Since I was a young boy, demolition derbies and monster truck rallies filled my fantasies with destruction, chaos, and the roar of engines. I’ve been chasing the perfect Monster Truck game or Demolition Derby game for a long time. Developed by Bugbear Entertainment and published by THQ Nordic in 2019 for the PS4 and Xbox One before being released on the PS5 in 2021, Wreckfest was my first glimpse at a perfect demolition racing game. Would this be the one? Would Wreckfest make all my dreams come true? Drive hard. Die last. We do in this Wreckfest Review.
Wreckfest Plot:
There’s not much of a plot in Wreckfest, and there doesn’t need to be but one thing that does need to be noted is the awesome descriptions that are located under the events. These add so much to the game as it’s not just a simple “Survive a tractor demolition”. It adds a little layer of fun by saying something like “You’ve upset the local farmers during harvest time and they are out to get you in this demolition derby. Survive the derby and prove to them that you’re the toughest redneck in the town.” Now, I’m paraphrasing but that’s the type of description you would receive and it adds to the imagination of the event.
Wreckfest Gameplay:
Whew, oh boy. Here it is and I simply cannot contain myself. This is the best demolition game that I’ve played, and it’s my favorite racer of all time. It combines the beauty of destruction, the sound effects of crunching metal or glass shattering with the rev of the engine, realistic terrain-changing controls, gorgeous graphics, and most of all edge of edge-of-seat fun. It’s amazing, it’s glorious and it’s everything that I’ve hoped for in this type of game.
Career mode offers tons of content and replayability. You’ll start in the easy leagues before working your way up to the master class. The difficulty curve doesn’t feel like much of a curve, I’m not sure if I’m just that good at this game that I took first place in every event without trying hard (my difficulty was normal) but from the beginner leagues to the expert leagues, the competition didn’t improve much. What did change was the class of vehicle. The higher the league, the faster the car became which put the difficulty on the driver and how well you can control your ride. I had mastered the ever-changing physics of dirt and asphalt so I knew when to drift, brake, and accelerate. Overall, it was about 20 hours of racing and destruction derbies in career mode, but again that was me taking first place in every event on the first try.
That’s not to say that the game isn’t challenging. A few races came down the final lap where I’d win by only a second or so. It’s easy to catch up to opponents because they drive like “real opponents”. They don’t hit every corner perfectly or avoid collisions. Wreckfest is so good because the opponents mess up just like anyone else would. They spin out around dirt corners or fly off the track and crash, but most of all, they get into huge wrecks with each other.
You won’t just be racing old beat-up cars, although you get plenty of them and three different regions including the U.S., Europe, and Japan. You’ll be racing lawnmowers, semi-trucks, campers, sofas, and even outhouses. It’s all wild and fun and the ragdoll physics of dragging a body behind you is hilarious or seeing the lifeless body fly off a lawnmower always brings excitement.
You earn money through racing, and with that money, you can purchase new cars that are required for certain events. Each car that you buy is very customizable to make it yours whether that’s a paint job or a silly accessory. I kept mine nice and basic, but I appreciate that there was an option. When you get a car, you can also upgrade it by visiting your garage and purchasing new parts for it. You can change a B-level vehicle into an A-level with enough upgrades. Most of the changes that were made to my cars were acceleration because the key in Wreckfest is getting off the line quickly enough to get ahead of the chaos that will ensue if you get stuck behind the pack.
There are two different types of events. There’s the demolition racing where the goal is to finish in first place in a race that consists of 3 to 12 laps. These courses change from oval asphalt tracks to dirt races in the boonies, to figure-8 courses that combine both. When racing you aren’t just banging against other cars, but there will be plenty of cushions like tire walls, concrete blocks, and wooden signs. These are all destructible and the sound effects are spot on.
The second type of event is a good old-fashioned demolition derby. That’s where everyone lines up in a big circle and the last car standing wins. These events are a blast to play and the damage can be turned from realistic (meaning one big hit can take you out) to more arcade-like where you can ram people until you’re pretty much a shell of a car. The areas are anything from fields with haybales, concrete circles, to dirt pits with ramps.
You’ll quickly find out that the “triangle” button will be your best friend in a pinch. If you get walloped or go flying off course in a race, hit “triangle” and your car will be reset on the track with a temporary invincibility. I used it probably once a race, the moment I noticed I was in trouble. It does a good job of only putting you a few seconds behind instead of having to play out your terrible steering.
One thing that I wish was utilized is a weather system. I would have loved to compete in rain and snow and see how the different conditions changed how I drove. It’s a minor complaint but a valid one. The biggest complaint that I have, and this is a troubling one, is the lack of couch co-op. How can you make a racing game and not include that mode? I had a friend buy it so he and his son could play it together, and they didn’t offer a split screen. How bizarre and what a bummer.
The last complaint I have is the soundtrack. It’s a short list and you’ll be hearing the same song a ton while playing. The music isn’t terrible but it’s generic rock anthems. I would have preferred a much longer list of music, maybe some more metal.
Memories:
I knew as soon as I saw the trailer for Wreckfest that I had to have it. It was everything that I had hoped for in a game, and I couldn’t pass it up. I asked for it for Christmas, and my sister-in-law ended up getting it for me. It was also the first game I beat in my new house, which makes it even more special.
Wreckfest Review Score:
Wreckfest is the quintessential racing experience for demolition lovers. The chaotic beauty of metal twisting together while you slam your foot on the gas to pull away from the herd as you bump, grind, and smash your way to victory is mesmerizing. This game isn’t perfect, but it’s nearly perfect for me. If I was building a demolition derby game, I couldn’t make one better. If only there was a Monster Truck game to match this. Wreckfest is perfect for weekend-long gaming sessions or for quick 10-minute breaks from life. This is the best demolition racing game.
Wreckfest scores a 9.5 out of 10.
What would you write in your Wreckfest review? What other awesome demolition derby games are there? What was your favorite car in Wreckrest? Let me know your thoughts and comments on Wreckfest. I’d love to read them.
Tiger Chainsaw 