Info about HOT WHEELS™ Infinite Rush:

Official game description:
SPECIAL EDITIONS
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**ULTIMATE EDITION**
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Explore new horizons with the **Ultimate Edition** and unleash amazing content as soon as it becomes available.
The HOT WHEELS™ Infinite Rush - Ultimate Edition includes:
*   The full game;
*   The HOT WHEELS™ Infinite Rush - Vehicle Pass, with 44 amazing vehicles that will be unlocked as soon as they're available;
*   The HOT WHEELS™ Infinite Rush - Ferrari Expansion Pack, with one new Ferrari-themed island to explore and eight new Ferrari vehicles;
*   The HOT WHEELS™ Infinite Rush - Car Collection Pack.
**DELUXE EDITION**
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The ride gets even crazier with the **Deluxe Edition**! In addition to the full game, you'll have access to the Vehicle Pass and its content as soon as it becomes available: expand your vehicle collection, grow your Rush Squad, and keep the race going!
COMPARISON GRID
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About the Game
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Race beyond the orange track and jump into a Hot Wheels™-sized world with four islands to explore, each with its own vibe and challenges. Roam freely through a world full of adventures, smash obstacles, discover secret items, and take on epic activities.
**BECOME THE RUSH MASTER**
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Each island is ruled by a Rush Master – the ultimate boss to defeat. Complete events to unlock their challenge, and beat them to claim their car and title. Once you've conquered all four, be crowned the one true Rush Master!
**PICK YOUR RIDE**
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Master four unique vehicle types: all-out Versatiles, massive Titans, agile Drifters, and lightning-fast Speeders. Each offers a different way to race. Choose your favorite rides, build your Rush Squad, and get ready for any challenge. And don't stop there: show off by customizing your car, right down to the wheels!
**A COLLECTION LIKE NO OTHER**
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Discover and collect 150+ vehicles through events, activities, and challenges. Unlock rare models, fill your garage, and hit the road with some of the most iconic Hot Wheels™ out there.
**MAKE THE WORLD YOUR TRACK**
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With the new Track Builder, create next-level tracks using the world around you. Attach modules to the ground, build around buildings, or race above the city, weaving around towering skyscrapers.
**ENDLESS FUN**
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Take on a variety of game modes including single-player, split-screen with up to four players, and online multiplayer with full cross-play\*. Climb the leaderboards, prove your skills, and race your way to the top!
\*Nintendo Switch™ 2 excluded

Release date: Sep 10, 2026

Categories: Arcade Racing, Open-World Exploration, Vehicle Customization, Collectathon, Track Building, Split-screen Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer, Cross-play

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 5; verdict: Works Well; summary: 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.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $15.00 - $25.00
  - Reasoning: The clearest price anchor comes from a reviewer who says they would recommend the game at around £20/$25 but not at full price. Other reviews reinforce that the current pricing is too expensive and not justified for the amount of content, while the translated Portuguese review specifically criticizes AAA-level console pricing. This suggests the community fair base-game range is below typical AAA pricing, centered around $20-$25, with tolerance down to roughly $15 given repeated complaints that even the full price is not worth it.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 40.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 4.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The quote stating that a player can get about 40 hours if they want to 100% everything directly supports a game-completion estimate of 40 hours for full completion. The comment about playing for 4 hours directly supports a session length of about 4 hours, and the statement that it is a good way to spend a few hours is consistent with typical sessions in the few-hour range. No provided evidence quantifies story completion or a separate endgame duration, so those metrics are null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: 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.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Tedious gear progression; Cannot explore the open world with friends; Multiplayer sound bugs
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: N/A
- Player Archetypes:
  - Hot Wheels Collector (buy)
    - Motivation: Collecting and admiring authentic Hot Wheels car models and series.
    - Playstyle: Collects car series, inspects model details, unlocks vehicles, and explores for collectibles.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: collector
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Veteran Quality and Performance Critic (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeing polished franchise evolution and mastering arcade racing mechanics.
    - Playstyle: Completionist play, direct comparison with earlier entries, and critical evaluation of QoL and performance.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Hot Wheels Unleashed
  - Casual Arcade Social Racer (buy)
    - Motivation: Accessible arcade fun and social racing without simulation depth or grind.
    - Playstyle: Short solo or friend sessions, arcade racing, minimal grinding, enjoying music and multiplayer.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Track Editor Content Creator (sale)
    - Motivation: Extending the game through custom tracks and exploration after the single-player content runs out.
    - Playstyle: Builds custom tracks, explores semi-open areas, unlocks content, and seeks long-tail replayability.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Unique vehicle types and nitro (weight 0.63): 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 (weight 0.6): 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 (weight 0.58): 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 (weight 0.51): 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 (weight 0.45): 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.
- Great graphics and art style (weight 0.45): Graphics look great, with a beautiful artistic direction and unique style. Attention to detail on car models is incredible.
- Family-friendly arcade racer (weight 0.35): The game is a great arcade racer suitable for the whole family, with a solid collect-a-thon structure. It appeals to both beginners and experienced players.
- Excellent soundtrack and sound (weight 0.28): The music and sound effects are frequently praised as amazing, upbeat, and adding to the overall experience.
- Improved over previous Hot Wheels (weight 0.28): The game is seen as a big step up from Hot Wheels Unleashed 1 and 2, with a seamless open world and better handling.
- Smooth controls and handling (weight 0.28): Controls feel smooth and intuitive, with a pleasant driving model. Handling is fine-tuned and responsive.
- Fun with friends and multiplayer (weight 0.22): The game is fun with friends, and multiplayer works well. Vehicle customization and custom tracks add to the experience.
- Imaginative and detailed world (weight 0.22): The game is very imaginative, with funny details and a fully toy-like environment. The removal of real-world references creates a cohesive toy world.
- SteamOS compatibility and performance (weight 0.21): The game works on SteamOS with default settings and runs great without performance or crash issues.
- Quick progression, no grind (weight 0.16): Progression to unlock new cars, upgrades, and areas is quick and does not feel like a grind, keeping the game enjoyable.
- New draft and dash mechanics (weight 0.16): The new draft mechanic gives more speed when behind a car, and the dash to hit other cars is similar to Unleashed.
- Map features: duels and black market (weight 0.16): The map includes wild cars for duels (Burnout-like homage) and black market items purchasable with special tokens from challenge levels.
- Traps and environmental variety (weight 0.16): Added interesting traps like water channels, ice tracks, and nitro-reduction traps, along with rings and traps on the map.
- Driving model blend of kart and sim (weight 0.16): The driving is a merge between silly kart and realistic racers, with a pleasant handling model that simplifies throttle requirements.
- Nitro effects and customizations (weight 0.15): The shop has special nitro effects and sounds, and the nitro changes this generation are very interesting.
- Roadmap and future content (weight 0.09): A roadmap already announces many additional content updates, showing ongoing support.

Common complaints:
- Poor Value at Full Price (weight 0.46): 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 (weight 0.45): 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 (weight 0.45): 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 (weight 0.4): 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 (weight 0.39): 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.
- Missing Features from Previous Games (weight 0.37): Reviewers note the removal of self-jump, weakened boost inertia, and the loss of creative elements like centimeter distance units and paint chipping effects. The lack of a jump button in the open world is a bizarre omission.
- Lack of Navigation and Track Guidance (weight 0.34): The game lacks GPS or navigation to follow the track, and checkpoint placement is loose, allowing severe cuts. This makes it difficult to know where to go and undermines fair racing.
- Performance and Technical Problems (weight 0.34): Players experience crashes, fatal errors, and loading screen freezes. There are also issues with resolution settings, sound bugs in multiplayer, and the game being locked at 30fps due to VRR.
- Menu and Control Usability Issues (weight 0.27): Menus are extremely finicky with a controller, with rapid cursor movement, and there is a bug where the game thinks the A button is stuck, causing constant boosting. The HUD for quests and tutorials is also annoying to read.
- Graphics and Visual Quality Criticized (weight 0.26): Some players find the graphics trash, with reduced detail compared to the previous game. Many assets and traps are reused, and a goofy-looking King Kong flopping around is distracting.
- Daredevil Challenges and Progression Issues (weight 0.26): Daredevil challenges have a large difficulty gap, and races require hoping to find the roaming car if you lose. Progression feels tedious, and players don't understand how to get farther than level 5.
- Online and Multiplayer Limitations (weight 0.26): The use of Epic Online Services prevents playing online with Steam friends in an in-game lobby. Matchmaking is unfair, and the online future seems unlikely to be popular.
- Unrewarding and Uninspired Events (weight 0.21): Events are unrewarding, and the game does not attempt anything truly interesting. It feels like a worse version of the Unleashed games but with an open world.
- Sound and Music Problems (weight 0.2): Sound effects are buggy on multiplayer, and there is no voiceover or announcer. The music is considered so bad that it's best set to volume zero.
- Feels Like a Rehash with Padding (weight 0.2): The game feels like a rehash and padded content for the price, thrown together with pieces of other Hot Wheels games. It provides lots of padding content that is less stimulating than actual toys.
- Track Editor Restrictions (weight 0.16): The track creator limits you to the island you start on, preventing unique environment tracks. The map editor is considered so bad it should not have shipped.
- Tutorial Pop-ups and Intrusive HUD (weight 0.15): Players are bombarded with pop-up instruction tutorials, and the HUD for quests is annoying. This disrupts the gameplay experience.
- Car Stats Imbalance (weight 0.15): Weaker cars cannot compete with end-game cars, and earlier cars have way too low stats for later game. This creates an imbalance in progression and racing.
- Difficulty and Challenge Concerns (weight 0.15): Racing is not very challenging on medium difficulty, and the game is extremely shallow and very easy. This reduces engagement for players seeking a challenge.
- Lack of Quality-of-Life Features (weight 0.15): The game lacks quality-of-life features, and the controls feel off compared to Hot Wheels Unleashed 2. This makes the overall experience less polished and enjoyable.

Gameplay feedback:
- Open world racing game (weight 0.99): 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 (weight 0.66): 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 (weight 0.63): 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 (weight 0.6): 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 (weight 0.55): Vehicles are divided into four types (balanced, speed, titan, drift) with different nitro mechanics. Each type has unique strengths and weaknesses.
- Collectibles and progression (weight 0.43): Players can collect gears, hidden parts, and other collectibles across the islands. The progression system uses gears to unlock new cars, upgrades, activities, and areas.
- Car roster and variety (weight 0.42): The game includes plenty of cars, including 2000s classics, with varying stats. There are multiple cars and classes, and players can hold four cars and swap classes easily.
- Game modes and features (weight 0.42): The game has different race modes such as elimination and stunts, a checkpoint system, and a draft mechanic for speed boost. There is also a photo mode and music.
- Driving and handling model (weight 0.38): The handling model is tuned from previous Hot Wheels Unleashed titles and merges silly kart and realistic racer styles. It focuses on nitro management in corners.
- Variety of activities (weight 0.38): The game offers many activities including daredevil challenges, races, stunts, collecting, and photo challenges. Events are marked on the map and can be completed sequentially.
- Track and map details (weight 0.35): The game has semi-open world maps or five large open maps separated by loading screens. Maps contain wild cars to duel, rings, traps, and water channels.
- Controls and gameplay (weight 0.35): The game features smooth and intuitive controls, with a drift mechanic and dash to hit other cars. There is no jump button and self-jump removed.
- Custom track creation (weight 0.34): The game features a custom track builder and map editor, allowing players to create and share custom tracks and car skins online.
- Vehicle customization options (weight 0.29): Players can customize vehicles with paint jobs, stickers, and nitro effects and sounds. There is also a livery editor with stickers.
- DLC and pricing concerns (weight 0.27): Some players mention day one DLC, an auto pass for 40 at launch, and the Ultimate version costing twice the regular game. There are also car DLC plans.
- Handling inconsistencies (weight 0.26): Cars handle differently in and out of races, and different events handle differently. Drift events require handling turned all the way up.
- Navigation and tutorials (weight 0.21): The game lacks GPS or navigation system, which can make finding objectives difficult. Pop-up instruction tutorials appear at the start.
- Performance and resolution (weight 0.09): One player notes the game can only run at 2k resolution with 120 FPS. This may indicate performance limitations.
- No upgrade system (weight 0.09): There is no upgrade system to make weaker cars competitive, which may affect progression. This is noted as a potential drawback.
- Black market and tokens (weight 0.09): Black market items require special tokens earned from challenge levels. This adds a layer of progression and exclusivity.

Performance notes:
- Positive performance experiences (weight 0.24): 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 (weight 0.18): 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 (weight 0.1): 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 (weight 0.1): 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.

Recommendations:
- Mixed recommendations overall (weight 0.35): 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 (weight 0.17): 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 (weight 0.16): 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 (weight 0.16): 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 (weight 0.09): Some reviewers note the game is very niche and may not appeal to a broad audience. It is recommended mainly for specific tastes.
- Lack of online content concern (weight 0.09): One reviewer expresses apprehension about buying if not planning to play online, unless interested in map creation. This suggests limited offline value for some.
- Predecessors are better value (weight 0.09): A reviewer recommends getting the predecessors instead, as they are better and much cheaper via key sellers or Steam sales. This implies the current game may not justify its price.

Other player notes:
- Pricing and DLC complaints (weight 0.86): 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 (weight 0.49): 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 (weight 0.4): 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 (weight 0.39): 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 (weight 0.34): 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.
- SteamOS and Steam Deck support (weight 0.28): The game runs on SteamOS devices like Legion Go and Steam Deck, with default Steam Input and Proton settings. It also has an online library for sharing custom maps and skins.
- Niche arcade racing focus (weight 0.27): The game is a niche arcade racer, with a concept inspired by Burnout and other city exploring arcade racers. It is compared to Trackmania as 'baby's first Trackmania' and to Mario Kart dismissively.
- Open world design and islands (weight 0.23): The game features a new open world like Forza, with four distinct and visually pleasing islands. However, maps are separated by loading screens, which may disrupt immersion.
- Online features and longevity (weight 0.23): The game has seasonal rank races and leaderboards, but multiplayer longevity is uncertain compared to Hot Wheels Unleashed 2. It uses Epic Online Services for online play.
- Nitro mechanics comparisons (weight 0.22): Different nitro types are compared to other arcade racers: titan nitro to Redout's infinite nitro, speed nitro to Burnout's one-can-at-a-time nitro, and drift nitro to KartRider's nitro drift.
- Burnout-inspired mechanics (weight 0.22): The game includes wild car duels on the map as an homage to Burnout's crash-to-get-car mechanic, and nitro types are compared to Burnout.
- Positive comparison to Lego 2K Drive (weight 0.16): The game is seen as the first competitor to Lego 2K Drive in the kiddy open-world racer market. The city layout is similar to Lego 2K Drive but with more breathing room.
- Graphics and asset reuse (weight 0.16): Graphics detail is reduced compared to the previous Hot Wheels game by Milestone, and many assets and traps are reused from the previous game.
- Content volume and playtime (weight 0.16): Some reviewers note that you can get about 40 hours of gameplay if you aim for 100% completion, but others feel the content volume relative to price is insufficient.
- Previous game environments and mechanics (weight 0.16): Previous games featured toy circuits in realistic environments like house gardens, minigolf courses, or gas stations, with miniature cars racing through furniture gaps and flowerpots.
- Soundtrack characteristics (weight 0.15): The soundtrack avoids lyrics and real-world music, with no licensed tracks.
- Milestone's operational issues (weight 0.09): Concerns are raised about Milestone's poor operation ability, as evidenced by Screamer not being updated for half a year, which may drag the game down.
- Localization and market pricing (weight 0.08): Reviewers suggest the price should be localized for the Brazilian market.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.2): Players express disappointment due to reduced graphics quality, reused assets, and a small map area that does not justify the high price. The presence of microtransactions, day-one DLC, and season passes further diminishes the value, while shallow gameplay and worse driving physics compared to previous titles add to the letdown.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.16): Enjoyment stems from the game's fun and smooth arcade racing, with a pleasant driving model and fine-tuned handling. The semi-open world offers freedom to roam and collect cars, and the inclusion of many Highway 35 and Acceleracers vehicles adds to the appeal.
- Frustration (weight 0.14): Frustration is caused by technical issues such as fatal errors, bugged 4K resolution, and a 30fps lock, as well as poor controls and unfair matchmaking. Progression feels tedious, and the inability to play online with Steam friends exacerbates the annoyance.
- Annoyance (weight 0.06): Annoyance arises from inconsistent car handling between races and free roam, a lack of GPS, and a limited track creator restricted to one island. Additionally, cumbersome menus, a hard-to-read HUD, and missing jump button contribute to the irritation.
- Excitement (weight 0.06): Excitement was driven by the abundance of cars and activities, the return of the open world, and the inclusion of Acceleracers and Highway 35 content. Many players were highly anticipating the game, especially after enjoying Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 and its DLC.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.06): Nostalgia is evoked by the miniature car theme and the presence of Highway 35 and Acceleracers cars, which remind players of childhood play with Hot Wheels playsets and tracks. The game feels like reliving those childhood moments.
- Surprise (weight 0.04): Surprise resulted from the game exceeding expectations and turning out to be a very nice surprise for players.
- Relief (weight 0.04): Relief came from getting used to the handling and fixing framerate issues by turning off VRR, leading to a tighter and more seamless experience compared to previous games.
- Mild disappointment (weight 0.02): Mild disappointment is felt because the game seems like a rehash with padded content that does not justify its price.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.02): Satisfaction is derived from the game working well on SteamOS and offering fun driving.
- Fun (weight 0.02): Fun is experienced through enjoyable racing and engaging environments.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom sets in as races become repetitive and the game loses its fun, with both singleplayer and multiplayer feeling dull.
- Addiction (weight 0.02): Addiction is fueled by challenges that are particularly engaging, making players want to keep doing one more.
- Worry (weight 0.02): Worry stems from concerns that Milestone's poor operation ability will likely drag the game down.
- Nervousness (weight 0.02): Nervousness is caused by uncertainty about how much single player content the game offers.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm is driven by fun driving mechanics, collectables, and customization options.
- Happiness (weight 0.02): Happiness is felt by players who are really enjoying the game and are happy with it.
- Concern (weight 0.02): Concern is expressed that the multiplayer might die like in Hot Wheels Unleashed 2.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Appreciation is shown for the aesthetics, textures, and city layout of the game.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy comes from exploring islands, collecting items, and driving around.}