Review: Wheel World (PS5) – Open World Cycling Sim Is a Joy When It Isn’t Chugging Along

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The game titled “Wheel World” is an engaging open-world cycling adventure that clearly showcases a deep affection for everything related to cycling. Although it leans more towards arcade racing than realistic bicycle simulation, it effectively conveys the delight of cycling in a manner that few other games have accomplished.

In this game, you take on the role of Kat, an unfazed character without dialogue, embarking on a journey to aid Skully – a spirit in the shape of a skull who aims to fix his renowned motorbike. While the initial storyline is endearing, Wheel World focuses more on its gameplay mechanics.

Embarking on an exciting journey after a brief introduction, I found myself roaming freely across an expansive open world, divided into various districts. My objective was clear: gather crucial bike components from the most skilled cyclists scattered throughout this vast land. Each of these masters of the road had set up shop in distinct locations across the map.

Essentially, you continuously travel from spot to spot, progressively enhancing your journey by upgrading components such as the frame, wheels, handlebars, seats, and gear chains – either through purchase, discovery, or victory in competitions. Once your bike is well-tuned, you embark on progressively more demanding adventures.

In Wheel World, there’s an enjoyable progression path that gives you the feeling of a true adventure. Despite being relatively short at around 6-7 hours, the frequent rewards and noticeable bike upgrades make every moment count. Returning to previous races, now easily conquered with your enhanced vehicle, is incredibly satisfying.

Scattered throughout the map are the various races. Certain ones boast shorter tracks favoring swiftness, whereas others present a challenge with their intricate road networks and off-road trails demanding nimble maneuvering.

To triumph in the majority of races, it’s crucial that your bicycle’s construction is balanced appropriately. However, if you aim to break records and secure top spots on community leaderboards, more thoughtful preparation will be necessary.

Playing Wheel World on PS5 is usually a delightful experience due to its tightly controlled gameplay and outstanding haptic feedback. The DualSense controller responds differently based on your speed and terrain type, enhancing the game’s already tactile sensation.

Zooming up steep slopes, racing downwards at breakneck speeds, applying brakes just to skid around tight turns… Wheel World does an impressive job, except for when, after a while, the game starts to falter. It’s not a deal-breaker, but the ending hours of the game seem to lack the same polish as the rest.

As the racing tracks grow more intricate and narrow, collisions with AI-controlled opponents become increasingly frequent. While these incidents might not seem problematic on paper, in reality, such impacts significantly reduce Kat’s control, causing her to veer off course or, at high speeds, to crash into the nearest wall.

At this stage of the game, even a minor collision could spoil an entire competition, and since your computer-controlled opponents can be quite unpredictable, there’s no foolproof strategy to deal with their unexpected attacks. Despite the fantastic overall gaming experience, the absence of a proper collision system seems somewhat out of place (and we hope it will be addressed in updates after the launch).

Unfortunately, there are some issues with the game’s performance, especially in crowded areas like the bustling city section of the map. Even on the PS5 Pro, you may encounter significant frame rate drops. The game’s controls are tight and responsive, helping to mitigate these drops, but they’re still noticeable. Additionally, screen tearing occurs more frequently in open environments, which can be frustrating.

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2025-07-23 19:06