WheelMates Split Screen & Co-op Setup Guide

Quick answer: WheelMates supports both online co-op and local split screen, officially confirmed by the developer. There's no in-game voice chat in either mode — Firevolt's own suggestion is to use Discord for online play, or just talk to each other in person for split screen. One copy of the game plus a free Friend's Pass for your partner is all you need either way.

Online or split screen — both are real options

Firevolt confirmed in an official Discord Q&A that WheelMates supports online co-op and local split screen as equally supported modes, not one primary mode with the other bolted on. Which one you pick comes down to whether you and your co-op partner are in the same room or not — the game doesn't push you toward either.

No in-game voice chat — plan for that

This is worth knowing before you start: WheelMates has no built-in voice chat. For online sessions, the developers' own recommendation is to run a Discord call alongside the game. For split screen on the same couch, this obviously isn't an issue — you can just talk. Given how many of the puzzles (see the puzzles overview) genuinely require coordinating who's doing what, having some way to talk to your partner isn't optional in practice, even if the game itself doesn't provide it.

Mixed input devices work fine

In the playthrough recording used across this site's guides, the two players used different input methods — one on a controller, one on keyboard and mouse — connecting online with no reported issues. That said, both players in that session ended up feeling the controller was the more comfortable option for the driving-and-jumping controls (see the beginner guide for more on that). Mixed setups work; they're just not necessarily equally enjoyable for both players.

Friend's Pass: what it actually requires

The Friend's Pass is free and lets a second player join your session without owning WheelMates themselves. The one thing to watch for: several of the game's day-one hotfixes specifically mentioned fixing co-op connection issues, and multiple patch notes emphasized that both players need matching game versions installed to connect properly. If co-op stops working after either of you updates, that mismatch is the first thing to check.

Steam Deck is officially supported

Firevolt confirmed official Steam Deck support in the same Q&A, and the game was already playable on Deck during its pre-launch Steam Next Fest demo period. If you're planning a portable co-op session, that's a developer-confirmed setup, not just something that happens to run.

Setting up a session, step by step

1. Decide online or split screen based on whether you're together in person
2. If online, get a Discord call (or similar) running before you launch — there's no in-game alternative
3. Make sure both players have installed the same current game version before connecting
4. The non-owning player redeems the free Friend's Pass to join without buying the game
5. Pick your preferred input device — controller is the more comfortable option based on real playtime, but keyboard and mouse does work

Once you're connected, the full walkthrough covers every level in order, and the puzzles overview is the place to start if you want to know what kind of two-person coordination each area actually demands.