Guides

Guides

WheelMates beginner guides covering RC driving, co-op teamwork, and your first hour in the professor's lab — every mechanic explained step by step.

10+
Guide Count
Aug 2026
Last Updated
Easy→Mid
Difficulty

Introduction

Guides is the starting point for every WheelMates player. Whether this is your first co-op driving adventure or you just want to master the lab's many gadgets, the guides below break the game into bite-sized lessons: how each RC car controls, how rope-swings and magnetic wheels interact with the world, and how to coordinate with a partner through the trickier two-player puzzles. Read these in order on your first playthrough, then use them as a reference when you revisit the lab for hidden collectibles. This mechanic combines naturally with rope-swing and magnet grab gadgets across the professor's lab. Players find it most useful when they split roles — one driver handles traversal while the navigator triggers switches or scans for collectibles. Friend's Pass makes the whole experience feel designed for two even if you only own one copy of the game. Steam Deck support is officially verified so you can play the same way on the go.This mechanic combines naturally with rope-swing and magnet grab gadgets across the professor's lab. Players find it most useful when they split roles — one driver handles traversal while the navigator triggers switches or scans for collectibles. Friend's Pass makes the whole experience feel designed for two even if you only own one copy of the game. Steam Deck support is officially verified so you can play the same way on the go.

WheelMates Guides Quick Reference

EntryTypeFocus
BeginnerControls & First HourStep-by-step
Co-op BasicsCommunication & RolesPair Play
First GadgetsRope-Swing & MagnetTraversal
CollectiblesSD Cards & Journals100% Path
SettingsPC & Steam DeckPerformance

Guides Spotlight

S

Core

Essential

Essential Guides entry — start here. This entry covers how the item is found in the lab, what its primary use is in puzzles, and any co-op synergy with Friend's Pass sessions. Items stack together to unlock the most efficient 100% completion route through the professor's home.

FocusGuides Fundamentals
Best ForFirst-Time Players
A

Advanced

Recommended

Advanced Guides topic for experienced players. This entry covers how the item is found in the lab, what its primary use is in puzzles, and any co-op synergy with Friend's Pass sessions. Items stack together to unlock the most efficient 100% completion route through the professor's home.

Skill LevelIntermediate+
Best ForReturning Players
B

Deep Dive

Detailed

In-depth Guides analysis with full breakdowns and edge cases.

FormatReference
Best ForCompletionists
A

Pro Strategy

Pro

Pro tips for experienced players looking to optimize their runs. This entry covers how the item is found in the lab, what its primary use is in puzzles, and any co-op synergy with Friend's Pass sessions. Items stack together to unlock the most efficient 100% completion route through the professor's home.

StrategyOptimized Play
Best ForCompletionists
B

Reference

Reference

Quick lookup tables and lookup data for in-game situations. This entry covers how the item is found in the lab, what its primary use is in puzzles, and any co-op synergy with Friend's Pass sessions. Items stack together to unlock the most efficient 100% completion route through the professor's home.

FormatLookup
Best ForMid-Run Checks

Core Mechanics

WheelMates' core mechanics are built around two tiny RC cars exploring an oversized environment. Each car handles with arcade-style steering, throttle, and a tight camera that you can rotate independently. Gadgets (rope-swing, magnetic wheels, magnet grab) attach to one car at a time and let you reach new routes. Many puzzles demand both cars at once: one holds a switch, the other races through a timed gap. The deeper you go, the more the house opens up, so the guides below also cover how to read the professor's map and journal hints. This mechanic combines naturally with rope-swing and magnet grab gadgets across the professor's lab. Players find it most useful when they split roles — one driver handles traversal while the navigator triggers switches or scans for collectibles. Friend's Pass makes the whole experience feel designed for two even if you only own one copy of the game. Steam Deck support is officially verified so you can play the same way on the go.This mechanic combines naturally with rope-swing and magnet grab gadgets across the professor's lab. Players find it most useful when they split roles — one driver handles traversal while the navigator triggers switches or scans for collectibles. Friend's Pass makes the whole experience feel designed for two even if you only own one copy of the game. Steam Deck support is officially verified so you can play the same way on the go.

Advantages

Following a structured guide path is the fastest way to feel at home in the lab. Instead of bouncing between doors and trying every gadget on every surface, the guide order below walks you through controls, then gadgets, then the first major puzzles. By the time you reach the Backyard, you'll already know how to chain rope-swing into magnet grab without prompting — and you'll save hours compared to figuring it out alone. The guides are also the only section that surfaces the recommended settings for both PC and Steam Deck. This mechanic combines naturally with rope-swing and magnet grab gadgets across the professor's lab. Players find it most useful when they split roles — one driver handles traversal while the navigator triggers switches or scans for collectibles. Friend's Pass makes the whole experience feel designed for two even if you only own one copy of the game. Steam Deck support is officially verified so you can play the same way on the go.This mechanic combines naturally with rope-swing and magnet grab gadgets across the professor's lab. Players find it most useful when they split roles — one driver handles traversal while the navigator triggers switches or scans for collectibles. Friend's Pass makes the whole experience feel designed for two even if you only own one copy of the game. Steam Deck support is officially verified so you can play the same way on the go.

Challenges

Guides are a learning aid, not a replacement for exploration. The professor's lab is full of hidden rooms and collectibles that aren't covered in any walkthrough, and several puzzles are easier when one player figures them out independently. Use the guides to learn the rules, then put them down and play. If you read every guide before your first run you'll miss the joy of discovering that the rope-swing can also pull a chair across the room. This mechanic combines naturally with rope-swing and magnet grab gadgets across the professor's lab. Players find it most useful when they split roles — one driver handles traversal while the navigator triggers switches or scans for collectibles. Friend's Pass makes the whole experience feel designed for two even if you only own one copy of the game. Steam Deck support is officially verified so you can play the same way on the go.This mechanic combines naturally with rope-swing and magnet grab gadgets across the professor's lab. Players find it most useful when they split roles — one driver handles traversal while the navigator triggers switches or scans for collectibles. Friend's Pass makes the whole experience feel designed for two even if you only own one copy of the game. Steam Deck support is officially verified so you can play the same way on the go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to read the guides in order?+
Yes, the first four guides cover controls, co-op basics, gadgets, and your first collectibles in sequence. After that the order is flexible — most players jump to either the Walkthrough or the Puzzle Solutions hub once they're comfortable. Practical tips here come from observing how the mechanic behaves across multiple playthroughs, and they integrate with the rope-swing, magnetic wheels, and magnet grab gadgets that form the core of the lab. Friend’s Pass lets you try these techniques with a partner, and the same tips apply on Steam Deck since the game is officially verified.. Practical tips here come from observing how the mechanic behaves across multiple playthroughs, and they integrate with the rope-swing, magnetic wheels, and magnet grab gadgets that form the core of the lab. Friend’s Pass lets you try these techniques with a partner, and the same tips apply on Steam Deck since the game is officially verified.
Are the guides updated after launch?+
Yes, all guides are revised as patches and devlogs confirm new mechanics. The Updates category tracks every revision with a date stamp. Practical tips here come from observing how the mechanic behaves across multiple playthroughs, and they integrate with the rope-swing, magnetic wheels, and magnet grab gadgets that form the core of the lab. Friend’s Pass lets you try these techniques with a partner, and the same tips apply on Steam Deck since the game is officially verified.. Practical tips here come from observing how the mechanic behaves across multiple playthroughs, and they integrate with the rope-swing, magnetic wheels, and magnet grab gadgets that form the core of the lab. Friend’s Pass lets you try these techniques with a partner, and the same tips apply on Steam Deck since the game is officially verified.
Will the guides work on Steam Deck?+
The written guides apply to all platforms. For Steam Deck-specific button layouts and graphics tweaks, see the Settings category. Practical tips here come from observing how the mechanic behaves across multiple playthroughs, and they integrate with the rope-swing, magnetic wheels, and magnet grab gadgets that form the core of the lab. Friend’s Pass lets you try these techniques with a partner, and the same tips apply on Steam Deck since the game is officially verified.. Practical tips here come from observing how the mechanic behaves across multiple playthroughs, and they integrate with the rope-swing, magnetic wheels, and magnet grab gadgets that form the core of the lab. Friend’s Pass lets you try these techniques with a partner, and the same tips apply on Steam Deck since the game is officially verified.

Quick Tips

💡

Pick one player as the navigator and the other as the driver at the start of the session — switching constantly mid-puzzle is the number-one cause of miscommunication. This advice holds across both single-player (where available) and Friend's Pass co-op modes on Steam, and the same principle applies on Steam Deck verified configurations.

💡

Use the camera reset button before every rope-swing so the swing arc lines up with the target shelf. This advice holds across both single-player (where available) and Friend's Pass co-op modes on Steam, and the same principle applies on Steam Deck verified configurations The same principle applies whether you play solo or with a co-op partner via Friend's Pass, and it works identically on Steam Deck since the game is officially verified for that hardware.

💡

Magnetic wheels work on any metal surface, including the metal legs of the lab desks — try driving up table legs before you assume a wall is too high. This advice holds across both single-player (where available) and Friend's Pass co-op modes on Steam, and the same principle applies on Steam Deck verified configurations.

💡

If a puzzle feels impossible, check whether you have both cars in the same room. Several switches only activate when both players are present. This advice holds across both single-player (where available) and Friend's Pass co-op modes on Steam, and the same principle applies on Steam Deck verified configurations. Players find this especially useful in co-op modes with Friend Pass support and on Steam Deck verified hardware.

💡

Save the Backyard for after you finish the main chapters. It uses every gadget at once and is much easier once you know the controls cold. This advice holds across both single-player (where available) and Friend's Pass co-op modes on Steam, and the same principle applies on Steam Deck verified configurations.

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