For the longest time, the arcade racing scene was firmly in the grasp of kart racers that provided a simple gateway to entry in this genre. Of course, most hardcore racing fans were not completely satisfied by these seemingly simple kart racers and wanted games that featured way more depth when it came to the racing mechanics. This is where Hot Wheels Unleashed comes into the picture and establishes itself as one of the best arcade racing games ever made.

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The racing mechanics of this game are absolutely incredible, allowing players to get into the game with ease before learning the more nuanced mechanics. While you might be enjoying Hot Wheels Unleashed right now, there is a slew of different activities that you can perform in the game that you might have no idea about. Here are some of the more notable mentions in this context.

7 Make Insane Custom Tracks Of Your Own

Skyscraper levels from Hot Wheels Unleashed

One of the best features of Hot Wheels Unleashed is that you can make custom race tracks of your own! Everything from hairpin turns to the spider hazard can be integrated into a track for amazing results.

Not only can you make tracks of your own, but you can also try out other tracks that players have uploaded online too. This is a great way to enjoy some variety in racing early on, especially since most of the tracks in the game are locked until you progress in the campaign.

6 Take Shortcuts In Open Racing Areas Without Checkpoints

Hot Wheels cars driving around a track

The checkpoint system can be a huge pain to deal with in Hot Wheels Unleashed. While they can be easily triggered on the track, it's the open areas that force you to follow the beaten path in case you happen to miss out on a checkpoint and are forced to respawn.

However, there are stretches of the game that lack a checkpoint, even in these open areas. This is where you should either blast off the track and try landing somewhere further ahead or ignore the obvious path and try some nifty tricks of your own to save some precious seconds!

5 Accelerate At The Perfect Time At The Start Of A Race To Get A Boost

Inside a T-Rex in Hot Wheels Unleashed

The start of a race is one of the most crucial parts of Hot Wheels Unleashed. Not only do players need to fight to get the lead early on, but they also need to manage a clever little mechanic that can take quite some time to get the hang of initially.

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At the start of most races, players are shown a normal countdown where they have the option to rev their engines. However, instead of pressing the accelerator button mindlessly, you should be in sync with the countdown and hold down the button at a particular point to max out your boost meter. It's a simple yet effective mechanic that helps a ton when it comes to gaining a quick advantage near the start of a race.

4 Slipstream To Increase The Boost Bar

Loops in Hot Wheels Unleashed

Slipstreaming is a great and effective way to increase your boost bar when you're lagging behind the opponent. Basically, instead of mindlessly trying to overtake the opponent using paltry boosts, you should be tactical and stay right behind your opponent.

Not only does this help increase the boost bar, but it also allows you to find the most tactical point possible to overtake your opponent and secure the lead in a race. While slipstreaming can be somewhat odd to get used to, players who want to overtake their opponents in style will definitely find it in their best interests to master this move!

3 Control Your Car Mid-Air

Car jumping in Hot Wheels Unleashed.

The races of Hot Wheels Unleashed feature many jumps that can catch you off-guard. This can lead to situations where you're going forward at full throttle... only for your car to get horribly misbalanced in the air, leading to a major crash.

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To avoid this, players should try controlling the angle of their car with the left stick while airborne. Not only will this prevent any unwanted accidents, but players can also angle their cars when landing near a turn to start off with a slick drift too!

2 Reset Your Car Instantly After Veering Off-Track Or Spinning Out Of Control

Drifting in Hot Wheels Unleashed

Races in Hot Wheels Unleashed won't really go according to plan all the time. Even the most perfect races can be marred by a tough-to-control car spinning out or you failing to re-enter the track after racing on the open ground.

Thankfully, there's a simple solution to this problem that will allow you to save precious seconds. Simply hold down the respawn button the very moment things take a turn for the worst... quite literally at times! This will allow you to get right back on track and save some precious seconds.

1 Bang Into An Opponent And Tactically Move Them Away From The Track

Two cars racing against each other in Hot Wheels Unleashed

This might be one of the harder tricks to pull off in Hot Wheels Unleashed, but it's infinitely satisfying to do so. During high-octane races where you are constantly being hounded by one super-fast car, this tactic can leave them in the mud for the remainder of the race.

Basically, you need to push an opposing racer's car right before they hit a checkpoint, jump off a ramp, or reach an area of the race without any walls. Executing this move properly will lead to your opponent veering off-track and losing some precious seconds. Of course, make sure that you don't sacrifice too much of your own momentum in the process!

Next: The Best Open-World Racers