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Top Kart Racing Games With The Biggest Character Rosters

Published 2 days ago7 minute read
Screenshoots from Crash Team Racing, Mario Kart and Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3.

Kart racing games hold a special place in the video game world. Their simple controls and chaotic gameplay make races both fun and wildly unpredictable. Plus, they’re perfect for all ages thanks to their social, multiplayer modes and family-friendly vibes. Many kart racers feature beloved characters from popular games or shows, adding a big dose of nostalgia and fan appeal.

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Replayability and unlockable content keep players hooked with new goals to chase. And of course, the more characters there are, the better — you get to pick your favorite, bond emotionally, or just enjoy their unique playstyle. In short, having a huge roster never hurts! Ready? Here’s a lineup of kart racers with the biggest rosters!

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Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

November 20, 2012

Also known as SAASRT (because typing the full name is a race in itself), this wild kart racer brings together a mishmash of characters from across Sega’s universe. The coolest part? Your vehicle transforms mid-race—car, boat, plane—depending on the terrain. The roster boasts 33 racers, though your platform might limit who shows up to the party.

Of course, Sonic and pals are here, but so are stars from Super Monkey Ball, Jet Set Radio, and even... Wreck-It Ralph? Yes. Also, the entire Team Fortress crew (well, Pyro, Spy, and Heavy sharing one ride), Danica Patrick (yes, really), and Simon Lane from Yogscast join the chaos. It's Sega's multiverse, and you're just drifting in it.

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Developed by Square Enix and released in 2022 for the Nintendo Switch, Chocobo GP is a kart racer packed with Final Fantasy charm—and chibi characters with heads way too big for their karts. A spiritual successor to 1999’s Chocobo Racing, it starts with 23 racers but grows to 34 with seasonal updates.

While most characters hail from the Chocobo spin-offs, big names like Cloud and Squall also hit the track. Instead of boring old power-up boxes, you collect Magicite—classic FF spells that level up the more you grab. Each racer has a unique special skill, too. It’s cute, chaotic, and surprisingly strategic for something this round and squishy.

This fan-made kart racer was built by classic Sonic enthusiasts, and while it's technically a mod, it’s polished enough to feel like a full-on game. It delivers chaotic, multiplayer-focused fun with a heavy dose of ‘90s nostalgia—think Super Mario Kart on the SNES but with more drift rage.

Sonic characters in Fall Guys.

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The base roster features 35 racers, including Sonic characters, Doomguy, Hatsune Miku, and even Wonder Boy. But thanks to the super active community, you can mod in hundreds of characters. Universe? What universe? You can race as anyone—and yes, even Pepsi Man is ready to burn rubber. It’s fast, it’s retro, and it’s wonderfully unhinged.

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Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway

October 14, 2022

If you grew up watching Nickelodeon, chances are you’ll love this gloriously slimy kart racer. Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway is the biggest entry in the series yet—both in chaos and characters. Whether you’re here for Arnold, Danny Phantom, the Rugrats, or Jimmy Neutron’s gravity-defying hair, there’s someone you’ll recognize.

And if not, don’t worry—SpongeBob, Aang, Korra, and Toph are all speeding in too. Unlike the first two games, this one actually lets the characters speak (yes, voices!), you can customize your ride, pick support crew members, and slide your way through slime-soaked madness. It’s like a nostalgia bomb with wheels… and questionable traction.

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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the biggest, wildest, and most banana-peel-filled entry in Nintendo’s legendary kart racing series. Originally released as Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U in 2014, this deluxe version hit the Switch in 2017 with more tracks, more characters, and more chaos.

With all DLCs included, there are a whopping 48 racers—mostly from the Mario universe, of course, but look closely and you'll spot guest stars like Link, Isabelle from Animal Crossing, and Inklings from Splatoon. Even Metal Mario and Dry Bowser show up in their shiny or skeletal glory. Oh, and did we mention anti-gravity racing? Because yes—sometimes, the track goes up.

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Kartrider: Drift

Released globally in 2023, KartRider: Drift is a free-to-play kart racer with roots going all the way back to 2004’s Crazyracing KartRider—yes, it’s been drifting through time. Featuring cross-platform play and two core modes—Item Mode for chaos lovers and Speed Mode for drift masters—it brings tight controls and slick Unreal Engine 4 visuals.

The base roster has 50 racers, each with their own character skill, all rendered in adorable chibi form. Don’t expect Mario or Sonic here; most characters, like Neo, Bazzi, and Dao, come from the classic Korean franchise. So yes, everyone is cute—but you probably won’t recognize a single one.

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ModNation Racers

May 25, 2010

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United Front Games

ModNation Racers, released in 2010 for PS3 and PSP, is what happens when Mario Kart meets LittleBigPlanet and says, “Let’s get weird.” With its “Play, Create, Share” motto, this kart racer lets you design your own characters, vehicles, and tracks from scratch. Sure, the base game includes 49 racers—but with community creations, the roster is basically infinite.

Key art for Persona 3 Portable and Legend of Heroes Trails in the Sky, plus a promo image from Hilton of a Hilton Garden Inn

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Want to race as Shrek in a taco car on a SpongeBob-themed rollercoaster? Go wild. While all racers handle the same (no stats here!), it’s the customization and chaotic creativity that make this game a cult favorite. It’s kart racing... if kart racing took a DIY art class.

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Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is a turbo-charged remake of the original PS1 classic, blending old-school charm with modern graphics and polish. The game isn’t just a nostalgia trip—it demands skill, especially with its deep drift and boost mechanics.

Boasting 56 playable racers, you’ll find all your favorite (and weird) Crash Bandicoot characters, from Crash himself to Neo Cortex, Tiny Tiger, and even the hilariously absurd Iron Checkpoint Crate. Yes, one of the racers is literally a crate. Each character has unique stats like speed and handling, so choosing your racer actually matters—unless you're the crate, in which case, you’re probably just in it for chaos.

Developed by Gameloft and launched in early access in 2023, Disney Speedstorm is a kart racer that brings together Disney and Pixar characters in one wild race. It mixes classic arcade racing with RPG elements, letting players level up their characters and boost stats.

Each racer has a unique ultimate ability—imagine Beast throwing down or Hercules smashing the competition! The tracks are inspired by iconic Disney worlds like Pirates of the Caribbean, Mulan, and Toy Story. With 93 characters so far, there’s no shortage of chaos. Racers fall into classes like Speedster, Brawler, Defender, or Trickster. Best of all? It’s free to play, so you can drift and dodge without spending a dime!

Mario Kart Tour is Nintendo’s mobile take on the classic kart racing fun, designed with easy one-finger controls and short, snack-sized races perfect for playing on the go. It features a gacha system where you can win characters, karts, and gliders — kind of like a lucky spin on the Mushroom Kingdom’s slot machine.

The roster is massive, boasting 265 racers, many of which are costume or variation versions of the same character. Most racers hail from the Mario universe, keeping things familiar and fun. The game is free to play and played vertically, making it perfect for quick races. However, Nintendo announced in 2023 they’re no longer adding new tours and will recycle old ones, so expect some nostalgia with a twist!

The Narcos waiting meme but edited to have Donkey Kong JR, Paratroopa, and ROB as the ones waiting.

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