Racing Games in 2025: A Nostalgic Blast for Fans of a Bygone Era

Wow, okay, so here’s the deal. You know that rush you get when you’re about to start a race? Yeah, that’s what happened when Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds got teased at the 2024 Game Awards. I mean, people were already buzzing anyway, like bees on caffeine, because Nintendo just dropped the bomb that a new Mario Kart is coming for Switch 2 next January. Talk about a one-two punch. Just a couple of quick flashes of gameplay, and the hype train was already off the rails. You got Sonic bringing back EX Gear, and Mario Kart World saying, “Hey, let’s do open-world karting.” Oh, and Kirby? Yeah, Kirby decided to waltz in with Kirby Air Riders, all announced in this bombshell Nintendo Direct. Insane.

Honestly, it’s like someone sprinkled magic dust on 2025 for racing game fans. Three—count it, three—major releases in one go. It’s like winning the lottery but with pixels and controllers. But there’s a twist! These games share a hidden bond, a secret sauce, if you will, that has GameCube fans practically dancing in the streets. Sonic, Mario, and Kirby all getting their game on? Pure nostalgic bliss.

Alright, let me back up—because this is nuts. Each of these 2025 racers ties back to the golden days of the GameCube. So, Kirby Air Riders? It’s basically bringing us all back to Kirby Air Ride from 2003. That was, gosh, like 22 years ago! And Sakurai’s back at the helm, so you know it’s gonna be legit. A sequel with the OG director? Pretty much a recipe for success, if you ask me.

And Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds? Oh boy, it’s pulling out all the stops. Like, taking the crème de la crème from every Sonic racer before it and mashing it into one big speed-fest. Extreme Gear from Sonic Riders? Heck yeah. That gear was the stuff of legends—I still remember the adrenaline from those races. This feels like fate, I swear.

And Mario Kart World? While it isn’t directly channeling Mario Kart: Double Dash, it being mentioned alongside these other heavy hitters feels… significant. Like, what are the odds, right? With GameCube support for Switch Online being teased, maybe we’ll get Double Dash again. Imagine that!

So, fast-forward to next year, and it’s full-on racing madness. I can already see people debating which to get—Sonic, Mario, or Kirby? Each game’s got its fanbase, ready to throw down some cash. Mario Kart World is like the king of kart racers, no question, especially since it’s part of the Switch 2 bundle. But Sonic Racing’s hopping on all platforms, so that’s a plus. Kirby? It might be the wildcard here, with its own set of challenges since the series has evolved quite a bit.

Whatever the case, there’s this comforting certainty: if you’ve been waiting for a sequel, especially for Kirby Air Ride—man, it’s a good time to be alive. For all the pixel warriors out there, this is going to be one heck of a year, racing through virtual worlds with reckless abandon. High-speed chaos? I’m in.