Hot Wheels Let’s Race: Ultimate Speed

Colorful, family-friendly, and helped by welcome local multiplayer, Hot Wheels Let’s Race: Ultimate Speed works for young fans, though it stays far from Unleashed 2’s shine.

Hot Wheels Let’s Race: Ultimate Speed looks the part but fails to control like a dream. The Track Editor saves it from being just another forgettable racer, giving players a reason to keep coming back for one more lap.

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.

Colorful, all-ages Hot Wheels racer on Nintendo's console

A very family-friendly opportunity to take the wheel with a lot of Hot Wheels content goodness

Hot Wheels Let's Race: Ultimate Speed isn't a complex or difficult racing simulation, but it doesn't have to be. Its accessibility and outrageous songs are what make it so appealing. It is a lighthearted homage to the Netflix series and the Hot Wheels brand.

With four-player co-op, a competent track builder, and a great feel to its gameplay, Hot Wheels Let's Race Ultimate Speed is a solid racer with a “Kart Racer” feel. Fans of the show, or the genre in general, will find a lot to like here. That said, one question still remains: who gave these kids their driver's license?

The target audience here is clearly kids. The game’s generous physics, forgiving tracks and generally chilled AI all make it very approachable. There’s almost no punishment for mistakes miss a jump or hit a wall, and you’re instantly back in the action. That makes it perfect for younger gamers who just want to have fun, but it also means older players might find it lacking in challenge very quickly. If you’re looking for a real skill-testing racer, this probably isn’t it. If you’re looking for something colourful, fast, and stress-free and something for you to unwind and the kids to get stuck into some nostalgia and share memories about Hot Wheels and childhood then this is definitely a great shout.

There's a lot of content in Hot Wheels Let's Race: Ultimate Speed, and there's no doubt that young fans of the Netflix show it's based on will enjoy the package here. But considering the poor handling and a number of other frustrations, it's hard to fully recommend this game, particularly when the excellent Hot Wheels Unleashed series exists.

Hot Wheels Let's Race: Ultimate Speed is a great arcade racer that is friendly for anyone to play, no matter the skill level. Seeing the classic vehicles made me so happy!