MK8 is peak kart racing game.

I only played the PS1 Crash and like the main games. Its mediocre. The only game to outdo Mario Kart was SEGA All-Stars Racing Transformed. Otherwise, MK sits at the top of the genre for a reason. They have been good Kart clones even some lesser-known ones like Krazy Racers on GBA

I haven't played Crash Racing, but I've heard good things. But for me, the real battle is between Diddy Kong Racing and Mario Kart 64. It's like splitting hairs.

It depends on which Mario Kart.
MK8 > MKDD > Crash Team Racing > all other Mario Kart.

I recently replayed Crash Team Racing, and while the story mode is fun and challenging and there is a lot of good, the controls just aren't quite up to snuff. Mario Kart takes it for that reason alone

Nice thread. But, why noone mentions Mickey's speedway USA. Well, If we go back in 2000, I would probably choose Crash Team Racing, because it introduced some enjoyable mechanics, like the triple drift boost, the boost while landing and of course the feeling of the jump, which clearly MK adopted very lately in the series. I also can say that the whole courses in CTR where built that way to help you stucking boosts. The only thing that I didint like in CTR is that it felt to me a very easy and not really challenging game after you get used to it. MK controls were clearly more difficult and that's something I really liked. It was like MK was for true players but CTRwas somehow for "casuals".

But, nowadays I can say that MK has made a huge improvements in whole levels. Courses, weapons, mechanics, character variet and stands very well in the position of the best kart game.

Of course, I play both and I really enjoy them. One more thing I would like to add is the battle mode. It was very dissapointing to have 3 balloons and few weapons, while CTR had 3 different modes and you could choose how many hits you could do, reaching even 15 and the weapons you liked. In this sector, yeah CTR was clearly the winner back in the day.

Wait...wha??? CTR is so much more more difficult than any Mario Kart I've ever played, like frustratingly difficult, not just having to be perfect but the RNG too. Mechanics on the track or obstacles. Characters being key to winning on a certain level and trying to figure that out while trying to make up for the stats you're lacking so you can get the benefit. The Ai actually being as good as real life players and so on. It's more difficult on every level. 

Garfield Kart

Sony hates money, because they can make a Knack Kart game and fuck with all other karts game in the market.

have you ever played MK8D 200cc Time Trials? I cannot imagine Crash Team Racing topping the level of difficulty. It took me several years (around 175hr of gameplay) to start comfortably winning these trials within the first 30min of attempts.

Also, the tech in MK8D is pretty advanced...lots of very fine details with how close you can get to the grass before losing speed, the direction you need to point while paragliding, how to best route your path so as to minimize time loss in collecting 10 coins within the first/second lap, etc.