There is a good distinction between competition and leeching off success. While the PS5 has its financial grand prix race against microsoft and nintendo, the teams developing the games face off for similar fights. Though Nickelodeon is already successful, meaning that their attempt at making the consumer pick between Mario Kart or Nickelodeon Kart Racers comes down to recognition. Is your kid really into,, invader zim? garfield? the teenage robot girl? probably not. at least you, the buyer, do recognize them. And of course the kid knows spongebob, so it all works out. Is it improving upon Mario Kart? No. Is it... borrowing from it? Yes. Is it worse than Mario Kart? Absolutely. Is it.. cheaper? Like it's on a constant discount, yes.

This is to be expected, of course. These games aren't treated with the same dignity that Nintendo puts up for even their worst games, and these are churn out like krabby patties. A consistent blood sucking time waster.

Apart from that the game functions and it's not devoid of some fun. It is exactly what you expect. Another one.