HOT WHEELS™ Infinite Rush Review Summary

Fun, addictive arcade racing with unique vehicles, nitro boosts, a praised open world, and great car variety, but handling and physics issues plus poor full-price value hold it back.

Unique vehicle types and nitro: The four vehicle types (Speed, Titan, Balanced, Drift) each have distinct nitro mechanics, adding playstyle variety. Players appreciate the differentiation and strategic depth.

Open world praised: Players appreciate the open world design, noting it adds freedom and exploration across four distinct islands. The city, beach, and other areas provide a sense of grandeur and fun.

Great car variety and collection: There is a large selection of cars, including many from Hot Wheels history. Collecting all cars and unlocking new ones is a major draw.

Fun and addictive gameplay: The game is widely described as fun, with addictive challenges and a gameplay loop that keeps players engaged. Many mention time flying by and wanting 'just one more' challenge.

Collectibles and activities: The four islands are packed with collectibles, events, and hidden parts, providing hours of gameplay. There are many activities to keep players engaged even after main challenges.

Poor Value at Full Price: Many reviewers feel the game is overpriced, especially at full price, and does not justify its cost. The high price is a common complaint across multiple clusters.

Handling and Physics Issues: The driving behavior is criticized as bad, with cars handling extremely differently in and out of races. The shift to UE5 made cars feel heavier and slower, losing the enjoyable feel of previous titles.

Paywall and DLC Concerns: Reviewers are unhappy about day-one DLC, cars locked behind paywalls, and season passes on release. The game reeks of microtransactions, with overpriced passes and delusional marketing.

Gameplay Becomes Repetitive Quickly: Players report that races feel the same after a few attempts, and the game becomes boring within an afternoon. The lack of variety and engaging content leads to rapid burnout.

Open World is Small and Empty: The islands are rather small and can be explored in about an hour each, with nothing to do but collect things and take photos. The open world feels underutilized and lacks engaging activities.

Open world racing game: The game is an open world arcade racing game, often compared to Forza Horizon, with four islands to explore. It features large maps and free roaming.

Comparisons to other games: The game is often described as Forza Horizon meets Hot Wheels, and a collect-a-thon arcade racer. It is also compared to Burnout and kart racers.

Multiplayer and online features: The game includes both singleplayer and multiplayer modes, with online multiplayer via Epic Online Services, matchmaking, and online seasonal rank races and leaderboards.

Hot Wheels theme and cars: The game features Hot Wheels cars, including Highway 35 and Acceleracers vehicles, and a toy-like miniature car theme. It is inspired by Hot Wheels and feels like a LEGO Speed Champions expansion.

Car classes and nitro types: Vehicles are divided into four types (balanced, speed, titan, drift) with different nitro mechanics. Each type has unique strengths and weaknesses.

Positive performance experiences: Several users report no performance or crash issues, with the game running great on devices like the Legion Go with SteamOS. These positive experiences contrast with the reported issues.

Performance and stability issues: Multiple reports indicate crashes and loading failures, with some users unable to get past the loading screen and others encountering fatal errors. These issues affect the overall playability.

30fps lock due to VRR: The game is locked at 30fps when VRR is enabled, but disabling VRR on the TV unlocks higher framerates. This workaround suggests a compatibility issue with variable refresh rate.

4K resolution bug: A specific bug occurs when running the game at 4K resolution, causing display or performance problems. This is a distinct technical issue from general crashes.

Mixed recommendations overall: Opinions are divided, with some recommending the game and others advising against it. Some negative reviews mention sticking to Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 instead.

Good for kids and families: Reviewers recommend the game as an accessible arcade racer suitable for introducing children to the genre or for family play. It is praised for being fun for all ages.

Appeals to Hot Wheels nostalgia: The game resonates with players who grew up with Hot Wheels toys and playsets. Those with childhood nostalgia are likely to enjoy it.

Not for simulation racing fans: The arcade-style handling may disappoint players seeking a realistic racing simulation. It is better suited for those who prefer accessible, non-heavy racing experiences.

Niche appeal, not for everyone: Some reviewers note the game is very niche and may not appeal to a broad audience. It is recommended mainly for specific tastes.

Community fair range: $15.00 - $25.00.

Game completion: 40.0h.

Session length: 4.0h.

Players report a fun first few hours in the open world, but enjoyment drops after about one afternoon as drip-fed content, tedious gear progression, and multiplayer/co-op limits set in.

Friction: Tedious gear progression; Cannot explore the open world with friends; Multiplayer sound bugs.

Hot Wheels Collector: Collects car series, inspects model details, unlocks vehicles, and explores for collectibles. Motivation: Collecting and admiring authentic Hot Wheels car models and series. Stance: buy.

Veteran Quality and Performance Critic: Completionist play, direct comparison with earlier entries, and critical evaluation of QoL and performance. Motivation: Seeing polished franchise evolution and mastering arcade racing mechanics. Stance: no buy.

Casual Arcade Social Racer: Short solo or friend sessions, arcade racing, minimal grinding, enjoying music and multiplayer. Motivation: Accessible arcade fun and social racing without simulation depth or grind. Stance: buy.

Linux and Proton: The available Linux/SteamOS feedback is uniformly positive. Users report that the game runs well on SteamOS with default Steam Input and default Proton settings, with no mention of crashes, launch failures, anti-cheat friction, or required workarounds. There is no evidence of Linux-specific compatibility problems.

Pricing and DLC complaints: Many reviewers criticize the high price, day-one DLC, season pass, and microtransactions. They feel the content does not justify the cost, and cars are locked behind paywalls.

Comparison to Hot Wheels Unleashed: The game is seen as a step up from Hot Wheels Unleashed 1 & 2, but some consider it a worse version with an open world. Handling is comparable, and previous games were cheaper and better for some.

Compared to Forza Horizon: The game is frequently compared to Forza Horizon, with some calling it 'poor man's Forza' or noting an open world similar to Forza. Others point out that its maps are smaller and more balanced than Forza's overly large maps.

Car roster and DLC plans: The base game includes a good line-up of cars, but there are plans for over a year of dripfeed car DLC. DLC includes Acceleracers and cars for Highway 35 fans, with hopes for more expansions.

Developer and engine details: Developed by Milestone, this is their third Hot Wheels game. It uses Unreal Engine 5, a change from the previous UE4, and a change from the Unleashed formula.