If you‘re a fan of the Garfield comic strips, you may have heard about Garfield Kart: Furious Racing, a kart racing video game that brings the lasagna-loving cat to the track. This zany racer lets you speed through courses as Garfield, Odie, and more while launching rubber duckies and fish at opponents. It‘s casual fun for fans of the franchise.
But can you get Garfield Kart for free? Or do you have to pay to race with the orange feline?
Unfortunately, Garfield Kart: Furious Racing is not a free game. Since its release in 2019, it has cost $29.99 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. While you can sometimes find it on sale, there is currently no way to legally download or play the full Garfield Kart game 100% free.
I know, it stinks having to actually pay for games these days! But don‘t worry, I‘ve got you covered. In this guide, we‘ll explore:
- How Garfield Kart pricing works and where to buy it on sale
- Clever tips for getting the best deal on this cat racer
- Which platforms offer the game for "free" with membership perks
- Awesome free alternatives worth trying
- What to expect if you do buy Garfield Kart: Furious Racing
So rev up your kart‘s engine and let‘s go! This thorough guide will help you decide if Garfield‘s foray into kart racing is worth picking up for yourself or a loved one.
Pricing and Purchase Options for Garfield Kart
Let‘s start with a quick look at what Garfield Kart: Furious Racing will cost if you want to buy it. Here are the game‘s prices across platforms:
- Nintendo Switch (eShop): $29.99
- PlayStation 4 (PS Store): $29.99
- Xbox One (Microsoft Store): $29.99
- Windows PC (Steam): $29.99
Physical disc copies at Amazon and GameStop also typically go for the standard $29.99. This price has not really dropped permanently since launch.
However, you can often find Garfield Kart on sale if you keep an eye out for deals:
- Sales around $5 to $15 on digital platforms
- Physical copies sometimes discounted under $20
- Retail bundles with extra freebies included
For example, the Steam Winter Sale in December 2022 had the game for just $4.99 – 85% off! So be patient and you can grab Garfield Kart for cheap.
Tips for Getting the Best Deal on Garfield Kart
If you want Garfield Kart in your game library, here are some tips for getting it at the lowest price possible:
- Wishlist or follow it on stores to get notified of sales
- Watch for seasonal digital sales around holidays
- Check retailer clearance for discounted physical copies
- Buy pre-owned from GameStop or eBay to save money
- Choose console version that aligns with your subscription perks (see below)
With the right promotion, you could potentially get the full Garfield Kart: Furious Racing game for under $10!
Can You Get Garfield Kart for "Free" with a Subscription?
Now, you technically can‘t get Garfield Kart completely free unless the developers decide to give it away in some future promo.
However, with the right gaming membership, you can download and play Garfield Kart indefinitely without paying anything extra for the game itself.
Here are a few examples:
Xbox Game Pass (Console)
Garfield Kart is included in Xbox Game Pass for console gamers. As long as you have an active Game Pass subscription, you can install and race to your heart‘s content on Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S.
PlayStation Plus Premium (PS4)
Having the top tier PS Plus Premium subscription lets you download a catalog of classic games to your PlayStation 4 or PS5. And Garfield Kart happens to be one of the backward compatible titles offered. Sweet!
EA Play (PC)
On PC, an EA Play membership provides access to Garfield Kart: Furious Racing along with many other games. You can play as long as you stay subscribed.
So while not outright free, access to Garfield Kart is essentially "free" as part of the overall subscription package. This can save you money if you were already planning to subscribe to these services.
Other Ways to Play Kart Racers for Free
Maybe you don‘t really need Garfield Kart specifically and want to try out other kart racers instead. Fortunately, there are some solid free alternatives out there!
Free-to-Play Games
For mobile kart racing on the go, check out these free iOS and Android games:
- Mario Kart Tour: Nintendo‘s official Mario Kart game for phones. Free to play with in-app purchases for unlocks.
- Sonic Racing: Sega‘s free-to-start Sonic kart racer packed with content and customization.
- KartRider Rush+: Popular PC kart franchise now on mobile. Three drift types to master!
No need to pay upfront – just download and start racing. But note there are in-app purchases available.
Subscription Perks
As mentioned earlier, subscribers can often take advantage of free games and discounts. Here are a few more examples:
- PlayStation Plus: Monthly PS4 and PS5 games available. Previously offered Crash Team Racing and Sonic Racing for free to claimed by members.
- Games With Gold: Free monthly Xbox games that have included Sonic Racers in the past.
- Prime Gaming: Amazon Prime members get 5+ free PC games every month.
Limited Time Deals
Occasionally racers are given away for 100% free for a limited time:
- Epic Games Store: Periodic 1 week freebies like artful racer Absolute Drift.
- Fanatical: This PC store offered the original Garfield Kart free in 2018 (but not the sequel).
- Free weekends: Some games have temporary demos like KartKraft‘s 48 hour Xbox preview.
So keep an eye out around major sales and events for chances to score free racing games.
What‘s Garfield Kart: Furious Racing Gameplay Actually Like?
If you‘re going to buy Garfield Kart, either outright or as part of a subscription, you probably want to know what you‘re getting.
Here‘s a closer look at the wacky gameplay and features:
Game Modes
- Grand Prix – Race through circuits of tracks to win trophies
- Single Race – Quick race on any unlocked track
- Time Trial – Race alone to set fastest lap time
- Battle Mode – Last kart driving wins!
Customization
- Characters – Garfield, Odie, Nermal, Arlene, and more
- Karts – Cars, trucks, and more wacky rides
- Horns and Decals – Beep beep and add stickers
- Paint Jobs – Fresh coats of paint and colors
Power-Ups
- Fish Launcher – Fling fish to smack opponents
- Rubber Ducky – Leave traps on the track
- Lasagna – Boost of speed when consumed
- And more silly items!
Racing
- Drift around corners for boosts
- Discover shortcuts on tracks
- Customize handling with part upgrades
- Local split-screen racing
Multiplayer
- Online races with up to 8 players
- Cross-play between PC and consoles
- Leaderboards and rankings
- Quick matchmaking into games
Reviews suggest Garfield Kart is best enjoyed as a casual racer you don‘t take too seriously. The driving lacks realism and depth, but the charm of racing as Garfield characters with fun power-ups adds appeal. Youth and comic fans should especially get a kick out of it!
The focus is on ease of play, not realistic simulation. Approach it like a mobile game to play in short bursts alone or with friends for maximum enjoyment.
What Players Are Saying About Garfield Kart: Furious Racing
Garfield Kart has received somewhat mixed reviews, earning a 71% average user score on Metacritic. Here‘s a quick look at common player feedback:
Positive
- "Fun local and online multiplayer"
- "Controls are simple and drifting feels good"
- "Ton of customization unlocks"
- "Art style and graphics are great"
Negative
- "Very basic – lacks depth and difficulty"
- "AI can be too easy or too rubberbandy"
- "Story mode is boring and repetitive"
- "High price for a lightweight racer"
Overall, fans praise the silly Garfield-centric humor and solid casual gameplay while recognizing its limitations as a competition-level racer compared to Mario Kart. Reviews suggest waiting for a sale under $20 unless you really love the comics.
The Bottom Line – Skim Deals and Grab This Kart Racer on Sale
At the end of the day, Garfield Kart: Furious Racing is an enjoyable casual racer but not different enough to justify paying full price for kart racing fans who already own the excellent Mario Kart series.
However, if you absolutely relish the Garfield universe, have younger kids who would enjoy it, or find a great sale, it can definitely provide hours of breezy fun – especially in multiplayer with others.
Your best bet is to grab Garfield Kart at a discount by:
- Watching for digital sales under $15
- Picking up used physical copies
- Utilizing "free" subscription access when available
- Claiming occasional giveaways if they pop up
While not as refined as Nintendo‘s masterful Mario Kart games, Garfield Kart: Furious Racing can still provide a solid kart racing fix for all fans of lasagna jokes and cat-astrophic cartoon antics. Skim those deals and you can pick it up for almost the same price as a meal for Garfield himself.
