Day of the Devs 2026 made it official: Yooka-Laylee Kart is coming, and it looks like the genuine Mario Kart-killer the PC has been waiting for. The trailer was the most-shared moment of the showcase, and the publishing-and-funding model is exactly what indie kart racing has needed for a decade.
While Playtonic finishes the work, here are seven of the best apps for kart racing games on desktop you can play right now. The list covers free open-source picks, licensed-IP karters, simulation-flavoured kart-likes, and a couple of hidden gems. We focused on games that actually have an active player base and either local couch multiplayer or working online lobbies — because kart racing alone is missing the point.
What to look for in a desktop kart racer
The genre has gotten unusually broad, and several “kart racing” releases are really mascot racers in costume. The picks below favour games that:
- Have working local multiplayer for couch sessions. The genre’s whole point is racing your friends in the same room.
- Have a healthy online population in 2026. A dead online lobby is functionally a single-player game.
- Run on more than just Windows. Mac and Linux support matter for Steam Deck and for users on Apple Silicon.
- Use controller-first design. Keyboard kart racing is functional but not the right experience.
- Track persistent progression without aggressive monetisation. Battle passes and gated cosmetics are deal-breakers for the genre.
- Maintain a learning curve that pays off. Drift mechanics, item strategy, and shortcut routes are what separate good karters from forgettable ones.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Platforms | Price | Online multiplayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SuperTuxKart | Free open-source pick that runs on anything | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Free | Yes |
| Garfield Kart Furious Racing | Budget licensed kart racer with active community | Windows, macOS | Around $20 | Yes |
| Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed | Best modern Sega karter with depth | Windows | Around $20 | Yes |
| Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 | Track-builder kart racer with serious craft | Windows | Around $50 | Yes |
| KartKraft | Sim-leaning kart racing with realistic karts | Windows | Around $20 | Yes |
| Bugs Bunny Lola Bunny Operation Carrot Patch | Co-op family pick with Looney Tunes IP | Windows | Around $30 | Co-op only |
| Yooka-Laylee Kart | Incoming Playtonic kart racer | Windows | TBD at launch | Yes (planned) |
The 7 best kart racing apps for desktop
1. SuperTuxKart — best free open-source kart racer
SuperTuxKart is the kart racing game that runs on every desktop you own. The open-source project has been in active development since 2006, the current version 1.5 added significantly improved physics, and the multiplayer servers (both community-hosted and official) have a steady population in 2026. The game runs on a low-spec laptop, on macOS Apple Silicon, on Steam Deck, and on Linux — basically anywhere.
Tracks include classic kart-racing layouts, a few elaborate community-built additions, and the unique soccer mode that turns the game into a 4v4 kart-football match. The character roster covers open-source mascots (Tux, Wilber, Konqi) and a wide collection of fan-submitted characters.
Where it falls short: Visual style is functional rather than polished. Online lobby population concentrates around weekends and EU peak hours.
Pricing:
- Free, fully open source (GPL-3.0)
- Optional donations support the project; no microtransactions
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS (community port), Steam Deck verified.
Download: supertuxkart.net · GitHub releases · F-Droid
Bottom line: Install this first. Free, cross-platform, and the gameplay loop is solid.
2. Garfield Kart Furious Racing — best budget licensed karter
Garfield Kart Furious Racing (Microids, 2019) is the surprise success of the budget kart racing genre. The licensed Garfield cast, the goofy track design, and the unironic-yet-self-aware tone made it a steady seller on Steam, and the community has stayed active long after launch. The kart handling is good — drift, items, and shortcuts work the way they should — and the budget price (around $20 at full, often $5 on sale) is hard to argue with.
This is the kart racing game that has become an inexplicable Steam meme over the years (the speed-running and modding community is a small wonder). Beneath the jokes, it’s an unironically competent kart racer.
Where it falls short: Track variety is narrower than the bigger-name competitors. Some character/kart balance issues persist.
Pricing:
- No free tier
- Around $20 at full price; frequently $5-7 on Steam sales
Platforms: Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch.
Bottom line: The cheapest way to a competent licensed karter. Better than its meme reputation suggests.
3. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed — best Sega karter with depth
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (Sumo Digital, 2012) remains the best Sega kart racer on Steam over a decade after release. The transforming kart mechanic (your vehicle shifts between car, boat, and plane depending on the track surface) is the most ambitious systems-design any kart racer has shipped, and the track lineup (which pulls from Sega’s catalogue: Sonic, Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Skies of Arcadia) is the most varied roster of any kart-racing game in print.
The 2025 community sweep brought the Steam multiplayer back to life — modded lobbies, custom track mods, and an active speedrun community keep the game current. Sega has not produced a successor in 13 years, and the game still feels modern.
Where it falls short: Original release age means some UI rough edges and 4:3-flavoured assumptions. No native ultrawide support without mods.
Pricing:
- No free tier
- Around $20 at full price; frequently around $4-7 on Steam sales
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: The best kart racer Sega has ever put on PC. Buy it on a Steam sale and it’s effectively free.
4. Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 — best track-builder kart racer
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 (Milestone, 2023) takes the kart racer in a deliberately different direction: detailed physics, dozens of Hot Wheels die-cast vehicles modelled to their real-life inspirations, and the most ambitious track-builder in the genre. You build your own kart tracks by snapping together Hot Wheels orange-track pieces in 3D space, then race them — your friends can do the same and publish for the community.
The career mode is substantial, the racing feel is sharper than the genre standard, and the post-launch DLC packs added significant content. For users who want kart racing with creative tools attached, this is the strongest pick.
Where it falls short: Pricier than the rest of the list. Online lobby population is concentrated on weekends and during DLC drops.
Pricing:
- No free tier
- Around $50 at full price; the Definitive Edition with all DLC drops to around $30-40 on Steam sales
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch.
Download: Steam · Microsoft Store
Bottom line: Pick this if you want the deepest current kart-racing system with a track-builder. The Hot Wheels licence is the bonus, not the point.
5. KartKraft — best sim-leaning kart racing
KartKraft (Black Delta, 2018 early access, 2025 full release) is the simulation answer to kart racing on PC. The karts are modelled to real-world karting categories (Rotax, KZ shifters, junior classes), the tracks are licensed real circuits, and the physics simulate weight transfer, tyre wear, and engine RPM the way a serious racing sim does. The 2025 full release added a proper career mode and significantly expanded the multiplayer lobbies.
For users who play iRacing, Assetto Corsa, or Project CARS and want a more focused kart-racing experience that takes the sport seriously, KartKraft is unique on PC.
Where it falls short: Not a “fun mascot kart racer” — there are no items, no shortcuts, no Sonic. Steering-wheel support is excellent but the game is much harder with a controller.
Pricing:
- No free tier
- Around $20 at full price; frequently around $10 on Steam sales
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick KartKraft if you take real-world karting seriously. Skip if you want chaos-and-shells racing.
6. Bugs Bunny Lola Bunny Operation Carrot Patch — best family co-op kart racer
Bugs Bunny Lola Bunny Operation Carrot Patch (Pug Fugly Games, 2024) is the friendly local-co-op kart racer that doesn’t take itself seriously. The Looney Tunes licence does the heavy lifting on character appeal, the tracks are designed for laughs rather than competitive depth, and the four-player local couch mode makes it the family pick on this list.
For parents looking for a kart racer that two kids and two adults can play together on a Saturday afternoon, this hits a niche that Mario Kart Switch otherwise owns.
Where it falls short: No serious online multiplayer — the focus is local co-op. Smaller track and roster count than mainstream karters.
Pricing:
- No free tier
- Around $30 at full price; sale pricing around $15-20
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch.
Download: Steam · Microsoft Store
Bottom line: Pick this if you want a Saturday-afternoon family kart racer. Different intent from the rest of the list.
7. Yooka-Laylee Kart — best upcoming PC kart racer
Yooka-Laylee Kart (Playtonic Games, revealed at Day of the Devs 2026) is the game that prompted this list. The trailer made the Mario Kart comparison obvious, the Playtonic team includes ex-Rare developers who worked on the original Diddy Kong Racing, and the publishing model (PC-first with cross-platform release) finally aligns with what the PC kart racing community has been asking for.
We’re flagging it because if it ships clean, it slides directly into the top of this list. The release window is “2026” at the time of writing — translate with the usual scepticism.
Where it falls short: Not playable yet. Playtonic’s previous Yooka-Laylee delivered well; their kart-racing chops are unproven.
Pricing:
- TBD; expect indie kart pricing (around $30) based on Playtonic’s pattern
- vs the rest of this list: TBD — but the design lineage points at a clear top-of-list contender
Platforms: Windows announced; consoles likely.
Download: Wishlist on Steam (search “Yooka-Laylee Kart”)
Bottom line: Wishlist now. The most-anticipated kart racer on PC for years.
How to pick the right one
Install SuperTuxKart first. Free, runs on anything, and the gameplay is genuinely good.
Pick Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed if you want the deepest modern Sega-flavoured kart racer. The track variety alone justifies the sale price.
Pick Garfield Kart Furious Racing if you want the cheapest competent licensed karter. Don’t overthink it.
Pick Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 for the track-builder. The most creative kart-racing tool in print.
Pick KartKraft if you take real karting seriously. Not a mascot racer — a simulation.
Pick Bugs Bunny Operation Carrot Patch if you want family-friendly local couch co-op. The Looney Tunes licence carries the appeal.
Wishlist Yooka-Laylee Kart if you’re waiting for the next big PC kart racer. Worth tracking.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free kart racing game on PC?
SuperTuxKart is the strongest free pick. Fully open source, cross-platform, active multiplayer, and the gameplay is competitive with paid karters. No microtransactions or in-game purchases.
Is there a Mario Kart on PC?
Mario Kart is exclusive to Nintendo platforms — Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and historical Nintendo consoles. PC alternatives are SuperTuxKart (the closest in spirit), Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (the strongest mascot karter), and Yooka-Laylee Kart (the most anticipated PC-first kart racer in development).
Does kart racing work on Steam Deck?
Yes. SuperTuxKart is verified, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed runs well, and Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 runs at locked 60fps on the Deck. Most kart racers were designed for controller input first, which suits the Deck well.
What is Yooka-Laylee Kart?
Yooka-Laylee Kart is an upcoming kart racing game by Playtonic Games, the studio behind the original Yooka-Laylee. Announced at Day of the Devs 2026, the game is built by a team with ex-Rare members who previously worked on Diddy Kong Racing. Release window is set for 2026.
Can I play kart racing with friends online on PC?
Yes. SuperTuxKart, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, Garfield Kart Furious Racing, and Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 all have working online multiplayer in 2026. KartKraft’s online lobbies are quieter but functional. Bugs Bunny Operation Carrot Patch is local-co-op only.
Is there a kart racing game with a track builder?
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 is the strongest answer. The track-builder lets you snap together Hot Wheels orange track pieces in 3D space and race them. SuperTuxKart has community-built tracks that you can download, but the in-game track-builder is more limited than Hot Wheels.