What are the best PS5, PS4 games like Mario Kart? One of the best-selling and most beloved racing series of all time is Mario Kart, Nintendo’s brilliant arcade racer starring all your favourite characters. Unfortunately, it’s only playable on Nintendo hardware, so if you don’t have access to the company’s consoles, you’re out of luck.
However, while Mario Kart is the undisputed champion of the kart racing genre, there are plenty of alternatives to play on PS5 and PS4 that may scratch that specific itch. As part of our ongoing quest to bring you the best PS5 games and best PS4 games, we’ve put together a list of all the arcade and kart racing games that are as close as you’ll get to Mario Kart on Sony’s machines.
Here are the best PS5, PS4 games like Mario Kart.
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Asphalt Legends Unite (PS5)
This free-to-play arcade racer might not look like it shares much in common with Mario Kart, but it’s a high-speed, drift-heavy game with boost pads, stunts, and accessible controls. There’s a layer of microtransaction shenanigans to deal with, but this is a highly entertaining racer that costs nothing to take for a spin.
Burnout Paradise Remastered (PS4)
Mario Kart World takes some inspiration from this absolute classic open world arcade racer, which remains immensely fun to play in this remastered rendition. With an emphasis on speed, drifting, and causing chaos with deliberate takedowns, Burnout Paradise Remastered is an open world innovator, with races and other events taking you to all corners of its tightly designed map — and its online features remain ahead of the curve in many ways.
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (PS4)
Probably Mario Kart’s closest rival throughout the years, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is a remake of the PS1 classic. Featuring characters from throughout Crash Bandicoot’s adventures, this kart racer is a touch more technical than Nintendo’s effort, but is arguably more satisfying for it as you chain together boosts and drifts. With various weapons and pick-ups, racing and battle modes, and a fun single-player adventure mode, this is the closest and best alternative on PlayStation.
Disney Speedstorm (PS5)
If you’ve ever wanted “Mario Kart but Disney”, good news — it exists! Disney Speedstorm is a free-to-play kart racer that features various characters and courses from all your favourite House of Mouse animated movies. With a stylised look and plenty to delve into (once you’re past all the usual free-to-play nonsense), there’s some fun to be had here.
Faaast Penguin (PS5)
Another free-to-play racer, Faaast Penguin is a simple, colourful game about penguins sliding on their bellies. Adopting a format similar to Fall Guys, the races are a series of knockout rounds in which you attack other players to gain an advantage and collect sardine cans to activate an ultimate ability. The easy to grasp controls and fun visual style make this an accessible and fun all-ages title.
Horizon Chase 2 (PS5)
Horizon Chase 2 is a real throwback style of arcade racing, where it’s all about starting at the back of the pack and overtaking opponents with precision driving. While the game plays quite differently from Mario Kart, the same upbeat vibes and accessible controls make this a fun option for those looking for some breezy racing.
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged (PS5)
Both this game and its predecessor are surprisingly great arcade racing games that definitely share a little DNA with Mario Kart. Controlling all your favourite Hot Wheels vehicles, you race along those plastic tracks in various fun settings, and the handling is insanely arcadey with big, sweeping drifts, jumps, and shunts. With a level editor and single-player adventure as well, there’s lots to enjoy here.
LEGO 2K Drive (PS5)
LEGO 2K Drive is your classic kart racer setup in Danish plastic form, but like Mario Kart World, it’s an open world adventure too. You’ll unlock characters and cars as you play, but you can also build your very own vehicles piece by piece. With lots of collectibles and events in each map, this offers up a solid alternative on PS5 and PS4.
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered (PS4)
Okay, this one is possibly the biggest stretch on the list, but hear us out. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered has tight arcade racing with a range of exciting licensed cars, but this cops and robbers racing game also implements a handful of gadgets and abilities that give it a slight tinge of kart racer. With its banging soundtrack and lengthy race events, it’s seriously good fun.
Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway (PS5)
While not the most successful attempt at kart racing, Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway still offers some kid-friendly fun. In much the same mould as Mario Kart, this is an arcadey racer featuring a cast made up of all your favourite Nicktoons, making this an ideal choice for kids and nostalgic grown-ups alike.
Team Sonic Racing (PS4)
Introducing a novel twist to the kart racing formula is Team Sonic Racing, an under-appreciated game, if you ask us. It looks and plays great, with characters split into teams on the track and encouraged to work together to achieve victory. You can play solo too, and it’s fun in either style. This is one worth checking out, especially if you enjoy playing with buddies.
WipEout Omega Collection (PS4)
While it certainly doesn’t look like Mario Kart, there are similarities to be drawn between these two iconic racing series. WipEout Omega Collection is the latest iteration of Sony’s classic sci-fi combat racer, with slick, high-speed action and a wealth of fun power-ups and weapons. Squeaky clean visuals, pitch-perfect controls, and a vast array of content mean this is one of the best games in this list, and while not a kart racer per se, its focus on weapons make it closer than you’d expect.
And that does it for our list of the best PS5, PS4 games like Mario Kart. What do you think? Are there any other top notch platformers you would recommend? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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