Wheels of Aurelia

About

"Wheels of Aurelia" is a narrative-driven racing game set in 1970s Italy. Choose from 16 different characters and drive along the Italian coast, engaging in conversations that reveal the player's backstory and affect the game's outcome. The game offers multiple endings, with the player's decisions and driving skills determining the outcome.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

49%

Audience ScoreBased on 149 reviews

story22 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The game features a solid atmosphere and music that effectively captures the essence of 1970s Italy.
The concept of combining driving mechanics with dialogue choices is interesting and offers a unique gameplay experience.
There are multiple endings to discover, providing some replay value and opportunities to explore different narrative paths.

The driving mechanics are frustrating, as players can only accelerate but not decelerate, leading to difficult navigation.
The dialogue often feels shallow and disconnected, making it hard to engage with the characters or the story.
The game is very short, with playthroughs lasting around 15-20 minutes, which may leave players feeling unsatisfied.

story
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its depth and authenticity while others find it confusing and poorly executed, particularly for those unfamiliar with the historical context of 1970s Italy. Dialogue options often feel disconnected, leading to a linear narrative that lacks complexity, and while there are multiple endings, the storytelling can feel repetitive and frustrating due to rigid mechanics. Overall, the presentation and character interactions are praised, but many reviewers express disappointment in the execution of the story itself.
- “The art style is stylish, the music is fantastic, and even the story (or stories) really fit into the time period and place that the developers clearly are going for.”
- “There are various story threads woven across different characters and routes, so you’ll end the game in different places for different reasons (if you like multiple endings, this game has plenty of those).”
- “Get this game if you like something short, but replayable, and with a really great story!”
- “If you know all about 1970s Italy, then I think this could be a very deep story for you, but it flew over my head personally and will for most people.”
- “The idea is fine, stories of the characters seem interesting enough, the problem is that most of the dialogue options seem disconnected and you can't really drive the story the way you want.”
- “Maybe something got lost in translation, because the story is really badly told.”
gameplay
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
67%
10%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it overly simplistic and frustrating, often likening it to outdated mechanics reminiscent of early video games. While the combination of driving and dialogue offers an interesting concept that encourages multitasking, the execution is criticized for being shallow and repetitive, with minimal engagement beyond basic driving and conversation choices. Overall, the game is seen as more of a narrative experience than a robust gameplay offering, appealing primarily to those who appreciate its visual style and storytelling rather than traditional gameplay depth.
- “Combining the driving with the speech mechanics is a cool concept, and I liked how it forces the player to divide their attention, kind of how a more realistic driving scenario does.”
- “The gameplay is pretty solid on paper too - at one point you can run away from the police, chase a terrorist's car, enter the race in a supercar, or just drive recklessly to annoy your friend.”
- “Gameplay also involves branching dialogue, which plays out simultaneously with driving - you can choose to ignore any conversation, of course, and keep your attention on the road, but that might upset your passenger!”
- “The gameplay was awful; I don't understand what this game is trying to achieve.”
- “While it deserves to be applauded for trying something new and experimental, its gameplay and systems are so minimal that it matches more of what may be seen in an old Atari game or experienced via a film, with the very passive gameplay consisting of, for the most part, veering left and right on a highway as your indestructible car typically will always only need to drive straight ahead, at one of two speeds.”
- “I would only recommend this game to people that find its visual style appealing and can tolerate extremely limited, near nonexistent gameplay in the traditional sense.”
music
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
37%
5%
The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to create a strong atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its nostalgic 70s vibes and unique soundtrack that complements the visual style. However, some critics feel that the in-game music is sparse and less remarkable compared to the trailer's standout track, which only plays in the menu. Overall, while the soundtrack enhances the experience, it is often seen as one of the few highlights in an otherwise lacking narrative and character development.
- “The strong sense of setting is striking, achieved particularly well by its radio stations and music.”
- “The art style is stylish, the music is fantastic and even the story really fits into the time period and place that the developers clearly are going for.”
- “Also, the music is great, so turn the radio up, lean back and enjoy the scenery in good company!”
- “The only good thing was the music, and even that was mediocre.”
- “Unfortunately, the in-game music is less remarkable, the dialogue is railroaded so tightly that the characters feel one-dimensional instead of complex, and the branching story paths feel completely arbitrary - it seems at least half of them require you to unceremoniously ditch your passenger.”
- “The song of the trailer is, by far, the most developed song in the whole game, and it plays only in the menu and trailer.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
32%
14%
The graphics feature a simple yet stylish art style that evokes a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic games, effectively creating a sunny Mediterranean atmosphere. While the visuals are generally praised for their uniqueness and aesthetic appeal, some users note that they can feel basic and repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of attractive graphics and a fantastic soundtrack enhances the game's immersive experience, despite some criticisms regarding depth and variety.
- “The art style is stylish, the music is fantastic, and even the story (or stories) really fit into the time period and place that the developers clearly are going for.”
- “And needless to say, the soundtrack and art are really unique and aesthetically pleasing!”
- “The graphics are so basic (in 'low' mode) they can run on almost any machine, but I'd enjoy disabling it to let my laptop run a bit cooler.”
- “The graphics are simple but have a strong style reminiscent of the flat-shaded polygons of Virtua Racing, conjuring up that sunny Mediterranean atmosphere.”
- “Love the idea, settings, visuals, and music but find the dialogue pretty shallow and trite.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, characterized by a charming European 70s vibe and a nostalgic Mediterranean aesthetic, enhanced by a strong soundtrack. While the visuals are simple, they effectively evoke a specific time and place, contributing to an overall immersive experience. However, some players feel that the atmospheric elements may overshadow gameplay, suggesting it could have been more impactful as a film.
- “The game oozes atmosphere.”
- “The graphics are simple but have a strong style reminiscent of the flat-shaded polygons of Virtua Racing, conjuring up that sunny Mediterranean atmosphere.”
- “The European 70's atmosphere is quite charming though.”
- “The aesthetics and the music also help towards creating the atmosphere of the era.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple endings—reportedly up to 16—encouraging players to explore different dialogue choices and character interactions. This aspect, combined with a compelling story, makes it an appealing choice for those who enjoy short yet replayable experiences.
- “Get this game if you like something short, but replayable, and with a really great story!”
- “[i]Wheels of Aurelia[/i] is a neat little game with great replay value.”
- “The game has multiple endings (16?? according to the ending screen?) which may lead to some replay value, and I'm guessing these are unlocked by selecting different responses to the dialog, taking characters to where it is they'd like to go, etc.”
- “The main replay value of the game is in trying to find all the different endings.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, leading some to abandon it after only discovering a fraction of the available endings. The repetitive nature of the grinding detracts significantly from the overall enjoyment.
- “This becomes extremely tedious.”
- “This, in the end, made the game very tedious to me, making me stop after discovering 6 of the 16 endings.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by quirky and occasionally touching small talk, which can evoke varied reactions from players. However, many reviewers feel that the overall emotional impact falls short compared to the best titles in the genre, lacking the depth and engagement needed to make a lasting impression.
- “The small talk is meandering, quirky, and occasionally touching or insightful.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features strong character development, particularly through its female protagonist, who is portrayed as an ambitious individual with her own aspirations to become an F1 driver, rather than a mere supporting character. This refreshing approach, combined with dramatic plots and meaningful choices, enhances the overall narrative experience.
- “The narrative straddles good character development with dramatic plots and choices; it's refreshing to see a driving game with a female protagonist, who, unlike in OutRun, is not just there to be impressed by the man's driving, but has her own aspirations to be an F1 driver!”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is criticized for its poor stability, with users reporting numerous bugs that lead to an unsatisfactory experience and a failure to meet expectations.
- “The result is a buggy, unsatisfying game that seems to fail at everything it sets out to do.”