Happy Wheels is a ragdoll-physics-adventure based Flash game created by Jim Bonacci and launched in June of 2010.
Happy Wheels is a ragdoll-physics-adventure based Flash game created by Jim Bonacci and launched in June of 2010. Players control a selection of various, unique characters with their goal being to get to the finish line, activate a trigger that triggers victory, or collect a required amount of tokens while avoiding being splattered across the level by many hazards and obstacles. Users may create and share their own custom scenarios using the expansive level editor, play some of the over 10 million already-existing user-made levels, or take a look at some of the featured levels - the best levels in the game. The game is most notable for its dark sense of humor and its large amounts of blood and gore. The full version allows you to go to the up-to-date version, while the demo stays on v1.10, with limited features.
Jim Bonacci was motivated to make the game out of disappointment of other ragdoll-physics games. In an October 2010 interview, he stated that "No one was making their ragdolls die properly. They'd usually flop around harmlessly or in some instances have the same canned animation over and over." Originally, Happy Wheels was made for fun between Jim and some friends, it only contained Wheelchair Guy, and the first level, Happy Green Hills. After it gained some popularity, he made it into what the game is now, and published it to his website on June 4th, 2010. The demo version of Happy Wheels has been available on many sites including Newgrounds and OneMoreLevel, but you can only play the full version of the game at Total Jerkface (Jim Bonacci's website) since June of 2010. The mobile app was released for iOS devices on August 19th, 2015, and for Android on January 25th, 2020. On December 28th 2020, a JavaScript remake was uploaded on the Total Jerkface website. Jim Bonacci has also been working on a Sequel, but it is unknown when it will be released.
Development of Happy Wheels
The Happy Wheels JavaScript Remake was developed in HTML5 and Javascript, which will allow it to not only run smoother but run in 60 frames per second. Unlike the original, it was not developed by Jim Bonacci, instead of outsourced to Goodboy Digital, a London-based Digital-play development company. Initial closed Beta testing started in late October 2020 through the official Discord and ended by December 28th, 2020 with the first public version released by that date.
Gameplay of Happy Wheels
Happy Wheels' tagline is "Choose your inadequately prepared racer, and ignore severe consequences in your desperate search for victory!" The actual mechanics of gameplay vary because of character choice and level design; the game includes characters such as a businessman on a Segway. The goal of the game also differs depending on the level. In most levels, the goal is to reach a finish line or to collect tokens. Many levels feature alternate or nonexistent goals for the player. Reviewers have noted that Happy Wheels exhibits graphic violence in its gameplay. For instance, characters can be decapitated, shot, or crushed by different obstacles. Loss of limbs and animated blood loss are also graphic elements. Players also have the choice to upload instant replays of their level attempts, which can then be viewed. Happy Wheels features a level editor, which allows players to create custom levels of their own. It contains a plethora of tools and objects for level building. Users can upload their maps to a public server where they are accessible.
Happy Wheels Sequel
The Happy Wheels Sequel, commonly referred to as Happy Wheels 2, is the sequel to Happy Wheels that is currently in production. Jim Bonacci has stated that, unlike the original game, the player will be required to download the game. He has also stated it will cost around $5 - $10 to create levels, although nothing has been confirmed. Rather than Flash, the game is being programmed in C++ and uses OpenGL for rendering. Like the original, it will be presented in a cartoon-like style.
Jim will keep people updated on the works via Happy Wheels Discord. Be sure to check pinned messages in the #sequel-discussion channel.
Happy Wheels (JavaScript Remake)
The Happy Wheels HTML5/Javascript Remake is an official remake of the original Flash-based Happy Wheels game. The remake is intended to keep the original game alive after the deprecation of Adobe Flash. For the sake of preservation, however, it has been expressed that the original Flash version will still be accessible here, provided one has the means to access it. Additionally, a test version can be found here.
Not much is known on the sequel, as Jim has stated he would rather release a final product as opposed to showing the various stages of development. However, various information on features in the sequel has been discussed by Jim on the Happy Wheels Discord server. The game is set to be released some time in 2021, and will be free to play and will work on both Windows and Mac operating systems. Also on the official website, Jim Bonacci also put up a vote on the Total Jerkface Home Page as to say how Happy Wheels 2 should look. Most of the voting people are saying that The Happy Wheels Sequel should be a cartoon like in Happy Wheels: The Series. Jim will keep people updated on the works via Happy Wheels Discord. Be sure to check pinned messages in the #sequel-discussion channel.
