Crash Team Racing – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Crash Team Racing

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game1999

62%

WISE Score

84%

IGDB

Classic PlayStation kart racer that's charming but shows its age—great for nostalgic parents, harder sell for modern kids.

Crash Team Racing

game

1999

62%

WISE Score

84%

IGDB

Classic PlayStation kart racer that's charming but shows its age—great for nostalgic parents, harder sell for modern kids.

Jump to

Also rated on

IGDB84

View →

Where to Play

PlayStation

Screenwise Verdict

The original Crash Team Racing is a solid kart racer that was genuinely great in 1999, but let's be real: it's a tough sell in 2025. The graphics are blocky, the controls feel stiff compared to modern racers, and kids who grew up on Mario Kart 8's buttery-smooth drifting will wonder why everything feels so clunky.

That said, if you've got a retro gaming setup or a kid who's into classic games, there's real fun here. The racing mechanics are challenging but fair, the local multiplayer still delivers, and there's zero online nonsense or microtransactions to worry about. It's pure couch gaming.

The bigger question is whether your kid will actually stick with it. The difficulty curve is real—powersliding takes practice, and younger kids will struggle. If you want the Crash experience with modern polish, the 2019 Nitro-Fueled remake is more accessible, but then you're dealing with those predatory microtransactions. Pick your poison.

Age Fit

Best for ages 7-14 who can handle the learning curve and appreciate retro gaming. Younger kids will get frustrated; older teens will likely find it too dated unless they're specifically into classic games or playing for nostalgia.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Bright, cartoony kart racing with slapstick humor and no mean-spirited content. Characters compete but it's all playful rivalry with goofy power-ups and pratfalls. The tone is lighthearted Crash Bandicoot chaos—nothing toxic, just arcade fun with friends or AI racers.

Imaginative

Solid kart racer with varied tracks and character selection, but it's fundamentally a genre exercise—you race, collect power-ups, drift around corners. No building, creation, or open exploration. It's fun and colorful but doesn't invite much creative thinking beyond mastering the racing mechanics.

Safe

Original 1999 version has no microtransactions, no online chat, and minimal violence (cartoon racing mayhem only). Local multiplayer means you control who plays. The 2019 remake (Nitro-Fueled) has aggressive microtransactions up to $11, which tanks its safety score, but the PlayStation 1 original is clean and straightforward.

Enriching

Develops hand-eye coordination, timing, and spatial reasoning through racing mechanics and powerslide mastery. Some light strategic thinking about item use and track shortcuts. But it's primarily entertainment—no narrative depth, no problem-solving puzzles, no real-world skill transfer beyond reflexes.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Pure couch co-op racing with no internet required, no microtransactions, no ads—just four controllers and some friendly chaos
Teaches perseverance and motor skills through a genuinely challenging but fair racing system with powerslides and shortcuts to master
Colorful Crash Bandicoot universe with goofy characters and tracks that don't take themselves seriously
Story mode provides structure and progression for solo play, with boss battles that add variety

⚠

What to Watch For

The 1999 graphics and controls feel clunky compared to modern kart racers—kids used to Mario Kart 8 may find it frustratingly dated
Difficulty curve is steep; Easy mode helps but mastering powerslides and advanced techniques takes real practice
Very young kids (under 6) will likely struggle with the speed and complexity, leading to frustration
If you're looking at the 2019 Nitro-Fueled remake instead, be warned: it has aggressive microtransactions that can hit $11 per purchase

Conversation Starters

"Which character did you pick and why? Do you like the heavy, fast, or balanced racers better?"
"What's your favorite power-up to get? When do you save items versus using them right away?"
"How does this compare to other racing games you've played? What makes kart racing different from regular racing?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic