Wreckfest 2 burst into the racing game world and straight into early access, but is it worth picking up and playing now, or should we let Bugbear Entertainment cook for just a little bit longer?
The successor to the FlatOut franchise, theWreckfest duo are a set of destruction-driving games that, despite their gamepad-friendly handling model, are surprisingly complex and a real challenge to nail. Much has been improved from the first title, which was already fantastic, but is there enough to justify an early purchase of the newest entry in the series, Wreckfest 2?
The Wreckfest 2 roadmap is surprisingly light on content, but the full release looks like a considerable upgrade. Image: Bugbear Entertainment
The first content update for the new Wreckfest 2 is due in May 2025, and another mystery update is scheduled just before the full release. The full game promises are significant, but time will tell if developer Bugbear Entertainment can follow through on this roadmap.
Wreckfest 2 PC system requirements. Image: Bugbear Entertainment
The steering and throttle input are assisted by default, but driving on a gamepad would be very difficult without those two elements. The driving feeling is remarkable with the other assists turned off, such as Traction Control, ABS, and Stability Control.
The driving physics are vastly improved from the original Wreckfest title.
How the car's weight is transferred through the wheel or the controller resembles Assetto Corsa Competizione. Of course, ACC is more about transferring weight under load and simulating driving, whereas Wreckfest 2 is more about controlling your car correctly before going airborne and then landing appropriately.
The car, especially if it is airborne, is nervous and can often cartwheel off the circuit at the slightest misinput. The cars' suspension model has also been completely redesigned, with a visual change in how it reacts to bumps, jumps, and ruts in the road. What is especially impressive is how the cars respond differently depending on which aspect of their mechanical makeup is damaged.
Suspension can collapse and deform.
As a final note on driving physics, if you use a racing wheel and pedals, turn down your Force Feedback, especially on direct drive hardware. In testing, my car was backwards at the end of a straight and was hit by a stray AI car, snapping the wheel the other way to which it was turning. My thumb would almost certainly have been broken if it had been inside the wheel rim.
The wheelbase used was only peaking at 8 Nm, so if you have a wheelbase stronger than that, we highly recommend reducing the strength to between 5 Nm and 6 Nm.
Deformed body shell after a 140KM/H impact with multiple trees.
Despite some questionable deforming body shells, the damage model is fantastic and punishing. It is detailed enough to give players a real sense of the damage they are causing without being overly sensitive or simulation-based, as with titles like BeamNG.drive.
The damage model is imperfect, and many strange situations arise, especially in big crashes. The image below is an example. After a big head-on collision, the bonnet crumpled inside the oversized air filter on the top of the engine. It is not a game-breaking issue, but it slightly decreases immersion.
The engine component and bodywork clipping issues remain from the original Wreckfest.
Outside of these strange clipping issues, the damage model is really impressive. Perhaps the most interesting section of the technology is how punctures and wheels are handled. If you get a puncture, you will slowly see the tyre deform, eventually pinging off the wheel rim. BeamNG.drive players have been asking for this process since 2013.
The online offers a lot of fun despite the lack of car and track combinations.
With the multiplayer being the big highlight of this early access release for Wreckfest 2, it bodes well for future content updates and drops. The original Wreckfest had a fantastic variety of online servers, whether you were a fan of the crazy stunt tracks with buses or the oval racing leagues with strict racing rules. There was something for everyone, and even today, the servers are bustling with players that you can jump into a lobby and race against with relative ease.
A very poorly designed OverTake.gg Wreckfest 2 livery!
The lack of design choices for the shapes or liveries of the cars is also slightly disappointing, especially for vehicles like the Rocket that were in the original Wreckfest. Time will tell how much this feature progresses, but it is a significant part of full-contact racing, so we hope to see a full-fledged garage mode when Wreckfest 2 launches in version 1.0.
In the build-up to Wreckfest 2, the car customisation and modifying side of the game were promised to advance upon what the original Wreckfest had to offer. This is a good start with a much better UI and fantastic graphics, but the game's visual and mechanical customisation side has yet to appear. If the roadmap panes as planned, these sections will be added to the title when the game is fully released.
The AI racing is great fun, but multiplayer awaits those who are brave enough!
The content roadmap promises two new tracks and cars in May this year, but what's next for Wreckfest 2? Could it be the introduction of some new game modes, such as a competitive multiplayer mode?
To reflect the ongoing development cycle, Wreckfest 2 launched at an introductory price of $29.99 / €24.99 / £19.99, with a 20% discount available for the first two weeks until April 3. As new features and content patches are added, the base price will gradually increase, leading up to the full 1.0 release on both PC and consoles.
What do you think about Wreckfest 2? Let us know what you want to see added throughout the journey to version 1.0!
The successor to the FlatOut franchise, theWreckfest duo are a set of destruction-driving games that, despite their gamepad-friendly handling model, are surprisingly complex and a real challenge to nail. Much has been improved from the first title, which was already fantastic, but is there enough to justify an early purchase of the newest entry in the series, Wreckfest 2?
The Wreckfest 2 roadmap is surprisingly light on content, but the full release looks like a considerable upgrade. Image: Bugbear Entertainment
The first content update for the new Wreckfest 2 is due in May 2025, and another mystery update is scheduled just before the full release. The full game promises are significant, but time will tell if developer Bugbear Entertainment can follow through on this roadmap.
Wreckfest 2 PC system requirements. Image: Bugbear Entertainment
Driving Physics
The most important factor of any racing or driving game is how the driving feels. We are happy to report that Wreckfest 2 excels in bridging the gap between gamepad-friendly physics and fundamental aspects of driving. This concoction adds layers to Wreckfest 2, which will spark enjoyment for us as sim racers while not alienating the wider playerbase.The steering and throttle input are assisted by default, but driving on a gamepad would be very difficult without those two elements. The driving feeling is remarkable with the other assists turned off, such as Traction Control, ABS, and Stability Control.
The driving physics are vastly improved from the original Wreckfest title.
How the car's weight is transferred through the wheel or the controller resembles Assetto Corsa Competizione. Of course, ACC is more about transferring weight under load and simulating driving, whereas Wreckfest 2 is more about controlling your car correctly before going airborne and then landing appropriately.
The car, especially if it is airborne, is nervous and can often cartwheel off the circuit at the slightest misinput. The cars' suspension model has also been completely redesigned, with a visual change in how it reacts to bumps, jumps, and ruts in the road. What is especially impressive is how the cars respond differently depending on which aspect of their mechanical makeup is damaged.
Suspension can collapse and deform.
As a final note on driving physics, if you use a racing wheel and pedals, turn down your Force Feedback, especially on direct drive hardware. In testing, my car was backwards at the end of a straight and was hit by a stray AI car, snapping the wheel the other way to which it was turning. My thumb would almost certainly have been broken if it had been inside the wheel rim.
The wheelbase used was only peaking at 8 Nm, so if you have a wheelbase stronger than that, we highly recommend reducing the strength to between 5 Nm and 6 Nm.
Crash Damage
The original Wreckfest had an impressive damage model, but this new and improved version is far superior. The damage models across the three options, Normal, Hardcore and Wrecker, are much more raceable, which is a massive improvement from the first title.Deformed body shell after a 140KM/H impact with multiple trees.
Despite some questionable deforming body shells, the damage model is fantastic and punishing. It is detailed enough to give players a real sense of the damage they are causing without being overly sensitive or simulation-based, as with titles like BeamNG.drive.
The damage model is imperfect, and many strange situations arise, especially in big crashes. The image below is an example. After a big head-on collision, the bonnet crumpled inside the oversized air filter on the top of the engine. It is not a game-breaking issue, but it slightly decreases immersion.
The engine component and bodywork clipping issues remain from the original Wreckfest.
Outside of these strange clipping issues, the damage model is really impressive. Perhaps the most interesting section of the technology is how punctures and wheels are handled. If you get a puncture, you will slowly see the tyre deform, eventually pinging off the wheel rim. BeamNG.drive players have been asking for this process since 2013.
Multiplayer
Are AI opponents not giving you enough of a challenge? Wreckfest 2's Early Access offers an excellent online racing experience. The racing is surprisingly good, although full contact rules apply, of course. In just the second race of trying this online mode, there was a battle for the lead across four wheel-to-wheel laps, and it was tremendous fun to participate in.The online offers a lot of fun despite the lack of car and track combinations.
With the multiplayer being the big highlight of this early access release for Wreckfest 2, it bodes well for future content updates and drops. The original Wreckfest had a fantastic variety of online servers, whether you were a fan of the crazy stunt tracks with buses or the oval racing leagues with strict racing rules. There was something for everyone, and even today, the servers are bustling with players that you can jump into a lobby and race against with relative ease.
Car Customisation
This feature is greatly de-tuned in its current state compared to the first game. Another reminder: the title is in Early Access, so significant changes and additions are to be expected. There are no visual or performance upgrades; you can go to the paint shop to choose the colour of your car's panels.A very poorly designed OverTake.gg Wreckfest 2 livery!
The lack of design choices for the shapes or liveries of the cars is also slightly disappointing, especially for vehicles like the Rocket that were in the original Wreckfest. Time will tell how much this feature progresses, but it is a significant part of full-contact racing, so we hope to see a full-fledged garage mode when Wreckfest 2 launches in version 1.0.
In the build-up to Wreckfest 2, the car customisation and modifying side of the game were promised to advance upon what the original Wreckfest had to offer. This is a good start with a much better UI and fantastic graphics, but the game's visual and mechanical customisation side has yet to appear. If the roadmap panes as planned, these sections will be added to the title when the game is fully released.
Final thoughts
Is Wreckfest 2 worth buying in Early Access? I believe it is worth every cent as it currently stands. The game has a long way to go until the final release, but what is offered is excellent fun. Whilst the content is minimal and could start to get repetitive over time, the multiplayer keeps the racing lively and engaging. Arguably, the multiplayer included in the launch would have helped stabilise Assetto Corsa EVO's player numbers, so seeing it succeed in a title like Wreckfest is very interesting compared to Kunos's latest effort.The AI racing is great fun, but multiplayer awaits those who are brave enough!
The content roadmap promises two new tracks and cars in May this year, but what's next for Wreckfest 2? Could it be the introduction of some new game modes, such as a competitive multiplayer mode?
To reflect the ongoing development cycle, Wreckfest 2 launched at an introductory price of $29.99 / €24.99 / £19.99, with a 20% discount available for the first two weeks until April 3. As new features and content patches are added, the base price will gradually increase, leading up to the full 1.0 release on both PC and consoles.
What do you think about Wreckfest 2? Let us know what you want to see added throughout the journey to version 1.0!
