Hot Wheels: Infinite Rush (PS5) Review Roundup: Solid Arcade Handling Saved From an Unnecessary Open World

Following the success of the widely celebrated Hot Wheels Unleashed and its sequel, developer Milestone has returned with a new entry in the series, Hot Wheels: Infinite Rush. While the studio's earlier titles focused on a simpler, circuit-based approach that mirrored physical track-building, this newest installment shifts the formula into an open-world setting spread across four distinct themed islands.

According to critical reviews, the transition to an open-world structure yields mixed results. Progression involves completing campaign events dotted across each map to challenge local racing gangs and unlock subsequent regions. Players can also expand their garage by purchasing vehicles at dealerships using in-game currency, tracking down moving cars to challenge in short races, or completing specific open-world challenges. However, critics note that the islands themselves can feel flat, repetitive, and uninspired—functioning more as a checkbox feature than an enhancement to the gameplay. Additionally, scaling the world realistically rather than leaning into a toy-sized perspective means players miss out on the classic sensation of driving through living rooms, gardens, or toy stores.

Despite the underwhelming map design, the core driving mechanics receive high praise. Infinite Rush inherits the fun handling from the Unleashed titles, making it enjoyable to zip around, execute drifts, and crash into obstacles. Visually, the car models feature nicely rendered plastics, though some textures across the environment remain inconsistent. Performance-wise, the PlayStation 5 version targets and maintains a steady 60 frames per second, successfully carrying the overall arcade experience despite its structural shortcomings.