wheel world review: a chill game about biking

PLATFORM: PC

HOURS SPENT IN GAME: 5.5 HOURS

2025 has been dominated by triple-A behemoths like Death Stranding 2 and Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, which aim to deliver experiences that blend ultra-realism with ultra-serious thematic tones. So, when Wheel World, a chill indie game about biking in a vibrant cell-shaded environment, came knocking, it felt like a well-timed breath of fresh air. I played a demo of Wheel World earlier this year during Steam Next Fest and really enjoyed the relaxing, flow-state nature of its gameplay design. Now, with the full game finally out in the wild, I was excited to see how its simple yet alluring formula translated into a full experience. I'm happy to say that while there are some minor pitfalls with the game, Wheel World triumphantly lands as the lean, colorful, and relaxing indie title I was hoping it would be.

The Great Shift!

In Wheel World, you play as Kat, a run-of-the-mill biker in a world full of eccentric cyclists looking to make a name for themselves. When Skully, an "immortal bike daemon", pleads with her to help him recover the legendary bike parts that had recently been stolen from him so that he may perform a ritual that ushers passed-on souls to the afterlife known as "the great shift", Kat promptly agrees, and on they go on their rad journey together. Soon after, Kat discovers that Skully's missing parts have mysteriously landed in the hands of the four great cyclists of the world. Upon making this discovery, Skully tasks Kat with challenging the great cyclists to races to win them back. Reputation, or rep, is the social currency that runs Wheel World, as the four great cyclists will hardly give you the time of day if you don't have an amount of it that they find respectable.

Maybe it's the fact I've been neck deep in triple-A-sized stories this year that makes Wheel World's simple, yet very cool premise feel refreshing. Whatever the case, from setup to execution, I found it easy to hop on board, or bike seat, with the story. Moreover, I felt a natural pull towards Kat and Skully's shared goal of performing the Great Shift. I never felt beaten over the head, nor was I overwhelmed with exhausting dialogue that made racing towards the Great Shift feel tedious, and for that, the Wheel World feels all the more enjoyable to pedal through.

The World - It Just Has A Vibe

Typically, I'm not a fan of using "vibes" as a way to describe the feeling of a game, but in the case of Wheel World, something about that description just feels right. Wheelworld employs a cell-shaded art style, full of bold, bright colors, complemented by environments that feel hand-drawn and handcrafted. Moving through this world feels immersive, relaxing, and like an overall visual feast that creates a flow-state that I found difficult to break away from. Pedaling through the farmlands, I felt a pleasant sense of freedom that only the open road can provide. On the other hand, riding through the bustle of the big cities feels like an energetic game of Frogger as you bob and weave your way through cars and trucks. What do these two environments have in common? They both feel fun and relaxing to ride through, creating a through-line for the entire world that makes it hard to hit the brakes at any point.

Making a distinctive contribution to Wheel World's vibe is its soundtrack, boasting a thoughtfully curated selection of 80s-inspired synthwave-style tunes. The first big moment in the game where the soundtrack really sets the tone for the journey is when you gain access to the Tramonto bridge, which connects the starting area to the rest of the open world. As the soft but energetic drums and poppy synths kick in while you're crossing over, the camera pans to a wide, cinematic view to showcase the breadth of the world ahead of you as if to say: welcome to your new journey! The overall tone of these tracks carries over to the races as well, never breaking their ever-present relaxing vibe. Ultimately, I think sticking with these chill tracks to complement every one of your races was a great decision. One would think that to match the intensity of a high-speed bike race, you'd need a high-energy track to go hand in hand with that experience, for it to work -- but not in Wheel World. Even as the races heat up, the soundtrack helps the experience retain its distinct chill flow state and vibe— and the game is all the better for it.

Gameplay - Biking Has Never Felt So Good

When I played the Wheel World demo at Steam Next Fest, I instantly fell in love with the feeling of riding, and it quickly became the aspect of the game I most looked forward to jumping back into. When I finally came back around to it at launch, it was like riding a bike (pun intended), as I wasted no time hitting ramps, cutting tight corners, and slamming down hill slopes like an experienced vet. From the jump, it all just felt so right -- a feeling that was ever-present throughout my short play through. As fun as riding is, however, it's a skill that's easy to learn but somewhat difficult to master -- something I came to appreciate as the races gradually became more challenging. For example, like many extreme sports games, Wheel World has a distinct feel. In other words, mastering how to handle braking around certain turns, or learning when to go full throttle versus knowing when to slow down, are just some of the keys to success. Without them, you'll find the road to recovering Skully's missing legendary parts more of an uphill battle. Nevertheless, mastering Wheel World's feel is incredibly rewarding and makes the game all the more fun. Maybe it's my decades-long experience with extreme sports games like SSX3. Still, I felt that Wheel World was pretty generous when it came to the challenge it poses to players in mastering its controls. So if you're looking for a fun challenge that doesn’t feel impossible, then I think you'll enjoy this game.

Speaking of gameplay feel, one area I felt Wheel World felt short in was with its parts system. When I sampled this in the demo, I was excited about the prospect of it being some sort of bike RPG. On paper, the parts you acquire from the handful of bike shops or random drops scattered throughout the world are designed to have an impact on the feel of your bike, with four key stat categories to consider: power, aero, handling, and grip. The game is pretty generous with the amount of parts on offer, too, making it seem as if there are a wide range of bike builds you can create. However, after spending a considerable amount of time mixing and matching parts, I didn't feel that this system made a significant difference in my riding experience. Whether I prioritized parts specializing in one trait or the other, the gameplay always felt the same. When it came down to it, I felt the keys to my success lay in my abilities, rather than the parts I chose to upgrade my bike with, or a combination of the two.

Wheel World's Impressive Restraint

I rolled credits on Wheel World after about 5 hours, which could give the impression that there isn't much game here. Perhaps it's the fact that the past few games I've played have been 50+ hour triple-A behemoths, but something about the succinct, lean structure of this game felt refreshing. Wheel World isn't trying to exist on the scale of something like Rider's Republic, or Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, games with serious depth that can last 10s of hours. In a world where time-sink is the name of the game, Wheel World aims to be an experience you can have a fun few hours with, and depart with feeling fulfilled, even if your play clock sits with single digits as credits roll. Essentially, it’s just trying to be a chill game about biking. The amount of races and side gigs on offer feels just right, and by the time I rolled credits, I felt satisfied with the amount of gameplay I pedaled through -- a mark that not every game can hit.

Verdict

If you come to Wheel World expecting the triple-A depth and graphical fidelity of something like Rider's Republic, then you'll be disappointed. However, if you approach this game with an appetite for a lean indie experience boasting a distinct presentation, art style, personality, and gameplay feel, then I think you'll have a great time. Moving through Wheel World is a relaxing, visual, and audio feast that makes it hard to walk away from thanks to its bold cell-shaded art style and thoughtfully curated 80s synth-wave soundtrack. Despite what felt like a missed opportunity with its skin-deep parts system, having a gameplay design that allows me to take victory into my own hands with my own skills more than makes up for this shortfall. So what's the verdict? Wheel World is a great game, and if you're looking for a quick, fun, and refreshing indie experience, then it'll be well worth your time.