Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is the third game in the Hot Wheels series by Milestone. The previous two games were Hot Wheels Unleashed and Hot Wheels Unleashed 2, while this latest entry takes the series in a somewhat different direction.
At its core, Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is an arcade-style racing game based on the iconic Hot Wheels brand. However, compared to the previous two games, this instalment makes a significant change to the overall game design.
The biggest change is the move away from traditional circuit-based racing towards a more open-world structure. Instead of simply selecting individual tracks and racing from one event to another, players can now freely explore the game’s different environments.
The open-world structure is built around a series of islands. These islands are largely open for exploration, allowing you to drive around freely and discover different activities and areas. It isn’t limited to just one island, either. Additional islands gradually become available as you progress through the game, giving you more areas to explore and more things to do.
The game also features a wide variety of vehicles. Each vehicle has its own strengths and characteristics. Some are built around speed, others focus more on power, while some are particularly well suited to drifting. There are also all-rounder vehicles that offer a more balanced combination of these attributes.
Progression in Hot Wheels Infinite Rush depends largely on how many challenges you complete. The more challenges you complete, the more content gradually becomes available. As you progress, you can compete in more races, unlock new areas, discover additional islands, and gain access to new events.
Another important aspect of the game is its vehicle collection. There are a wide variety of Hot Wheels vehicles available, each with different performance characteristics. As you explore the open world and complete activities, you earn money that can be used to acquire new vehicles. You can also customize your cars to a certain extent, and the game includes a photo mode for players who want to capture their favourite moments.
There is also a track-building tool that allows players to create their own tracks and then race on them. This adds another layer of creativity and gives players the freedom to design their own racing experiences.
At its core, the gameplay revolves around racing and using boosts to gain an advantage. You can also perform side-swipes against other cars to take down opponents. Drifting is another important part of the driving system, and the game offers several different race formats built around these mechanics.
There are also multiple racing modes, including time attacks and drift-focused events. On top of that, the game supports both online and offline multiplayer, giving players several ways to race either against other players or locally with friends.
As far as the overall presentation is concerned, I played Hot Wheels Infinite Rush on the PS5 Pro, and I have to say that I didn’t come across any major technical issues during my time with the game. Everything worked well, and the game was generally well designed.
That said, I did feel that the game doesn’t necessarily feel like a title designed specifically for the current generation of hardware. The visuals are certainly well put together, but the open-world environments can sometimes feel a little bland and lacking in detail.
However, there is an important caveat here. The game is deliberately designed around a toy-like aesthetic, making the world feel more like a giant Hot Wheels playset than a realistic environment. So, to some extent, the relatively simple-looking open world can be seen as part of the developer’s artistic direction rather than purely a technical limitation.
There isn’t really much more that needs to be said about the game’s presentation, so moving on to the handling and driving, I found the overall driving experience quite good. It has the kind of arcade racing feel you’d expect from a Hot Wheels game, but it doesn’t go too far in either direction. It’s not overly realistic, but it’s also not an extremely exaggerated arcade experience. It sits somewhere in the middle, which I think works quite well.
The overall controls feel responsive, and the different driving mechanics are implemented nicely. Vehicle customization is also a good addition, with more than 150 cars available to collect and customize. The variety of events and races is another strong point, as there are enough different formats to keep things from feeling completely repetitive.
While there are definitely strengths to the game, it also has some weaknesses. The open world isn’t very large, and there aren’t enough races or activities to make exploration feel particularly rewarding. Personally, I preferred the approach used in the previous game, which I found more enjoyable. However, this ultimately comes down to personal preference.
Overall, I think Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is a solid game for people who already enjoy the Hot Wheels brand. However, I wouldn’t describe it as a standout or breakout entry in the genre. It’s not a bad game by any means, but at the same time, it doesn’t do enough to feel particularly exceptional. It’s essentially a decent, enjoyable Hot Wheels experience that sits somewhere in the middle.
Hot Wheels: Infinite Rush Game Information
- Price: $49.99
- Publisher: Milestone S.r.l.
- Developer: Milestone S.r.l.
- Platform: PS5 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was provided by the publisher
