Milestone is returning to the Hot Wheels franchise with Hot Wheels Infinite Rush, an open world take on the racing series. I got to play a 30-minute preview to check out two of the four open-world zones, along with the four types of vehicles and some of the activities. I left excited to see more of this toy-centric racing experience that feels far better than it has any right to.
The first zone was the city, taking on a metropolitan feel, though not of any one specific city. One of the most noticeable differences between Hot Wheels Infinite Rush and Hot Wheels Unleashed is the setting. The previous two games took place in the real world, with you driving underneath tables and through gas stations at an accurate Hot Wheels size. Now, the city looks like it’s part of the same toy set as the cars themselves, with a distinctly plastic, toy-like look. Not only does it give the more open space much more personality, but it also makes the transition from streets to plastic orange tracks feel natural.
The driving in Hot Wheels Infinite Rush continues the arcade feel that nails the near weightlessness of the plastic cars. Drifts still feel tight, and the amount of control you have in the air adds a ton of strategy to how you land after a big jump. In my demo, I checked out two traditional races, one in a Speeder-class car and another in a Titan. With over 150 cars in the game, there are four distinct classes that heavily impact each car’s feel. Speeders are fast and nimble, Titans are heavy, Drifters are great for drifting, and the Versatiles are good at everything, but don’t excel in any specific area.
The difference is obvious in races, but it’s also huge for other activities. There was a drifting challenge that I first attempted in a Speeder and failed miserably, before swapping to a Drifter, at which point I managed to squeak out a victory. I also got to complete a couple of photo challenges and a car delivery, where you have to deliver a vehicle to the other side of the map without taking too much damage. There were even more activities, and the map seemed well-packed.
I moved on to the desert island, where I took on a boss battle, a Rush Master. These head-to-head races earn you a new car and serve as a mani completion of an island. The race was pretty tough, even with every car at my disposal in the preview.
Ultimately, I walked away from my short time, eager to get back to Hot Wheels Infinite Rush. If you want an even more arcade-forward open-world driving experience compared to something like Forza Horizon 6, Hot Wheels Infinite Rush seems poised to deliver a fantastic toybox take.
Hot Wheels Infinite Rush releases on September 24 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC.
