Game modes include competing to earn points, time trials, customizing the racing rules, and a story-driven tutorial campaign.

Team Sonic Racing's existence came to light when a Sumo Digital memo leaked in January 2018, with Sega confirming it the following May.

Its marketing campaign included appearances at trade shows, a one-shot comic from IDW Publishing, and a two-part animated series.

[2] After selecting one of 15 characters from the series' cast,[a] players participate in races using sports cars on courses thematically based on locations from the franchise.

Each type has its own unique abilities; for example, technique racers like Tails can drive over rough surfaces like grass without slowing down.

[7] The player views gameplay from a third-person perspective and runs over panels to get speed boosts, performs tricks in midair, and drifts to make sharp turns.

While each player in a team still takes control of a single racer, they must also pay attention to how teammates are performing and share power-ups.

[13] One mode, "Team Adventure",[2][14] is a story-driven campaign that also includes a tutorial,[10] as well as an original story explaining why the characters are racing.

[16] Parts modify cars' handling, boost, acceleration, defense, and top speed, and players can also make aesthetic changes such as paint jobs and horn sounds.

The racers remain suspicious of Dodon Pa, believing he may be working with Sonic's longtime nemesis Doctor Eggman.

Intending it for philanthropic use, Dodon Pa has been using the races to gather research data for the engine and generate energy to power it.

After unsuccessfully attempting to steal the engine, Eggman and his henchmen kidnap Dodon Pa and hold him hostage on their battleship.

[7] The lead designer of the game was Richard Acherki,[7] while Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka served as producer.

[23] Iizuka explained that the team wanted to make a game that took place solely in the Sonic universe, which is why it does not bear the All-Stars name.

[10] Sumo Digital also wanted to build on the gameplay of Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed, which many players enjoyed.

[34] Iizuka said the team needed "cool" music that would "influence the player's excitement", which led him to ask Senoue to compose the score.

[19] Sumo Digital's history with Sonic caused speculation that it was developing a new Sega All-Stars title, which Webber denied.

[14] Eurogamer expressed disappointment that it did not include any non-Sonic characters as playable racers, which its writer believed was one of the best things about Sonic & Sega All Stars Racing and its sequel.

However, he remained optimistic, believing Sumo Digital's experience with Sonic would ensure the game would be a similar, "fundamentally brilliant arcade racer".

[22] Sega initially slated Team Sonic Racing for release in late 2018, but delayed it to May 21, 2019, that October to give Sumo Digital more development time.

Kotaku argued the demo lacked ambition and called its character lineup shallow, especially when compared to that of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.

[3] A more optimistic opinion came from IGN: although he considered the power-ups generic, the writer felt the game still had a good foundation and that the team gameplay was satisfying.

[46] Team Sonic Racing was also present at PAX West in August, where attendees were given an exclusive poster,[47] and the Tokyo Game Show in November.

[48][49] The story is set before the game's events[50] and features Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and their friends traveling to a mysterious planet and preventing "an old foe" from obtaining new technology.

[61][60][59] Screen Rant observed that critics generally deemed it fun but inferior to the Sega All-Stars titles and Mario Kart 8, which they felt were presented better.

The new team system is a fantastic evolution of the arcade racing formula that gives you a real reason to work together, and there’s a litany of customization options to keep you coming back to these excellent tracks to earn more.

"[67] Brian Shia of Game Informer stated, "Team Sonic Racing delivers a fun, easy-to-play experience that bolsters its adequate gameplay with distinct flavors to help it stand out from the rest of the genre.

"[64] Nintendo Life gave the game a positive review, stating, "It’s strangely satisfying when you send some rockets to your 7th place chum and see their ranking climb a few moments later.

Game Informer also stated, "The Team Adventure story mode is an inconsequential narrative told through still character images over background environments, making the uninteresting plot even less engaging.