Wheel World

I started Wheel World with a bit of a bias. It’s an indie game from Annapurna, so I expected something boring, artsy, maybe quirky, maybe a little too out there. But honestly? I was pleasantly surprised. This isn’t just some weird indie experiment – it’s actually a pretty chill cycling game.

You play as Kat, teaming up with a talking bike ghost (yes, you read that right) to take on gangs, race for glory, and collect parts to upgrade your ride. The big goal? Beat a bunch of bosses and recover legendary bike parts to save… the sewer world? Or something like that. Honestly, the story sounds kind of silly, but it never gets in the way of the fun.

The first half of Wheel World is where it shines for me. You’re free to ride through an open world with relaxing music and just… vibe. It’s not high-stakes from the start, and that’s a good thing. If you’ve ever just wanted to chill, explore, and race without stressing out, this game nails that feeling.

Gameplay & Controls

Cycling feels great here. It’s responsive and fun, especially with a controller. You pedal with the right trigger, brake with the left, boost with X (thanks to your ghost buddy Skully), and just cruise. It’s simple, but satisfying.

The world isn’t empty either – you’ve got gangs to race, collectibles to find, and upgrades to hunt down. Customising your bike is a nice touch, too – you can tweak it for speed, off-road, or all-round performance.

Story & Characters

The setup is a bit goofy: a daemon bike spirit needs you to help him reclaim stolen parts to perform some sort of ritual. The story also has an environmental message tucked in there, but don’t expect deep lore. It’s light, sometimes a little bit funny, and mostly just a reason to keep pedalling.

Verdict

Wheel World surprised me. It’s not trying to be the next big hit – it’s just a chill, fun game about cycling, racing gangs, and upgrading bikes in a weird world. For less than €17 (or free with Game Pass), it’s absolutely worth checking out if you want something relaxing but still engaging.