Hot Wheels: Battle Force 5 on the DS is basically what happens if you take a toy car, strap weapons to it, and then throw it into a sci-fi battle arena. You start off picking your ride—some are faster, others hit harder—and then it’s straight into chaotic races where you’re drifting around corners while blasting enemy vehicles. The tracks are all over the place, from desert wastelands to neon-lit cityscapes, and half the fun is figuring out which upgrades actually help (spoiler: turbo boosts are lifesavers).

It’s not just racing, though—you’ve got missions where you’re defending checkpoints or taking down boss vehicles, and the controls are simple enough that you won’t be fumbling with the touchscreen mid-battle. The AI can be ruthless sometimes, especially when three enemies decide to gang up on you at once, but pulling off a last-second win feels awesome. If you ever wanted a portable version of those old-school combat racing games, this one’s got your back.