The legendary die-cast models get the exciting and realistic center stage treatment in Hot Wheels Unleashed, the full-featured arcade racing game that sees players screeching across smooth plastic tracks in the toy cars so beloved by generations, young and old.
Milestone’s latest creation is a fitting addition to a genre with roots almost as old as digital gaming itself, joining a long line of charming racing titles boasting an equally long line of unique features.
10 Cruis’n Blast: Full throttle with no brakes
This weird arcade racer that you probably came across at Dave & Busters hit the Nintendo Switch in 2017 and hasn’t looked back since. Cruis’n Blast is a high-energy bonanza that keeps things chaotic with fast AI and nitrous-fueled drifting mechanics.
If you love the track-based racing and wacky cars that Hot Wheels Unleashed has to offer, Cruis’n Blast is a great addition to your library. Race as a unicorn, a triceratops, or even an Apache attack helicopter as you blast your way through a series of neon-filled circuits to victory.
9 Hotshot Racing: A shot of nostalgia
Low-poly is the name of the game in Hotshot Racing, a retro-inspired but modern-feeling homage to the iconic arcade racers that dominated the latter part of the 20th century. This heavyweight title from Curve Games debuted in 2020 and is available on most platforms.
Despite its simple visuals, however, Hotshot Racing offers enough game modes to keep you busy and even has a story mode with eight different playable characters. And if that’s not enough, you can take on your friends via split screen, LAN and online multiplayer.
8 Forza Horizon 5 with the Hot Wheels expansion
Playground Games’ latest installment of the popular Xbox-exclusive open-world runner shines with its immersive environment and cutting-edge graphics. Slap on the Hot Wheels expansion and they wouldn’t blame you for thinking you never left Hot Wheels Unleashed.
Featuring nine new cars to race on the signature orange plastic Hot Wheels tracks, the expansion takes you above the clouds of Forza Horizon 5’s Mexican landscape to drift, boost and jump your way through the Hot Wheels Academy. And if high-altitude spins aren’t enough of an adrenaline rush, you can create your own with the newly added Hot Wheels track pieces in the Event Lab.
7 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: A go-to classic
It’s safe to say that everything that could be said about Mario Kart 8 Deluxe probably already has, but that’s no reason to ignore its viability as an exciting alternative to Hot Wheels Unleashed. The latest installment of Nintendo’s legendary racer offers hours of surprisingly intense competition for when you need a change of scenery from plastic tracks and iridescent paint jobs.
The biggest downside to Mario Kart is its limited availability as a Nintendo Switch exclusive, so if you’re enjoying your Hot Wheels experience on a different platform and are looking for another racer to add to your library, you’ll need to look for other place
6 Horizon Chase Turbo – An old model with a fresh style
Another reimagining of the racing blockbusters of the 80s and 90s, Horizon Chase Turbo is a highly saturated and endearingly whimsical nitro shooter that balances simple track design with fast-paced gameplay designed to test your reflexes.
If you’re looking for a game that can compete with Hot Wheels Unleashed’s car selection and level of detail, Horizon Chase Turbo might fall a little short. But with its World Tour, Tournament, and Endurance modes, as well as four-player local multiplayer, you can still get a good bang for your buck on just about any platform you want.
5 FlatOut 4 Total Insanity: Move fast and break things
FlatOut 4 Total Insanity can sometimes feel more like a playground with cars throwing rag dolls than an actual demolition derby racer, but the good thing is that you can do both, often to comically destructive ends. Kylotonn embraces what made the best iterations of FlatOut so enjoyable, and most of all, delivers an experience where even longtime fans can find new pleasure.
If you wish Hot Wheels Unleashed had a few more bumpers, give FlatOut 4 Total Insanity a shot. You might not be completely satisfied with its race mode or track difficulty, but if you stick around for the minigames and derbies, you won’t regret it.
4 Star Wars Episode I Racer Remastered: A Far-Out Throwback
You’ll be light years away from a V12 in this podracing classic that cranks the nostalgia up to eleven at a glorious 60 frames per second. The graphics may be dated, but just like with Hot Wheels Unleashed, Star Wars die-hards and newcomers alike can find something to love in this faithful remaster of Star Wars Episode I Racer.
Try not to overheat your engines as you navigate courses that look more like Mario Kart’s Bone Dry Dunes than Forza’s Nürburgring. And keep in mind that you’re only stuck with local multiplayer, so your replay value may be limited.
3 Riders Republic: The Boredom Killer
If you’re looking for a broader experience than what Hot Wheels Unleashed currently offers, you’ve come to the right place. Riders Republic offers a refreshing take on the arcade racer model by applying it to multiple different sports, all within a sprawling open world.
From wingsuit races to snowboarding stunt contests, you’ll have the chance to master multiple activities in a variety of environments as you zip across the expansive, real-world inspired map. And with an online multiplayer mode that includes massive 64-player races, gamers looking for mayhem are sure to find it in droves.
2 Trackmania – This one is for the builders
Don’t let the new name fool you, 2020’s Trackmania is actually a remake of Trackmania Nations, the third iteration of the franchise from British-French developer duo Nadeo and Firebrand Games. Trackmania lists its best track editor that could even give Hot Wheels Unleashed a run for its money.
The base game is free, which includes access to official tracks and a couple of arcade servers, but you’ll need to pay a subscription fee to do things like use the advanced track editor and try out tracks created by the community.
1 Burnout: Paradise Remastered: Takedowns Galore
Arguably one of the best open-world arcade racers ever created, Burnout: Paradise got a remastered version in 2018 that brought it to a new generation of consoles. While the graphics may not do your cars the kind of justice that Hot Wheels Unleashed manages, none of that will matter when you’re witnessing the obscene glory of being pushed off the side of the road while jockeying for position in traffic next.
Alas, if you’re looking for a racing game to quench your thirst for high-octane destruction, look no further. Just don’t play the story, because there isn’t much of it. Otherwise, there are plenty of cars to try out and you can choose between local and online multiplayer.
