16 Years Later, A 'Let's Play' Classic Blows Up on Steam with 750K Wishlists
Overview & Key Takeaways
Happy Wheels makes a comeback on Steam, amassing thousands of players in a week.
The internet was a different place in 2010. Generative AI was still dormant, memes were thriving, and "Let's Plays" ruled YouTube. As a free browser game, Happy Wheels caught the attention of popular YouTubers, which turned it into somewhat of a sensation at the time. At some point, it felt like everyone was playing it. Sixteen years later, Happy Wheels has resurfaced following its launch on Steam.
Happy Wheels became extremely popular in the previous decade due to well-known Let's Players such as PewDiePie frequently featuring it on their channels. It had everything it needed to rise to fame: It was free and browser-based, so everyone could access it without spending a dime or downloading anything. It was also a silly and unique concept; players must overcome obstacles and reach the finish line alive, which usually consists of various gory, failed attempts. Like most things on the internet, the hype eventually died down, and since then, "it has been floating on an isolated island in space," creator Jim Bonacci said of the game.
Image: Jim Bonacci
Bonacci added Happy Wheels to the Steam Store in an attempt to revive it. Within two weeks, it reached a staggering 750,000 wishlists. The indie dev admitted his surprise in the game's release post: "I realistically was thinking maybe 5k at best." While it was shocking, he was grateful to know that there was still interest in his game.
Some players are returning to Happy Wheels for a nostalgia trip or are experiencing it for the very first time. It is a piece of internet history. Now, a week post-launch on Steam and 16 years after its initial release on browsers, Happy Wheels has 94% positive reviews from over 3,000 players worldwide.
Happy Wheels is still available for free on totaljerkface.com as well as the App Store and Google Play. Alternatively, players can purchase it on Steam for $4.99. On the platform, they will be able to play without ads, display their playtime on their profile, view stats, unlock up to 80 achievements, and download levels to play offline.
