Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is such a fun game to play. Taking many cues from Forza Horizon, there’s a lot to do as you race around the four islands taking part in challenges and side activities, all while collecting new vehicles to add to your collection. Before diving into many of the races that lead to unlocking the new islands, I threw my foot on the gas and took a lot of joy in simply exploring. The first island, Wheelwood, it full of colour and excitement. It adds a lot to the series when you have more freedom and opportunities to unlock a wide range of vehicles.
Despite having some great environments, the gameplay has to be good if you’re going to spend hours driving around and taking part in races. Milestone is one of the best out there. Often known for favouring realism over arcade racing, the developers have found a nice balance. It takes a little time to get used to drifting, utilising boosts at the right time, and incorporating the side dash. However, when it all comes together, Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is great fun. Challenges become tougher, but you’re always equipped to keep up with the best racers.
Milestone has made sure there’s still a challenge in races. It’s easier to control than most racers, but it’s still possible to make mistakes if you’re not concentrating on the track in front of you. There’re also a handful of assists in the options that can help players who may struggle with the controls. Accessibility is something Milestone take seriously, and in Hot Wheels Infinite Rush it’s no different. It’s also worth mentioning that a lot of games don’t always get drifting right, but it’s as smooth as butter here and always enjoyable to do.
There are four types of vehicles that new acquisitions fit into. Versatiles offer a balance across all your stats; Drifters are smooth to operate around corners; Speeders are fast and agile; and Titans are big boys that can bump into other cars and offer a real presence in a race. Being able to switch between these quickly while exploring is pretty cool too. Different challenges might require a faster car or one that can master the drift, and with the press of a button it’s simple to pick another car.
By completing Challenges like simple races, time trials, and eliminations, you’ll unlock new events. Once you’ve completed a certain amount, the Rush Master of the island becomes available. Successfully defeat them and a new island will unlock and you’ll win their vehicle. This is the straightforward path to success, but it’s everything else that populates the map that give you so much more to do. Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is perfect for completionists as there are over 150 vehicles to unlock, some based on real world cars and popular Hot Wheels toys.
Some of the activities include taking photos of certain landmarks; collecting blue cogs within the environment by exploring everywhere to find them; and finding ‘Daredevils’ on the map that can be raced against with victory giving you their vehicle. There are fluid challenges where you might have to run through checkpoints within a certain time or destroying a certain number of environmental objects in a set time limit. There’re a lot to do, and getting the best score provides more coins to spend in shops to get new cars, decals, and more.
On top of having a blast taking part in various races and challenges, there’re tons of customisation options for vehicles, and the Track Builder lets you create some wild tracks that let you bring your imagination to life. Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is packed with stuff to do. It’s ideal for those that like enjoy the thrill of the race and love collectables, but also those that want to use their creativity, too. I love the Forza Horizon series, and it’s clearly taken inspiration from it, but Milestone has made it fit into its own style with plenty of stuff to take part in.
Hot Wheels Infinite Rush may not be as filled with activities and races as other similar titles, but it’s great fun regardless. Whether your a younger gamer or a big kid, there’s enough of a challenge while still easy to get to grips with. The various islands offer different challenges and plenty of vibrancy, and the need to collect different vehicles never leaves you. Earning coins to splash the cash in stores is something I always found exciting, especially as there are new cars across the islands.
