Let’s Play Hot Rod Mayhem, a Mario Kart Clone – Indie Game Bundles

I’ve tried out the single player campaign of Hot Rod Mayhem, a game trying very hard to be Super Mario Kart. Does it succeed? Check out the gameplay video and judge for yourself.

Hot Rod Mayhem brings lighthearted chaos to the kart racing genre with funny looking characters, wacky tracks, and a 4 player local only co-op. It’s clearly aimed at casual players and younger audiences.

While the power-ups lack depth and the visuals are nothing groundbreaking, the game shines in its great track design. The absence of a proper tutorial, online multiplayer and occasionally flat AI hold it back, but its playful tone and accessible gameplay make it a decent pick for a quick race night, especially for kids.

In a nutshell, Hot Rod Mayhem basically copies all aspects of Mario Kart without adding a single new idea, but unlike Mario Kart World, it doesn’t cost an insane $80, but an affordable $16.99.

VERDICT: If you’re a fan of kart racers and you have a couple of joypads and a couple of friends to play with locally, grab it. If not, skip it.

Hot Rod Mayhem is launching on Steam and Nintendo Switch on April 15th. Try the free PC demo here.

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