Wreckfest 2: Early Access Impressions

Get ready to brace for impact as Wreckfest 2— the thrilling sequel to the popular 2018 demolition racer by Bugbear—hits Steam’s early access. The game’s initial launch is packed with stunning tracks, enhanced sound design, and handling that surpasses the original. However, it’s important to highlight its early access status, as my experience has been somewhat uneven so far. I absolutely love the intense driving sensations, the roaring engines, and the pure chaos of metal colliding. Still, the current state offers limited options for vehicular mayhem, and I’ve encountered several crashes—not the kind one would expect in a destruction derby, but the frustrating computer kind.

Entering “early access” on Steam can mean various things. Sometimes games arrive as mere rough drafts waiting for major evolution (like Assetto Corsa Evo), or they show up in a polished form, only holding back additional content for their official release (similar to Tokyo Xtreme Racer’s early access). In the case of Wreckfest 2, it aligns more with the former. It’s more of a nostalgic demo, reminiscent of the ones that used to accompany video game magazines. Players get to play with four cars, explore three environments featuring a few tracks, and experiment with a virtual map packed with gigantic jumps and stunt elements. Long-time fans of Bugbear will likely spot familiar elements from the early “technology sneak peek” demo of Wreckfest. Originally known as ‘Next Car Game’, this demo emerged way back in 2013, post a failed Kickstarter campaign. It’s a nice tribute to Wreckfest’s beginnings and provides some entertainment, even though the thrill of enormous ramps and car-smashing cannons isn’t as novel in 2025 as it was a decade ago.

What truly stands out is the game’s new Scrapyard environment, which is visually captivating due to its abundant and interesting debris, making it a hotspot of destruction possibilities. Scrapyard hosts two circuits that weave through immense piles of tires and stacked car wrecks. These aren’t mere car-crash textures; they’re meticulously crafted, stripped-down shells that tower over the tracks like Jenga blocks. Remarkably, dozens of these shells complement the two dozen running cars speeding around the course, eager to crash into you. Unlike some racing games that use invisible walls to prevent interaction with carefully constructed trackside elements, Wreckfest 2 stays true to Bugbear’s legacy of encouraging interaction and destruction. This game ramps up the chaos, creating a spectacular experience that runs smoothly on my rig (RTX 4080 and Intel Core Ultra 9 185H) without major sacrifices in visual fidelity.

Reflecting on the pioneer of this genre, Wreckfest brought back high-quality destruction racing with a bang and reigns supreme in its niche. Though it lacks off-track excitement, within the intense racing action, it delivers exhilarating fun on four wheels. While I enjoy serious racing games often, sometimes it’s rewarding to toss the rulebook aside, dive into the mud, and engage in some paint-trading action. This gusto for mayhem was put into words by Luke Reilly on August 24, 2019, giving Wreckfest a notable score of 9.

Diving into the present with Wreckfest 2, though the cars may not sparkle, they overflow with detail and personality. The game’s advanced damage model accurately reflects your reckless driving’s impact with visible dents, setting it apart in the genre. In this new installment, the damage modeling is even more intricate. Heads-up display warnings flag issues like thrown tires and increase in engine damage following a wrecked radiator. Once the coolant is gone, your engine’s pistons and bearings may fail, along with your head gasket, symbolized by black smoke during races. I haven’t noticed a severe dip in car performance with this damage, nor has my engine stalled completely. I’m curious about whether engine repair might feature in the career mode once the full game releases. Right now, engine tuning and upgrades are unavailable; the only customization is changing the paint job—a stark contrast to Wreckfest’s original robust upgrade system.

The improvements extend to audio design, with distinct sounds of strained versus healthy engines enriching the overall soundscape. The growl of Wreckfest 2’s fresh (and yet unnamed) riff on a third-gen Chevy Cavalier—initially named ‘Striker’ and now simply ‘American 1’—stands out for me. At first, I encountered audio issues with disappearing sounds during my sessions, but those problems seem to have vanished now.

Regarding gameplay, the racing itself excels. The AI drivers exhibit aggressive, unpredictable behavior, making them formidable opponents in both traditional racing and destruction derby modes—the only ones available yet. There’s hope Bugbear will diversify with more modes upon full release, and a caravan mode is high on my wishlist.

Among the four current cars, the revamped Cavalier is my top choice. Its front-wheel drive offers stability and easier recovery when outmaneuvered by other drivers. The muscle cars, on the other hand, deliver thrilling drifts but tend to spin out under AI pressure—a common hazard in high-contact racing like Wreckfest 2, where collisions are part of the thrill.

Regrettably, the only unwelcome crashes I’ve experienced involved the game crashing to my desktop. The issue remains elusive and inconsistent. For instance, after a slew of midday crashes, the next day was crash-free. As an early access title, Bugbear has ample time to resolve such issues. However, prospective buyers should consider this hiccup in its current, developmental state.