Restless Pedals: from real-life Bicycle Touring to Game Design

 

 About Restless Pedals

The game grew out of a long-held passion for bicycle touring. Packing my life into a few bags and setting off without knowing where I’ll sleep pushes me far outside my comfort zone—but that uncertainty is also strangely addictive. Life on the road is stripped down to the essentials: a single spoon, fork, and knife; two pots and a stove for my kitchen. My winter jacket becomes extra insulation on cold nights, and a rain poncho doubles as protection for the tent’s ventilation when the weather turns.

I captured the essence of bicycle travel into Restless Pedals. At its core is limited bag capacity and the constant decision-making that comes with carrying the right items for each journey. Just like real bike travel, preparation matters. Another essential part of the lifestyle is meeting like-minded people and riding together for a while—and that social element is woven directly into the game. Inventory items are intentionally scarce, and sharing with others becomes a valuable way to move forward.

The game also features a world map inspired by popular travel destinations, letting you explore new places and experience the thrill of travel from home. Meeting other players unlocks additional destinations, mirroring real-life encounters where shared stories and knowledge open new paths and opportunities.

While the inventory, café, and world map form the backbone of the experience, several supporting systems tie everything together into a complete journey. The basic flow works like this:

 

Inventory

In the inventory, the player prepares their bike by adding bags and carefully choosing what to pack.

 

Map

On the map, a destination is selected, requirements are checked, and the journey begins. Once a place is explored, it unlocks rewards and allows the player to write a fictional travel blog that generates income for future adventures. As in real life, long distances can be bridged using transport lines such as flights, trains, and ferries.

 

Meet other players at the café and open their blogs to collect new travel destinations.

At the café, players meet others, discover new destinations by reading travel blogs, or interact by sharing equipment. A two-person tent, for example, can be shared with another player, while a camping stove might serve several travelers at once.

There’s also a marketplace for buying and selling gear, as different destinations demand different levels of preparation. Cold regions require winter jackets, insulated trousers, and gloves, while remote locations are only accessible to riders carrying a fully equipped camping setup.

 

Knowledge Tree

Finally, a knowledge tree represents learning new skills over time. With patience and a few deliberate choices, players gradually unlock new features, deepening the experience and allowing the game to grow alongside them over the long term.

If you’d like to experience Restless Pedals firsthand, you can download the current version on the Play Store and take it with you on your own journey. And if you feel drawn to where the game is heading, consider supporting its continued development on Patreon. Your support helps shape new features, refine mechanics, and keep the road ahead open—turning this project into something we build together.