History Main / MascotRacer

** ''NASCAR Kart Racing'' also included RealLife NASCAR drivers. 8 tracks are original to the game, while 4 are lifted from real NASCAR tracks (with a few tweaks). Powerups include homing missiles, a yellow flag for a mass attack, and uses in-game ads on opponents as an interface screw. Racers can choose teammates who will help each other during the race.
** ''NASCAR Unleashed'' took a different approach to the genre--there were no powerup boxes. Instead, the game focused on drafting and powersliding, as well as ramming other racers off the road. Boost powerups were awarded for crashing into enough cars.

** ''NASCAR Rumble'' included every then-current driver from the Winston Cup and Craftsman Truck series, plus several unlockable joke vehicles such as an RV and a golf cart. The tracks are a lot more down-to-earth than in other mascot racers, off-road shortcuts notwithstanding. Some tracks are based on real world locations--one track takes place around KirksRock, while another set of tracks take place in TheBigEasy. Powerups include the freeze, which turns cars into blocks of ice and freezes their steering, and the twister, which takes out every racer ahead of you. The game had a sequel (sans the NASCAR license) called ''Rumble Racing'' (not to be confused with the ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' minigame).

* ''VideoGame/DreamWorksSuperStarKartz'' uses characters from Creator/DreamWorksAnimation properties. This includes ''Franchise/HowToTrainYourDragon'', ''Franchise/{{Madagascar}}'', ''WesternAnimation/MonstersVsAliens'', and ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}''. All the tracks are based on settings in those films. Bizarrely, the ''Franchise/KungFuPanda'' franchise is completely absent from this game despite being one of Dreamworks' [[CashCowFranchise biggest hits]] at the time. It's also the last known Dreamworks Animation release to be published by Creator/{{Activision}}.
** ''VideoGame/DreamWorksAllStarKartRacing'', a 2023 sequel, features 20 playable characters and once again includes many of their properties in the game. ''Franchise/KungFuPanda'' joins in this time, as well as other new series including the likes of ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'', ''WesternAnimation/TheBossBaby'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheBadGuys2022''. The WesternAnimation/{{Trolls}} also have a presence in the game, working as an assist system. This is also the first Dreamworks Animation release by [=GameMill=] Entertainment and Shrek's first appearance in a console game in over a decade.

* ''VideoGame/{{M And Ms Kart Racing}}'' uses the characters from the [=M&Ms=] candies ads. The game uses boats as well as karts, and speed boosting pickups. Weapons are not present in this game.

* ''VideoGame/NicktoonsRacing'' and its sequels are based on ''Franchise/{{Nicktoons}}'' shows, with characters from shows such as ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'', ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'', ''{{WesternAnimation/Rugrats}}'', ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheWildThornberrys''. Tracks are based on areas in the shows, such as the Reptar arena from ''Rugrats'', and Bikini Bottom from ''[=SpongeBob=]''.

* ''VideoGame/DisneySpeedstorm'' features various {{Creator/Disney}} characters competing to come in first on various courses. As shown in the trailers, each character has their own unique ability they can use to get further ahead.

* ''VideoGame/NicktoonsRacing'' and its sequels are based on ''Franchise/{{Nicktoons}}'' shows, with characters from shows such as ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'', ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'', ''{{WesternAnimation/Rugrats}}'', ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheWildThornberrys''. Tracks are based on areas in the shows, such as the Reptar arena from ''Rugrats'', and Bikini Bottom from ''Spongebob''.
** ''VideoGame/NickelodeonKartRacers'' is also based on various Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} shows such as ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'', ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'', and ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012''. The sequel, ''Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix'', adds characters from ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'', ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'', ''WesternAnimation/CatDog'', ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'', ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'', ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'', and [[TheRuntAtTheEnd Jojo Siwa]]. ''Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway'' adds characters from ''Franchise/{{Garfield}}'', ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius'', ''WesternAnimation/AaahhRealMonsters'', and ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot'', and switches out the ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'' characters for their ''WesternAnimation/Rugrats2021'' and ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987'' versions.

A SubTrope of both RacingGame and VehicularCombat.

Compare MascotFighter (similar elements applied to fighting games), CuteEmUp.

* ''VideoGame/AtariKarts'' for the UsefulNotes/AtariJaguar. Most notable for '''not''' drawing from Atari's rich archive of game properties -- aside from Bentley Bear from ''VideoGame/{{Crystal Castles|1983}},'' the characters were a freak show assortment of random characters, including aliens and skeletons. To add insult to injury, the only offensive attack is a [[InterfaceScrew "reverse controls"]] attack, which has little effect on the near-perfect AI opponents.

** ''VideoGame/CrashNitroKart'' adds a few extra modes (such as color based modes where each racer has a fixed color), weapons, and characters, including Franchise/SpyroTheDragon as an unlockable racer (Though only in the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance version). It also featured anti-gravity sections of the tracks.

** ''VideoGame/MarioKart8'' features [[GravityScrew anti-gravity]], which allows racers to drive on walls or even upside-down, and introduces DownloadableContent of racers from other franchises, such as the Villager and Isabelle from ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' and Link from ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda''. The UsefulNotes/WiiU version does not include a conventional battle mode, but the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch port has it.

* ''VideoGame/SuperTuxKart'' has a cast of open source program mascots. The game is even named for Tux, the mascot for [[UsefulNotes/{{UNIX}} Linux]]. Other characters include the bull for UsefulNotes/{{GNU}}, Suzanne the chimp for UsefulNotes/{{Blender}}, Wilber for UsefulNotes/{{GIMP}}, and Puffy for UsefulNotes/{{Open BSD}}.

* ''VideoGame/Macbat64JourneyOfANiceChap'' is a 3D PlatformGame that is based on late 90s-era games of the genre like ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'', with one of the levels being based on UsefulNotes/Nintendo64-era kart racers like ''VideoGame/MarioKart64'' and ''VideoGame/DiddyKongRacing''.

* A roster of colorful characters, especially if the game is based on an established property. Oftentimes, characters' vehicles will fir their [[VehicleBasedCharacterization personality]] or [[{{Thememobile}} visual theme]].

* ''VideoGame/AtariKarts'' for the UsefulNotes/AtariJaguar. Most notable for '''not''' drawing from Atari's rich archive of game properties -- aside from Bentley Bear from ''VideoGame/CrystalCastles,'' the characters were a freak show assortment of random characters, including aliens and skeletons. To add insult to injury, the only offensive attack is a [[InterfaceScrew "reverse controls"]] attack, which has little effect on the near-perfect AI opponents.

* ''{{VideoGame/Blur}}'' is an original work. It splices elements of this genre into a realistic racing setting with standard cars, such as sports cars and hummers, and normal people as the racers. Power ups are not random but set and visible before picking them up, and each power is a colored block with a symbol. These include green pointers as the speed booster, a white hexagon as the invincibility, and an orange explosion as the land mine. Racers can hold up to three power ups.

* ''VideoGame/AngryBirdsGo'' is based on ''VideoGame/AngryBirds''. The cast includes Red, The Blues, Yellow, Bomb, Matilda, Stella, King Pig, Corporal Pig, and Foreman Pig.

** ''VideoGame/DreamWorksAllStarKartRacing'', a 2023 sequel, features 20 playable characters and once again includes many of their properties in the game. ''Franchise/KungFuPanda'' joins in this time, as well as other new series including the likes of ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'', ''WesternAnimation/TheBossBaby'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheBadGuys2022''.

** ''VideoGame/MarioKart64'' switches up the roster (Donkey Kong Jr. is switched with his dad, for one), and introduces elements like longer tracks, 4-player capability, triple power ups for certain items, and the blue shell as the special homing missile.

** ''VideoGame/MarioKartDS'' introduces online multiplayer to the series.

** ''VideoGame/MarioKart7'' adds even more vehicles, such as submersibles and hang gliders.

* ''VideoGame/DreamWorksSuperStarKartz'' uses characters from Creator/DreamWorksAnimation properties. This includes ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}'', ''WesternAnimation/MonstersVsAliens'', and ''{{Franchise/Shrek}}''. All the tracks are based on settings in those films. Bizarrely, the ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'' franchise is completely absent from this game despite being one of Dreamworks' [[CashCowFranchise biggest hits]] at the time. It's also the last known Dreamworks Animation release to be published by Creator/{{Activision}}.

* ''VideoGame/MadagascarKartz'' has the cast of ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}'' as well as {{Franchise/Shrek}} and [[WesternAnimation/MonstersVsAliens B.O.B.]] as [[GuestFighter guest racers]]. It uses tracks and power ups typical of the genre.

* ''VideoGame/SonicDrift'' and its sequel are based on ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog''. Players collect rings until they activate character powers. Powerups are color coded: red for speed boosts, blue for invincibility, and black for mines. Powerups were used immediately when gained in the first game, while in the sequel they could be used any time.

* ''VideoGame/ActionGirlzRacing'' is an original work. The all girl cast includes Amber, a blonde FashionModel who wears [[PinkMeansFeminine a pink evening dress]] and [[CoolCrown tiara]] when racing, and Latisha, a SassyBlackWoman with shades and an afro who was a taxi driver before she was a racer. The game only has four tracks (such as a national park level and a beachside city), but they each have day and night variations.

** ''VideoGame/NickelodeonKartRacers'' is also based on various Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} shows such as ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'', ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'', and ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012''. The sequel, ''Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix'', adds characters from ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'', ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'', ''WesternAnimation/CatDog'', ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'', ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'', ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'', and [[TheRuntAtTheEnd Jojo Siwa]].

Sometimes examples try to break the mold, but usually they [[FollowTheLeader stick so close to the standard aspects]] set by ''Mario Kart'' that this has yet to go FromClonesToGenre.

*** ''VideoGame/CTGPRevolution'' is the first major mod pack for a ''Mario Kart'' game. It has since been [[FollowTheLeader followed by]] ''[[FollowTheLeader hundreds]]'' of other mods that follow [=MrBean35000Vr=] and Chadderz's footsteps. Currently includes 216 custom tracks, Item Rain, 24 Players, 200cc, and more.

*** ''VideoGame/CTGP7'' is a fan-made modpack for the above game, adding new features, approximately 72 custom tracks (as of latest version), and many custom characters (the latter must be changed manually).
** ''VideoGame/MarioKart8'' features [[GravityScrew anti-gravity]], which allows racers to drive on walls or even upside-down, and introduces DownloadableContent of racers from other franchises, such as the Villager and Isabelle from ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' and Link from ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda''. The UsefulNotes/WiiU version does not include a battle mode, but the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch port has it.

* ''Smurfs Racer'' is a kart racer based off of ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' for the Playstation and PC. Each smurf has their own vehicle. You race around the village and other locations from the cartoon.

* ''VideoGame/SkunnyKart'': There are seven different animal racers, including the titular Skunny who is a squirrel, a hippopotamus and an octopus. Powerups include a missile for hitting other racers, a turbo boost, potions to make the player smaller or the enemies bigger, and a bomb.

* ''VideoGame/SkunnyKart'': There are seven different animal racers, including the titular Skunny who is a squirrel, a hippopotamus and an octopus. Powerups include a missle for hitting other racers, a turbo boost, potions to make the player smaller or the enemies bigger, and a bomb.

** The upcoming ''Chocobo GP'', a sequel to ''Chocobo Racing'', is set to include more content and elements from the broader ''Final Fantasy'' franchise as a whole, such as Steiner and Vivi from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'' and the town of Zozo from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', turning it into more of a ''Final Fantasy'' mascot racer than just a ''Chocobo's Dungeon'' racer.