Hot Wheels: Velocity X on the GBA is basically what happens when you take those little toy cars you used to crash into furniture and turn them into a surprisingly solid racing game. You start off picking your ride—some handle better, others are faster, and I definitely spent way too long deciding before just going with the coolest-looking one.

The tracks twist through these wild loops and jumps that actually feel like someone built them out of Hot Wheels pieces in their garage. There’s a bit of combat too—you can shoot missiles at other racers, which sounds ridiculous but somehow works. The controls take a second to get used to (that turbo boost loves to send you flying off the track), but once it clicks, you’re weaving through traffic and nailing jumps like it’s second nature.

It’s got that early 2000s handheld energy—simple but satisfying, with just enough chaos to keep you restarting races until you nail them. If you ever set up orange plastic tracks as a kid, this’ll hit the nostalgia sweet spot.