Destructive racing game Wreckfest 2 locks in PC early access date

Times are hard and stressful right now. Everyone needs a release at some point. Something to take a load off. For some, that might be the escapism of Baldur’s Gate 3, for others the tension of Resident Evil 8. For more than may care to admit it, the true catharsis comes from making an absolute mess, and that’s where Wreckfest 2 comes in. Luckily, you can get behind the wheel very soon indeed.

Just like its forebears in Destruction Derby, Wreckfest 2 is a racing game with simple ideals: destroy everything. Drive as fast as you can, ruin your opponents, wreck your own car, enjoy all the ensuing carnage. A major selling point for this particular symphony of destruction is that developer Bugbear Entertainment put real emphasis on the game’s engine, so the bits and pieces are as realistic as possible.

Everything’s been fine-tuned in that regard for the sequel. The upcoming PC game will have greater collisions and a wider variety of debris effects. Much like Burnout, and previous carnage-based racers such as FlatOut, Wreckfest 2 will put you in the middle of oncoming traffic as well as the junkyard, so the opportunity for everything to go pear-shaped will come hard and fast.

Well away from the shimmer of Forza or Gran Turismo, all your vehicles in Wreckfest 2 are just barely operational. They’re rust buckets, a pile of bolts, probably illegal by the standards of most countries, but that’s part of the point. You’re only destroying absolute bangers anyway – why not let loose and really tear ’em apart?

The first Wreckfest came out in 2018, so it’s been a while waiting for the second. In some ways, that’s good – absence makes the heart grow fonder, after all. By now, Bugbear has some strong acumen for road-based warfare, having made Ridge Racer and Sega Rally games in addition to FlatOut and the Wreckfest series.

You’ll be able to really feel the burn in multiplayer, since races can have up to 24 human players. You can do the laps, or simply try and take everyone off the road. I’m a student of Carmageddon (remember those old PC games?), so I know what approach I’m picking. That’s basically a battle royale composed entirely of fender benders!

Wreckfest 2 comes to Steam Early Access on March 20, 2025. Check out our lists of the best multiplayer games and best FPS games for other ways to indulge your competitive side.

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