WheelMates Review Summary

A well-made local co-op puzzler with enjoyable mechanics, but repetitive content, performance problems, and progression-blocking bugs hold it back.

Great local co-op experience: Multiple clusters highlight that the game is fun and enjoyable in local co-op, especially with a friend or partner. Players specifically mention it's a good two-player experience and works well in splitscreen.

Well-made and polished: Players consistently praise the game as well-made, with top-level graphics, controls, and mechanics for an indie title. It works flawlessly with various controllers and keyboards, and the overall quality is high.

Enjoyable puzzle mechanics: Several clusters note that the puzzles are fun, interesting, and require thinking, with a good difficulty balance that is challenging but not too hard. Players enjoyed solving them, often in a relaxed setting.

Nostalgic and fun with cars: The game features little cars that players control, which is described as nostalgic and fun. Racing around rooms and solving puzzles in cars is a highlight, adding a unique twist to the co-op experience.

Cozy and relaxing gameplay: The game is described as cozy, relaxing, and a good way to unwind after work. It offers a laid-back co-op experience that is easy to enjoy without a heavy time commitment.

Repetitive content and simple mechanics: Maps, locations, and tasks are repetitive, and the mechanics are simple, making the gameplay feel uncreative and not interesting for older players.

Performance and optimization problems: The game suffers from poor optimization, running slowly with frame drops even at lowest settings, and requires serious performance improvements to be playable.

Controls and mechanics are problematic: Bad controls, an inaccurate grapple, and a difficult learning curve at the beginning make the game frustrating, especially for players using non-standard controllers.

Bugs block progression: A bug prevents further progression after three hours, and another bug with changing arsenal disrupts gameplay, with no developer response to bug reports.

Weak story compared to peers: The narrative quality is criticized as inferior to titles like It Takes Two and Split Fiction, with a shallow and unclear storyline that fails to engage players.

Supports local co-op: Multiple reviews highlight that the game supports local co-op, including splitscreen and two-player modes. This is a key feature for players seeking shared experiences.

Features cars and racing: Players race around rooms in little cars, and the game includes car-based mechanics. This unique vehicle focus distinguishes it from typical co-op titles.

Puzzle-based gameplay: The game incorporates puzzle mechanics that require brain use, blending adventure and relaxed puzzle solving. This adds intellectual challenge to the gameplay.

Light metroidvania elements: The game includes light metroidvania elements, adding exploration and progression. This genre blend may attract players who enjoy non-linear gameplay.

Includes tutorial with ramp: The tutorial features a mini ramp and big jump, helping players learn car controls. This is a notable onboarding element.

Frequent crashes and hangs: Multiple users report the game crashing on launch, on the start screen, or hanging frequently. These stability issues appear across different hardware configurations.

Performance issues despite specs: Users report slow performance and frame drops even when their systems meet or exceed the required specifications, and at the lowest settings. This suggests the game is not well optimized.

Intel NPU driver bug: A known bug with Intel NPU drivers is causing issues, which may be contributing to crashes or performance problems for some users.

Recommended for It Takes Two fans: Players who enjoyed It Takes Two are likely to enjoy this game, as it shares similar cooperative gameplay elements. This recommendation is based on positive feedback from fans of that title.

Mixed overall recommendations: Some players would recommend the game, while others cannot currently recommend it to others. This mixed feedback suggests inconsistent experiences among players.

Not for two-player story enthusiasts: Players looking for a two-player story experience similar to Split Fiction, It Takes Two, or Reanimal may be disappointed. This game does not meet those expectations.

Worth buying at current price: The game is considered a good value for its current price point. Players feel it is definitely worth purchasing at the existing cost.

Not for adult depth seekers: The game is not recommended for adult players seeking deep or complex narratives. Feedback suggests it may lack the depth expected by more mature audiences.

Session length: 2.0h.

The game is fun immediately for co-op players, with early friction from controls and lack of tutorial, but a progression bug can cause a later drop for some.

Friction: bad controls; lack of tutorial mission; frustration with teammate timing; no bot option; game doesn't feel co-op when played alone.

Unlock drivers: playing in co-op; realizing the game is designed for co-op; using friend pass to play with friends; switching controller.

Co-op Duo Enthusiast: Plays in local or online co-op, focusing on puzzles and short sessions. Motivation: Shared fun with a friend or partner through cooperative puzzle solving. Stance: buy.

Nostalgic Toy Car Fan: Enjoys the chaotic movement and nostalgic references, likely playing solo or co-op. Motivation: Nostalgia for toy-like vehicles and playful, unpredictable physics. Stance: buy.

Disappointed Co-op Seeker: Attempts co-op but becomes frustrated with controls and lack of required teamwork. Motivation: Seeking a deep cooperative adventure but finding the game lacking in co-op integration. Stance: no buy.

Linux and Proton: The provided user reviews contain no references to Linux, Proton, SteamOS, Wine, or native Linux builds. The two complaints (graphics performance and lack of cloud saves) are generic cross-platform issues that do not indicate any Linux-specific compatibility friction. Consequently, there is no evidence to suggest the game has any Linux/Proton problems.

Comparisons to It Takes Two: Multiple reviews compare the game to It Takes Two and Split Fiction, noting it borrows mechanics but lacks story quality and variety. Some enjoyed it more, while others found it less interesting.

Friend's Pass praised: The Friend's Pass feature is highlighted positively, allowing two players to play with one copy and a friend to join for free. It is seen as a valuable inclusion in the price.

Nostalgic toy car vibes: Reviewers mention a Toy Story vibe and recall childhood memories with remote-controlled cars, including the car level in Toy Story 2 on PS1 and Micro Machines from SEGA. This nostalgia is a strong positive point.

Good value for price: The game is described as having an amazing amount of content for the price, making it a worthwhile purchase. This is a key selling point for potential buyers.

Co-op support appreciated: The game supports both online and local co-op, which is a feature players value. This enhances the multiplayer experience and adds to the game's appeal.