Get ready to tighten your seatbelt and brace for impact, because Wreckfest 2, the chaotic sequel to the beloved 2018 demolition racing game, has roared onto the scene via Steam Early Access. Developed by the masters of vehicular mayhem at Bugbear, this follow-up already shows significant promise with its ferocious racing feel, adrenaline-pumping crashes, and much-improved driving mechanics. But as exciting as this initial taste may be, it’s still clearly a work in progress. There’s a lot to love already — from the gorgeously destructive tracks to the crunchy audio design — but a limited selection of content and some nagging technical issues leave it feeling a bit incomplete at this stage.
The term “early access” covers a wide spectrum of development stages on Steam. In some cases, games enter the program in a very rough, skeletal form, while others feel nearly finished but hold back additional content for a full release. Wreckfest 2 falls firmly into the former category. What we have now is more of a glorified tech demo — a snapshot of potential rather than a comprehensive experience. Right now, the game includes just four cars and three distinct environments, each offering a couple of tracks. There’s also a sandbox map loaded with wild stunts and oversized jumps, reminiscent of the original Wreckfest’s early promotional demos. It’s a nostalgic nod to the franchise’s roots, even if the novelty of flinging a car through a basketball hoop doesn’t hit quite as hard as it once did.
What does stand out, though, is the Scrapyard environment. This new location is visually rich and packed with interesting props, offering a feast for the eyes and a playground for carnage. Wrecked cars are stacked in looming piles, tires are scattered like landmines, and nearly everything in sight is destructible. The level of detail is remarkable — these aren’t just decorative background objects. Each twisted frame and stacked shell feels real and physical, and the way they interact with the action unfolding on track adds a satisfying layer of chaos. Impressively, this all runs very smoothly, even with high-end visuals and physics pushing hardware to its limits.
The vehicles themselves might not look showroom-ready, but they ooze character. The damage modeling is more detailed than ever, with hits registering exactly where they should, leading to visibly crumpled body panels and hobbled frames. There’s even a more refined damage system under the hood — literally. Lose your radiator, and your engine starts to gasp for life. You’ll see smoke pouring out of the hood as various components degrade, and a HUD system warns you when tires go flat or vital systems are failing. These touches lend an authenticity to the demolition derby fantasy. Right now, though, there’s no repair system or car customization, and performance penalties for mechanical damage seem limited, but this will likely change as the game develops.
Audio has also received a noticeable upgrade. The soundtrack of engines snarling and metal shrieking is visceral and immersive. Different cars have their own distinct exhaust notes, and there’s even aural feedback when something goes wrong — like a dying engine struggling to keep up. One standout is a rough-and-ready compact car that sounds like a mix between a rust bucket and a muscle car. During early testing, there were occasional sound glitches where audio layers would drop out, but those issues seem to have been largely resolved in recent updates.
The driving itself is as punchy and rewarding as ever. The AI is aggressive and unpredictable, making for some thrilling battles on the track. They’re quick to seize on any mistake and love to trade paint, but they’re also vulnerable to slipping up themselves. That balance of competitiveness and chaos is a big part of what makes Wreckfest 2 so fun to play. At present, however, gameplay options are limited to standard races and demolition derbies. These are both enjoyable, but with no other modes currently available, the action starts to feel a bit repetitive after a while. Hopefully, the full version introduces more variety — caravan races, for instance, would be a welcome addition.
Of the cars available, a compact front-wheel-drive model stands out as the most forgiving and agile. It’s easier to handle and recover from spins, which is essential in a game where getting sideswiped at 90 mph is just part of the experience. The two muscle cars on offer are flashier and more powerful, but also more prone to sliding out or spinning when jostled by other drivers. Of course, that’s all part of the fun in a game like this — controlled chaos is the name of the game, and Wreckfest 2 nails that sensation.
One less enjoyable kind of crashing, however, is the game’s tendency to unexpectedly close. During testing, there were moments when the game would crash to desktop mid-race for no apparent reason. These incidents were inconsistent — sometimes several would happen in one session, and other times, the game would run perfectly for hours. As with most early access titles, this kind of instability is to be expected, but it’s worth keeping in mind if you’re considering jumping in early.
In spite of its limited scope and rough edges, Wreckfest 2 already captures the spirit of what made the original such a cult favorite. The destruction is bigger and better, the handling feels responsive and satisfying, and the visual and audio improvements are substantial. What it needs now is time. Time to add more vehicles, flesh out game modes, implement customization features, and, importantly, iron out stability issues. For those who love the thrill of controlled vehicular chaos, there’s plenty to enjoy — but it’s not quite the full experience just yet.
Verdict
For longtime fans of Bugbear’s high-octane carnage-fests, Wreckfest 2 feels like a welcome return — and even in its early form, it delivers memorable moments of automotive anarchy. With its detailed damage system, visceral sound design, and a few gloriously destructive tracks, it lays the foundation for what could become the ultimate demolition racer. But with limited content and some technical hiccups still in play, this version is more of a tantalizing preview than a must-play right now. It crashes with style, no doubt — but it needs more under the hood before it’s truly road-ready.
