Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship is another release from licensed game specialist Outright Games. This time, the studio takes the Paw Patrol brand and mixes it with a Mario Kart-style setup. The result is a simple kart racing experience where players can drift, pull off tricks in the air, pick their favorite Paw Patrol characters with their themed vehicles, and race across a variety of tracks.
While it plays like a kart racer, the tone feels closer to a monster truck show. The main draw is the stunt system, which relies a lot on button-mashing if you enjoy that style of play. The developers also included character-specific stunts that trigger when you perform their moves in the air. Every playable character has a unique ability, giving them a bit of personality, though the game is not deep enough to make anyone think too hard about their stats.
This is clearly aimed at kids, especially fans of the Paw Patrol series. I have enjoyed several Paw Patrol games in the past, even though a few have been misses. They were still fun to play with kids. This one has the same charm. The driving is kept simple, and there are helpful accessibility options like auto drive and driving assist, so newcomers who struggle with corners can reset easily and get back on track without frustration.
The one thing I did not like is that the driving has been simplified so much that the power-ups barely matter. Most items feel pointless, like the confetti shot that does nothing to your opponents. The UFO powerup is especially annoying since it slows everything down and feels more like a waste of time than a real mechanic. The collision detection is also weak, and the tracks do not offer much room to move. When you put several monster trucks on a narrow track, problems start to show.
For a game priced at $39.99, the lack of content is hard to ignore. Even my kid got tired of the same modes and the looping soundtrack. The music becomes repetitive quickly, and the game does not offer much to hold your attention in the first place. On the positive side, there are a fair number of tracks, and some of them include shortcuts, though younger players will likely mess up while trying them. The track designs are not very creative, but they do use colorful backdrops and offer a mix of environments.
It is disappointing because the game shows signs of potential but never reaches it. If you are hoping for a Paw Patrol kart racer, this will not satisfy that expectation. It might entertain kids for a short while, but even they may lose interest after a few races. My little one often shuts it off after a bit, especially since there are better racing options available. Still, if your child has never tried a kart racer before, this could serve as a simple starting point thanks to its easy controls and accessibility options.
I played most of the game on Switch 2, but I do not think it has native support for the new console. Even so, it runs well, and I did not notice any major problems. The loading times are fine, and the visuals are simple enough that they do not need anything special from the Switch 2 hardware. It is a basic kart racer built around the latest Paw Patrol show. There are a fair number of characters to choose from, but the overall content still feels very thin.
Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship Game Information
- Price: $39.99
- Publisher: Outright Games
- Developer: 3DClouds
- Platform: Switch 2 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
