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NICKELODEON KART RACERS 2: GRAND PRIX
review | SWITCH
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Publisher: Maximum Games.
Developer: Bamtang Games. Released: October 2020. Genre: Racing. Other versions: PS4; XONE; PC. Posted 1st May 2026. By Tom Clare © 2026 |
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If we were to recognise the most improved sequels of the 2020s, then Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix must factor strongly in the argument. The 2018 original shouldered the burden of many imperfections wrought by the dated Vector engine: wooden handling, poor visuals, crude physics and excessive rubber-banding. Blame must also be meted out for a deeply uninspired use of the license, which delivered a meagre selection of poorly realised characters.
All of these deficiencies have been fixed for the sequel, however, and then some. Taking copious inspiration from Mario Kart 8, NKR2 is unlikely to win any awards for creativity, but then, that’s likely not why you’d be playing it. The paltry 12 characters that comprised the original’s roster marked a poor showing, especially given that four were the similarly attired Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The selection of playable personalities has ballooned to an impressive 30, with 50 more appearing in the guise of crew chiefs and pit crew, who can be assigned to designate distinct special moves (deployable upon filling a gauge), as well as countless nifty passive abilities that are worth mixing up to see what works best, player by player, and course by course.
Bringing the sparkle: NKR2 to could hardly be further removed from its colourless predecessor
Though this can make for quite a cluttered character selection (and perhaps a little discontent from those expecting a simple, single-selection process during multiplayer sessions), it adds a lot to the game and makes the impressive vault of unlockables feel worthwhile. Many characters and kart parts will be unlocked as you work your way through the excellent Grand Prix mode. Here, players tackle seven sets of four-race tournaments. These can be tackled across three difficulty settings, with star ratings awarded depending on the comprehensiveness of your race wins.
The racing is much improved. It’s smoother, better-looking and more responsive than before, whilst the AI is more consistent and less cheap. Course design is more involved, power-ups are more fun, whilst karts and equipment enjoy a greater variety of characteristics. The game no longer resembles a mobile up-port, but instead, a strong kart racer that’s entirely at home on the Switch. Bamtang wisely recognised that a few elements, like the arduous boating sections and innocuous bonus races, needed to be done away with, as well as overhauling the frankly nightmarish slime-themed podium sequences.
The racing is much improved. It’s smoother, better-looking and more responsive than before, whilst the AI is more consistent and less cheap. Course design is more involved, power-ups are more fun, whilst karts and equipment enjoy a greater variety of characteristics. The game no longer resembles a mobile up-port, but instead, a strong kart racer that’s entirely at home on the Switch. Bamtang wisely recognised that a few elements, like the arduous boating sections and innocuous bonus races, needed to be done away with, as well as overhauling the frankly nightmarish slime-themed podium sequences.
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Handling feels considerably freer, sporting satisfying slides that add bonus boosts. These are accessible enough, allowing committed players to gain an edge with a bit of practice, whilst still allowing newcomers room to enjoy the experience. Power-ups help ensure there’s plenty of chopping and changing positions, whilst the odd shortcut adds an aspect of risk-and-reward. Being able to play through the Grand Prix in 4-player split-screen is fantastic, and the Switch handles it with minimum fuss.
It doesn’t just cater for party sessions, either. The developers have gone to admirable lengths to ensure the various modes are worth playing solo. The Challenges mode is a great one-player venture that consists of scenarios featuring specific rules and conditions. It’s really addictive, and you’ll need to learn the nuances of the courses to beat some tough events. These include races against all-female grids, and battles against the clock that require crucial time counters to stave off the time limit (not dissimilar to Crash Team Racing’s approach). Elsewhere, you’ve races that demand a minimum number of powerslides, and events that challenge players to win whilst protecting against weapon hits. There’s further incentive, too, in the form of one-versus-one duels, with victory unlocking the beaten character. Even the Time Trial mode has additional merit, with a ghost to beat for each of the 28 courses. Most of these aren’t too tough, but it’s a welcome touch from the developers.
It doesn’t just cater for party sessions, either. The developers have gone to admirable lengths to ensure the various modes are worth playing solo. The Challenges mode is a great one-player venture that consists of scenarios featuring specific rules and conditions. It’s really addictive, and you’ll need to learn the nuances of the courses to beat some tough events. These include races against all-female grids, and battles against the clock that require crucial time counters to stave off the time limit (not dissimilar to Crash Team Racing’s approach). Elsewhere, you’ve races that demand a minimum number of powerslides, and events that challenge players to win whilst protecting against weapon hits. There’s further incentive, too, in the form of one-versus-one duels, with victory unlocking the beaten character. Even the Time Trial mode has additional merit, with a ghost to beat for each of the 28 courses. Most of these aren’t too tough, but it’s a welcome touch from the developers.
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It’s no Mario Kart 8 beater, not quite, but if anything, NKR2’s smooth, kind handling and its horde of children’s TV personalities may prove more inviting to those less invested in video game culture. As well as expanded selections from Rugrats, SpongeBob SquarePants and Hey! Arnold, nineties TV buffs will be delighted to find Ren and Stimpy are playable, and whilst I’m too old to grasp where Jojo Siwa fits in the grand scheme of things, her inclusion (as well as characters from other more recent ventures such as The Loud House and The Legend of Korra) shows an admirable, broad-church representation of Nickelodeon’s oeuvre. There’s a racer for almost everyone here.
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Power-ups, tricks and boosts all borrow shamelessly from Mario Kart, but there's tonnes of personality and quality here
Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix could hardly be further removed from its disappointing predecessor. This rip-roaring kart racer takes giant strides in key areas: the handling and physics are vastly improved, the graphics and presentation exude significantly more sparkle, whilst an expanded grid of characters, tracks and modes are capitalised on in creative, meaningful ways to help ensure it’s one you’ll return to, both for solo and party sessions. For those looking for a Mario Kart-like experience from outside of Nintendo’s first-party wares, Bamtang’s sequel is a really strong option.
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VERDICT
OVERALL: 8/10 |
THE KART GAMES NKR2 EVOLVED FROM REVIEWED
Beach Buggy Racing (2015, PlayStation 4)
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Nickelodeon Kart Racers (2018, Switch)
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