Firevolt Studio’s WheelMates is not your typical racing game—it’s a 2-player co-op RC car driving adventure set inside Professor Everett Bloom’s mysteriously empty home laboratory. With the launch moved up to September 1, 2026 on Steam (from the original Sept 7), players are scrambling to understand the WheelMates upgrade guide before they hit the linoleum. The game’s core loop revolves around three gadgets—the Rope-Swing, Magnetic Wheels, and Magnet Grab—but the real depth comes from how these power-ups interact with the environment, collectibles, and your partner. This WheelMates all upgrades breakdown will walk you through every tool, how to unlock them, and the hidden synergies that separate casual drivers from lab-clearing pros. We’ve pulled data from the official Steam store page, the WheelMates Discord (3,327+ members and counting), and community testing from the demo that was pulled on Aug 8, 2026.
Understanding the Three Core Gadgets
Before we dive into the WheelMates all gadgets list, you need to understand that WheelMates is a puzzle-platformer at heart. The RC car you control is tiny compared to the furniture, books, and lab equipment scattered around. Each gadget is designed to solve a specific class of environmental puzzle, and you’ll unlock them in the first 20 minutes of the campaign. Unlike traditional upgrade trees, WheelMates upgrade guide focuses on tool mastery rather than stat boosts—there are no engine upgrades or armor plates. Instead, your power-ups are the gadgets themselves, and they evolve as you find SD Cards and Memory Cards that unlock new mechanics.
| Gadget | Unlock Time | Primary Use | Co-op Synergy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rope-Swing | Chapter 1 (After first puzzle) | Grapple to ceiling anchors, swing across gaps | One player holds anchor, other swings to high ledges |
| Magnetic Wheels | Chapter 2 (After first boss gate) | Drive on metal walls and ceilings | Create magnetic paths for partner to follow |
| Magnet Grab | Chapter 3 (Mid-game) | Pull/push metal objects, activate switches | Chain pulls to move heavy objects together |
How the Rope-Swing Works
The WheelMates rope swing is your first tool and the most versatile. You fire a grappling hook from the front bumper of your RC car to any glowing anchor point (usually brass rings or ceiling hooks). Once attached, you can swing in an arc by accelerating forward or reverse. The key trick is momentum conservation—release the rope at the peak of your swing to launch yourself into the air. This is critical for reaching Scannable Objects tucked on top of bookshelves. In co-op, one player can anchor the rope to a fixed point while the other uses it as a zip line by driving along the taut cable. The rope swing also has a tension mechanic: if you hold the swing button, you can reel in the rope, pulling yourself closer to the anchor. This is how you climb vertical surfaces—alternate between reeling and releasing.
Magnetic Wheels: The Wall-Crawler
Magnetic Wheels are a passive power-up that activates when you drive over a metal surface (usually painted steel plates or exposed pipes). When active, your RC car flips upside-down and drives along the surface with a satisfying clunk. The WheelMates gadget guide notes that this isn’t just for traversal—many puzzles require you to drive on the ceiling to avoid floor-based hazards like electrical arcs or water puddles. The magnetic wheels also let you stick to vertical walls, which is essential for bypassing locked doors. In co-op, the magnetic field from one car can temporarily polarize a nearby metal panel, allowing the second car to drive on it even if it’s not magnetic. This is a hidden mechanic that most players miss—experiment with driving close to your partner while they’re on a wall.
Magnet Grab: The Utility Power-Up
Magnet Grab is the most complex gadget because it’s active rather than passive. You press a button to extend a magnetic claw from the front of your RC car. This claw can grab metal objects (crates, gears, keys) and either pull them toward you or push them away. The Magnet Grab has a weight limit—you can’t lift the professor’s heavy desk, but you can drag a metal crate across the floor. The real power comes from combining it with Magnetic Wheels: if you grab a metal object while your wheels are active, you can carry it up a wall. This is the core of many late-game puzzles. In co-op, one player uses Magnet Grab to hold a metal platform steady while the other drives over it. The Magnet Grab also interacts with Rope-Swing anchors—you can grab a loose anchor and reposition it to a new magnetic surface.
All Upgrades and Power-Up Variations
The WheelMates all upgrades list isn’t just the three base gadgets—it includes variant modes that you unlock by collecting Memory Cards (audio logs from Professor Bloom). Each variant changes the behavior of the base gadget, and you can switch between them at any repair station (marked by a wrench icon). Here’s the complete WheelMates all gadgets breakdown:
| Upgrade | Source | Effect | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rope-Swing: Double Hook | Memory Card #4 (Chapter 2) | Fire two ropes simultaneously | Create a triangle to stop swinging motion |
| Rope-Swing: Reel Boost | Memory Card #11 (Chapter 4) | Reel in 50% faster | Escaping water hazards quickly |
| Magnetic Wheels: Polarity Flip | Memory Card #7 (Chapter 3) | Reverse magnetic polarity | Push away from walls instead of sticking |
| Magnetic Wheels: Field Pulse | Memory Card #15 (Chapter 5) | Emit a short-range magnetic shockwave | Knock back small enemies or open magnetic locks |
| Magnet Grab: Heavy Lift | Memory Card #9 (Chapter 3) | Increase weight limit by 200% | Move large crates blocking paths |
| Magnet Grab: Chain Pull | Memory Card #19 (Chapter 6) | Grab up to 3 objects at once | Solve multi-switch puzzles solo |
How to Unlock Upgrade Variants
Each Memory Card is hidden in a secret room that requires a specific gadget combo. For example, Memory Card #4 (Double Hook) is behind a metal grate that you can only open by using Magnet Grab to pull a lever while Magnetic Wheels keep you on the ceiling. The WheelMates upgrade guide recommends exploring every room twice—once with your current gadgets and again after unlocking Magnet Grab. The SD Cards (which are different from Memory Cards) unlock cosmetic parts for your RC car—wheels, antennas, and horns. These don’t affect gameplay but are essential for car customization completionists.
Gadget Synergies and Advanced Techniques
The WheelMates how gadgets work question often comes down to combos. Here are the advanced techniques that the demo community discovered before the demo was pulled Aug 8, 2026:. Coordinate with your partner to maximize success. The 3,327+ member Discord community actively discusses this.
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Swing-and-Grab: Use Rope-Swing to get airborne, then activate Magnet Grab mid-swing to catch a metal object that’s floating. This is the only way to reach Memory Card #7.
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Wall-Push: Activate Magnetic Wheels on a wall, then use Magnet Grab to push a metal crate off a ledge. The crate will fall and trigger a pressure plate below.
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Double-Anchor: In co-op, both players fire Rope-Swing at the same anchor point. The combined tension creates a rigid bridge that you can drive across—this is essential for the Chapter 4 gauntlet.
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Polarity Launch: With Polarity Flip equipped, drive toward a wall and flip polarity at the last second. The repulsion launches you backward with high velocity, useful for speedrun shortcuts.
Co-op Exclusive Gadget Interactions
WheelMates is designed for two-player cooperative play, and some power-ups only work when both players are involved. The Friend’s Pass system lets a friend join for free (no purchase required) on split-screen, online, or Remote Play Together. Here are the co-op only mechanics:
| Interaction | Requirement | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Magnetic Bridge | Player 1 on wall, Player 2 drives underneath | Player 1’s magnetic field creates a temporary ceiling path |
| Rope Tug | Both players attach ropes to the same object | Pull heavy objects twice as fast |
| Magnet Relay | Player 1 grabs object, Player 2 grabs the same object | Pass objects between cars without dropping |
Collectibles and How They Relate to Upgrades
The WheelMates upgrade guide wouldn’t be complete without a collectibles strategy. There are four types of collectibles in the game: SD Cards, Memory Cards, Scannable Objects, and Journal entries. While SD Cards and Memory Cards directly unlock upgrades and cosmetic parts, Scannable Objects and Journal entries are purely lore-based. However, scanning Scannable Objects (using your Magnet Grab in a special scan mode) can reveal hidden anchor points for your Rope-Swing that aren’t visible otherwise. This is a hidden mechanic that ties collectibles to gadget utility.
| Collectible Type | Count | Unlock | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| SD Cards | 24 | Found in open areas | Car parts (wheels, antennas, horns) |
| Memory Cards | 20 | Hidden in secret rooms | Gadget variants (upgrades) |
| Scannable Objects | 15 | Requires Magnet Grab scan mode | Lore entries + hidden anchors |
| Journal entries | 10 | Auto-collected at story beats | Background story on Professor Bloom |
Known Issues and Workarounds
The WheelMates demo (which was pulled on Aug 8, 2026) had a few known issues that the community documented. Firevolt Studio has acknowledged these on the official Discord and promised fixes for the September 1, 2026 launch. Here’s what you need to know:
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Camera handling: The camera can clip through walls when you’re driving on ceilings with Magnetic Wheels. Workaround: switch to first-person mode (press C) temporarily.
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Fatal error crashes: Some players experienced crashes when using Magnet Grab on objects with physics interactions. Workaround: avoid grabbing metal crates that are stacked on top of each other.
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Key rebinding: The key rebinding menu was incomplete in the demo—you couldn’t rebind Magnet Grab to a mouse button. Firevolt confirmed this is fixed in the launch build.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best order to unlock gadgets in WheelMates?
You unlock Rope-Swing first, then Magnetic Wheels, then Magnet Grab. There’s no choice in the order—it’s tied to the story. However, you can choose which gadget variants to unlock first by prioritizing Memory Cards. We recommend getting Rope-Swing: Double Hook (Memory Card #4) early because it makes co-op puzzles significantly easier.
How does the Friend's Pass work for WheelMates?
The Friend’s Pass allows a second player to join your game for free on split-screen, online, or Remote Play Together. They don’t need to purchase the game, but they can only play as the second RC car—they can’t host their own session without buying the game.
Can I use the Rope-Swing on any surface?
No, the WheelMates rope swing only attaches to glowing anchor points. You can find these on brass rings, ceiling hooks, and some metal pipes. The Scannable Objects mechanic can reveal hidden anchors that aren’t visible initially. This also works when one partner uses Steam Remote Play Together.
Are there any permanent upgrades besides gadgets?
No, the WheelMates all upgrades system is purely gadget-based. You don’t increase your RC car’s speed, acceleration, or durability. The only permanent progression is unlocking gadget variants and cosmetic parts from SD Cards. This applies to both split-screen and online co-op via Friend's Pass.
Does WheelMates support Steam Deck?
Yes, WheelMates is officially supported on Steam Deck. The gadget controls map well to the controller layout, and the split-screen mode works in handheld mode if you connect an external display. Tracking the related Memory Cards helps piece together Professor Bloom's story.
Closing Thoughts
Final Tips for Mastering the Gadget Guide
The WheelMates gadget guide is all about experimentation. Don’t be afraid to use Magnet Grab on objects that don’t seem interactive—many puzzles have multiple solutions. For example, you can bypass a locked door by using Magnetic Wheels to drive on the ceiling, or you can use Magnet Grab to pull a metal key through a grate.
For more WheelMates content, check out our WheelMates co-op guide and WheelMates collectibles guide. You can also watch gameplay footage on YouTube to see the gadgets in action before launch. The WheelMates upgrade guide will be updated post-launch with any balance changes Firevolt Studio makes based on community feedback.