Local Arcade is a game mode that allows up to four players to play on a single console via splitscreen (2-player splitscreen for Switch Tabletop Mode). In Local Arcade, each player needs to use a separate a controller to play.

Local Arcade includes several racing modes within it:

• Single Race – This is your traditional "let's pick a track and race" option.
• Cup Race – A four-track race. There are seven different collections of tracks to choose from within Cup Race.
• Battle – Five unique Battle modes taking place on a host of tracks, some of which are remastered favorites from Crash Nitro Kart:
• Limit Battle – Hit opponents with your favorite Power Ups to score points.
• Capture the Flag – Grab the other team's flag and drive it through your team's portal to win.
• Crystal Grab – Collect the most crystals within the time limit. Getting hit by an enemy will prove to be costly!
• Last Kart Driving – Use your limited number of tries to hit your opponents before they hit you and be the last kart driving!
• Steal the Bacon – There's only one bacon left for everyone. Grab it as quickly as you can and bring it back to your home portal.
• Time Trial – Is there a track that's particularly fun or challenging? Go back and try to beat your best time! Activate Player Ghost to include a ghostly version of yourself driving toward your best time.
• Relic Race – Complete the race in less time than the time in the top corner to earn a Relic. Don't miss the Time Crates! Breaking a Time Crate freezes the timer for the number of seconds indicated on the crate.
• CTR Challenge – Collect the letters C, T, and R and win the race to earn a CTR Token.
• Crystal Challenge – Collect every Crystal on the track before the time runs out.

Options

Each mode in Local Arcade includes an option to set one of three difficulty levels. Also, most modes include a Mirror Mode option, which creates a mirror image of the map.