Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds launched with 23 characters from the Sonic universe, which SEGA described as the biggest roster in the series. That count is for Sonic-universe characters at launch—not every racer available through later updates and paid DLC.
How many characters were in the launch roster?
SEGA’s September 25, 2025 launch announcement said Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds had “the biggest roster in the series, with 23 characters from the Sonic universe.” PlayStation’s US game page also lists 23 iconic Sonic characters and calls it the largest roster in a Sonic racing game to date. SEGA’s launch announcement and PlayStation’s game page support the launch-era claim.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Amazon Exclusive Edition - Nintendo Switch | $36.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Standard Edition - Nintendo Switch | $34.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (Playstation 5) | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - P4 | $59.95 | Buy on Amazon |
The wording matters: 23 is the number of Sonic-universe characters at launch. It is not a confirmed all-content total that includes guest racers and every later addition.
What does “largest in the series” mean?
SEGA’s comparison is about the Sonic-universe roster at launch. The sources do not provide a verified, like-for-like character count for every earlier Sonic racing game, so the clearest supported statement is that SEGA called CrossWorlds’ 23-character launch roster the largest in the series. PlayStation independently uses similar largest-to-date wording for its 23-character roster.
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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.
This claim does not establish the game’s total playable roster after updates and DLC. The official pages reviewed do not state a complete current total as of October 8, 2026.
Are guest characters included in the 23?
No: SEGA presents the 23 as characters from the Sonic universe and describes crossovers separately. Its launch announcement names Hatsune Miku, Joker, and Ichiban Kasuga among guest racers arriving in free updates. It also identifies Minecraft, SpongeBob SquarePants, and PAC-MAN crossover characters as premium DLC. Those additions should not be folded into the launch figure.
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.
Does the edition determine which characters you can use?
Yes. SEGA said the Digital Deluxe Edition included the Season Pass and Sonic Prime characters. PlayStation’s US page lists Standard and Digital Deluxe editions for PS4 and PS5, as well as character-pack add-ons, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Minecraft, and Mega Man packs. The base-game launch count and access to separately sold content are different things; check the edition and add-ons listed for your platform and region before buying. Availability and pricing can vary by region.
For the game and current US PlayStation listings, see Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds on PlayStation. SEGA also announced physical and digital editions in its June 6, 2025 newsroom release.
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Rank #4
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Rank #3
- Pre-order Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and receive the playable character Werehog, the Werehog vehicle "Beast Spike", and the Werehog Decal!
- Race across land, sea, air, space, and time in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds! Warp through Travel Rings into new dimensions where something new awaits around every twist and turn.
- Speed to victory solo or as a team in a variety of offline and online modes and compete against players from around the world. Build the ultimate vehicle to match your racing style, unlock gadgets to gain the upper hand, and unleash power-up items to bring home the win!
- Gain the Advantage with Powerful Items! Dominate your opponents with 23 different items including returning favorites and all-new items like the Monster Truck!
- 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.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
