Hot Wheels: Rift Rally (2023)

Hot Wheels: Rift Rally is a fun take on augmented reality gaming that turns your own house into an exciting race course. The price for entry is admittedly high and you’ll need a large space with hard floors to truly enjoy what it has to offer. If the idea of controlling a car in your house and having that translate into a virtual game with all sorts of bells and whistles sounds like fun to you, however, then Hot Wheels: Rift Rally will provide some nice, clean family-friendly fun.

I love a lot of what Rift Rally is offering. There is a healthy amount of content and the setup is fairly painless. It is worth mentioning though this is not a cheap entry. The standard edition clocks in at $130 which feels steep for those only mildly interested. There is also a Collector’s Edition that comes with a special RC car, a Hot Wheels Die-Cast car, and a special unlockable car in the game for $150. The price is fair, but be sure you have the interest and more importantly the space before diving in. It is a ton of fun and my son and I had a blast checking it out (outside the cat interference of course.)

I'm delighted with what Hot Wheels Rift Rally has to offer and it's by far the most enjoyable mixed reality gaming experience that I've played yet. Whether you're a fan of Hot Wheels or just want to build race courses around your home, you'll have a great time with it.

At a $129.99 price point - or $149.99 for the Deluxe edition - Hot Wheels: Rift Rally may not be worth the investment for those without ample course space, particularly because making varied track layouts is a big component of keeping the game interesting long-term. However, the title's incredibly varied campaign and diverse environments pull a lot of weight in this regard as well, and the way it manages to transform a room is truly impressive. For any long-time fans of the toy brand or players looking for a new kind of racing experience, Hot Wheels: Rift Rally is a perfect fit.

Hot Wheels Rift Rally brings a lot of interesting ideas to the mixed reality formula, maximizing its potential despite its limitations. Nonetheless, the cost involved coupled with camera spatial issues and real world demands for playing the game all come together to create a deeply niche product.