The latest entry into the Hot Wheels franchise of video games has been released by Milestone S.r.l and if you’re a fan of the little collectable racing cars, you’ll be in for a treat here.
Is Hot Wheels Infinite Rush a good racing game and should you give it a try? Let’s find out, shall we!
Hot Wheels Infinite Rush – A New Open-World Racing Adventure
Hot Wheels Infinite Rush builds upon the success of its predecessors, Hot Wheels Unleashed and Hot Wheels Unleashed 2, but this time around, you’ll have an open world to explore and race in. In Hot Wheels Infinite Rush, you’ll have access to 4 different classes of vehicles, and you can swap between these on the fly. Versatiles, Drifters, Titans and Speeders are available to you right from the get-go, and you will slowly but surely start unlocking more vehicles in each class just by playing the game and completing activities.
Over 150 Hot Wheels Cars to Unlock
The sheer number of vehicles available here in the game is quite staggering, with Milestone S.r.l claiming that there’s over 150 different ones to unlock. This makes the inner child in me scream with delight since there’s so many classics here to unlock and play with.
Circling back to how to unlock the vehicles though, players will have to compete in races or complete activities in the game’s world. You can compete in traditional races, time trial races, race against “Daredevils” (I’ll explain this a bit later), race through checkpoints while performing drifts, etc. There’s a lot on offer here and it will keep you busy for hours on end.
Challenging Daredevil Races and Progression
The “Daredevils” are tough opponents that you will encounter driving around in the open-world environment that you can challenge to races. Beat them in a race through checkpoints, and you’ll unlock their respective vehicle. Some of these races are extremely tough to beat, and you’ll have to really use your skills to unlock them even on medium difficulty.
The actual normal races themselves, though, seem to be quite easy to win, and kids will definitely have a blast playing through these. Upping the difficulty does make things a lot more challenging, though.
Exploring the Open World and Collecting Rewards
Apart from the races, you can also find stickers in the open-world that allow you to trigger photo mode to collect them. “Tourist” missions also exist which will need you to complete certain photo objectives and allow you to take a great shot of your Hot Wheels vehicle. Unfortunately, though, the game doesn’t have a photo mode built in that you can trigger whenever you want, and this is a sadly a massive missed opportunity.
Progression in Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is tied to playing through races, completing in-game missions and objectives and collecting various resources like gears and Rush points to purchase and upgrade your cars. This does mean that you can’t simply just boot up the game and race with friends and have access to a lot of vehicles. You need to play through the game’s single-player component to unlock more vehicles first and this might put off some gamers who just want a multiplayer orientated experience.
Fast, Fun and Frantic Arcade Racing
The vehicles in Hot Wheels Infinite Rush thankfully handle really well and racing is incredibly fun. The game does feel quite arcadey so if you want a simulation experience here, you’re definitely going to get that. With that said, I’ve played my fair share of racing games over the years and Hot Wheels Infinite Rush really feels like a tonne of fun. Racing feels fast and frantic in some of the more challenging races and you’ll really feel the adrenaline rush winning against the Daredevils and in the later more difficulty races in the game world.
There’s 4 islands in-game to explore and there’s a literal truckload of collectibles and tasks to complete here. This is a game that you can easily sink upwards of 25 hours into especially if you try to get everything and unlock every vehicle.
Graphics, Soundtrack and Presentation
Graphically, the game looks fantastic and the Hot Wheels themselves are the stars of the show here. Each vehicle looks fantastic and again, I wish I could trigger photo mode whenever I wanted to because these vehicles look great! The environments also looks great and really give off a Hot Wheels feel that instantly reminds you of the toys in real life. The soundtrack of the game features some really good tracks which are perfect for racing to and the vehicles themselves sound amazing.
Track Creator and Community Content
Additionally, apart from all the great single-player content, there’s a rather extensive track creator built into the game too and you can really go crazy with your designs. You can also download other people’s tracks and vehicle liveries too which allows for quite a bit of user generated content to keep the game alive via its online community. Only time will tell if this dwindles but such is the case with all games with options like this.
Final Verdict – Is Hot Wheels Infinite Rush Worth Playing?
Overall, Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is a great game and one that parents can play with their kids and have a blast. It’s good, clean, wholesome racing fun and even if you’re a more seasoned racing game fan, there’s a lot to enjoy here. Milestone S.r.l have been doing this for years at this point and they definitely have a winning arcadey racing formula that they’ve applied here. Give this game a try and you’ll have a lot of fun.
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The game was provided to us for the express purpose of reviewing.
Reviewed and played on Nintendo Switch 2.
Review Summary – Q&A
Is Hot Wheels Infinite Rush worth playing?
Yes. Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is an enjoyable arcade racing game packed with content, exciting races and plenty of vehicles to unlock. It’s a great choice for both younger players and longtime Hot Wheels fans.
Is Hot Wheels Infinite Rush an open-world game?
Yes. The game features four islands to explore, filled with races, challenges, collectibles, activities and hidden rewards.
How many cars are in Hot Wheels Infinite Rush?
Hot Wheels Infinite Rush features over 150 vehicles to unlock, spread across four different classes: Versatiles, Drifters, Titans and Speeders.
Is Hot Wheels Infinite Rush difficult?
The standard races are relatively easy on lower difficulty settings, making them accessible to younger players. However, increasing the difficulty and taking on Daredevils provides a much tougher challenge.
Does Hot Wheels Infinite Rush have multiplayer?
The game includes multiplayer options, but players will need to spend time progressing through the single-player experience to unlock additional vehicles before having access to a larger selection.
Does Hot Wheels Infinite Rush have a track creator?
Yes. Players can create their own tracks, experiment with different designs and download tracks and vehicle liveries created by other members of the community.
How long is Hot Wheels Infinite Rush?
Players can easily spend upwards of 25 hours exploring the four islands, completing activities, collecting rewards and unlocking vehicles, particularly if aiming for full completion.
Is Hot Wheels Infinite Rush suitable for children?
Yes. Its accessible arcade racing, colourful presentation and large selection of collectible vehicles make it a great game for parents and children to enjoy together.
What are the biggest drawbacks of Hot Wheels Infinite Rush?
The biggest disappointment is the lack of a freely accessible photo mode. Vehicle unlocks are also tied to single-player progression, which may frustrate players who simply want to jump straight into multiplayer racing.
What’s the final verdict on Hot Wheels Infinite Rush?
Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is a fantastic arcade racing experience with plenty of content, excellent presentation and over 150 vehicles to collect. Whether you’re a longtime racing fan, a Hot Wheels enthusiast or a parent looking for something enjoyable to play with your children, there’s plenty to love here.
