WheelMates shrinks two players down to RC-car size and transforms an eccentric professor’s home into a maze of towering furniture, improvised tracks, and mechanical puzzles. This mandatory two-player co-op adventure on Steam rewards communication as both drivers explore, experiment with gadgets, and investigate a mysterious disappearance.
At a Glance
- Release Date: September 1, 2026 (Steam); first half of 2027 planned for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch (exact dates TBA)
- Genre: Co-op Adventure, Puzzle Platformer, Driving, Racing
- Platform: PC (Steam); PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch planned
- Cost: $19.99 USD
- Developer/Publisher: Firevolt
- Store Link: Get WheelMates on Steam →
A Tiny Rescue Mission in an Oversized House
A professor calls for help and then mysteriously disappears, leaving two miniature RC cars to search his sprawling home laboratory. Shelves become highways, cluttered desks turn into obstacle courses, and ordinary household objects hide experimental machinery. Following the trail means exploring familiar rooms from a dramatically different scale and piecing together what happened inside.
Core Gameplay Features
Two Players Are Essential
WheelMates is designed exclusively for two people, with no solo mode or AI partner. Players can cooperate online or through shared split-screen play, and puzzles frequently require both cars to act with the right timing. The included Friend’s Pass lets a partner join the full adventure without purchasing a second copy.
RC Gadgets Open New Routes
Progress unlocks equipment such as rope swings, magnetic wheels, and magnet grabs. These tools help the cars cross gaps, cling to unusual surfaces, move objects, and reach spaces that were inaccessible during earlier visits.
Explore at Your Own Pace
The house supports relaxed exploration alongside its story path. Players can return to previous locations, search for secrets, try mini-games, customize their cars, or simply drive through rooms without being pushed by a constant timer.
Communication Drives Every Puzzle
Many obstacles are built around complementary actions: one car may hold a mechanism while the other crosses, reposition an object, or create a route back. Clear communication matters because the game has no built-in voice chat, making an external voice service useful for online sessions.
Console Versions Are Planned
Firevolt plans to bring WheelMates to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch during the first half of 2027. Exact release dates and official console store pages have not yet been announced, so the verified purchase link currently points only to Steam.
Who Is This For?
WheelMates is best suited to pairs who enjoyed the collaborative problem-solving of games like It Takes Two and want a playful driving twist. Its local and online options make it suitable for couples, friends, and family members who prefer cooperative discovery over competitive racing.
Pro Tip
Before tackling a complicated obstacle, agree on each player’s job and test one gadget at a time. The cars often need to perform different actions in sequence, and a quick plan prevents both players from racing ahead and resetting the puzzle.
