A great kart racer needs a few things to not instantly be compared to a generic Mario Kart clone. Firstly, it needs to have solid controls that make racing feel fun, not frustrating. Secondly, it’s crucial that the game features enough of its own identity to make it fun to spend time in its world. Lastly (and most crucially) it needs to have enough content to not feel like an experience meant to keep your attention for a few hours and then run away with your money. Smurfs Kart is one of the better examples of all of these done well.

The Smurfs is a beloved IP that is relatively underutilized. In Smurfs Kart, you’re able to race as 12 of our blue friends, which begs the question: who knew there were 12 named Smurfs? Papa Smurf and Smurfette are here, along with others, but the more fringe characters are fun to try out too. Beyond the characters, Smurfs Kart succeeds in allowing the weird world of these creatures to immerse players in exotic and environmental courses that are quite enjoyable.

Some elements are familiar in the gameplay. For example, power sliding and items are essentially how you gain the upper hand in races. Using both feels natural for anyone who plays arcade-style racers. Like most non-Mario Kart racers, everything in Smurfs Kart feels faster and more hectic. It’s not a bad difference, but one that definitely allows for less of a feeling of control and more of an acceptance that some wonky stuff is bound to occur.

Smurfs Kart has two speeds (Fun and Hyperspeed) which feel like the ends of an extreme that would do better with a middle option. Likewise, the three cups (comprised of 12 courses) leave little room to get to know Smurfs Kart before knowing exactly what to expect for the remainder of your game time. Herein lies the concern I always have with a kart racer: Why wouldn’t I play another one over the one I’m playing now? In the case of Smurfs Kart, fans of the IP will have an argument to make, but the rest of us really won’t.

It’s unfair to compare these sorts of games to the Nintendo IP that sits atop the kart racer food chain. That said, it’s exactly what you’re going to do when you play titles like Smurfs Kart. Therefore, I don’t see it as unfair to point out that if you’re playing this on the Switch, there isn’t much here you can’t get bigger and better from Nintendo’s kart megahit. Smurfs Racer offers enough variety to warrant a purchase for kart racer aficionados, but for the rest of you, stick to the game that sold nearly 56 million copies.

With enough of its own identity in items, maps, and characters to please any Smurfs fan, Smurfs Kart is great for what you would expect. Control-wise, it outperforms many other IP-driven kart experiences, nearly matching the likes of Crash Team Racing. The problem, however, is that at 30 FPS, you’re just not feeling the same rush as you take 1st place as you can with other titles in the subgenre. There’s enough to like here, so if you want to say “Smurf it” and give it a go, I won’t tell you not to.

A Nintendo Switch Review Copy of Smurfs Kart was provided by Microids for this Review.

Phenixx Gaming is everywhere you are. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Also, if you’d like to join the Phenixx Gaming team, check out our recruitment article for details on working with us.

Phenixx Gaming is proud to be a Humble Partner! Purchases made through our affiliate links support our writers and charity!

Smurfs Kart

$49.99

5

Score

5.0/10

Pros

• Good use of the IP
• Controls are very strong compared to other kart racers
• It's a fun time while things still feel new

Cons

• Not enough courses to keep you coming back
• It's not as clean as the Nintendo megahit everyone will compare it to
• Things won't feel new for very long, and then, you're smurf'd