Wreckfest 2 Preview

I got the chance to check out a preview build of Wreckfest 2. Developed by Bugbear and published by THQ Nordic, the first Wreckfest is known for its demolition derby style and its extremely detailed car destruction. No vehicle wrecks the same way and it looks like it’ll be better here. So, let’s take a test drive… and try not to crash along the way.

For this preview build, there were four cars and four tracks to play with, including a playground to test out the damage simulation. You can participate in races or demolition derbies against bots or other players, although I didn’t have the chance to try out the multiplayer. You can also customise your car’s paint job and save replays of your matches, which is nice.

Anyways, let’s get into the meat of the game: the vehicles. With the overhaul of the physics engine, cars will have real weight to them as they turn corners or crash into other machines. The terrain you drive on really affects how much control you have over your car too. It makes all these beasts nice to drive, but all need to be tamed before you can seriously compete in races. These aren’t ultra-light supercars with top-of-the-line specs; they’re junkers just waiting to be destroyed.

The damage simulation is top-notch, showing in excruciating detail just how destroyed a car can get before it gives out on you. Your vehicle will crumple and dent realistically, to the point where the engine is just hanging out in the open while on fire. Damage isn’t cosmetic either as if something gets broken, it will affect the performance of your car until it just doesn’t go anymore. Your vehicle will end up looking more like twisted pieces of metal with your driver in it at the end of races. There is no such thing as a clean drive here. Actually, you’re to go full-contact and just shove other drivers out of your way. It’s honestly very fun to watch as you cause pile-ups, on purpose or not.

As mentioned before, you can save replays of your gameplay but I did notice some issues: the camera movement was awkward, like if you didn't have full control over it. Also, the engine sounds will constantly play when the replay is paused, which can be ear-piercing. Taking screenshots and clips is a lot more annoying than it should be, but hopefully, it will be one of the many fixes and refinements made as the game gets further into development.

You can take a test drive of Wreckfest 2 on Steam on the 20th of March, and console players (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S) can test it out themselves once Early Access ends for PC. You better act fast as the price will steadily increase throughout the Early Access and there’s a 20% discount for the first two weeks until the 3rd of April. If you’re interested or loved Wreckfest 1, why not give it a shot?