Move over, Roblox — Wobbly Life’s developer explains how the ‘Space Update’ makes it the best Xbox game for kids

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It’s always been hard to find games the whole family can enjoy – ones that aren’t too simple for me, but also not so complicated that my kids can’t play. I really don’t like Roblox because of all the in-app purchases and safety concerns, so we’ve mostly been playing Lego games, Minecraft, and Palworld. But lately, we’ve been looking for something new.

My son and I recently discovered Wobbly Life on Xbox, and it’s quickly become our favorite game to play together. It’s a fun, open-world game – think of a simpler, kid-friendly version of GTA – with hilarious, unpredictable physics, similar to Human Fall Flat. There are also plenty of missions to complete, which keeps both of us entertained. I think it’s the best game for kids on Xbox right now, and honestly, I enjoy playing it just as much as my son does!

We started playing just as the game was about to officially launch after five years in Early Access! The big 1.0 Space Update is coming out on September 18th, and that’s also when Wobbly Life will be available on Xbox Game Pass. I was lucky enough to talk to Thomas Dunn, the developer and founder of RubberBandGames, about how his small team of four people created this fun, family-friendly game for Xbox.

This interview has been paraphrased and lightly truncated in parts for readability.

Building a Universe with a tiny team

Wobbly Life began with a small team of just four people. Thomas, the programmer, explains that Will created all of the game’s 2D art, even for the recent Space Update. Alex is responsible for the game’s audio and missions, adding a lot of the humor, and Mark was the one who built the world of Wobbly Island.

The team has recently expanded to include people focused on social media, community management, and building partnerships with platforms like Xbox and PlayStation. However, Thomas remains heavily involved in nearly all areas of the project. Since its launch, the Wobbly Life Discord server has grown to over 29,000 members, and the developers are now working as a team to moderate it and stay connected with their players.

A game thats grown with its players

For over five years, the game Wobbly Life has grown alongside its younger players. Thomas shared the story of the “Dario Bros TV” YouTube channel, run by three siblings and their dad, who have been playing since the game was first released. “We’ve seen them grow up with the game,” Thomas explained. “They started with around 100 subscribers, and now they have over 60,000! It’s been really heartwarming to be a part of their journey.”

This game isn’t just for kids – adults will enjoy it too! My son loves the pizza delivery and missions, but I often play on my own to find hidden items or unlock vehicles he wants, like the cool flying car you get by finishing a museum collection.

Thomas explains that the museum was created for dedicated players – those who have finished everything else in the game and are seeking a new challenge. While some of the collections are simple to complete, others rely on luck and require a lot of patience. He admits the reward for finishing is intentionally hard to get. “We maybe shouldn’t have made the reward so good, because now everyone wants it,” he says, “but that’s exactly what we intended – it’s supposed to be difficult.”

The new Space Update includes a Museum you can fill with exhibits! It’s been made easier to complete, too. Instead of relying on luck with treasure maps, you’ll now collect items by visiting specific locations.

A new frontier, the Space Update!

After years in development, the Space Update arrives on September 18th, marking the official, full release of the game! A physical copy will also be available, and it includes some awesome stickers.

Thomas explains that they started building anticipation for the space update by putting up ‘Coming Soon’ signs all over Wobbly Island, with the rocket area being the final piece. After a long development process, they’re thrilled to finally launch Wobbly Life into space, fulfilling their original goal.

I’m so excited about this new update! Now we can actually explore a whole Wobbly Space Centre, which is amazing. You can go through astronaut training, get a Space Licence, and then *fly* zero-gravity vehicles – seriously! The developers have added tons of new missions, jobs, and collectibles. They’re saying it’s basically doubled the size of the game, and Thomas even compared it to a whole new Wobbly Life! Karina, the Community Manager, has already put in over 20 hours testing it and *still* hasn’t seen everything. It sounds incredible!

The game’s realistic physics work perfectly in zero gravity. Players can fly spaceships, try out new vehicles, and discover secrets, all while enjoying the same funny, unpredictable movements that have always made it a hit with kids.

Mutliplayer and stability fixes on consoles

Many players still really enjoy playing Wobbly Life with others. According to Thomas, there’s a lot of room to improve the Arcade mode with new mini-games and challenges, but the recent Space Update has been the team’s priority. Luckily, players on Steam can already make their own game modes and maps using the Workshop, and the community has created some amazing content!

Playing with split-screen on consoles, especially Xbox and Switch, has caused the game to sometimes crash. However, the new 1.0 update includes major improvements to how the game uses memory. According to developer Thomas, the game now automatically removes unused files, which should drastically reduce crashes. He understands how frustrating it is to lose progress mid-game, saying, “I’ve been there myself!”

Player housing and earning your way

Wobbly Life has a neat feature where you earn money by completing jobs, and then use that money to buy and upgrade your house. I was talking to Thomas about whether they planned to add more options for decorating and customizing these homes, as I think it’s a really enjoyable and surprisingly educational part of the game.

He said they really want to let players personalize their homes, but it’s proving tricky. Because multiple players can share ownership of a house in the game, figuring out how customization would work and avoid confusion is a challenge.

Despite its flaws, the game is still enjoyable because it gives players clear objectives and a feeling of accomplishment. Children can learn valuable lessons about earning, saving, and making choices about what to improve, although my son usually spends all his in-game money on pizza at the virtual movie theater – we’ve never been able to buy that big house!

Wobbly Life beyond the launch

After almost six years of hard work, Thomas is thrilled to release the Space Update and then take a break to be with his family. He began the project on his own in 2019, but now has a team of four. He recently became a father and wants to enjoy time with his young son before he gets older.

Right now, we’re concentrating on making the Space Update a great experience with lots of content. After that, Thomas is taking a measured approach, focusing on one thing at a time.

Quick fire questions from a five-year-old with a short attention span

I felt it was important for Thomas to address the audience’s most pressing questions during the interview. That’s why I asked my son what he’d really like to know from the people who made Wobbly Life.

  • Will there be space pets? Yes, a few, though pets take a lot of development work.
  • Can I drive a space rover? Mostly spaceships, but a few ground vehicles exist.
  • Can we get a helicopter with doors so my Mom stops dropping our artifacts in the sea? Thomas said they get this question A LOT. There will be some more suitable, enclosed vehicles, within the space update that now keep artifacts safe.
  • Is Grandma in space? Not exactly, but players may encounter her in some way (basically… wait and see)
  • More UFOs? Unlikely, though the original UF Egg remains a fun Easter egg.

We wish the Wobbly Life team an amazing launch (into the space update, geddit?)

What sets *Wobbly Life* apart is the strong community that’s grown around it during its early development. As Thomas explains, “We started with nothing, and it’s amazing to have created an open-world game like this with so many young players. It’s been wonderful to be a part of their childhoods.”

If you’re a parent looking for a fun and safe game for your kids-one that doesn’t constantly ask for more purchases-Wobbly Life on Xbox is a great choice. The new Space Update makes it even more expansive and exciting!

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2025-09-18 20:13