Smurfs Kart is a good, solid kart racing. Take a moment and let that sink in. For a genre flooded with licensed cash-in, Smurfs Kart is good.
Published by: Microids
Released: November 15, 2022 (Nintendo Switch)
Racing Chops
Smurfs Kart is developed by Eden Games, the same studio that created the Gear.Club franchise on mobile and consoles. Fortunately, this racing experience pays dividends for Smurfs Kart as the karts have weight and the physics feel right. Racing is not floaty. The hard difficulty provides a sense of speed. Consequently, at that difficulty players need to use boosts and have solid racing lines to finish in the top three. This creates solid competitive gameplay for players looking for challenging kart racer.
For those looking for an approachable kart racer, Smurfs Kart meets the mark. The “Fun” speed is approachable and accessible for players of any age or skill level. Similar to Mario Kart 8, it provides accessibility options like auto steering and acceleration to help out inexperienced players.
Smurfs Kart also includes tilt motion controls, but using the Joy Con sticks provides a level of precision that makes drifting easier. Drifting boosts work like Mario Kart Double Dash, which is excellent and precise. There are three levels of a drift boost. A button press starts the drift boost, but a little in movement with the sticks seems to decrease the time needed to gain the higher boosts. This level of detail and control is greatly appreciated and makes Smurfs Kart an easy recommendation for long-time kart racers as well as beginners.
Smurf the whole day long
Publisher Microids put out an excellent Smurfs 3D platformer in 2021. And assets from that game appear to be used frequently in the landscapes and tracks. This is a smart repurposing of art assets. Fortunately, it creates a sense of consistency and provides a level of detail that requires multiple runs through a track to appreciate.
Unfortunately, there are a few drawbacks to the game but nothing ruins the experience. A few of the tracks keep racers in the air for a while to move across locations. While this provides a little break in the action, it also can break the momentum of a race. There are only 12 tracks, 24 with mirror mode unlocked. A group can experience all the tracks within a few hours. But mastering the tracks on the highest difficulty is something that took weeks of play.
Performance on the Switch was consistent in both handheld and docked in multiplayer. Playing with a group is often a kart racer’s best experience. Smurfs Kart does not disappoint. Only the swamp track becomes difficult to make out visually when the screen is split into two or four.
Smurfs Kart Conclusion
Outside of these concerns, Smurfs Kart is a surprisingly solid racer and a fun time for players of all ages. This is not a quick licensed spin-off. Smurfs Kart stands on its own. The Smurfs are now in a tier with Sonic and Crash as a good alternative to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Smurfs Kart is an easy recommendation for kart racers fans and for families looking for something to play together.