What the Car?

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 307 reviews
  • gameplay
  • humor
  • graphics
What the Car? Game Cover
The silliest game about giving a car human feet you could play.
Starting at $19.99Buy now
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"WHAT THE CAR?" is a whimsical and unconventional racing game where you play as a car with legs, exploring vast islands and participating in unexpected challenges such as delivering packages, jetpack flying, and even burger flipping. The game encourages creativity with its level editor and leaderboards for player-created content. Despite its absurdity, the game reminds players that it is for entertainment only and not a tool to improve real-world driving skills.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Mobile Platform
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 307 reviews
gameplay6 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • The game is incredibly fun and silly, with a variety of unique levels that keep gameplay fresh and engaging.
  • It features a charming art style and humorous puns, making it enjoyable for players of all ages.
  • The integration of community-created levels adds significant replayability and variety to the game.
  • Some levels can feel repetitive and lack the creativity found in its predecessor, What the Golf.
  • The physics can be inconsistent, leading to frustrating moments where the car gets stuck or behaves unexpectedly.
  • Navigating the overworld and accessing levels can be cumbersome, detracting from the overall experience.
  • gameplay37 mentions

    The gameplay of "What the Car?" is characterized by a mix of quirky mechanics and humor, offering a variety of level designs that keep the experience fresh and engaging. However, some players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking depth compared to its predecessor, "What the Golf?", with certain levels feeling like a chore rather than fun. Overall, while the game is visually charming and suitable for all ages, opinions are divided on its ability to maintain excitement throughout the playtime.

    • “A very fun game with tons of different, goofy mechanics that change on a nearly level-by-level basis.”
    • “Game plays great, and a lot of the fun comes from speedrunning the levels and mastering the unique mechanics provided in each level.”
    • “The atmosphere is crafted perfectly, gameplay is satisfying and constantly changing, and there are even leaderboards to get competitive on!”
    • “What the Golf was a masterpiece, but this... What the Car seems boring and uninspired. The atmosphere is empty and sad, the levels feel lazy, and it feels like a chore. This is the only time I find myself feeling that way about a game. The gameplay is very simple and boring, like the level where you make a hamburger; you make it and then the customer takes it, end level... why?”
    • “Despite the reviews and advertising both saying 'anything but a racing game'... it's basically just a racing game. The 15 or so levels I played were all basically the same gameplay with none of the surprises I was expecting based on What the Golf, except for minor changes like 'wow you have bigger legs' or 'wow you have little legs', but you drive basically the same on levels very similar to the last 10.”
    • “Car control feels stiff and many levels are just hopping from point A to point B with little change in mechanics. The theme and visuals are charming and silly, but they alone don't make up for the fact that the first 30 minutes of gameplay were simply not fun for me.”
  • humor35 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its absurdity and cleverness, with many players highlighting the funny levels, quirky art style, and unexpected twists that consistently elicit laughter. Reviewers appreciate the chaotic and slapstick nature of the gameplay, noting that it keeps surprising them with its comedic elements, although some feel that the humor occasionally overshadows gameplay quality. Overall, the game is described as a hilarious and enjoyable experience that successfully combines fun mechanics with a lighthearted tone.

    • “Graphically great, absurdly funny, constantly topping itself with each new level's oddball themes and charismatic puns, what the car?”
    • “I have laughed loudly every time I sit down to play this as the quirky humor and even more quirky level design and mechanics make for a hilarious ride.”
    • “An absolute delight - this is unhinged, hilarious, and a joy to play.”
  • graphics12 mentions

    The graphics of the game are described as simple yet charming, featuring quirky and cute visuals that enhance the overall enjoyment. While many players appreciate the art style and humor, some note that the mobile game's limitations in gameplay can detract from the experience if the visuals don't keep them engaged. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's fun factor, but opinions vary on their ability to sustain long-term interest.

    • “The quirky cute graphics make it so enjoyable to play and the silly and fun sound effects contribute to the experience as well.”
    • “I highly recommend it for its emergent gameplay, silliness, and charming visuals.”
    • “Graphically great, absurdly funny, constantly topping itself with each new level's oddball themes and charismatic puns, what the car?”
    • “You want graphics?!”
    • “The theme and visuals are charming and silly, but they alone don't make up for the fact that the first 30 minutes of gameplay were simply not fun for me.”
  • music10 mentions

    The music in the game is described as cute and quirky, complementing the colorful visuals and whimsical characters. However, many users find it repetitive and monotonous, particularly during extended play sessions, leading to some frustration. While the soundtrack features amusing elements, such as odd vocalizations, it can become grating over time.

    • “Stayed for the music and custom levels.”
    • “And I've been randomly chanting the theme song as well.”
    • “That soundtrack drove a few of my stream viewers nuts, which is a net positive as far as I'm concerned.”
    • “Music can feel a little repetitive but overall a great game, an adventure with cute and quirky characters.”
    • “Rewards don't give anything, levels need to be replayed multiple times to get a card and gold times, the music feels the exact same for the entire game.”
    • “The music... it's cute, but so repetitive, especially when trying to get gold on the harder levels.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The atmosphere of "What the Car" has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it uninspired and lacking excitement, describing it as boring and chore-like compared to its predecessor, "What the Golf." In contrast, others appreciate its carefree and whimsical vibe, highlighting the engaging gameplay and community-driven content that can keep players entertained for hours. Overall, the game's shift from a whimsical adventure to a more competitive racing experience has polarized opinions on its atmospheric appeal.

    • “Beyond the whimsical atmosphere, this is a game that can very well occupy a great many people for hours upon hours - six for the base game, and countless more for those who wish to partake in the community-made levels.”
    • “The atmosphere is crafted perfectly, gameplay is satisfying and constantly changing, and there are even leaderboards to get competitive on!”
    • “Carefree, fun-loving atmosphere.”
    • “What the golf was a masterpiece, the campaign was something else and it was one of my favorite games, it was perfect... but this... is not. What the Car seems boring and uninspired, a game that could've been something totally crazy, something else... instead it is very limited and boring. The atmosphere is empty and sad, the levels feel boring and lazy, and it feels like a chore. I hate when people say that games feel like a chore; I never understood it, but this is the only time where I find myself in this... it really feels like a chore. The game is totally different from What the Golf, in the philosophy I mean... this game always feels like a car game, and the levels that are different with different gameplay are very simple and boring... like the level where you make a hamburger... you make a hamburger and then the customer takes it, end level... why?”
    • “Maybe it's just me, but the genre transition from golf-puzzle-solving-wacky-adventure to wacky-racing-adventure pigeonholes the experience into a more dry, competitive atmosphere than it assumes.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the pressure of achieving higher scores and medals, which can lead to gamer rage. The one - two - three star system adds replayability but often feels reminiscent of grinding in less enjoyable mobile games, lacking variety and making the experience feel monotonous. Overall, while some may enjoy the challenge, many reviewers consider it a chore rather than a rewarding feature.

    • “The one - two - three star system for clearing levels becomes more weighted as the levels go on, requiring you to shave off milliseconds to get the full three stars. While this is good for replaying, I unfortunately found it frustrating as the mechanic reminded me too much of grinding terrible mobile games for completion.”
    • “Even in its first hour, it comes off as fairly tedious, like it's lacking variety.”
    • “Charming idea and the demo was a bit of fun, but I found the full game to be quite tedious.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The stability of the game has been criticized for its broken and buggy physics, leading to inconsistent gameplay that can feel luck-based, especially in harder levels. Many players find the frequent bugs and inconsistencies frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The game is also very buggy and inconsistent in a way that could wear on the patience of some players.”
    • “What the golf is great, but this game has super inconsistent and buggy gimmicks which makes some of the harder levels luck-based at times to get the crown and/or card.”
    • “I think taking the 'car' theme really put them into a corner, where the gameplay almost always has to include a kind of race; the ones that don't just last for like 10 seconds or are very buggy.”
  • story3 mentions

    The game lacks a traditional story, with some players noting that it doesn't offer much narrative depth compared to its predecessor, "What the Golf?". However, it compensates with engaging gameplay, player-made content, and a level creator, suggesting that the developers are focusing on community-driven experiences rather than a structured storyline. Overall, while the story may be minimal, the game still provides enjoyable content and humor.

    • “Player-made content and a level creator are now integrated into the layout and the story from the start, and it seems like the developers are banking on this and content updates for the game much harder this time than they did with What the Golf?”
    • “It's like What the Golf? but with a plot twist: it's a car.”
    • “While the game lacks any sort of story (if one could argue that even 'What the Golf?' had some), it's still a good game that definitely delivers on its asking price with simple controls and a good amount of content.”
    • “Player-made content and a level creator are now integrated into the layout and the 'story' from the start, and it seems like the developers are banking on this and content updates for the game far harder this time than they did with 'What the Golf?'.”
    • “It's like 'What the Golf?' but with a plot twist: it's a car.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized for lacking creativity and excitement, with users feeling it is monotonous and uninspired compared to its predecessor, "What the Golf." Many reviewers express that the game fails to evoke any strong feelings, describing it as boring and unengaging, leading to a sense of forced play rather than enjoyment. Overall, the game is perceived as lacking the emotional depth and fun that players seek.

  • optimization2 mentions

    The game suffers from significant optimization issues, with reports of low and inconsistent frame rates, particularly in later levels, making it unplayable for some users. Additionally, minor bugs contribute to an overall lack of fluidity, even at high frame rates.

    • “The game itself is okay (even if inferior to What the Box in my opinion), but the problem is that it’s very poorly optimized. It doesn’t look fluid even at over 120fps, and in some levels in chapter 5, the fps drops to 6/12, making it unplayable.”
    • “I've also noticed a few small bugs, and the performance can be weirdly inconsistent.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players appreciate the game's replayability, highlighting the inclusion of a level editor and community-generated levels that enhance longevity. The overall design and humor contribute to a delightful experience, making it a worthwhile investment for extended gameplay.

    • “It's very well put together, cute, and funny (I love the NPC bears). The pricing is right for the amount of gameplay and replayability, and it's absurdly entertaining.”
    • “The level editor and community levels provide extended replayability.”
    • “It's very well put together, it's cute and funny (I love the NPC bears). The pricing is right for the amount of gameplay and replayability, and it's absurdly off the rails.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for misleading advertising, as players expected a diverse experience but found repetitive gameplay akin to a traditional racing game. Despite claims of innovation, the levels felt similar, leading to disappointment in the overall value proposition.

    • “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
    • “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending real money.”
    • “The constant prompts to purchase in-game currency detract from the overall experience and make it feel more like a cash grab than a game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

81% average critic score

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