You’ve seen the trailers. You’ve probably seen the leaks. But honestly, the Sonic Racing Crossworlds roster is a bit of a weird beast once you actually sit down to play it. Sega didn't just dump a bunch of characters into karts and call it a day this time. They actually went for the "kitchen sink" approach, mixing classic Sonic Team staples with some genuinely left-field picks from the SEGA multiverse and even a few Sonic Prime variants that have people arguing on Reddit at 3:00 AM.
It's big. Really big.
Sega confirmed this is the largest roster in the history of the series, and they aren't kidding. If you’re tired of seeing the same five characters in every racing game, you’re in luck.
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The Core Lineup: The Usual Suspects and Some Surprises
Basically, the base game launched with 24 characters. You’ve got your icons like Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, obviously. But things get interesting when you look at the deeper cuts. Including the Egg Pawn as a playable racer? That's a choice. A hilarious choice, but a choice nonetheless.
The Speedsters
Sonic is the baseline. If you’ve played a racing game in the last thirty years, you know how he handles. He’s the "Mario" of his own game—well-rounded, fast, and easy to pick up. Shadow and Metal Sonic follow suit, though they feel a bit more aggressive on the straights. Then you have Jet the Hawk, which is a massive win for the Sonic Riders fans who have been starving for content since the Wii era.
The Powerhouses
Knuckles and Omega are the heavy hitters. They don't have the best acceleration, but once they get going, they are hard to knock off the track. Big the Cat is back, too. Seeing him in a tiny kart never stops being funny. Newcomer Zavok from the Deadly Six makes the cut, alongside Zazz, which adds some much-needed villain variety.
The Technical Racers
Tails and Rouge fall into this bracket. They are all about handling and item efficiency. But the real star here is Sage from Sonic Frontiers. Her inclusion feels like a bridge between the new "Open Zone" era and the classic arcade racing vibes. She even has a "Corrupted" variant for those who want that digital-ghost aesthetic while they're drifting through Metal Harbor.
The Sonic Prime Factor
This is where the roster gets a little controversial. If you bought the Digital Deluxe version or the Season Pass, you get the Sonic Prime characters: Nine, Rusty Rose, and Knuckles the Dread.
Here is the thing: they are gameplay variants.
Don't expect deep "Shatterverse" lore or emotional cutscenes where Nine questions his existence. In Sonic Racing Crossworlds, they are here to race. They have unique animations and stats—Nine’s multi-tails look incredible when he’s performing mid-air tricks—but they function more like "skins with stat swaps" than entirely separate entities in the story mode.
Some fans are a bit bummed that "Rebel Rouge" or "Renegade Knucks" didn't make the initial cut. It feels like a missed opportunity, but let’s be real—the game already has over 50 characters planned once you count the DLC waves.
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The Guest Stars: SEGA and Beyond
The "Crossworlds" subtitle isn't just for show. The Travel Ring mechanic literally warps you into other SEGA dimensions mid-race. Because of that, the roster leaks out into other franchises.
- Hatsune Miku: Yes, she’s in a Sonic racing game. It's as chaotic as it sounds.
- Joker (Persona 5): He fits surprisingly well. His vehicle looks like a stylized Morgana-bus hybrid.
- Ichiban Kasuga: The Like a Dragon protagonist brings a certain "himbo" energy to the track that we didn't know we needed.
- NiGHTS: A total fan-service pick that actually feels right at home in the more surreal CrossWorld tracks.
There are even weirder collaborations. We're talking Minecraft (Steve and Alex), SpongeBob SquarePants, and Pac-Man. It’s starting to look like Super Smash Bros. but with karts and way more blue hair.
Dealing with the "Unlockable" Confusion
There’s been a lot of back-and-forth about whether the game has 23 or 24 characters at launch. It’s actually 24, but one is a "secret" unlockable that you don't get until you finish the main Grand Prix circuits.
Most people miss it because they jump straight into online World Match play. If you want the full roster, you have to actually grind through the offline cups. The game rewards you with "Donpa Tickets," which you use to buy vehicle parts, but the characters themselves are tied to progression or the shop.
Tips for Mastering the Roster
Picking a character isn't just about who looks the coolest (though let's be honest, it's 90% that). You have to look at the Gadget Slots.
Every racer has different affinities for the 70+ gadgets in the game. Some gadgets, like the Warp Ring, take up two slots but can teleport you right onto the tail of the person in first place. If you're playing a Speed character like Sonic, you want gadgets that prioritize ring retention, because rings directly affect your top speed.
If you're using a Power character, go for gadgets that increase your "trick speed" boost. You’re already heavy; you need that extra kick when you launch off a ramp in Kronos Island.
What’s Next for the Roster?
Sega has been pretty transparent about the roadmap. We know the Pac-Man DLC just dropped in early 2026, and there are more waves coming. Rumors are swirling about a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pack and potentially an Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover.
The strategy here is clearly to keep the game alive for years. It’s not just a "one and done" release. They want this to be the definitive SEGA racer for the next decade.
If you're looking to jump in, start by finishing the Grand Prix mode immediately to unlock that 24th character slot. Don't ignore the daily challenges either; they’re the fastest way to get the tickets needed for those high-end vehicle customizations. If you're playing on the Switch 2, the physical edition is finally coming in March, which is great if you're a collector who hates "code in a box" releases.