades. The PSP version adds a race track based on Dig Dug, along with two exclusive characters. It is a solid pick if you want Mario Kart rules with a different set of faces. Play it on GameCube, PS2 or PSP.
Toy Story Racer (2001)
Toy Story Racer is a kart racer from Traveller's Tales, based mostly on the first film. Woody, Buzz and the rest of the toys race through places from the movie, out to a shopping mall and the Pizza Planet restaurant. The PlayStation version has eight items to use against the other racers. Critics gave it generally favorable reviews, which is rare for a movie kart racer.
The big difference is how much there is to do besides racing. One mode has you collect hidden clown weebles before time runs out. In Survival, you have to win without being hit by a weapon. There are 200 soldiers to collect, and you need them to unlock eight of the 12 characters. It is an easy one to share with younger players. Play it on PS1.
Disney Speedstorm (2023)
Its gameplay is similar to Mario Kart. You drift to charge your nitro boost and grind on blue rails for more. Power-ups are called skills, and one of them flips a rival's screen to confuse them. Players like that it costs nothing to start.
The big difference is how your racer is built. Each racer has one of four classes, such as Speedster or Brawler, which sets how they play. Each one also has a unique skill of their own. You attach crew members, cards of minor Disney characters, for extra stat boosts. Being free to play, it also wants you to grind and spend, so expect a shop. Play it on PS4 or Switch.
South Park Rally (2000)
South Park Rally is a racing championship set in the town of South Park. The cast drives police cars and Big Gay Al buggies, and up to 27 characters can race, depending on the console. It was made in only seven months, and it shows in places. Players are split on it: some love the charm of the early seasons, others call it a bad Mario Kart knockoff.
The big difference is the championship. Its 14 races have to be done in order, and only that mode unlocks characters and tracks. If you love the show, the jokes carry it a long way. The Nintendo 64 version has the fewest extras, so pick the PlayStation one. Play it on PS1 or N64.
Jak X: Combat Racing (2005)
Jak X is a combat racer from Naughty Dog, a spin-off after Jak 3. Jak and his friends are poisoned, and only winning a combat racing championship gets them the antidote. Yellow Eco is your weapon and Red Eco is your shield. Players call it a great take on the kart racer, with some Twisted Metal mixed in.
The big difference is how hard it hits. You can destroy the other racers outright, and dealing or taking damage fills a Dark Eco meter that makes your weapons stronger. It is the darkest game on this list, and the fastest to turn a race into a brawl. Play it on PS2, or the 2017 re-release on PS4.
Crash Tag Team Racing (2005)
It is the third Crash racing game, after Crash Nitro Kart. Crash has to find the missing Power Gems of a racing theme park to win the park for himself. You earn boost by power-sliding and by destroying other cars with weapons. Players count it among the best Crash kart games.
The big difference is the clash. Drive up to a rival, press a button, and your two cars merge into one with a turret on top. One of you drives and the other shoots, which turns a race into a team fight. It drifts further from Mario Kart than the other Crash racers, and that is why some fans love it. Its characters later showed up in Nitro-Fueled. Play it on PS2 or GameCube.
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (2019)
Nitro-Fueled is a remake of Crash Team Racing by Beenox, rebuilt with new visuals and audio. It also brings in content from Crash Nitro Kart. After launch it got free seasons of new tracks and characters for eight months. Players point Mario Kart fans on PlayStation straight to it.
The big difference is the shop. Critics praised the faithful remake, but some found it hard, and the microtransactions added after launch drew criticism. It sold 10 million copies by June 2025. If you only own a modern console, this is the way to play Crash Team Racing. Play it on PS4 or Switch.
Garfield Kart (2013)
Garfield Kart is a kart racer built along the lines of Mario Kart. You collect items and power-ups on the track to mess with the other racers. Only Garfield and Jon are open at the start, and Odie and Nermal are among the ones you unlock. Most players bring it up with a grin, half as a joke.
The big difference is the quality. Hardcore Gamer gave it 1.5 out of 5 and called it "absolutely dreadful". Some fans play it for exactly that reason. The original is on 3DS. On PS4 or Switch, play the 2019 remake, Garfield Kart: Furious Racing. A sequel, All You Can Drift, came out on Switch in September 2025.
Snowboard Kids (1997)
Snowboard Kids is a snowboarding game from Atlus, and reviewers compared its style to Mario Kart. You race down the slopes firing Shots, special weapons, at the other kids. Items cost 100 gold each, so you pay before you can play dirty. Players say Mario Kart fans should try it.
The big difference is the snow. Tricks in the air earn you coins, and each of the six characters handles differently. It is bright and silly, and a race between four friends gets loud fast. Nintendo Life later said it is "worthy of a place in anyone's collection". Play it on N64.
Muppet RaceMania (2000)
Muppet RaceMania is a kart racer from Traveller's Tales. You can play as 25 Muppets on 34 tracks based on places from the Muppets. Stars on the track give you one of four weapons. Fans call it a great, chaotic Mario Kart clone with lots of creative content.
The big difference is the handling. NextGen called it a "substandard kart racer" that leans on the Muppets' charisma. Fans forgive it, because the characters are that good. Fill the gauge and you get a super move, either to hold the others back or to fly ahead. Play it on PS1.
Sonic Riders (2006)
Sonic Riders is a racer from Sonic Team, made for the Sonic series' 15th anniversary. Sonic and his friends race on hoverboards, and each race has up to eight riders. The air tank in the corner of the screen is the key thing to watch. Up to four players can join the race and battle modes.
The big difference is the speed. Critics praised the soundtrack and the sense of speed, but they did not like the controls. It sold well anyway, and two sequels followed. Give it an hour to learn the boards before you judge it. Play it on GameCube or PS2, or the sequel Zero Gravity on Wii.
Crash Nitro Kart (2003)
Crash Nitro Kart is the follow-up to Crash Team Racing, made by Vicarious Visions. You break Item Crates to grab a weapon or power-up, and you can hold only one at a time. When you slide, a gauge rises, and pressing the other shoulder button as it turns red gives you a boost. Players call it a good pick if you like Mario Kart.
The big difference is the story. In Adventure Mode you race through five worlds to free the cast from Emperor Velo XXVII. Many reviewers rated it below the original, though they liked the presentation. It is still a good kart racer, just not a great one. Play it on PS2 or GameCube.
Kirby Air Ride (2003)
Kirby Air Ride is a racer from HAL Laboratory for the GameCube. Kirby rides different machines, and he can suck up enemies on the track to copy their powers. You race up to three friends in split-screen. Players call it a fun and original party racer.
The big difference is City Trial. Everyone roams one big city grabbing upgrades for their machine, then puts it to the test. Critics found it too simple, but it sold well and won a cult following, with 1.35 million copies sold. A sequel, Kirby Air Riders, came out on Switch 2 in November 2025. Play it on GameCube.
Chocobo Racing (1999)
Chocobo Racing is a Final Fantasy spin-off from Square, and it is often compared to Mario Kart and Crash Team Racing. Final Fantasy characters race, most of them in go-karts. Magic Stones on the track work as items, and a Haste Stone gives you a short speed boost. Its fans still call it great fun.
The big difference is the story. Cid tells it like a pop-up book across nine chapters. Before each race, you also give your character a special ability. Reviews were average, but Final Fantasy fans get a lot out of seeing the cast on a race track. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP.
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (2010)
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing is a kart racer from Sumo Digital, a mascot racer in the same mold as Mario Kart. You race as one of 20 Sega characters. The items work like rock-paper-scissors, so some block others. Long drifts earn more boost, and that is where the good players pull away.
The big difference is the All-Star Move. Fall behind and you get a special move, such as Sonic turning into Super Sonic. Hovercraft ignore the terrain but handle poorly. Its sequel is higher on this list, but this one still holds up. Play it on PS3. It also came out on Wii.
Nickelodeon Kart Racers (2018)
Nickelodeon Kart Racers is a racer from Bamtang Games. You race as twelve characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, Hey Arnold!, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Rugrats. There are 24 courses and 8 arenas based on places from the shows. Coins from the courses buy kart parts. Players recommend it for split-screen racing, and kids love it.
The big difference is the polish. Nintendo Life gave it 3 out of 10 for its small roster, and the lack of voice acting bothered critics too. Kids who love the shows will not mind. Grand Prix followed in 2020 and Slime Speedway in 2022. Play it on PS4 or Switch.
Beach Buggy Racing (2014)
Beach Buggy Racing comes from Vector Unit, the studio behind the mobile racer Beach Buggy Blitz. Players call it a cheap, fun Mario Kart-style game for the couch. You get buggies, beaches and a power-up on almost every stretch of sand. The races are short, which suits a quick game before bed.
The big difference is where it started. On phones it is free to play, but the console versions were "completely retuned" into "a full Mario Kart style premium game". It is smaller than the big kart racers, and it costs less too. Its sequel can even be played in a Tesla. Play it on PS4 or Switch.
Blur (2010)
Blur is an arcade racer with car combat, made by Bizarre Creations. Players describe it as Mario Kart with real cars. The tracks have eight power-ups, and five of them are weapons. You can carry three at a time and fire most of them forward or backward.
The big difference is the cars. You drive licensed cars such as the Dodge Viper on tracks based on real places like the Los Angeles river canals. It feels like a grown-up Mario Kart. It was the second-to-last game from Bizarre Creations before Activision shut the studio in February 2011. Play it on PS3.
LittleBigPlanet Karting (2012)
LittleBigPlanet Karting is a kart racer from United Front Games, the studio behind ModNation Racers. Sackboy grabs Weaponators, power-ups such as heat-seeking projectiles and EMPs. Fire one backward and it can knock out a seeker missile. The grappling hook from LittleBigPlanet 2 is in, so you swing across gaps and find high shortcuts.
The big difference is create mode. You build your own karts and tracks, and any object in the game can be turned into a weapon. You can even reach out and slap a racer who gets too close. It is the best pick here for anyone who would rather build a track than race on one. Play it on PS3.
Speed Freaks (1999)
Speed Freaks is a kart racer from Funcom, sold as Speed Punks in North America. You pick one of nine characters and race karts around themed tracks. Weapons include missiles and slime. Lines of tokens on the track fill your speed boost bar. Players call it a must for kart racing fans.
The big difference is the challenges. Win every race in a league and you unlock a one-on-one challenge, and beating that rival makes them playable. A stealth pick-up makes you safe from attacks for a while. It came out in Europe in August 1999 and in North America in April 2000. Play it on PS1.
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (2012)
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is a kart racer from Sumo Digital. Your car turns into a boat and a plane during the race, on tracks that change from lap to lap. You earn boost by drifting and by doing tricks in the air. Players put it up with the best kart racers.
The big difference is the cast. You race as over 20 Sega characters, so Sega fans will spot old friends on every track. On Wii U, the GamePad adds its own minigames and up to five players can race. Critics praised the roster and the big step up from the first game. Play it on PS3, Vita or Wii U.
Diddy Kong Racing (1997)
Diddy Kong Racing is a kart racer from Rare for the Nintendo 64. It has five worlds with four tracks each, and some put you in a hovercraft or a plane instead of a car. Get hit and you lose two bananas. Players name it in the same breath as Mario Kart 64.
The big difference is Adventure Mode. You win race after race on an island to defeat Wizpig. David Wise wrote the music, and it is one of the best things about the game. It sold 4.8 million copies, the eighth best seller on the Nintendo 64. Play it on N64, or the 2007 remake on DS.
ModNation Racers (2010)
ModNation Racers is a kart racer from United Front Games and San Diego Studio. A good drift fills a boost meter, and you spend it on a turbo or a shield. Weapons such as missiles and lightning strikes upgrade up to three levels. Players call it a Mario Kart clone with a track editor.
The big difference is that you make the game. You design your own racer and kart, then paint a track by driving over flat ground. One critic called the track tool "probably one of the deepest you've ever seen in a racing game". There were 30 studio-made tracks at launch. A sequel, Road Trip, launched with the Vita in 2012. Play it on PS3 or PSP.
Crash Team Racing (1999)
Crash Team Racing is a kart racer from Naughty Dog, and critics said it drew heavy inspiration from Nintendo's kart racers. You pick from fifteen Crash characters, eight of them open from the start. The longer you stay in the air, the bigger the boost when you land. Players call it the best kart racer ever made, and it is the game they name first for Mario Kart fans.
The big difference is the adventure. You drive around worlds winning trophies, and four of them open the Boss Garage, where you race a boss one-on-one. Some reviewers rated it above Mario Kart for its technical skill. It still plays great today. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP, or try Nitro-Fueled on a newer console.
Which one to play
There you have it, the whole list of games like Mario Kart. 22 of the 25 came out on a PlayStation console, where Mario Kart never went.
If you want the closest match, start with Crash Team Racing, or Nitro-Fueled on PS4 and Switch. If you love building things, play ModNation Racers or LittleBigPlanet Karting. If you want a story to race through, play Diddy Kong Racing. If you want real cars with weapons, play Blur. If you want to spend nothing, try Disney Speedstorm. If you are picking for kids, try Toy Story Racer or Nickelodeon Kart Racers.
