Why Wreckfest Is Great For Destruction Derby Fans | Screen Rant
Anyone who's at all a fan of driving games should try Bugbear's Wreckfest, which is now out for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S alongside earlier editions for PC, Xbox One, and PS4. The game has always had a cult following, but really deserves to be a mainstream success - it's perhaps the best game ever in the destruction derby niche, and also one of the best destruction racers ever made.
Indeed, Wreckfest offers players a mix of both races and derbies, just with the same guarantee: vehicles will be destroyed. Events take place on everything from conventional paved circuits to figure-eights and rural mudpits. On a broader level, the game is structured into Career, Multiplayer, and custom modes - it's wise to spend at least some time in Career play, since it's essential to unlocking the vehicles and upgrades needed to be competitive online.
The top selling points of Wreckfest are probably its semi-realistic physics and damage engines. Everything from riding mowers to schoolbuses are available, and don't simply handle as expected - they deform and cripple in visible, satisfying fashion. Harder collisions deliver an incredible punch, with parts flying everywhere and both vehicles often limping along afterward, depending on where they were hit. This encourages tactical driving and strategic vehicle choices - while a speedy compact can be great for pulling out ahead, it might not survive ramming by muscle cars or trucks. Thankfully, the game's garage system lets players tune armor, performance, and looks to their own driving style, though it would be nice if casual players had more options unlocked by default in multiplayer.
Online play is where all of these features shine most, since Wreckfest is inherently (or at least arguably) more fun than most multiplayer racers. In a title like Forza Horizon 4, getting ahead is usually the only concern, yet winning its multiplayer races can be difficult and ultimately discouraging for newcomers. In Wreckfest, the point is less winning than witnessing the chaos, particularly in derbies - there's almost always some spectacular crash, and often the chance that with a well-timed hit, even an underdog can take the trophy. The experience can be especially hilarious when shared with friends over voice chat.
In that sense, it's baffling that more people don't play (or produce) similar games. Perhaps it's a matter of exposure - it can be difficult to justify spending cash on a game from an unfamiliar genre when there are plenty of FPS and RPG titles out there. The good news is that Wreckfest is available on both PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass as of June 1, so more people might be encouraged to try.