When I think about Hot Wheels, I think about twisting orange tracks, impossible jumps, and that unmistakable sense of childhood excitement. Hot Wheels Let’s Race: Ultimate Speed, developed by Bamtang Games and published by GameMill Entertainment, looks to capture the same energy, and it’s coming roaring onto our screens. It’s a blend of arcade racing with family-friendly chaos. It’s a title that promises pure, no frills fun, the kind that is easy to pick up and hard to put down. But does Let’s Race live up to the legacy of one of the most iconic toy brands in the world, or does it stall out before reaching the finish line? 

Hot Wheels Let’s Race: Ultimate Speed brings back that signature blend of toy-sized speed and over-the-top arcade racing that fans expect from the brand. It’s based on the hit Netflix animated series, now streaming. It’s a high-energy experience that captures the chaotic fun of looping tracks, wild jumps, and constant movement.

The game puts players behind the wheel of some of the most iconic Hot Wheels, most recognisable cars like the GT-Scorcher™, Roger Dodger™, and one of the most iconic names with the Twin Mill™, which each offer it’s own unique handling, abilities and style which you can race around twelve vibrant and imaginative tracks with each race feeling like it’s own adventure. If you have watched the show, you will see some familiar faces in Coop, Spark, Mac, Brights, Axle, and Cruise, who are the racers you can choose before you choose the car you want to race in. 

I was quite surprised by the amount of variety in the game modes in this game. Racing Camp is the main single-player mode, teaching you the fundamentals of drifting, boosting, and mastering what the game has to offer, which is a great starting point for newcomers after completing the tutorial.

Once you’ve mastered your skills, you can jump into the Cup Champ, which is where the real test begins. It’s more of a tournament-style mode where you compete in a series of races and boss fights to claim the ultimate trophy.

Each cup features unique track combinations and AI opponents that keep you on your toes, rewarding both precision and aggression behind the wheel. If you like a bit more of a challenge, you have the option of Speed Trials, which provides a pure test of speed and skill, and if you’re a little more competitive, you can keep trying to beat your own times. I mentioned earlier that there are twelve built-in tracks for this game, but the creativity does not stop there.

There is a gamemode called Track Builder, which lets you craft your own over-the-top courses using pieces you unlock by playing the game. You can unlock anything from corkscrews to loop-de-loops, which means the game becomes your sandbox, and maybe you can re-create some crazy setups you had as a kid. Finally, there is Free Race, which offers no pressure; you simply pick a car and a racer, and have some fun. 

There was a unique twist in the game, which was Boss Showdowns, where racing met action, where you could come up against Professor Rearview’s giant cobra or the fire-breathing dragon. You need to ensure that you focus entirely on dodging attacks, hitting boost pads, and timing your attacks perfectly. It added something a little different to your standard arcade racing games and rewarded precision.

The progression is all tied together in Ultimate Garage, where you earn flame badges when you are racing, which can be used to unlock new cars, decals and custom parts for your vehicles. It’s a simple yet addictive system because the ultimate goal is to own them all. I was quite surprised to see that when you are racing, you can select up to four-player split-screen multiplayer, which is becoming more and more rare in games these days.

The developers did a stellar job on the controls, which were designed to be simple, responsive, and instantly familiar, thereby creating a game that anyone could pick up and play if they so desired. The handling of the vehicles leans heavily towards the arcade style with a strong focus on drifting and boost management rather than realism. The cars feel light and nimble, which makes sliding through all the corners lots of fun.

The boosting feels satisfying, with its punchy and responsive nature. I was a little surprised that the developers didn’t utilise the touchpad and adaptive triggers, which could have added a little more fun to the game. If you are a veteran in racing games, you might find the controls a little too forgiving, but they fit the game’s fast, fun, and family-focused scene, making it a great pickup. 

It wouldn’t be Hot Wheels if it weren’t bursting with colour and personality, which perfectly suits the Hot Wheels brand and the Netflix series it’s based on. The game embraces a bright, cartoon-inspired art style that leans more towards the playful than the realistic, which is great for the target audience to keep them enthused. The tracks themselves are packed with detail, from molten lava loops to neon-lit speedways, miniature cityscapes, and wild obstacle courses.

The UI and menus are clean, bold, and easy to navigate, keeping the focus on the racing. The cars we all had in our toy boxes have been recreated beautifully, preserving the spirit of Hot Wheels. The game definitely does not push the console’s graphical limits, but the developers have nailed the visuals in this game, keeping it vibrant, fast, and full of life, just like the toys that inspired it. 

The sound design perfectly complements its fast-paced, high-energy gameplay. Whilst the cars do not sound realistic, you don’t expect them to; you get the small engine revving noises, the boost bursts, and small tyre squeals that add to that arcade chaos feel. The cars had a distinct audio profile, with some of the most powerful muscle cars producing a deep growl, whereas others made a humming noise.

The soundtrack leans heavily on an upbeat, adrenaline-fueled EDM style of tunes. There are characters’ voice lines sprinkled throughout the game, which I would assume have been sound-grabbed from the Netflix series, as I needed to do some research to see what they sounded like. The sound design was playful, punchy, and perfectly suited for this style of game. 

Hot Wheels Let’s Race: Ultimate Speed is a vibrant, family-friendly racer that perfectly captures the energy and imagination of the Hot Wheels brand. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel; it’s here to deliver pure, pickup and play fun, and in that sense it succeeds.

The variety of modes, from the creative Track Builders to the action-packed Boss Showdowns, ensures there is no shortage of content, keeping it fresh for its audience, including kids, families, and nostalgic adults looking for a part of their childhood joy. It’s a reminder that sometimes fun doesn’t need to be complicated; it just needs to be fast, flashy, and full of life.

Written by: Hayden Nelson