WheelMates Is Like It Takes Two and Micro Machines Combined
WheelMates, an indie co-op adventure game, launches September 1 for PC with both local and online multiplayer support. The game draws direct inspiration from Hazelight Studios’ acclaimed It Takes Two, which set the standard for split-screen narrative co-op experiences when it claimed Game of the Year at The Game Awards in 2021.
In WheelMates, players control two remote-controlled cars navigating the imaginative home of a mad scientist, blending the split-screen storytelling approach of It Takes Two with the vehicular gameplay reminiscent of Micro Machines. A key differentiator from It Takes Two is the inclusion of robust online co-op functionality, expanding accessibility for players unable to share a physical couch.
The split-screen co-op narrative genre has seen limited adoption since It Takes Two’s breakthrough success, with few indie developers attempting to emulate its formula. WheelMates represents a notable exception, building on the template established by It Takes Two and its spiritual successor Split Fiction, suggesting renewed interest in the genre.