Brainrot Kart Review (Xbox)

There are games that try to be the next Mario Kart, and then there are games like Brainrot Kart that seem more interested in capturing the chaotic energy of a late-night scroll through social media. Developed by Skibidi Studios, this budget racer throws internet memes, absurd humour and arcade racing into a blender and asks one simple question: what if a kart racer was powered entirely by brain rot?

At its core, Brainrot Kart is a straightforward arcade racer. You pick from a selection of meme-inspired characters and karts, race across bizarre tracks including locations such as The Backrooms, and use power-ups to harass everyone unfortunate enough to be ahead of you. The driving itself is simple and easy to grasp, making it accessible even for younger players or those looking for a casual party game experience.

The biggest selling point is undoubtedly the humour. Whether you'll find that funny depends entirely on your tolerance for internet meme culture. The game leans hard into references, characters and terminology that will either leave you laughing at the sheer stupidity of it all or wondering if you've accidentally walked into a conversation between teenagers on TikTok. There isn't much subtlety here. The joke is the joke, and the game repeats it at full volume from start to finish.

When playing with friends, the chaos can be genuinely entertaining. Up to eight players can race together, and the constant barrage of power-ups creates the kind of unpredictable moments that party racers live and die by. Landing a last-second item hit and stealing first place never gets old, even if the mechanics themselves aren't especially deep.

Unfortunately, the simplicity that makes the game approachable also limits its longevity. The racing lacks the precision, track design, and strategic depth found in the genre's biggest names. Controls are serviceable rather than exceptional, and after a few races you've pretty much seen everything the game has to offer. The meme-centric presentation also runs the risk of feeling dated far quicker than more timeless cartoon racers.

Visually, Brainrot Kart does exactly what you'd expect. The presentation is colourful, loud, and intentionally ridiculous. It isn't going to push your Xbox hardware, but it maintains the chaotic aesthetic the developers were clearly aiming for. Performance remains solid enough for a game where smooth racing is more important than graphical spectacle.

What ultimately saves Brainrot Kart is its asking price. At just a couple of pounds/dollars, it feels more like a novelty party game than a serious racing contender. If you and your friends enjoy meme humour and want something silly to laugh at for an evening, there's some fun to be had. If you're looking for a kart racer with lasting depth or expertly balanced competition, you'll likely bounce off it quite quickly.

Pros

• Easy-to-pick-up arcade racing

• Fun multiplayer chaos with friends

• Embraces its ridiculous premise wholeheartedly

• Very affordable price

Cons

• Limited depth and long-term appeal

• Meme humour won't be for everyone

• Lacks the polish of bigger kart racers

• Can become repetitive after a few sessions

Brainrot Kart is a cheap, chaotic meme racer built around internet culture and multiplayer mayhem. It succeeds when friends are involved and everyone embraces the nonsense, but the shallow racing mechanics and reliance on fleeting memes stop it from being much more than a short-lived novelty.

XPN Rating: 2.5 out of 5 (SILVER)

Brainrot Kart is out now!