REVIEW | Hot Wheels Infinite Rush

I’ve always liked racing games that give you room to breathe, the kind where you can take a break from the competition and just explore. Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is a colourful, accessible arcade racer built around the famous toy cars, and it brings that spirit into an open world filled with speed and spectacle. It’s a game that invites you to chase speed and creativity in equal measure, blending familiar Hot Wheels flair with a new sense of freedom. It’s the kind of freedom that fans of Forza Horizon will instantly recognise.

Developed by Milestone, this third entry in the series follows Hot Wheels Unleashed and Unleashed 2, marking the studio’s first time taking the brand into an open world format. Players can collect over 150 vehicles through events, activities, and challenges, mastering four distinct types: Versatiles, Titans, Drifters, and Speeders. Each offers a unique way to race, and with deep customization options right down to the wheels, Infinite Rush proves it has plenty to offer for anyone who loves fast, imaginative racing.

So, how does it stack up? Time to find out.

Things I liked!

• Visuals | From the moment you hit the accelerator, Infinite Rush bursts with colour and personality. Every surface feels alive, tracks gleam under bright skies, and the cars themselves look fantastic, right down to the tiny details in their paintwork and shells. Even up close, the craftsmanship stands out, giving each vehicle its own sense of style.
  
  The world around you is just as impressive. Each map has its own identity, from the giant ape towering over the opening island to the Kraken lurking in another. These landmarks make exploration feel rewarding, turning every race into a visual spectacle rather than just a change of scenery.
  
  Overall, the visuals are one of Infinite Rush’s strongest points. They’re vibrant, detailed, and full of character, perfectly matching the over‑the‑top spirit that defines Hot Wheels, a world where imagination and speed collide in spectacular fashion.

• Gameplay | At its core, Infinite Rush is a genuinely enjoyable arcade racer. The cars feel fast and responsive, and there’s a real sense of excitement as you tear around the different islands. Each race feels lively and rewarding, with plenty to do and more events and activities unlocking as you take first place and progress through the world.
  
  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, you’ll be crowned the one true Rush Master, a satisfying goal that gives every victory real purpose.
  
  What makes the experience shine is the freedom it gives you. Infinite Rush never forces you down a single path. You can choose which events to tackle and explore each island at your own pace, creating a rhythm that feels relaxed yet engaging. It’s a structure that encourages discovery and keeps the gameplay fresh from start to finish.
  
  
• Activities and Events | Some of the most enjoyable activities move away from standard racing. Delivery tasks have you getting a car to the dealership as quickly as possible without exceeding the damage limit, while Find the Flame challenges you to locate a burning flame in record time. It takes plenty of trial and error as you learn the routes, but it’s satisfying once you nail it. The photo activity is another highlight, asking you to capture specific objects in the frame, such as a certain car type with the giant ape in the background.
  
  The destruction event is pure chaos and easily one of the most entertaining. You’re given a set amount of time to cause as much damage as possible, and it’s just a blast to play.
  
  Completing activities earns you coins for the dealership, while bigger events reward you with new cars. With so much variety on offer, Infinite Rush never feels too repetitive, keeping each challenge fresh and fun.
  
  
• Cars | Infinite Rush features more than 150 vehicles to collect, each with its own style and personality. The game divides them into four classes that feel noticeably different to drive. Versatiles are the dependable all rounders, Titans focus on raw power, Drifters specialise in sliding through corners, and Speeders are built for maximum velocity. You can change classes quickly by pressing a button and selecting the one you want, and the process is smooth enough that it never interrupts the flow of play.
  
  
• Performance | Speed isn’t just part of the gameplay; it’s built into how Infinite Rush runs. Everything moves at a steady 60FPS, and throughout my time playing, I never encountered any noticeable slowdown. Even when racing at high speeds with plenty happening on screen, the game holds together beautifully and keeps the experience feeling smooth.
  
  There were a few very minor visual glitches here and there, but they were rare and never affected the gameplay. Overall, Infinite Rush runs incredibly well, and that consistent performance makes racing around the tracks feel fast, fluid, and satisfying.
  
  
• Controls | Handling the cars in Infinite Rush feels instantly satisfying. The controls are easy to pick up, with responsive steering and acceleration that make racing smooth and intuitive. Drifting takes a little time to master, but once you get the feel for it, it’s incredibly rewarding and adds a nice layer of skill to each race.
  
  You can also dash to the left or right, which is great for quick manoeuvres or slamming into other racers. It’s a clever mechanic, though I didn’t find myself using it very often. Overall, the controls strike a great balance between accessibility and precision, letting you focus on the thrill of racing rather than fighting with the inputs.
  
  
• Collectibles | There’s plenty to collect as you race and explore each of the four islands. Each one contains 300 gears to find along with 10 flaming logos, some of which require big jumps or daring cliff dives to reach. They’re fun to hunt down and add a nice layer of challenge to exploration.
  
  You’ll also find 10 metallic stickers on each island, which you need to photograph using the photo mode to collect. These can be tricky to spot, but the game helpfully notifies you when you’re nearby. It’s a clever idea that gives you another reason to explore and makes great use of the photo mode beyond simple screenshots.
  
  With so many collectibles scattered across each island, there’s always something to chase. Whether you’re aiming for completion or just enjoying the hunt, Infinite Rush keeps exploration exciting and rewards curiosity at every turn.
  
  
• Multiplayer | Racing is always better with friends, and Infinite Rush delivers plenty of ways to compete. Locally, up to four players can jump into split-screen races, making it perfect for lively couch competitions. Online, you can join ranked races, Rush events, or set up private matches with two or more players. Ranked mode features a leaderboard where you start as a rookie racer and level up as you play, adding a satisfying sense of progression.
  
  I played a few online races and managed to win several. Occasionally, matchmaking didn’t always find other players, though that was likely due to playing before the official release. Once in a match, everything ran smoothly with no issues, making online racing just as enjoyable as local play.
  
  
• Creativity Corner | The Creativity Corner is a great addition to Infinite Rush, giving players plenty of ways to get creative. Here you can design your own tracks using the track builder, customise your cars with the livery and sticker editors, and even race on community‑made tracks. It’s a fantastic feature that adds a lot to the game’s replayability and encourages players to experiment and share their creations.
  
  
• Accessibility Options | Infinite Rush gives players plenty of ways to fine-tune the experience. There are four difficulty levels ranging from Easy to Very Hard, plus assists for steering, braking, acceleration, and air control that can be toggled on or off.
  
  You can fully remap the controls, adjust vibration, change the game language and units of measure, and even tweak menu text size. Visual options include colour‑blind filters, motion blur toggles, and brightness settings, while audio sliders and a tinnitus reduction filter help fine‑tune sound. There’s also a game speed setting that lets you slow things down for better reaction time.
  
  Unfortunately, photo mode doesn’t include an option to invert the camera, which would have been a helpful addition. Still, with such a wide range of settings, Infinite Rush offers impressive accessibility and comfort for players of all skill levels.

Mixed & disliked!

• Race Layout and Navigation | Races in Infinite Rush are fast, dynamic, and often unpredictable. You’ll frequently launch off jumps, and with few barriers to keep you on track, it’s possible to take a wrong turn or miss a jump and end up off a ledge. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it can be frustrating. The open design works well most of the time, as races take place within the main map and encourage exploration.
  
  Some events feature walls with glowing arrows that guide you in the right direction, almost like holograms you can drive straight through, while others rely on checkpoints to mark the route. At times, it can be tricky to figure out exactly where you’re meant to go, which occasionally leads to taking a wrong turn or ending up off the track.
  
  Thankfully, respawning is quick and only takes a few seconds, though it can place you further back in the race and sometimes cost you the win. Even so, the mix of freedom and risk gives each race a thrilling sense of momentum and keeps the action exciting from start to finish.
  
  
• Music and Audio | The audio in Infinite Rush is a bit of a mixed bag. The music is one of the weaker parts for me, with most of the soundtrack fairly forgettable. That said, a few energetic electronic tracks stand out and fit the fast-paced nature of the game nicely.
  
  The sound effects, on the other hand, are excellent. The cars have powerful, loud engine noises that vary depending on the vehicle you’re driving, and the audio shifts naturally with your surroundings. Sounds become muffled or pick up extra reverb when passing through canals or tunnels, adding a real sense of space. From the roar of the engines to the ambient details around each track, the sound design brings the races to life even when the music doesn’t quite hit the same mark.

• Fast Travel | On each island in Infinite Rush, there’s a single ramp that lets you fast travel between any of the four islands. It’s the only way to move between them, and it works really well once you reach it, making inter‑island travel simple and seamless.
  
  However, I do wish you could fast travel to specific spots on an island, or directly to event locations you’ve unlocked. Having just one ramp per island means you still need to drive a fair distance to reach certain areas, so being able to jump straight to events would make getting around even more convenient.
  
  
• Loading Times | The loading times in Infinite Rush can be a little slow at times. When first booting up the game or after completing an event, you can be waiting for up to 60 seconds before getting back into the action. It’s not a major issue, but it does break the flow slightly, especially when you’re eager to jump straight into the next race.

• How long did I play the review before publishing? 17 hours
• How long to beat the story? 10 Hours
• How many Achievements did I earn before publishing? 16/50 OR 255/1000G
• How long to get 100%? | 40+ Hours
• You’ll love this game if you like these | Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 Turbocharged and Forza Horizon 6

Score: 83/100

A colourful celebration of speed and creativity that keeps you coming back for more.

Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is a vibrant, fast‑paced arcade racer that shines through its colourful world, responsive handling, varied activities, and impressive performance. The freedom to explore, the excitement of its events, and the creative tools all come together to deliver a lively, imaginative experience. While a few elements like navigation clarity, loading times, and the soundtrack fall a little short, they never overshadow the thrill of racing across its four islands. There’s genuine fun to be found here for all ages, and plenty of reasons to keep coming back for more.