Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged

All in all, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged isn’t all that different from its predecessor, but it is bigger and better in just about every way. A brand new range of environments and additional vehicle types help to keep things feeling relatively fresh. And new event types are also very much welcome. It’s the new moves at your disposal that really elevate the experience, though. Being able to jump has allowed Milestone to get even more creative when it comes to track design, and it also adds yet more depth – you have to think more about how to use your boost. This is a very worthy sequel, ...

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is one of the most fun racing games in year that will be a hit among the fans of this brand.

Playing with physical Hot Wheels was always a blast as a kid, and now playing Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged really recaptures a lot of that same magic. Much of what is found in this sequel is built upon the ground that was laid by the first game, but now it is bigger and better. The Creature Rampage mode is the one really disappointing aspect of the game, as the almost non-existent story could have been handled much better, and the boss battles are the very definition of lackluster. Thankfully, this is very much offset by the increase in the number of different and unique vehicles, the ...

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 earns its Turbocharged subtitle as it builds on the original's base to deliver a more polished and enjoyable sequel.

We remember as kids setting up our Hot Wheels Octoblast and Shark Park race tracks every weekend, launching cars round them at high speeds while avoiding the giant creatures. It always brought such joy to our young selves back in the day, and so it's great to see that Milestone has captured the essence of that nostalgia and converted it into the video game space with Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged.

Fans of Hot Wheels will feel well served from a nostalgia point of view, and inspired by its huge number of new modes. Unleashed 2: Turbocharged combines furious arcade race challenges with childlike creativity, being able to build tracks any which way, and race them to breaking point. You can feel the Switch’s lack of muscle, with a markedly smudgier feel than the grip offered by more powerful consoles, but as a racing experience bursting with customisation, modes, and creativity to mine, it’s both an excellent successor to the 16-Bit Micro Machines legacy and sits firmly in pole position ove...

Renowned in the genre, Milestone has created some of the most realistic racers to date. That’s why it came as a shock when they drifted into the arcade format with 2021’s Hot Wheels Unleashed. Managing to capture the frantic action synonymous with the brand, the game was an instant hit with fans of the toy line. Returning to the franchise, the sequel, Turbocharged, aims to take the series into the next gear but will the new additions rev up the excitement or stall the momentum established by its predecessor?

There's a reason why HWU2 will still entertain new, casual, and veteran racing players, and it's the excitement of the unique tracks that will launch them into the stratosphere, created content, and crossover cars arriving soon. It will keep you playing for a couple of hours until your Switch dies, but it's still a worthwhile addition to your library regardless of the platform.

“Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged enhances the original's formula is every possible way.”

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 doesn’t do much different than its predecessor, for better and worse. If you liked the original, this sequel offers basically more of the same with some new cars and environments. Regardless, it’s a well-made arcade racer with endless combinations of tracks to master and excel at.

Hardcore Hot Wheels fans will get the most out of Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged, but even casual racing game fans will have a lot of fun with the game. Not everything clicks, and the game could have benefited greatly by having more variety with its track environments, but Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is an exciting racer with a great set of creation tools that should keep fans busy for quite some time.

How Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged brings plenty of small improvements but doesn't fundamentally change much from the original.