Wheel World Review by Nick Navarro
Cruising through a neon desert on a tricked-out bike, synth beats in my ears and a wide-open world ahead—that’s how “Wheel World” introduced itself. A dreamy, sidewinding adventure from Messhof and Annapurna Interactive, it leans hard into aesthetics and atmosphere. As a fan of the “Nidhogg” games, I had high hopes for what Messhof could pull off next. I just wish this title knew whether it wanted to be a stylish indie racer or a meditative, open-world journey. It tries to do both and ends up only halfway succeeding.
You play as Kat, a chosen cyclist by a floating flaming skull tasked with recovering mystical bike parts scattered across the land to perform something called the Great Shift ritual. The world is in danger, naturally, and only your handlebars can steer it back on track. It’s the kind of setup that sounds ridiculous on paper but somehow fits the game’s surreal, slightly absurd tone. There’s charm in how it never takes itself too seriously, even if it never goes deep enough to make Kat or the people you meet feel like they matter. The first thing that struck me was just how good it feels to ride. Pedaling with the PS5’s adaptive triggers gives a tactile sense of rhythm, especially when you’re shifting gears or using the brakes to drift around corners. Drafting behind other cyclists adds a surprising layer of strategy, giving races a little extra edge when you’re trying to sling past a rival at the last second. There’s an undeniable flow to the traversal, speeding across dunes, weaving through forests, and hopping off ramps, that had me in a comfortable groove early on.
The soundtrack absolutely helps sell the vibe. The game provides a lo-fi electric soundscape that fits the game’s energy perfectly. It’s moody and hypnotic, and I ended up saving half the tracks to my own playlist before I even finished the game. It’s one of those rare instances where the music doesn’t just accompany the gameplay; it elevates it. Visually, “Wheel World” is striking. The cel-shaded art, bold color palettes, and minimalist environments come together in a way that feels distinct but never overwhelming. There’s a crisp, clean beauty to the terrain, and every new region is at least worth exploring once just to take in the view. But that beauty comes with a catch: the world doesn’t really feel alive. Sure, there are NPCs scattered around and a handful of quirky rivals to race against, but none of them leave an impression. Even Kat, who we’re supposed to be rooting for, feels more likea placeholder than a protagonist. This is where “Wheel World” starts to wobble. There’s a solid core here, a great control scheme, and a unique vibe, but it’s surrounded by a lot of content that feels shallow. Conversations with NPCs blur together. The story never digs deep into the lore it hints at. The customization options for your bike are fun at first, but they don’t dramatically change the way you ride. And the more I played, the more the races began to blend into each other, with difficulty that never really ramps up past “mildly engaging.”
By the two-hour mark, I felt like I’d seen most of what the game had to offer. By the five-hour mark, I was just ticking boxes. Collect this, challenge that rider, win another race, and repeat. The repetition sets in fast, and once it does, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the game’s just padding out runtime instead of pushing its ideas forward. I wanted more moments of surprise or escalation, anything to give the journey a sense of growth. Still, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy my time with it. “Wheel World” hit the right mood at the right time for me. It’s the kind of game that’s easy to slip into when you’re looking to zone out, listen to good music, and ride through a gorgeous landscape. I wouldn’t be shocked if others come away much harsher on it than I did. But for all its missed potential, there’s something here, a foundation that could be incredible with a little more ambition behind it. Messhof remains a developer I’ll keep rooting for, even if this isn’t their best showing. “Wheel World” has the heart of a racing game and the soul of an art project, but it never quite fuses the two. It coasts when it should sprint and meanders when it should accelerate. And yet, I don’t regret the ride.
7/10
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Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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