Review: Wreckfest 2

Developer – Bugbear

Publisher – THQ Nordic

Platforms –   PC (Reviewed)

Review copy given by Publisher

The release of the original Wreckfest way back in the beginning of 2014 was an immediate hit for automotive fans of all kinds, quickly becoming a highly rated and well-respected game. Bugbear Entertainment has decided to double down on the franchise and develop Wreckfest 2, the next big release under the franchise. Wreckfest quickly became a household name. Will Wreckfest 2 live up to its older brother’s footsteps?

Before anything is even discussed, there are a few disclaimers I want to mention first. This game is another Early Access game, which is becoming more and more normal at this rate, but is it a good thing? Early access is different for others; some see it as good, and some see it as bad. How to see fit is solely based on your preferences. This review is going to be mostly based on the core game mechanics, due to how little is actually available at first.

Currently, Wreckfest 2 is so early access that there is no main menu music, photos for the UI, and a good amount of random bugs and issues that some may not want to support at this time. There is currently an issue when even just keybinding a B button on an Xbox controller; it just brings you out of the menu to the previous screen instead. But let’s look past the Early Access Blues and focus on what content is available currently for those who choose to buy now with the future updates in anticipation.

Currently available from launch will be listed below:

Game modes:

• Single-player racing & derby with up to 24 players (bots)
• Multiplayer racing & derby with up to 24 players + bot support

3 maps with multiple tracks:

• Scrapyard map:
• Circuit course with intersections
• Crazy course with oncoming traffic
• Speedway map:
• Figure 8 circuit
• Speedway oval circuit
• Derby arena
• Sandpit map (new remake of WF1 track):
• Circuit long route + reverse variant
• Test track
• Sandbox map with ramps, loopings, etc. (similar to the “Sneak Peak map” of WF1)

4 Cars:

• 2x ’60/70s American muscle cars (as seen in trailers)
• 1x ’80s EU banger car (compact)
• 1x ’90s US banger car (intermediate)

Other features:

• Basic paint customization for all cars (more customization options coming later).
• Garage to edit & save car designs
• 1st version of Replay mode incl. photo mode
• Leaderboards

Wreckfest is known for absolute carnage and wrecking physics, and they absolutely hit the mark again this time, giving you the sense of caution knowing you can absolutely total out your vehicle if you make one wrong move. I personally enjoy the realistic damage settings more than the normal one, giving you an extra challenge, especially when racing against bots who at this moment tend to be a bit off. The realistic damage not only covers physical damage but also mechanical damage to your engine, transmission, suspension, and wheels and tires, making it more of a challenge to ensure victory.

The driving physics are fairly challenging to get used to; it’s a cross between an arcade and a semi-realistic feel, but after a bit of controller sensitivity and steering adjustments, I found a good sweet spot (at least for me). Going from sand/dirt to asphalt does change the traction and driving feel enough to notice a difference but still keeps it very manageable and enjoyable to drive hard through dirt sections on a mostly asphalt layout. Although there are no mentions on the road map listed, I would expect some physics adjustments by the time the full release comes in the future.

Speaking of the road map, there isn’t much listed currently, but that could interpret that the community’s voice will weigh their decisions for future updates prior to release and hopefully long after. Currently there is no campaign-style racing since we are limited on maps and cars, but you can access multiplayer lobbies and race against fellow enthusiasts. Mod support is posted as coming with the full release of the game, which is a huge win for most automotive-based games, adding endless amounts of community-driven content.

Wreckfest 2 has amazing visuals, and all the tracks have a very detailed and beautiful atmosphere, giving you the feeling of being actually surrounded in those areas. The game does not feel super optimized currently; I was really struggling to get 30 fps on ultra and barely over 75 on high with my RTX 3080. Some lower-end PCs on lower settings should be okay, but don’t expect the highest framerate as well as the best picture quality. I am hopeful there will be optimization in the future for more PC setups and hopefully the Steam Deck.

Early Access may be fairly rocky, and content may be pretty slim currently, but I believe BugBear is more than capable of delivering like they have prior with Wreckfest 1. If you have enjoyed the first Wreckfest, this is going to be an easy recommendation for you. If you have never played a Wreckfest game, I suggest picking up the first one and playing through it before picking up the second. As always, buying Early Access is basically a way to give support and show faith in the developers abilities to deliver a final and successful product, so don’t feel deterred by the lack of early game content. I just hope the next release of content gives me a reason to play it significantly more.

Wreckfest 2 is another promising automotive-based game, even if the current content is fairly lacking. I believe BugBear will once again produce another classic for everyone to enjoy seriously or casually.