Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Play

Screenwise Verdict

Team Sonic Racing is a perfectly fine kart racer that does one thing well: it makes cooperation matter. Instead of just elbowing past your friends, you're rewarded for slipstreaming, sharing power-ups, and keeping the team together. That's genuinely nice to see in a genre that usually celebrates chaos and sabotage.

The safety profile is excellent—no chat, no microtransactions, no predatory hooks. Just racing. The problem? It's also just... fine. Not bad, not great, just solidly okay. The IGDB rating of 69 tells the story: it's competent but unremarkable. Kids who love Sonic or kart racers will have fun, but it's not going to be anyone's favorite game.

One real caveat: very young kids (under 6) might struggle. One parent on Reddit gave it a 4/10 for family play because their 4- and 6-year-olds kept dragging the team down and felt discouraged. The team mechanics that make it wholesome also create pressure—if you're not pulling your weight, everyone loses. That's a feature, not a bug, but worth knowing before you hand it to a preschooler.

Bottom line: if you need a clean, cooperative racing game for elementary-aged kids, this delivers. Just don't expect it to compete with Mario Kart for staying power.

Age Fit

Best for ages 6-14. Common Sense Media and parent reviews suggest 6+ is the sweet spot—old enough to handle the controls and team strategy without getting too discouraged. Teens might enjoy it casually, but it's not deep enough to hold attention long-term compared to more competitive racers.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

78

Team-focused kart racer that emphasizes cooperation over pure competition. ESRB notes mild cartoon violence typical of the Sonic franchise—no blood, just bumping and racing chaos. Common Sense Media parent reviews highlight 'great messages' and 'great role models' with the cooperative team mechanics promoting friendly social play. The game rewards helping teammates rather than just winning solo, which is solid for teaching collaboration. Tone is upbeat and age-appropriate throughout.

Imaginative

62

It's a kart racer—fun, fast-paced, colorful, but not particularly imaginative. You're racing on tracks with Sonic characters using power-ups and team mechanics. The team-based twist (sharing power-ups, slipstreaming teammates) adds some strategic depth beyond Mario Kart clones, but there's no building, exploration, or creative expression. It's arcade racing with a cooperative spin, not a creativity engine. Solid execution of a well-worn genre, but nothing groundbreaking.

Safe

82

ESRB rated E for Everyone with only mild cartoon violence. No in-game purchases, no loot boxes, no online chat. Users can interact in multiplayer but without communication features that create toxicity risk. The main safety consideration is the competitive multiplayer itself—one Reddit parent noted frustration with young kids (4 and 6) struggling with the team mechanics and getting discouraged when they dragged the team down. Not a manipulation concern, but worth noting for very young or sensitive players who might feel bad about team losses.

Enriching

58

Develops hand-eye coordination, spatial reasoning, and reaction time like most racing games. The team mechanics add a layer of strategic thinking—when to share power-ups, how to use slipstreaming—and the cooperative focus teaches players to think beyond individual performance. That said, it's still fundamentally about racing in circles. Entertaining? Yes. Meaningful cognitive growth or life lessons? Minimal. It's a well-designed arcade racer that happens to reward teamwork, which is nice, but let's not pretend it's educational.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Team mechanics reward cooperation and helping teammates, not just crossing the finish line first
Clean multiplayer experience with no chat, no microtransactions, no loot box nonsense
Accessible for younger players (6+) while still engaging for older kids who like arcade racers
Local and online multiplayer options for family play or playing with friends
Colorful, energetic Sonic universe without any concerning content

⚠

What to Watch For

Very young kids (under 6) might get frustrated with team mechanics—dragging the team down can feel bad
Competitive multiplayer can still create sibling friction even with cooperative elements
Not particularly deep or memorable—it's fine, but won't blow anyone's mind
Some parents report it's not as family-friendly as expected for very young players due to skill requirements

Conversation Starters

"When should you share a power-up with a teammate instead of using it yourself?"
"How does it feel when your team wins because you helped someone else instead of just racing ahead?"
"What's more fun—winning by yourself or winning as a team?"
"Which Sonic character would you want on your racing team and why?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic