Hot Wheels Unleashed

'Hot Wheels Unleashed' handles like a dream for toy cars.

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Hot Wheels Unleashed is a Kids Arcade game that offers various game modes, including local multi-player for up to 2 players, multi-player, and single-player. The game features a collection of iconic Hot Wheels vehicles, allowing players to build and race on spectacular tracks. With its split-screen feature, players can dive into breathtaking races and make their vehicles race at full speed.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,743 reviews

gameplay130 positive mentions

monetization41 negative mentions

Fun and fast-paced gameplay that captures the excitement of racing with Hot Wheels cars.
Great graphics and attention to detail, making the cars and tracks visually appealing.
Robust track editor and livery customization options that allow for creativity.

Heavy reliance on DLC and microtransactions, making it feel like a cash grab.
AI difficulty is poorly balanced, with rubber-banding making races frustrating.
Repetitive tracks and limited game modes lead to a lack of long-term engagement.

gameplay
318 mentions
41 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Hot Wheels Unleashed" is characterized by its fast-paced, arcade-style racing mechanics that are easy to learn but challenging to master, featuring drifting and boost mechanics that many players find enjoyable. However, the game suffers from repetitive track design, a lack of diverse gameplay modes, and frustrating loot box mechanics for unlocking cars, which detracts from the overall experience. While the driving feels responsive and the graphics are praised, the balance issues and reliance on gacha mechanics leave some players feeling disappointed.
- “But this game goes above and beyond with gorgeous real-time graphics, a huge amount of content even without DLC, an amazingly flexible track editor, and incredibly fun arcade racing gameplay with 'easy to learn, hard to master' controls.”
- “The gameplay is fast, competitive, and frantic.”
- “The gameplay is very enjoyable and the graphics do an excellent job of making you feel like a kid playing with your Hot Wheels collection again.”
- “The gameplay feels repetitive, and the tracks all seem very similar.”
- “The core gameplay and track design are nothing special at all.”
- “The gameplay is exceedingly shallow.”
graphics
249 mentions
60 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Hot Wheels Unleashed" have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant, detailed aesthetic that effectively captures the essence of the iconic toy cars. Many players highlight the stunning visuals, including realistic car models and imaginative track designs, which enhance the overall racing experience. While some critiques mention occasional graphical issues, the general consensus is that the game boasts impressive graphics that elevate its nostalgic appeal and gameplay enjoyment.
- “The graphics are stunning, immersing you into the world of Hot Wheels.”
- “The visuals are outstanding, showing off the littlest of details like plastic seams and fingerprints.”
- “The graphics are nothing short of photorealistic and the environments give serious Stunt Track Driver vibes.”
- “Graphics look like plastic, wacky sense of scale and stupid looking car designs.”
- “Looks like crap graphics on Unreal Engine, and not really optimized, so it takes too much resources of PC for nothing. 29GB space on hard drive is for nothing too.”
- “The graphics are the worst I have ever seen on a game that uses this engine.”
music
162 mentions
26 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it either bland or repetitive, often overshadowed by in-game sound effects like car noises. While some appreciate the upbeat electronic tracks and funky grooves, others criticize the lack of variety and the inability to adjust car sound levels independently from the music. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a missed opportunity, with many players wishing for a more memorable and diverse selection that aligns with the game's energetic racing theme.
- “The music was a surprise; usually racing games have terrible music, but there's a lot of catchy funky grooves, and the engine and exhaust sounds were shockingly well done for a non-sim.”
- “The funky soundtrack won me over immediately, and I never thought I'd say that about funk in a racing game!”
- “The soundtrack does its job and can give you that extra boost when racing.”
- “The soundtrack is so bland that it actually stands out.”
- “My only real 'major' gripe is that for some reason there's a master volume slider and a music slider, but no car sounds slider, which means I can turn down the overall game and I can turn off the music, but I can't turn off or lower the car's volume, which means that literally no matter what I do, the music is always being drowned out by the car.”
- “The music is a forgettable set of techno tracks.”
monetization
115 mentions
8 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
36 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" due to the prevalence of DLCs, loot boxes, and aggressive post-purchase monetization tactics. While some users appreciate that there are no direct microtransactions for in-game currency, the overall sentiment is that the game feels designed to push players towards additional spending, leading to frustration over its monetization practices. Despite the fun gameplay, the heavy focus on monetization detracts from the overall experience, making it hard for many to recommend the game at full price.
- “Just to be clear, there aren't microtransactions, in that you don't buy blind boxes or in-game currency with real money.”
- “There are also no microtransactions at the time I am typing this, all items are unlocked through gameplay.”
- “So you can unlock cars without spending a dime beyond the initial purchasing price; it should be noted that there are no microtransactions, you can only unlock cars with earned in-game currency or by buying the cars that come as DLC.”
- “It's a cynical corporate cash grab featuring a beloved children's toy, and also a game about making your car go fast.”
- “The game is a cash grabber: paid game, racing season, DLC, and they even put achievements based on DLC, so you will never complete the game if they continue to release expansions.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is utterly ruined by the unspeakably scummy DLC and monetization choices the devs went with.”
story
102 mentions
12 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The game's "story" mode is widely criticized for lacking depth, essentially serving as a series of disconnected races without any meaningful narrative or character development. Players note that it feels like a bare-bones structure designed merely to facilitate gameplay rather than to engage with a compelling story, with many expressing that they would prefer a more substantial narrative experience. Overall, the consensus is that if you're seeking a rich story, this game falls short, offering little more than a collection of races and unlockable content.
- “The single-player 'story' is really just a bunch of time attack, elimination, and regular races, but I find myself okay with this as I'm not really here for a potentially cringe story about how diecast cars need to save the planet from... whatever nonsense Mattel would come up with; think of it as just a way to get a feel for the game instead.”
- “Being only 30% or so through the campaign/story mode, every track I have driven on feels different and seems unique in its own way, which is important.”
- “And I did quite enjoy the game's 'story mode' for the single-player experience, which was something that most recent racing games have really lacked.”
- “The game has a 'story' mode which is really just a means to serve the player the races in a slightly more interesting way than a simple list.”
- “There are no championships, no tournaments, no story; you have a list of single races and time trials that you can complete one after the other, while new cars are unlocked randomly.”
- “The story is basically non-existent and it's clear that they didn't have anyone to write it, so they slapped together a few sentences and left it at that.”
grinding
93 mentions
3 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, primarily due to its reliance on gacha mechanics for car acquisition and the need to repeatedly engage in the same events to earn in-game currency. Players report frustration with the RNG nature of loot boxes, the necessity of grinding for duplicates, and the overall lack of meaningful rewards, leading to a sense of monotony and dissatisfaction. While some players find enjoyment in the gameplay, the overwhelming consensus is that the grinding detracts significantly from the overall experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The in-game way to purchase cars refreshes every 90 minutes, but only counts time spent in-game and does not change in real time, making car collecting very tedious and results in people having to idle the game.”
- “The copious amount of grinding.”
- “Grinding is not fun, it's a chore.”
replayability
30 mentions
37 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising the extensive options provided by features like a track designer, customizable elements, and various mission modes, which contribute to significant replay value. However, some users express disappointment with the lack of content after completing the main campaign, citing a short playtime and minimal endgame challenges. Overall, while there are elements that enhance replayability, opinions vary widely on its longevity and value.
- “Lots of replayability with 50+ mission mode challenges, a customizable personal basement, and a gazillion cars and basement decors to unlock.”
- “This provides a lot of variety and replayability, ensuring that you'll be able to come back to the game again and again.”
- “Races are fun, drifting feels extremely satisfying, the custom tracks are very creative, and overall the replay value of this game is just...outstanding.”
- “Also, it's got no replayability.”
- “I beat the whole game in 20 hours and it has zero replay value.”
- “I could go on, but I just hate how bad the replayability of this game is; I don't even want to get into it.”
optimization
29 mentions
31 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players praise its high-quality graphics and smooth performance on various hardware, others criticize it for being resource-intensive and poorly optimized in certain areas, such as the UI and multiplayer experience. Some users report impressive performance even on older systems, but rushed development and over-monetization have negatively impacted the game's overall optimization.
- “Also it has really good optimization for its graphics, I have a PC that hasn't gotten any upgrades in years and I can still easily get 144+ fps.”
- “As far as optimization goes, I am very impressed at how smoothly this game runs while also looking downright photo-realistic.”
- “You can tell this dev team put a lot of care into the visuals and performance.”
- “Looks like crap graphics on Unreal Engine, and not really optimized, so it takes too much resources of my PC for nothing. 29GB space on hard drive is for nothing too.”
- “I can't believe that this poorly optimized game costs so much.”
- “Rushed development and over-monetization has hindered the game's performance.”
stability
24 mentions
21 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
79 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players reporting a smooth experience free of bugs, while others encounter frequent glitches and crashes that disrupt gameplay. The livery creator and track builder are noted to be particularly buggy, though they still offer enjoyable features. Overall, while the game runs well for many, significant stability issues persist, leading to frustration for some users.
- “The details are amazing and the game runs great.”
- “Game runs great, didn't witness any crashes or bugs, which is quite impressive.”
- “It runs great, the ultimate stunt edition is well worth your money and it will definitely save you money in the long run.”
- “Doesn't work half the time - it glitches and you have to restart the game.”
- “Unfortunately, it's a buggy game full of scummy sales tactics and loot boxes that I can't recommend and probably won't be playing more of.”
- “It's buggy, needs more updates, and feels unfinished.”
humor
22 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying the wacky cars, outrageous crashes, and cheeky stunts that lead to non-stop laughter. Many reviews highlight the fun of multiplayer sessions, where friends can share hilarious moments, while custom maps and unique vehicle designs add to the comedic experience. Despite some criticisms regarding monetization and multiplayer issues, the overall sentiment is that the game delivers a lighthearted and entertaining experience.
- “From the cheeky stunts to the outrageous crashes, you'll be laughing non-stop.”
- “It's a funny and goofy game.”
- “The custom maps are hilarious and the handling is just pure arcade fun.”
emotional
11 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with nostalgia for car designs evoking fond memories, while frustrating gameplay mechanics lead to feelings of annoyance and disappointment. Players express a deep connection to certain elements, such as the old Deora II, which can elicit strong emotional reactions, both positive and negative. Overall, the game elicits a range of emotions, from nostalgia and entertainment to frustration and sadness due to its mechanics and unlock systems.
- “Seeing several of the car designs made me feel a bit nostalgic.”
- “The downloadable Acceleracers content, for example, almost made me cry by showing me the old Deora II from Highway 35 World Race.”
- “The last time I played a Hot Wheels game was on the Xbox; it's emotional, entertaining, and the expansions are very good.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is enhanced by realistic elements such as a lively crowd, dugouts, and floodlights, creating an engaging big-match feel. The track design and varied environments evoke a nostalgic mid-2000s Hot Wheels vibe, while the abundance of over 60 maps across six rooms ensures a refreshing experience despite the limited settings.
- “It had all the accessories required for that big-match atmosphere: the crowd, the dugout, and the floodlights, too.”
- “Overall the track design is very fun, with different environments creating enjoyable atmospheres that feel like a mid-2000s Hot Wheels commercial for the big track pieces.”
- “For the graphics, it looks like a real-life toy for the cars; the same goes for the track and the scenery of the bedroom atmosphere.”
- “While there are only six rooms that the tracks take place in, there are over 60 maps in those rooms, which keeps everything fresh despite the same atmosphere.”