TECHMASH

Tag: #WheelMates

  • Tiny Wheels, Big Secrets: Co-Op Adventure ‘WheelMates’ Drops Updated Demo Ahead of September PC Launch!

    Tiny Wheels, Big Secrets: Co-Op Adventure ‘WheelMates’ Drops Updated Demo Ahead of September PC Launch!

    If you’ve ever looked at your living room furniture and thought, “I could definitely do a sick flip off that bookshelf,” developer Firevolt has the perfect game for you.

    Revealed during the Future Games Show, the highly anticipated co-op adventure WheelMates has officially locked in its PC release date. Ready a fresh set of batteries, because this miniature, micro-sized journey is zooming onto Steam on Monday, 7 September.

    Even better news? You don’t have to wait until autumn to get behind the wheel. To celebrate Steam Next Fest, Firevolt has just deployed a freshly updated demo that you can download and play right now.

    Go Off-Road, Indoors!

    In WheelMates, you and a player-two answer a distress call from an eccentric, mysteriously missing scientist. The catch? The only way to navigate his massive, puzzle-filled home laboratory is by piloting a pair of tiny RC cars.

    This isn’t a racing game—it’s a true, collaborative physics playground inspired by classic RC games like Re-Volt and modern co-op masterclasses. You’ll need to work in tandem to drop vases from the kitchen table, whiz under the sofa, and turn mundane household appliances into epic stunt ramps.

    Co-Op over Competition: WheelMates features zero timers and no pressure to rush. It’s entirely focused on shared problem-solving, letting you and your co-driver uncover the house’s mysteries at your own preferred pace.

    What’s New in the Steam Next Fest Demo?

    Firevolt has listened closely to player feedback, packing this latest demo with massive quality-of-life upgrades:

    • Steam Deck Support: The demo now features full Steam Deck optimisation, making it absolutely perfect for a couch co-op night with a friend.
    • Upgraded Driving & Camera Controls: Expect much smoother handling options to make your RC car drift exactly the way you want, plus new camera controls (including a free camera) for a better view of the great indoors.
    • The Journal Feature: A brand-new story tracker that logs the clues you scan and collect throughout the house, helping you piece together the mystery of the professor’s whereabouts.

    Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

    As you delve deeper into the house—exploring the Kitchen, Garage, and Backyard—you’ll unlock wild experimental gadgets. From rope-swinging winches to magnetic wheels that let you drive upside down on metal surfaces, the game slowly unfolds into a miniature Metroidvania.

    Best of all, when the full game launches on 7 September, it will feature a Friends Pass—meaning only one of you needs to own the game for both of you to play online together.

    Head over to Steam, grab a partner, and test drive the updated demo today!

    Find out more here

    #WheelMates #Firevolt #SteamNextFest #FutureGamesShow #CoOpGames #IndieGames #GamingNews #PCGaming #SteamDeck #TechMash

  • Honey, I Shrunk the Co-op: Why WheelMates is Your Next Multiplayer Obsession

    Honey, I Shrunk the Co-op: Why WheelMates is Your Next Multiplayer Obsession

    If you’ve ever looked at a ventilation shaft and thought, “I bet I could fit a miniature chassis through there,” then FireVolt has heard your oddly specific prayers.

    The indie studio’s latest title, WheelMates, has just rolled onto our radar, and it’s doing something refreshingly tactile in the co-op space. Forget high-fantasy raids or tactical shooters; this is about two people, two RC cars, and one massive, mystery-filled mansion belonging to an eccentric (and conveniently missing) scientist.

    The Premise: Tiny Wheels, Big Secrets

    In WheelMates, you and a partner take control of “The Rovers”—twin remote-controlled vehicles designed by the vanished Dr. Aris Thorne. You aren’t just racing to the finish line; you’re navigating a “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” style landscape where a spilt bowl of cereal is a hazardous swamp and a staircase is a mountain range.

    The hook? The house is alive with Rube Goldberg-style machinery. To progress, you’ll need to solve environmental puzzles that require genuine synchronicity.

    Why It Works: The “Two-Driver” Dynamic

    While many co-op games let you wander off on your own, WheelMates tethers you together through clever level design.

    • Asymmetrical Abilities: One car might be equipped with a high-powered winch to pull objects, while the other features a jump-jet to reach high-altitude switches.
    • Physics-Based Fun: The physics engine is delightfully “crunchy.” You’ll feel every bounce of the tyres and every tilt of the floorboards.
    • The “Spotter” Mechanic: Often, one player will need to navigate a dark crawlspace while the other stays back to shine their headlights or operate a remote terminal to guide them through.

    The Vibe: Science, Mystery, and Dust Bunnies

    Developer FireVolt has nailed the “eccentric scientist” aesthetic. Dr. Thorne’s house isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a character. As you explore, you’ll find:

    • Secret Labs: Hidden behind false bookshelves.
    • Impossible Tech: Miniature portals and gravity-defying ramps.
    • Environmental Storytelling: Post-it notes and half-finished inventions that hint at where the Doctor went—and what he was running from.

    “We wanted to capture that childhood feeling of imagining a whole world under the sofa,” says the lead dev at FireVolt. “But with more lasers and hydraulic lifts.”

    The TechMash Verdict

    WheelMates feels like a love letter to local and online co-op. It’s charming, deceptively challenging, and avoids the “combat bloat” that many modern adventures fall into. Whether you’re carefully winching your partner across a boiling kitchen sink or high-tailing it away from a particularly territorial house cat, the sense of scale is consistently impressive.

    The Bottom Line: If you have a Player Two and a penchant for exploration, put this on your wishlist immediately. Just watch out for the vacuum cleaner—it’s a boss fight you won’t soon forget.

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/3905450

    #WheelMates #RCcars #scientist #FireVolt #coop #adventure #cars #driving #videogames #gamers #gaming #gametrailer