Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is one of the best kart racers ever released outside of Nintendo. The key mechanic is the transformation of vehicles depending on the terrain - a car can turn into a boat on water or a plane in the air during a race, which adds dynamism to the tracks and forces the player to constantly adapt their driving style. The roster of racers draws not only from the Sonic universe but also from other Sega franchises, and the tracks are full of references to the studio's classic games, from Nights and Jet Set Radio to Skies of Arcadia. Besides classic races, the game also offers battle arenas, where instead of finishing position it's more about effectively using weapons and each character's abilities, as well as a World Tour mode in which the player gradually progresses through a series of cups, unlocking further racers and vehicles.

For understandable reasons, the 3DS version had to scale back graphical detail compared to the console releases, but the core gameplay - drifting, boosting and vehicle transformations - remained functional and fun even on the smaller screen. The stereoscopic 3D effect nicely underscores the height differences on flying and gliding-type tracks, and a soundtrack full of energetic remixes of Sega classics gives the races the right drive. The game also supported local multiplayer, so it could be played even without an online connection, which was a big advantage for the handheld audience over console titles focused purely on online play. Dividing racers into skill categories also ensured that duels between less and more experienced players stayed at least partly balanced.

Critics received it largely positively, with many reviewers calling it one of the best non-Mario kart racers of the generation, including this portable version. Even looking back, it's a title that need not feel inferior next to Mario Kart 7 on the same console - it offers a different, more acrobatic take on the genre and solid content, which makes it work as a fully-fledged alternative to this day.