The cars glow in every color, sparks fly from under the wheels, and new worlds open up again and again—all while behind the wheel: the blue hedgehog “Sonic the Hedgehog” and his friends. In the brightly colored racing video game *Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds*, the Sega characters battle it out for first place on the racetrack.
Age rating: USK —ages 6 and up
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a racing game from Sega that has been available for all major game consoles since September 2025. It is the fourth installment in the Sonic Racing series and a direct competitor to Nintendo’s Mario Kart games.
In the game, characters from the “Sonic the Hedgehog” universe compete against each other in a car race. Console players, for example, can race alone against AI opponents. Up to 4 people can also play together on one console, racing either with or against each other. Via the internet, up to 12 people can even compete against each other. As is typical for racing games, players can choose between time trials and Grand Prix races or tackle challenges in Race Park mode. In the game, they customize vehicles, collect points, and gather special power-ups.
Unlike in previous versions, *Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds* features so-called “travel rings”: Starting in the second lap of the race, portals open at random, allowing players to switch worlds and continue their race in other worlds.
Car racing games offer the whole package that makes kids’ hearts race: fun vehicles that you can customize, so you can zoom around the tracks in a pink bubble car one day and an aggressive beast the next. Cheerful avatars with a seemingly endless array of gear. Bright colors, rousing music, a bit of competition, and a reward around every corner. The customization options are vast, there are plenty of surprises around every corner, and because the entire world even changes from time to time, there’s never a dull moment. Even when practicing against AI opponents, the many possibilities and effects keep kids hooked lap after lap. And when friends or family members join the fray on the racetrack and compete from the couch for spots on the podium, the hours fly by like sparks on the track.
Racing games are generally considered to be among the more uncontroversial and family-friendly video games. Nevertheless, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds also presents some challenges:
The Japanese video game developer Sega has its games reviewed by the USK and adheres to its age ratings on the German market. “Sonic Racing” has been rated by the USK as suitable for ages 6 and up. This rating indicates the minimum age at which the game is considered safe from the perspective of youth media protection. However, it should not be equated with an educational age recommendation.
Various gaming consoles offer parental control settings. Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox all allow parents to monitor their children’s gaming habits by setting time limits, blocking in-game stores, or restricting access to online services.
Stay engaged and open to discussion, and guide your child in using Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds safely. Talk to your child about how long they should play and how much time they should spend using media. Work together to set rules about how long they’re allowed to play and what level of use is appropriate. Observe your child while they play, and don’t leave them alone if they’re feeling emotionally overwhelmed—such as by sensory overload, frustration, or anger. Use the consoles’ safety settings and, especially for younger children, disable features such as the in-game store. You can find step-by-step instructions for this at medien-kindersicher.de.
Racing games like “Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds” are a great way for families to explore digital games together, thanks to their simple controls and multiplayer mode. It’s a good idea to play the racing game together sometime. During a round on the racetrack together, you can gain insight into your child’s interests, strike up a conversation—and maybe even discover unexpected talents behind the wheel.
