Oh Baby! Kart

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It’s Oh baby Kart!

Oh Baby! Kart is a high-speed, cross-platform multiplayer kart racing game developed by Oh Baby! Games. Since its inception in 2021, the game has grown from a niche racing experience into a major title in the party racing genre, especially after securing partnerships with major brands like Nickelodeon. The game blends classic arcade racing mechanics with modern Web3 elements, offering a unique mix of competition, customization, and community-driven gameplay.
In October 2024, Oh Baby! Kart transitioned to a free-to-play model, allowing more players to access the game. It is available on Steam for PC and Mac, with system requirements of at least 8GB of RAM and 15GB of storage.

Gameplay

Oh Baby! Kart follows the classic arcade kart racing formula, taking clear inspiration from Mario Kart while introducing its own mechanics. The game embraces the fast-paced, item-based racing style, where players use a mix of boosts, weapons, and strategic drifting to outmaneuver opponents. The drifting mechanics work similarly to Mario Kart, rewarding players with a chargeable boost for maintaining drifts, making cornering and track navigation an essential skill.

Players start with 12 free-to-play heroes, unlocking more heroes as they level up. Unlike Mario Kart, where karts determine stats, in Oh Baby! Kart, the heroes themselves have distinct attributes that affect their racing performance. Each hero has a unique combination of Speed, Drift Power, Coin Boost, Handling, and Style. Speed-focused heroes excel on shorter, more straightforward race tracks, where raw velocity is the key to victory. Meanwhile, heroes with high-impact ultimate abilities tend to rank higher on longer and more technical courses, where well-timed ultimates can turn the tide of a race.

A unique feature in this game is the Ultimate Bar, which charges as players perform drift boosts. Once fully charged, players can deploy character-specific ultimate abilities designed for speed, offense, or defense.
The game features a variety of maps and race courses, ranging from short, high-speed circuits to longer, more strategic tracks. Course design plays a big role in hero selection, as some tracks reward precise drifting and controlled handling, while others favor aggressive, ultimate-driven playstyles. This variety keeps the gameplay dynamic, encouraging players to adapt their strategies based on the track and the strengths of their chosen hero.

Game Modes

The game features Adventure (PVE) Mode, which includes over 100 challenges that allow players to unlock new heroes, karts, ornaments, and pets. Completing these challenges also provides rewards such as in-game currency and exclusive skins.

Oh Baby! Kart offers a variety of game modes, catering to both casual and competitive players. The available modes include:

• Race Royal & Race Royal Pro – A high-stakes elimination mode where 12 players start, and 4 racers are eliminated after each lap until only one remains. The Pro version, unlocked at level 20, features increased difficulty with more aggressive AI and tougher competition.
• Grand Prix & Grand Prix Pro – A four-race tournament where players accumulate points based on their finishing position. Before each race, players select buffs that last for the entire event, and between races, they vote on the next track. The Pro version unlocks at level 20 and introduces harder AI and advanced track variations.
• Duo Grand Prix & Duo Grand Prix Pro – A team-based version of Grand Prix, where two-player teams compete, and their combined points determine the overall winner. The Pro version, also unlocked at level 20, increases the difficulty by introducing team-based abilities and new strategic elements.
• Time Trial – A solo practice mode where players can race on any track against the clock, attempting to set the best possible lap time. Leaderboards allow players to compare their times globally.
• Custom Lobby – A player-hosted mode where users can set up private races with custom rules, maps, and conditions. This is ideal for friendly competitions, community events, or practicing on specific tracks.
• Testing Room – A dedicated mode for skill improvement, allowing players to test different heroes, karts, and abilities without pressure. This mode is particularly useful for mastering drift mechanics, optimizing ultimate usage, and experimenting with different playstyles.

Review

Oh Baby! Kart delivers a fun and immersive kart racing experience, blending familiar arcade racing mechanics with unique twists. While it takes clear inspiration from Mario Kart, it refines the formula with polished visuals, well-executed power-ups, and a deep progression system. The graphics and VFX are vibrant and high-quality, making races visually engaging, while the sound design enhances the action with dynamic music and immersive effects.

The gameplay is easy to pick up but challenging to master, rewarding players who refine their drifting, memorize track layouts, and make split-second decisions. Unlocking new heroes, maps, and customization options keeps progression engaging, while collaborations with IPs like SpongeBob SquarePants and Web3 figures like ZachXBT add extra appeal. The game successfully bridges traditional and Web3 gaming communities, without forcing its Web3 features, making it accessible to a broad audience.

While it doesn’t innovate within the kart racing genre, Oh Baby! Kart competes with top titles like Mario Kart, offering a fast-paced and competitive experience. For a free-to-play title on Steam, it’s an easy recommendation for casual and competitive racers alike. Final Rating: 8/10.