Wendy’s has launched its first fully owned video game, WendyQuest, a free retro-style role-playing game available on iOS, Android, and Steam. Announced on Nov. 4, the game stars the chain’s red-headed mascot as a wisecracking warrior who battles evil french fry robots and other enemies. Players who progress far enough can earn promo codes redeemable for menu items at Wendy’s locations, though the promotion is limited to U.S. residents aged 18 and older.
How the Game Plays
WendyQuest wears its inspirations openly. The blocky visuals call back to late-1980s and early-1990s console games, and the structure resembles simplified versions of classic RPGs like DragonQuest, Final Fantasy, and Breath of Fire. Battles are turn-based but add a timing element: instead of simply selecting an action, players must press a button at the right moment, similar to older golf games.
The game includes standard RPG activities — fighting monsters to gain levels, exploring maps for hidden areas, buying items, and talking to townspeople to advance the story. The humor is light and suitable for younger players. Completing the first region, Fryshire, and obtaining the Fry Stone unlocks a promo code for a medium order of fries, free with a purchase. That took more than an hour in one playthrough.
Rewards and Restrictions
To redeem a code, players must sign up for a Wendy’s account through the company’s website or mobile app. The codes expire seven days after they are issued, and Wendy’s says they are first come, first served. The food is free, but customers must buy something when they visit a restaurant to use the code. The promotion is not available to anyone under 18 or outside the United States.
Wendy’s has dabbled in gaming culture before, including promotions on Twitch and in Fortnite, and in 2019 it released a free downloadable rule book for a tabletop role-playing game called Feast of Legends. WendyQuest, however, is the brand’s first game developed and owned entirely by the company, according to a spokesperson.
A Long History of In-Game Prizes
Offering real-world rewards inside video games is an old idea. In the early 1980s, the Atari 2600 game series Swordquest ran a contest where players competed for treasure made of gold and jewels. More recently, a 2015 promotion for Just Cause 3 dangled a private island as a prize, though the developer later clarified that it could not guarantee the island would be livable and that the winner would be responsible for all taxes.
WendyQuest sits somewhere between those extremes: the prizes are modest, but the game is free and the barrier to entry is low. For players who enjoy retro RPGs and don’t mind a side of branding, it offers a few hours of light entertainment — and perhaps a discounted order of fries.
