Racing games have always had a major barrier to entry, withMario Kartbeing one of the few titles that can easily be picked up and played without a care in the world. Franchises likeNeed for SpeedandForza Horizonare definitely great in their own right, butgetting into them can be really hardwithout some knowledge around either cars or the games themselves.
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This is whereHot Wheels Unleashedcomes into the picture.The game is extremely accessiblebut with deep racing mechanics that will satisfy both casual and hardcore gamers. Players who get into this title should ideally keep the following tips in mind to improve their driving skills inHot Wheels Unleashed.
10Speed Isn’t The Only Key To Ensure Victory
While this goes without saying, players should take cars with balanced stats instead of only prioritizing speed. After all,the tracks ofHot Wheels Unleashedcurve around quite a bit and feature a bunch of hazards of their own.
A car that has too much speed without any other notable stats can be a major problem during turns, where the player is bound to bang into corners and lose their precious speed. With a balanced car, players can tackle all the elements of a track with ease.
9Make Sure Never To Miss Checkpoints During A Race
The tracks ofHot Wheels Unleashedfeature various checkpoints that the player needs to trigger to stay in the race. For the most part, these checkpoints are present on the track and don’t really let players miss them anyway.
However, there are times when the racing space will be fairly open andthe player might miss triggering these checkpoints. Players should avoid this situation as much as possible, otherwise, they’ll lose precious seconds as they’re forced back onto the track.
8Respawn Your Car As Soon As Possible If It Flips Or Goes Off-Track
Players can hold Triangle/Y to respawn their car when they hit a tight spot. For the most part, players should try and avoid this button if their car faces a minor buckling issue or anything else along the same lines.
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However, if your car veers off-track completely or flips over, then don’t hesitate to trigger the respawn as soon as possible. This willallow players to get back into the racewith little to no problems.
7The AI Will Serve Up A Major Challenge Even On Normal Difficulty, So Be Prepared
One of the most impressive parts ofHot Wheels Unleashedis definitely its difficulty. While Easy mode is a cakewalk, the other difficulty mods pose a major challenge that should not be scoffed at.
Players should have a basic grasp of the game’s racing mechanics before they get into the higher difficulties. If they’re still unskilled when it comes to racing inHot Wheels Unleashed, then the AI will completely walk over them in Normal difficulty as well.
6Take Shortcuts Whenever Possible
While hitting checkpoints is a must inHot Wheels Unleashed, keep in mind that there are stretches of the track where these checkpoints are absent. This is where the player should try cutting down on their time as much as possible.
Cutting corners on open surfaces is the easiest shortcut that players can take in this regard. There’s no need to follow the preordained part as long as players get back on the track and hit the checkpoints!
5Different Cars Have Varying Drifts, So Alter Your Strategy Accordingly
Drifting is one of the major mechanicsofHot Wheels Unleashed. The turns of this game can end up being incredibly frustrating to deal with if the player doesn’t master this system, with the bonus to a player’s boost being especially welcome as well!
However, do keep in mind that each car drifts in a different manner. Some cars are very responsive and others take a long time to get into the drift, so players should amend their playing style accordingly for each car.
4Boost Out Of A Drift For Maximum Efficiency
Drifting might be a great way to cut corners, but it does take a toll on a player’s speed. However, with a simple strategic move, this speed loss can be completely negated.
If players see that there’s a long stretch of the track available after completing a drift, then players should trigger a boost before the car finishes drifting. It will help straighten your car faster and allow you to make the most of the boost bonus you’ve accumulated while drifting as well!
3Never Use A Boost When Your Car’s About To Jump
Keep in mind that the cars ofHot Wheels Unleashedare still toy carsat the end of the day. As a result, they don’t weigh a lot and can easily fly off the track at a moment’s notice.
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This will be noticed by the player when they boost right before hitting a jump or a steep incline, with the car flying off the track and into the stratosphere. So, it’s better for your car to remain on the track without any hitches when a boost is used to prevent any wasteful uses of this valuable move.
2Loops Are Perfect For A Well-Timed Boost
Hot Wheels Unleashedfeatures various loops in its tracks that can bamboozle certain players early on. This is especially true if they hit this loop at low speed, with most cars not having the acceleration to stop themselves from falling halfway through the loop.
To prevent this situation from happening, players should reserve a boost as they’re going through this loop. This ensures that they can go through the loop at the fastest rate possible without any possibility of falling over as well!
1Track Hazards Will Start Appearing In Later Races, So Be Prepared
The tracks ofHot Wheels Unleashedseem rather simple early on. This is probably intentional, with the player getting to grips with the game’s systems early on.
However, as more and more tracks get unlocked, players will realize just how dynamic the tracks of this game really are. Dragons and spiders start appearing all over the track to stop players in their tracks, who need to be extra vigilant asthey attempt to secure a winning position.
Hot Wheels Unleashedwas released on Jul 11, 2025, and is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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