I’m really excited about all these racing games. Like, seriously, I remember hearing about Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds during the 2024 Game Awards. The hype was real, and somehow, Nintendo made it even crazier by dropping news about a new Mario Kart for Switch 2. It’s like one cool announcement followed another. Teasers were small, but who cares, right? It was enough to get everyone talking.
What’s wild is the return of EX Gear in Sonic and this open-world vibe in Mario Kart World. And just when you think it’s over—bam! Kirby Air Riders gets announced too. It’s like a hat trick of awesomeness. All from the GameCube days! Totally unexpected, and yet, weirdly perfect timing.
For GameCube fans, it’s like a dream, or maybe a parallel universe where all the cool stuff we loved is coming back. Three big titles in one year. I don’t even know how to handle that much good news.
Okay, let’s break it down. Kirby Air Riders is a sequel to that 2003 classic, and guess who’s back? Masahiro Sakurai. Yep, he’s directing again, which is a bit of a relief because, you know, quality. Not a lot of details yet, but if Sakurai’s involved, it’s bound to be good.
Then there’s Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. What a mash-up of every Sonic racing game ever. And hey, anyone remember the Extreme Gear from Sonic Riders? Yeah, that’s back too. I almost thought they’d forgotten about it after the Kinect version—let’s be real, who didn’t? But the excitement’s real for seeing it in action again.
Maybe I’m rambling, but this all feels a bit surreal. Okay, circling back, Mario Kart World is doing its own thing. No real link to Double Dash, but that’s fine. It’s about time we got something fresh. Plus, there’s talk of GameCube functionality coming to Switch Online. Fingers crossed for Double Dash being added there, because why not?
Despite being packed with releases, each of these games has its own angle. Mario Kart World is basically a staple for Switch 2. But Sonic Racing, available on lots of platforms, might pull in people who don’t own Switches. And Kirby? Well, it’s a bit tricky. The franchise has shifted, but Sakurai might keep it true to its roots. I sure hope so.
Fans are going to go nuts. Preferences aside, there’s plenty for everyone to sink their teeth into. It’s a year jam-packed with high-speed thrills. If you’re into racing games, this is your moment. Let’s just see how it all rolls out.
