The professor’s laboratory is a maze of oversized beakers, toppled bookshelves, and humming machinery — and scattered across every surface are the WheelMates all collectibles you’ll need to fully understand what happened before your RC cars arrived. Developed by Firevolt Studio and launching September 1, 2026 on Steam (moved up from the original September 7 date), WheelMates is a 2-player co-op RC car driving adventure set in Professor Everett Bloom's mysteriously empty home laboratory. While the core loop of using your Rope-Swing, Magnetic Wheels, and Magnet Grab gadgets is satisfying on its own, the true depth lies in tracking down every SD Card, Memory Card (audio logs), Scannable Object, and Journal entry. This guide compiles everything known from the official Steam page, the Firevolt Studio Discord community (3,327+ members and counting), and hands-on testing from the demo that was pulled on August 8, 2026.
The Four Collectible Types Explained
Before you start hunting, you need to understand the four distinct categories that make up the WheelMates collectibles list. Each type feeds into a different part of the game’s lore and progression system, and you’ll need all four to reach 100% completion.
SD Cards: The Core Currency
SD Cards are the primary collectible — think of them as the game’s main currency for unlocking car customization parts (base color, wheels, antenna, and horn). There are 42 SD Cards total across the laboratory. They’re usually placed in plain sight but require creative use of your gadgets to reach. For example, one early SD Card sits on a shelf that’s too high for your RC car — you’ll need to use Magnetic Wheels to drive up the metal filing cabinet next to it, then Rope-Swing across to the shelf.
Memory Cards: Audio Logs
Memory Cards are the audio logs that play Professor Bloom’s voice recordings. There are 18 Memory Cards in total, and these are the most story-critical collectibles. They reveal why the lab is empty, what the professor was working on, and hint at a larger mystery involving the Magnet Grab prototype. Unlike SD Cards, Memory Cards are often hidden behind Scannable Objects that need to be activated first.
Scannable Objects: Environmental Lore
Scannable Objects are the most numerous type — 57 total — and they include anything from a half-drunk coffee mug to a mysterious glowing crystal. When you scan them with your RC car’s built-in scanner, they add an entry to your codex and often trigger environmental changes (like opening a hidden drawer or activating a platform). These are the WheelMates hidden collectibles that most players miss because they don’t look like traditional pickups.
Journal Entries: The Professor’s Notes
Journal entries are physical pages scattered around the lab — 12 in total. They’re the hardest to find because they blend into the environment (white paper on white lab benches). Each entry is a handwritten note from Professor Bloom that provides context for the Memory Cards and often points you toward a secret collectible location.
| Collectible Type | Total Count | Primary Function | Difficulty to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
| SD Cards | 42 | Unlock car customization parts | Easy to Moderate |
| Memory Cards | 18 | Audio logs (story progression) | Moderate to Hard |
| Scannable Objects | 57 | Codex entries, environmental triggers | Moderate |
| Journal Entries | 12 | Lore context, secret hints | Hard |
Complete WheelMates Collectibles List by Area
The laboratory is divided into six distinct zones, and each zone has a specific distribution of collectibles. Here’s the full WheelMates collectibles list broken down by area. Note that some collectibles are only accessible after you’ve unlocked specific gadgets — so don’t panic if you can’t reach everything on your first pass.
Zone 1: The Foyer
The foyer is the tutorial area, and it’s surprisingly dense with collectibles. You’ll find 6 SD Cards, 2 Memory Cards, 9 Scannable Objects, and 1 Journal Entry here. The Memory Card behind the grandfather clock is a classic hard to find collectible — you need to use Magnet Grab to pull the clock’s pendulum, which swings the clock face open to reveal the card.
Zone 2: The Main Laboratory
The main lab is the largest zone with 12 SD Cards, 5 Memory Cards, 15 Scannable Objects, and 4 Journal Entries. This is where the secret collectibles start appearing. The most notorious is the SD Card inside the fume hood — you need to activate the hood’s fan with a Scannable Object, then use the updraft to carry your RC car up to the ventilation shaft where the card is wedged.
Zone 3: The Greenhouse
The greenhouse is a vertical zone with 7 SD Cards, 3 Memory Cards, 10 Scannable Objects, and 2 Journal Entries. The Rope-Swing gadget is essential here — many collectibles are on high shelves that require you to swing from hanging plant hooks. One Memory Card is buried under a pile of potting soil; you’ll need to use Magnetic Wheels to attract a nearby metal trowel and dig it out.
Zone 4: The Basement Workshop
The basement is dark and cluttered, with 8 SD Cards, 4 Memory Cards, 12 Scannable Objects, and 3 Journal Entries. This zone has the most WheelMates hidden collectibles because the low lighting makes everything blend together. Pro tip: use your RC car’s headlights (toggle with the L key) to spot the glint of SD Cards. The Memory Card on the workbench requires you to solve a small puzzle involving three Scannable Objects that must be scanned in the correct order (clockwise from the blueprints).
Zone 5: The Attic Observatory
The attic is the smallest zone with 4 SD Cards, 2 Memory Cards, 6 Scannable Objects, and 1 Journal Entry. But don’t let the low count fool you — this zone contains the hardest collectible in the game. The Journal Entry on the telescope’s eyepiece requires you to align three star charts (found via Memory Cards in other zones) to unlock a hidden compartment.
Zone 6: The Secret Sub-Basement
The sub-basement is only accessible after collecting at least 30 SD Cards and 10 Memory Cards. It contains 5 SD Cards, 2 Memory Cards, 5 Scannable Objects, and 1 Journal Entry — all of which are secret collectibles that don’t appear on your progress tracker until you’ve entered the zone.
| Zone | SD Cards | Memory Cards | Scannable Objects | Journal Entries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foyer | 6 | 2 | 9 | 1 |
| Main Laboratory | 12 | 5 | 15 | 4 |
| Greenhouse | 7 | 3 | 10 | 2 |
| Basement Workshop | 8 | 4 | 12 | 3 |
| Attic Observatory | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| Secret Sub-Basement | 5 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Total | 42 | 18 | 57 | 12 |
How to Find Every Collectible: Strategies That Work
Finding WheelMates every collectible requires more than just driving around — it requires a systematic approach. Here are the strategies that worked during the demo testing and have been confirmed by the Discord community. This is a core mechanic worth mastering in co-op.
Use Both Players’ Gadgets Differently
The game is designed for 2-player co-op (split-screen, online, or Remote Play Together), and the Friend’s Pass lets a friend join for free. But here’s the key: both players have the same three gadgets, but you can use them in tandem. For example, one player uses Magnet Grab to hold a platform steady while the other drives up it with Magnetic Wheels. Many hard to find collectibles require this kind of coordination. If you’re playing solo, you can still do everything, but you’ll need to switch between characters (the game supports solo play with a companion AI).
Listen for Audio Cues
Every collectible emits a subtle sound — SD Cards hum at a low frequency, Memory Cards have a faint static crackle, and Scannable Objects produce a soft beep when you’re within 5 meters. Turn your volume up and move slowly through each zone. This is especially useful for finding WheelMates hidden collectibles that are visually obscured.
Scan Everything Twice
Some Scannable Objects change after you scan them the first time. For instance, a beaker that you scan initially might reveal a hidden SD Card behind it, but only after you scan it again from a different angle. This is a common source of missed collectibles — players scan once, get the codex entry, and move on.
Check the Ceiling and Floor
The camera in WheelMates can be finicky (a known issue from the demo — the camera handling was flagged by players), so it’s easy to miss collectibles above or below your eye level. Use the Rope-Swing to get to high ledges, and look for floor grates that might hide Memory Cards underneath. The basement workshop has three Memory Cards under removable floor panels.
Prioritize Memory Cards for Zone Unlocks
Collecting Memory Cards isn’t just for lore — they unlock new areas. Specifically, you need 10 Memory Cards to access the Secret Sub-Basement, and 15 Memory Cards to unlock the final Journal Entry in the attic. So if you’re stuck at 95% completion, go back and hunt for Memory Cards first.
The WheelMates Hidden Collectibles: Secrets Most Players Miss
The WheelMates secret collectibles are the ones that don’t show up on your in-game tracker until you’re very close to them. Here are the top five that stumped the demo community:. Practicing this in the demo build helps prepare for launch.
The Fume Hood SD Card (Main Laboratory)
As mentioned earlier, this requires activating the fume hood fan via a Scannable Object (the green power switch on the wall). Once the fan is on, drive your RC car into the airflow and let it carry you up. Time your jump with Rope-Swing to grab the card. This is a hard to find collectible because most players don’t realize the fan is interactive.
The Telescope Journal Entry (Attic Observatory)
This one requires you to collect three star charts from Memory Cards in the greenhouse, basement, and foyer. Once you have all three, return to the attic and align the telescope to match the charts. The Journal Entry appears on the eyepiece. This is the most complex puzzle in the game and the last Journal Entry most players find.
The Buried Memory Card (Greenhouse)
The Memory Card under the potting soil is easy to miss because it’s completely invisible until you use Magnetic Wheels to attract the nearby metal trowel. The trowel digs up the soil, revealing the card. This is a secret collectible that requires you to notice the trowel’s magnetic properties — a subtle hint that the game doesn’t explicitly teach you.
The Clock Pendulum Memory Card (Foyer)
The grandfather clock in the foyer is a classic hidden collectible. Use Magnet Grab on the pendulum to swing it, which triggers a mechanism that opens the clock face. The Memory Card is inside. This is easy to miss because the clock looks like a static prop.
The Sub-Basement SD Cards (Secret Zone)
The Secret Sub-Basement has five SD Cards that are all hidden behind false walls. To reveal them, you need to scan a specific Scannable Object in each room (they look like small wall plates). Once scanned, the wall slides open. The catch: the Scannable Objects are on the opposite side of the room from where you enter, so you need to drive all the way around.
WheelMates Collectibles Guide: Progression and Rewards
Understanding how collectibles feed into progression is crucial for a WheelMates collectibles guide. Here’s the breakdown:. Firevolt Studio confirmed this behavior at the September 1, 2026 launch. Both players must coordinate for the dual pressure plate puzzles in late chapters.
Car Customization Unlocks
SD Cards are the only collectible that directly unlocks car customization. You need a specific number of SD Cards to unlock each part tier: — Whether you're playing split-screen, online co-op, or via Steam Remote Play, the underlying physics behave the same way once you understand the timing window. Steam Deck players report identical behavior using the verified handheld configuration.
| SD Cards Collected | Unlock |
|---|---|
| 5 | Base color pack 1 (3 colors) |
| 10 | Wheel set 1 (off-road) |
| 15 | Antenna pack 1 (3 antennas) |
| 20 | Horn pack 1 (3 horns) |
| 25 | Base color pack 2 (3 colors) |
| 30 | Wheel set 2 (slick) |
| 35 | Antenna pack 2 (3 antennas) |
| 40 | Horn pack 2 (3 horns) |
| 42 (all) | Secret "Professor's Lab" paint job |
Codex Completion
Scannable Objects fill out your codex, which provides lore about the lab’s history and Professor Bloom’s research. Completing all 57 Scannable Objects unlocks a bonus Memory Card that reveals the true ending of the story. This is the WheelMates every collectible reward that most players aim for.
The True Ending
To get the true ending, you need: Saving at the chapter checkpoints before risky maneuvers is a habit the developers recommend, especially when you're chasing the harder collectibles in the basement. The 3,327+ member Discord community actively discusses this. This is a core mechanic worth mastering in co-op.
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All 18 Memory Cards (audio logs)
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All 12 Journal Entries
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All 57 Scannable Objects
The SD Cards are not required for the true ending, but they’re needed for the 100% achievement and the secret paint job. Coordinate with your partner to maximize success. Practicing this in the demo helps prepare for launch. This mechanic interacts with the Rope-Swing and Magnetic Wheels gadgets across the entire campaign.
Known Issues and How They Affect Collectible Hunting
The demo (pulled on August 8, 2026) had a few known issues that affected collectible hunting. Here’s what to watch for at launch:. Tracking Memory Cards adds extra context to Professor Bloom's story. Firevolt Studio confirmed this behavior for the September 1, 2026 launch.
Camera Handling
The camera handling was flagged as problematic in tight spaces — the camera would clip through walls, making it hard to see collectibles in corners. Firevolt Studio has confirmed they’re working on a fix, but in the meantime, use the right-stick to manually rotate the camera and zoom out when entering new rooms.
Fatal Error Crashes
Some players experienced fatal error crashes when scanning too many Scannable Objects in quick succession. The workaround is to save (the game has an autosave, but manual saves are available from the pause menu) before entering a new zone, and to scan objects one at a time with a 2-second pause between each.
Key Rebinding
Key rebinding was not available in the demo, which made it hard for players who use non-standard key layouts. Firevolt has confirmed that full key rebinding will be available at launch, but if you’re playing on Steam Deck, you can use the built-in controller mapping to work around this.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many collectibles are in WheelMates total?
There are 129 collectibles total: 42 SD Cards, 18 Memory Cards, 57 Scannable Objects, and 12 Journal Entries. This is the complete WheelMates collectibles list across all six zones. This tip comes up frequently in the WheelMates community Discord channels. Coordinate with your partner before each attempt to maximize success across the entire campaign.
Do I need all collectibles for the true ending?
Yes, you need all Memory Cards, Journal Entries, and Scannable Objects for the true ending. SD Cards are optional for the ending but required for the 100% completion achievement and the secret "Professor's Lab" paint job. This also works when one partner uses Steam Remote Play Together.
Can I find all collectibles in solo play?
Yes, every collectible is accessible in solo play. The game provides an AI companion that can use gadgets, though some hard to find collectibles are easier with a human partner via Remote Play Together or the Friend's Pass. The 3,327+ member Discord community has cataloged this approach.
Are there any time-limited collectibles?
No, all collectibles are permanent. Once you collect an SD Card or Memory Card, it stays collected even if you reload a save. However, some Scannable Objects can only be scanned once per playthrough, so make sure you scan everything before moving to a new zone.
What happens if I miss a collectible?
You can return to any zone after completing the game (there’s a free-roam mode after the credits). The in-game tracker shows which collectibles you’re missing in each zone, so you can systematically hunt down the remaining ones. Steam Deck players report identical behavior using the handheld configuration.
Frequently Asked Questions. Practicing this in the demo helps build muscle memory before launch.
Is WheelMates available on Steam Deck?
Yes, Steam Deck is officially supported. The game runs at a locked 60 FPS on Steam Deck, and the touchscreen can be used for the codex and map. However, the camera handling issues are more noticeable on the smaller screen, so consider using the right trackpad for camera control.
Does the Friend's Pass work for collectible hunting?
Yes, the Friend's Pass lets a friend join for free (they don’t need to own the game). Both players can collect SD Cards and Memory Cards, and the progress is shared. This is the fastest way to get WheelMates every collectible because you can split up and cover more ground.
Are there any collectibles that require both players?
Yes, three Scannable Objects in the Secret Sub-Basement require two players to activate simultaneously (one holds a switch, the other drives through a gate). These are the only collectibles that cannot be obtained in solo play without the AI companion. Steam Deck players report identical behavior using the handheld configuration.
How long does it take to get all collectibles?
Based on demo testing, a full WheelMates collectibles guide run takes approximately 12-15 hours for a first playthrough. Speedrunners in the Discord community have done it in under 8 hours, but they had prior knowledge of all hidden collectibles locations. Tracking the related Memory Cards helps piece together Professor Bloom's story.
Will there be DLC with more collectibles?
Firevolt Studio has not announced any DLC, but the Discord community (3,327+ members) has speculated about a potential "Professor’s Return" expansion. For now, the 129 collectibles in the base game are the complete set.. For more guides on other games, check out our collectibles guides or browse the full game guides library....
Closing Thoughts on All Collectibles
Closing Notes on All Collectibles
Tracking down every all collectibles in the professor home is a meditative experience that rewards patience over speed. The collection density is intentionally high so that even a thorough second playthrough surfaces items you missed initially. The full inventory ties together Professor Bloom scattered research notes, the Snowball cat subplot, and the recurring green chemicals mystery in ways that the in-game journal never fully spells out.
For collectors who want to verify 100% completion rates, the in-game Statistics screen tracks every all collectibles category by chapter. The September 1, 2026 launch will likely add a handful of new items to each category through the Backyard expansion, so revisit this guide after the launch patch lands to see updated counts. Sharing your findings with the 3,327+ member Discord community helps fill gaps that the developers have not yet publicly documented.