Wreckfest
A spiritual successor to FlatOut with soft-body damage modelling.
Wreckfest is a racing video game from developer Bugbear Entertainment and publisher THQ Nordic. It is considered the spiritual successor to Bugbear’s own FlatOut series, and also draws inspiration from the Destruction Derby games and the 1989 cult classic Street Rod. The game’s engine features soft-body damage modeling, meaning damage is location-based and realistically affects how a vehicle handles. The game spent four years in early access under the name *Next Car Game*. The Windows version launched in June 2018, followed by PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions in August 2019 after several delays. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions arrived in 2021, and a Nintendo Switch version came out in 2022. A mobile port was released on November 14, 2022. Critics gave Wreckfest generally positive reviews, and it received several award nominations. A sequel, Wreckfest 2, was announced as in development in August 2024.
Wreckfest offers banger racing and demolition derby events. Players control a car in a race or derby, aiming to win the race or be the last car running. Before an event, players choose a vehicle, adjust assist levels (such as manual or automatic transmission, ABS, and AI difficulty), and can buy, customize, and upgrade cars. There are three modes: career, multiplayer, and custom events. Races emphasize vehicular combat, requiring a balance between defensive tactics like avoiding or blocking opponents and aggressive moves like ramming or shunting rivals into barriers to eliminate them and earn points. While the focus on physics and damage is similar to games like Criterion’s *Burnout*, Wreckfest takes a slower, more strategic approach, resulting in a more traditional racing feel than comparable titles.
Development began in 2012 under the working title *Next Car Game*, first announced on a blog in August 2013. Lead designer Janne Suur-Näkki told IGN the game should reach a feature-complete state in 2014. Eurogamer reported the game was officially announced for PC. Without publisher support, the team offered early access via pre-orders on the official website and Steam Early Access, and also launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds. Physics engine overhauls slowed updates significantly. From April 2020, the game received regular monthly updates focused on tournaments and cosmetic DLC.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Wreckfest
- Developer
- Bugbear Entertainment
- Publisher
- THQ NordicAndroid and iOS versions published by HandyGames.
- Engine
- ROMU
- Platforms
- Windows · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One · PlayStation 5 · Xbox Series X/S · Stadia · Nintendo Switch · Android · iOS
- Genre
- Vehicular combat, racing
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Development on Wreckfest began in 2012 under the working title Next Car Game, and was first announced by Bugbear Entertainment on the Next Car Game blog in August 2013. Due to the lack of publisher support, the development team provided early access to the game via pre-orders on the official Next Car Game website as well as Steam Early Access and also created a Kickstarter campaign as alternate means of raising revenue. The Kickstarter campaign launched on November 1, 2013 with a goal of $350,000, but was cancelled on November 22 after it became obvious that the game would not reach its funding goal, having only raised $81,772.
Reader's Guide
Wreckfest has received generally positive reviews from critics and been nominated for numerous awards. The game was nominated for Best Sports Game at Gamescom 2017, for Racing Game of the Year at the 22nd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, and for Game, Original Racing at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards. The game includes a variety of gameplay features, namely banger racing and demolition derby. The player controls a car in a race or demolition derby, the goal being to win the race or be the sole survivor of the derby respectively. Before participating in an event, the player is allowed to choose a vehicle, select from a variety of assist levels, buy vehicles, customise vehicles, and perform upgrades. The game features three modes: career, multiplayer and custom events. The races focus heavily on vehicular combat, where players have to find a balance between defensive tactics such as avoiding or blocking opponents and more aggressive tactics such as ramming opponents and shunting them into barriers to put them out of the race and earn points. While Wreckfest's focus on physics and vehicular damage is similar to previous destruction-based racing games such as Criterion's Burnout, it follows a somewhat slower and more strategic approach, resulting in a more traditional racing gameplay experience than in comparable games. The overhaul of the physics engine has caused updates to the game to slow significantly. The game now receives regular monthly updates from April 2020 with a focus on tournaments and cosmetic DLC content.
Did You Know?
- Wreckfest was originally developed under the working title Next Car Game.
- The game's Kickstarter campaign raised only $81,772 of its $350,000 goal and was cancelled.
- An early access version sold over $1 million in a single week on Steam Early Access.
- A sequel, Wreckfest 2, was announced to be in development in August 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed Wreckfest and who published it?
Bugbear Entertainment built the game in-house, and THQ Nordic took on the publishing side. It hit Windows in June 2018 before expanding to consoles and other platforms.
What makes Wreckfest's damage system different from other racers?
The engine uses soft-body, location-based damage modeling, so a dent in the front bumper changes steering feel and acceleration in a physically grounded way rather than just adding cosmetic scratches. This is the core mechanic that separates it from most arcade-style racing titles.
How is Wreckfest connected to FlatOut?
It's generally seen as the spiritual successor to Bugbear's own FlatOut series, carrying forward the chaotic demolition spirit. The design also borrows from Destruction Derby and the 1989 cult classic Street Rod, blending those influences with more realistic crash physics.
How long was Wreckfest in early access before its full release?
The project entered early access in January 2014 under the working title Next Car Game and stayed in that phase for roughly four years. The complete Windows build finally shipped in June 2018, with PS4 and Xbox One versions following in August 2019.
What platforms can I play Wreckfest on?
The title is available on Windows, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and mobile. The console and handheld releases all came after the initial 2018 PC launch.
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