Wheel World review: Keep on turning

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Occasionally, there’s nothing quite like hopping on your bike for a carefree spin. This concept is what inspires Wheel World, a fresh open-world biking escapade brought to us by Annapurna Interactive and Messhof, the creators of Nidhogg. Although the game does incorporate a narrative, it largely keeps things straightforward, resulting in an enjoyable, laid-back journey.

Pedal to the metal

In the tale of Wheel World, we meet our protagonist, a cyclist named Kat, who encounters an odd skull-like being named Skully. Skully is said to be the soul of a legendary bicycle, but his components have mysteriously gone missing before his planned cosmic journey was due, which was meant to unite the Wheel World and the moon. This whimsical plot establishes Kat’s quest to challenge any cycling teams she can find in a race.

In Wheel World, the primary gameplay involves traveling around the world and competing in bike races against various crews to build up reputation points, or Rep. These points can then be used to challenge boss characters. The open-world setting is vibrant and inviting, with players roaming through fields and ringing their bells to issue challenges to solo riders, as well as hunting for miscellaneous parts or secret jumps. Racing against other crews occurs on tracks strategically placed within the open world, leading to thrilling competition.

The gameplay loop is relatively straightforward, with most of your time spent earning coupons that don’t seem particularly valuable. However, the explorable landscape of Wheel World serves as its main allure, especially during the first half of the game. The shopping aspect of the game may feel unnecessary, but it takes a backseat to the captivating open-world experience.

Approaching midway through the game, you’ll encounter a surprising shift that introduces a second open world. Unfortunately, compared to the initial one, this new environment lacks charm when it comes to exploration. Many paths seem restrictive, congested traffic is prevalent, and the track designs feel less imaginative. To make matters worse, there’s minimal space for overtaking other racers and limited opportunities for experimentation. If anything, the first half of the game (Wheel World) offers more enjoyment than the latter part, as the excitement wanes once the narrative picks up steam.

Another point of interest is the computer-controlled opponents in the game, which aren’t always top-notch. As the game progressed and the difficulty increased towards the end, I frequently had to redo races due to these issues. Upon retrying, I encountered some odd racer behaviors, such as CPU racers colliding with each other, getting stuck in unusual locations, or even being propelled into the air unexpectedly. While these glitches didn’t completely spoil the game for me, they were noticeable and somewhat disruptive.

Second gear

Ignoring the latter part of the game, Wheel World showcases stunningly illustrated landscapes with a vibrant, cartoonish art style in its first half. The visuals significantly elevate the racing experience, creating an immersive atmosphere and tranquility. It’s a delightful environment to cycle through, whether it’s the lush farmlands, quaint suburban village, or dense forest filled with trees.

Instead of appreciating the scenery, one might find themselves yearning for a faster mode of transportation. Fortunately, the Portal Potty fast travel system is available for those in a hurry. However, due to Wheel World’s less-than-intuitive waypoint system, it’s not uncommon to end up lost amidst its many twists and turns when attempting to follow a set waypoint.

The game’s soundtrack significantly enhances the overall experience by adding a catchy synth pop rhythm from JOON and Italians Do It Better label. Although there isn’t much music for the open world section, the racing scenes are accompanied by this music, creating an ideal ambiance for competitive yet relaxed racing. The game’s soundscape perfectly contributes to the atmosphere of Wheel World, even during intense competition.

Get on your bike and ride

The narrative of Wheel World isn’t particularly extraordinary, yet I found myself deeply drawn to the subtle melodies it offered. The thrill of the races, the freedom of exploring the open world (mostly), and the inclination to stray from the usual path were experiences that both resonated with me and left me wanting more. There was nothing inherently bad, but the realization that the two open worlds didn’t offer much to explore left me yearning for something more substantial. Wheel World is a compact experience, which can be satisfying, but when the concept of riding a demonic bike on a lunar quest is so intriguing, it’s natural to desire something more profound.

In essence, the experience provided by Wheel World aligns perfectly with its initial promise, offering a tranquil cycling journey without any unnecessary extras or complications.

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2025-07-23 18:57