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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Yes—Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds lets you race with friends online or locally. Choose Friend Match for a custom online lobby of up to 12 players, or Custom Match for offline split-screen on one device with up to four players. SEGA says online matchmaking supports cross-platform play. On Nintendo Switch, local wireless play across multiple systems supports 2–8 players; that is separate from split-screen on one system.
Which multiplayer mode should you choose?
| What you want to do | Mode | Player setup |
|---|---|---|
| Set up an online race with friends | Friend Match | Online custom lobby for up to 12 players; the host can adjust race settings. |
| Race together on one device | Custom Match | Offline split-screen for up to four players. |
| Compete online for rank points | World Match | Online competition against 11 other players. |
| Race through cups locally | Grand Prix | SEGA describes local split-screen play with friends. |
| Play party-style races | Race Park | Six race formats, described by SEGA as playable online and offline. |
| Set a course time and compare results | Time Trial | Individual-course times and leaderboards. |
These mode descriptions are from SEGA’s launch announcement. Friend Match and Custom Match are easy to mix up: the former is the online custom-lobby option, while the latter is offline split-screen.
Can you play with friends online?
Use Friend Match to create a custom online lobby. SEGA lists settings for speed, team size, courses and CrossWorlds, AI difficulty, Frenzy Gates, items, and race rules. The mode supports up to 12 players, according to SEGA; Xbox also lists online multiplayer for 2–12 players.
For a ranked competition rather than a custom lobby, choose World Match. SEGA describes it as racing online against 11 other players for rank points. The Xbox store lists cross-platform multiplayer as a feature, and SEGA says matchmaking supports play across different platforms.
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#1 Best Overall
- READY, SET, WARP! Race across 24 tracks and warp to 15 CrossWorlds with Travel Rings, a unique gameplay mechanic that transports the iconic characters from the Sonic and SEGA universes into new dimensions. Use unpredictability to your advantage as you change the landscape of each race!
- RACE WITH THE BEST! Choose from 23 iconic Sonic characters, the largest roster of any Sonic racing game!
- MAKE IT YOURS: Mix and match between 45 unique original vehicles and 70 different gadgets to trick out your ride, level up your kart, and create the ultimate machine to match your racing style.
- GAIN THE ADVANTAGE WITH POWERFUL ITEMS! Dominate your opponents with 23 different items including returning favorites and all-new items like the Monster Truck!
- MULTIPLE WAYS TO PLAY: Gather with friends and play local split-screen in Grand Prix and the new party mode Race Park, compete against a community of players from around the world with up to 12 players online in World Match, or test your driving skills in Time Trials.
The official materials cited here do not confirm whether local split-screen guests can join an online session alongside other players. Do not assume a mixed local-and-online group is supported.
Does Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds have split-screen?
Yes. Split-screen on one device supports up to four players. Xbox lists local multiplayer for 2–4, while Nintendo lists single-system play for 1–4; the Nintendo figure includes solo play as well as multiplayer.
Rank #2
- READY, SET, WARP! Race across 24 tracks and warp to 15 CrossWorlds with Travel Rings, a unique gameplay mechanic that transports the iconic characters from the Sonic and SEGA universes into new dimensions. Use unpredictability to your advantage as you change the landscape of each race!
- RACE WITH THE BEST! Choose from 23 iconic Sonic characters, the largest roster of any Sonic racing game!
- MAKE IT YOURS: Mix and match between 45 unique original vehicles and 70 different gadgets to trick out your ride, level up your kart, and create the ultimate machine to match your racing style.
- GAIN THE ADVANTAGE WITH POWERFUL ITEMS! Dominate your opponents with 23 different items including returning favorites and all-new items like the Monster Truck!
- MULTIPLE WAYS TO PLAY: Gather with friends and play local split-screen in Grand Prix and the new party mode Race Park, compete against a community of players from around the world with up to 12 players online in World Match, or test your driving skills in Time Trials.
Nintendo Switch local wireless is a different setup
Nintendo separately lists local wireless play for 2–8 players. This means multiple Switch systems communicating locally—not eight players sharing one screen. Nintendo notes that Switch Lite compatibility and the play experience may differ, and additional accessories may be required. Controller compatibility and exact controller requirements vary by platform and are not established in the cited listings.
For the Nintendo Switch player counts and feature distinctions, see Nintendo’s store listing.
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![Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51BAoZGwNIL._SL160_.jpg)
- READY, SET, WARP! Race across 24 tracks and warp to 15 CrossWorlds with Travel Rings, a unique gameplay mechanic that transports the iconic characters from the Sonic and SEGA universes into new dimensions. Use unpredictability to your advantage as you change the landscape of each race!
- RACE WITH THE BEST! Choose from 23 iconic Sonic characters, the largest roster of any Sonic racing game!
- MAKE IT YOURS: Mix and match between 45 unique original vehicles and 70 different gadgets to trick out your ride, level up your kart, and create the ultimate machine to match your racing style.
- GAIN THE ADVANTAGE WITH POWERFUL ITEMS! Dominate your opponents with 23 different items including returning favorites and all-new items like the Monster Truck!
- MULTIPLE WAYS TO PLAY: Gather with friends and play local split-screen in Grand Prix and the new party mode Race Park, compete against a community of players from around the world with up to 12 players online in World Match, or test your driving skills in Time Trials.
Do friends need to own the same platform?
No, according to SEGA’s description of cross-platform matchmaking: players on different platforms can race online together. Platform-specific store listings also identify cross-platform multiplayer, including Xbox’s listing. The confirmation applies to online matchmaking; it does not establish that local wireless or split-screen works across platforms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are subscriptions or extra controllers required?
Nintendo lists Nintendo Switch Online as an online-play feature. SEGA’s 2025 network-test FAQ said Nintendo Switch Online was required for Switch online modes during that test, but that is test-era guidance; consult the current Nintendo listing for present membership details. The available official sources do not establish online-subscription requirements comprehensively for every platform.
Rank #4
- Sonic Racing: Crossworlds /Switch
For local play, Nintendo warns that additional accessories may be required, and Switch Lite compatibility may differ. The cited sources do not specify exact controller models or quantities for every platform, so check the requirements for your system before setting up a group.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- READY, SET, WARP! Race across 24 tracks and warp to 15 CrossWorlds with Travel Rings, a unique gameplay mechanic that transports the iconic characters from the Sonic and SEGA universes into new dimensions. Use unpredictability to your advantage as you change the landscape of each race!
- RACE WITH THE BEST! Choose from 23 iconic Sonic characters, the largest roster of any Sonic racing game!
- MAKE IT YOURS: Mix and match between 45 unique original vehicles and 70 different gadgets to trick out your ride, level up your kart, and create the ultimate machine to match your racing style.
- GAIN THE ADVANTAGE WITH POWERFUL ITEMS! Dominate your opponents with 23 different items including returning favorites and all-new items like the Monster Truck!
- MULTIPLE WAYS TO PLAY: Gather with friends and play local split-screen in Grand Prix and the new party mode Race Park, compete against a community of players from around the world with up to 12 players online in World Match, or test your driving skills in Time Trials.
Quick setup decision
- Friends online, custom rules: Friend Match.
- Competitive online ranking: World Match.
- Several players sharing one system: Custom Match for offline split-screen, up to four.
- Local play on multiple Nintendo Switch systems: local wireless, listed for 2–8 players.
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