WheelMates Beginner Guide: Controls, Tips & Friend's Pass

Quick answer: WheelMates is strictly two-player — there's no single-player mode, and the developers have said that's deliberate. You'll need a co-op partner, but only one of you has to own the game: the free Friend's Pass lets a second player join without buying it. Use a controller if you have the choice, keep Start handy to self-destruct when you get stuck, and expect the first hour to feel a little unfamiliar before it clicks.

You need a real second player

This is the one thing to get right before anything else: WheelMates has no single-player mode, and Firevolt confirmed in an official Discord Q&A that this is intentional — "designed around" two people, not something they plan to patch in later. If you're hoping to solo it, this isn't that game. See the co-op and split screen guide for how online and local play both work.

The upside is that only one copy of the game is required per pair. The Friend's Pass lets your partner join your session for free — they don't need to own WheelMates themselves. Both players do need matching game versions installed to connect, which several of the day-one hotfix notes specifically called out, so if co-op suddenly stops working after an update, check that you've both updated.

Controller over keyboard and mouse

Both control schemes are supported, but in the recorded playthrough used for this guide, both players ended up preferring a controller — keyboard and mouse worked, but felt less natural for the driving-and-jumping feel the game is going for. If you have a controller free, start with that; you can always switch later if it's not for you.

A couple of control basics worth knowing before your first session:

• Jumps have a charge-up: hold the button before releasing for a bigger jump, which matters once you're trying to clear gaps
• Co-op interactions (levers, lifts, panels) generally need both players pressing at the same time — if something isn't responding, check whether your partner needs to press their button too, not just you
• If you get stuck, wedged, or flip your car somewhere it can't recover from, press Start to self-destruct and respawn. It's free — no penalty, no counted death, just a fast reset

What it actually costs and takes

WheelMates is $17.99 at full price (10% off at launch through September 15, 2026, per the official launch FAQ). For time investment: the developers' own FAQ puts the main story at roughly 6 hours, with full collection and side content pushing that to about 8 — see the how-long-to-beat page if you want the full breakdown, including why some third-party sites list a much shorter number.

Steam Deck works, if that's your setup

Firevolt confirmed official Steam Deck support in the same Discord Q&A, and it was already playable on Deck during the pre-launch demo period. If portable co-op is what you're after, that's a real, developer-confirmed option rather than an unofficial "Deck Verified" guess.

Before you start: manage expectations a little

Player reviews are generally positive — see the full review for the breakdown — but a few honest notes from real playtime are worth setting expectations with going in: the controls take a little getting used to, especially in tight rooms, and there's more backtracking through earlier areas than you might expect once new gadgets unlock previously-blocked paths. Neither is a big deal once you know to expect it, and most players end up finding the co-op puzzle-solving itself the fun part regardless.

Once you're past your first session and comfortable with the controls, the full walkthrough picks up from the very start of the house and covers every level and gadget in order.