Think about a spot the place cyclists don’t simply share the street, they outline it. A spot the place momentum strikes everybody ahead, nevertheless it’s those on two wheels who set the tone. Wheel World, developed by Messhof and revealed by Annapurna Interactive, creates precisely that.
A stylized, cel-shaded 3D world constructed across the rhythm of driving. At first look, Wheel World presents itself as a minimalist journey racing expertise, however its environments and tempo steer it towards one thing extra contemplative. It captures the meditative nature of biking: the headspace it opens and the quiet philosophy that emerges with each pedal ahead, providing compelling rides, in addition to moments of reflection.
In Wheel World, you play as Kat, a silent protagonist chosen by a daemon spirit named Skully. With out warning, you assume a sacred position: to assist information souls by way of a liminal house towards launch and renewal. To take action, you have to get well scattered relics to assemble a legendary journey that opens the best way between worlds.
This quest for legendary bike elements pulls you into areas formed by biking tradition. Motion displays id, and journey turns into a type of expression. Alongside the best way, you meet varied bike collectives, every with its personal tempo, beliefs, and sense of pleasure. They problem your ability however supply one thing deeper: mutual recognition and a shared devotion to the journey.
Biking Tradition is on the coronary heart of Messhof and Annapurna Interactive’s Wheel World.
In a world the place the journey speaks louder than phrases, status turns into one thing you carry with you. It shapes how others bear in mind you, not by title, however by how you progress by way of areas. In Wheel World, it takes the type of Rep., a point-based system that tracks your standing throughout the biking world. Whereas Rep. holds a numeric worth, it displays one thing extra private: how deliberately you journey, how constantly you present up, and the way clearly the group sees you.
Every area incorporates a revered native rider, somebody whose renown mirrors the terrain they journey. These cyclists every maintain a relic it’s essential full the legendary bike, however they gained’t race simply anybody. You want to meet their customary. Solely when your Rep. reaches the brink they acknowledge will they settle for your problem. To construct that standing, you journey with the group: search out bike collectives, present up of their house, and earn your home on the street. Whereas free-form exploration can lead you to those encounters, Bell Shrines function intentional waypoints.
Bell Shrines are a part of the ritual that Skully entrusts you with. You’re meant to hunt them out, and every time you ring one, the panorama responds. The area of the map reveals itself, highlighting the place native crews collect and different factors of curiosity. Shrines additionally develop your enhance meter, a significant useful resource that grants further velocity if you want it most. Greater than waypoints, they mark your rising connection to the world, mixing the sacred activity with mechanics that transfer you ahead.
Every crew you encounter affords an opportunity to construct status. Their races include layered targets: putting first, reaching high three, or beating a legendary time trial. Moreover, one is a extra playful problem the place you gather floating letters that spell out your title alongside the monitor course. It’s a enjoyable non-obligatory goal that provides slightly whimsy whereas nonetheless proving to be a problem given the course. It echos the tone that the journey doesn’t all the time should be so critical. Having enjoyable and setting targets can coexist.
Wheel World winds up being each playful and considerate.
Gamers will not be required to finish all targets, however every activity affords extra alternative to deepen your Rep and sharpen your journey. This format open gamers to decide on their model of engagement that doesn’t break momentum. The extra you journey, the extra you acknowledge the tradition surrounding the street. It’s an area the place progress and connection transfer facet by facet.
As you progress, terrain turns into its personal form of opponent. What begins as sweeping bends and mild climbs quickly turns into tighter nook, sharper descents, and newer surfaces. Each biome exams a special form of management, getting ready you for what lies forward. It’s not the opponents that get harder; generally it’s the street itself.
To match the calls for of every area, you depend on your journey. Wheel World treats bike customization as greater than aptitude — it’s a significant system of adaptation. You continually tweak and re-spec your construct to fulfill the terrain and course. Whether or not it’s mobbing down steep descents or navigating tight switchbacks, every element will have an effect on the way you journey. The deeper you get, the extra you’ll begin speccing your bike with intention, understanding that sure routes demand completely different builds.
Every element carries attributes that form your general bike construct. These attributes feed into 4 key stats: Energy, Aero, Dealing with, and Grip. Energy boosts acceleration, pedal effectivity, and helps with climbs. Aero lowers drag and will increase high velocity, nice for lengthy descents. Dealing with improves turning velocity and helps keep momentum by way of tight corners. Grip provides stability on tough surfaces and reduces jolts when driving by way of cluttered routes or brushing in opposition to different riders.
Constructing a greater bike makes a distinction, however deal with the journey is essential.
To improve your journey, you’ll want new elements and there’s a couple of option to receive them. Coupons, the sport’s major forex, permits you to buy elements from distributors scattered all through the world. Components are additionally acquired by profitable races or stumbling upon them by way of exploration.
This loop encourages gamers to press ahead, not only for efficiency however for the enjoyment in discovery. Like real-life biking or any interest, a part of the joys deepens if you begin investing within the gear that makes it yours.
Some elements additionally include Perks. Perks are uncommon passive bonuses that dial-in your journey even additional. Cost Drip, for instance, restores your enhance meter over time, maintaining you fueled throughout longer routes. Whereas Off-Highway improves stability on rugged terrain. Not each half has a Perk, however the ones that do can subtly shift the way you strategy the world, giving your construct extra character and objective.
What makes the leveling course of work so properly is that it doesn’t attempt to over complicate itself. At it’s core, Wheel World is a racing sport: you enter races, win, and earn rewards. It’s a easy loop however its executed with intention. As a substitute of layering on convoluted methods, the title focuses on refining the fundamental construction by way of considerate integration of biking tradition. It ties you to the world the place biking is held in excessive esteem. That cohesion between tradition and design lays the groundwork for a way your bike performs.
Wheel World takes you thru various landscapes, all fantastically created.
In sure races, like these slicing by way of dense cityscapes, site visitors patterns and shifting routes make dealing with essential for weaving between tight lanes. On the identical time, Grip helps take in collisions and allows you to keep grounded by way of sudden jolts, whereas Energy provides you the push to regain momentum after sharp turns or slowdowns. In moments like these, no single stat carries you. You be taught to weigh every attribute and perk, shaping your construct to fulfill the street’s calls for as they shift beneath your wheels.
The studying curve is clear: early races assist you get accustomed to your journey and later ones push you to suppose extra critically about methods to spec your bike. The enhance in issue feels earned. As programs change into tougher and crews extra expert, you begin to discover the gaps in your construct. Whereas these moments can really feel irritating, in addition they inform.
That perception pulls you again into your construct. Tweaking your stats and rethinking your strategy. That is how speccing turns into private. You’re not simply chasing higher stats; you’re studying the place and why you want them and that creates a robust incentive to remain engaged.
Wheel World frames its premise round a non secular ceremony, leaning into themes of formality and renewal. However that wasn’t what held me. The narrative didn’t anchor me; the journey did. What really caught and shines is the core of the sport: the biking. The expertise of tuning your bike, chasing down new elements, studying how terrain impacts efficiency, and most of all, simply driving.
At its core, Wheel World places a deal with renewal as a lot as biking.
Whereas the races are sometimes enjoyable and difficult, I discovered myself extra drawn to the easy act of transferring by way of the house. Driving by way of every biome with out an goal, letting the world unfold round me. That’s the place the sport felt most alive.
That grew to become the true story: the one in-built movement by way of rhythm and repetition. Via consideration and presence. As a novice bicycle owner, that hit one thing private. Generally there’s a vacation spot — a race to win, a component to earn, a phase to grasp. However typically, it’s simply concerning the journey. Whether or not it’s your first time on a route or hundredth, one thing all the time shifts. The surroundings. Your tempo, Your ideas.
The title additionally provides gamers a lot to interact with, providing races, facet targets, and beneficiant move of drugs by way of exploration, distributors, and victories. Wheel World hardly ever forces our hand; as an alternative, we encourage you to maneuver at your personal tempo. Discovery of recent drivetrains, two and three velocity bikes supply a deeper problem. Gamers are by no means required to make use of them, however they’re provided to masters for these seeking to experiment or lean into technical driving that provides a layer of issue and immersion.
That selection, to journey the way you need, to form your expertise not simply by way of specs however by way of connection, is the guts of Wheel World. It’s a title that take you unexpectedly providing greater than anticipated by way of its flexibility and reverence. Whether or not you’re chasing the right construct or just coasting by way of a sundown, Wheel World meets you the place you’re and allows you to transfer ahead from there.
Wheel World is available now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X | S, PC, and Xbox One.
Wheel World
8/10
TL;DR
That selection, to journey the way you need, to form your expertise not simply by way of specs however by way of connection, is the guts of Wheel World. It’s a title that take you unexpectedly providing greater than anticipated by way of its flexibility and reverence.
