Nickelodeon Kart Racers
Nickelodeon Kart Racers is a kart racing video game developed by Bamtang Games and published by GameMill Entertainment, released on October 23, 2018, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.[1][2] The game features 12 playable characters from iconic Nickelodeon animated series, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Rugrats, and Hey Arnold!, allowing players to compete in races across 24 slime-themed tracks inspired by the shows' worlds, such as Bikini Bottom, New York City sewers, Tommy Pickles' house, and Arnold's school.[2][3] Gameplay emphasizes arcade-style racing with customizable karts, power-ups, and special attacks, including team-based co-op modes where characters can fuse for combined abilities and slime overload mechanics that transform karts into jet-skis for aquatic sections.[2] The title supports local multiplayer for up to four players and received an ESRB rating of E for Everyone due to mild cartoon violence.[1] As the inaugural entry in a series of Nickelodeon-themed kart racers, it draws inspiration from established franchises like Mario Kart, focusing on family-friendly competition and nostalgic crossovers from Nickelodeon's library of programming.[2]Gameplay
Racing Mechanics
Nickelodeon Kart Racers features standard kart racing controls, allowing players to accelerate, brake or reverse, and activate power-ups using the designated buttons. Vehicle handling emphasizes responsive steering and momentum-based physics, where maintaining speed through turns is crucial for competitive positioning. Drifting is a core mechanic, initiated by holding the drift button during corners to build a turbo boost gauge; releasing after sufficient drift time grants a temporary speed increase, similar to established kart racing formulas.[4][5][6] The power-up system draws from Nickelodeon show themes, with item boxes scattered across tracks providing character-specific abilities rather than universal pickups. For instance, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters may deploy Turtle Shells that home in on opponents, while SpongeBob uses jellyfish shocks to stun rivals; these are activated via the designated button and can be used strategically to hinder leading racers or defend against attacks. Each of the game's twelve racers has a unique custom power-up, encouraging varied playstyles and replayability through targeted item usage. Slime-themed power-ups, such as bombs that cover foes in viscous green goo, add chaotic disruption by temporarily reducing traction.[7][8] A distinctive feature is the team-based 2v2 co-op racing mode, where players select pairs of characters to form a team, combining their finishing positions' points for overall scoring. Pairing characters from the same Nickelodeon series, such as SpongeBob with Patrick or Leonardo with Michelangelo, unlocks synergistic bonuses like enhanced speed or item efficiency, promoting strategic team composition. In co-op play, the second player controls the paired character, enabling collaborative tactics like coordinated power-up attacks using shared items, such as a team hammer to impede opponents. This mode supports up to four players locally, fostering both competitive and cooperative dynamics.[9][10] Kart customization allows players to adjust vehicle stats post-race using earned coins, balancing attributes like top speed, acceleration, handling, and off-road capability through part swaps. Options include engine upgrades for quicker boosts or tire modifications for better grip, enabling tailored setups for different tracks or playstyles without altering core handling physics.[11] Slime-specific mechanics integrate environmental hazards and boosts, with fluorescent green patches on select tracks that players can drive over to fill a turbo meter for on-demand speed surges. When entering aquatic sections, karts automatically transform into jet-skis, where collected slime provides additional turbo boosts. These patches vary in size and placement, rewarding precise navigation for sustained advantages. Conversely, being hit by slime power-ups or environmental splatters covers the kart in goo, creating slippery surfaces that diminish control and increase spin-out risk, particularly on tight corners. This dual-role slime element heightens tactical depth, as players must balance aggressive pursuit of boosts against defensive avoidance of hazards.[12][13]Game Modes
Nickelodeon Kart Racers offers a variety of single-player and multiplayer modes centered around racing and arena-based competitions. In single-player, the Grand Prix mode structures gameplay as a tournament with cups consisting of four tracks each, where players compete against AI opponents to earn points and progress; initially, six cups are available, and completing them unlocks three additional cups featuring reversed tracks, slime-only races, and mixed track combinations.[14] Time Trial mode allows players to race individually against the clock on any unlocked track, focusing on achieving personal best times without AI interference.[6] Local multiplayer supports up to four players in split-screen format across compatible platforms, enabling versus racing in Grand Prix, Free Race (casual single-track or multi-track selections), and battle arenas without online connectivity.[6] The game includes a co-op team mode for two players, structured as 2v2 races where teammates share a synchronized start and a combined pool of power-ups collected during the event, competing against AI or other player teams to accumulate points for victory.[14] Battle mode takes place in dedicated arenas and features multiple sub-modes emphasizing combat and objectives over linear racing. Slime Slalom requires players to navigate obstacle courses while avoiding hazards to reach the finish first, often in elimination format where collisions lead to restarts until one kart remains.[4] Elimination mode extends this by continuing races across arenas until only the last kart standing wins, incorporating power-ups for strategic attacks.[4] These battle variants support both single-player against AI and local multiplayer setups. Progression in the game ties unlocks to mode completions, with players earning coins and experience points from Grand Prix victories, time trials, and multiplayer sessions to purchase new karts in an in-game shop; additionally, leveling up characters through repeated wins enables a "Victory Lap" bonus round for extra rewards.[14][15]Playable Characters
Nickelodeon Kart Racers features a roster of 12 playable characters drawn exclusively from four classic Nickelodeon animated series, emphasizing crossover appeal through familiar icons from SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Hey Arnold!, and Rugrats.[16] Each character is immediately available at the start of the game with no unlock requirements, allowing players to select from the full lineup in single-player or multiplayer sessions. The characters are grouped by their originating shows, which influences team formation in specific modes. The complete roster consists of the following characters:| Show | Characters |
|---|---|
| SpongeBob SquarePants | SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael |
| Hey Arnold! | Arnold, Helga |
| Rugrats | Tommy, Angelica, Reptar |