REVIEW: Hot Wheels: Monster Trucks Stunt Mayhem on Xbox

Review by Jon Donnis

Hot Wheels™ Monster Trucks Stunt Mayhem aims to bring the thrill of monstrous trucks, wild stunts, and epic crashes to your Xbox, but it doesn't quite reach the heights you'd hope for. Developed by 3D Clouds and published by GameMill Entertainment, this game is visually impressive and certainly has the charm that fans of the Hot Wheels brand might expect. The trucks themselves, featuring fan-favourites like Bone Shaker and Bigfoot, look great, and the environments pop with bright colours and larger than-life arenas.

At first glance, the gameplay is fun,  throwing your massive monster truck into backflips, barrel rolls, and huge stunts is satisfying, and there's an undeniable pleasure in smashing through obstacles and racking up scores. The signature moves of each truck add a flashy element that's cool to see the first few times, but honestly, after a while, I found myself forgetting they even existed. The novelty wears off quickly, with little reward for using these special moves other than a few more points.

Unfortunately, once you get past the initial excitement, the cracks start to show. Career mode is where things get repetitive fast. While there are different arenas, there's not much variety in the actual gameplay across them. Every arena starts to feel the same, with little challenge to keep you hooked. The different trucks, while visually distinct, don't really offer a unique driving experience, which is a big letdown. You'd expect Bigfoot and Bone Shaker to feel different when tearing around the arena, but no, they all handle pretty much the same. This takes away from the potential excitement of unlocking and using new trucks.

Then there's the issue of the physics, which feel a bit off at times. For instance, you're controlling a massive monster truck that should be able to plough through small obstacles without a care, but instead, you'll find yourself over-correcting your steering every time you hit something minor. It makes things more frustrating than fun. The upside-down loop you unlock is another oddity, it looks cool, but you don't really get to do much as the camera cuts away, and you're just a passive spectator at that point.

At £39.99, it's hard to recommend Hot Wheels™ Monster Trucks Stunt Mayhem at full price. It might be competitive when compared to other branded games, but the actual gameplay doesn't justify the cost. There's just not enough here to keep you coming back, and the lack of variety or challenge makes it feel like the developers knew they couldn't charge more. If this game were priced at £19.99 or included in Xbox Game Pass, it would find a more forgiving audience, but as it stands, it's hard to recommend unless you're a young Hot Wheels fanatic.

For me, Hot Wheels™ Monster Trucks Stunt Mayhem is a missed opportunity, offering a decent but shallow experience. It's fun for a while, but lacks the depth or innovation to hold your attention long-term. I'd give it a disappointing 6 out of 10.

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