Wreckfest review: FlatOut revived from the ashes

After a heap of realistic racing, Wreckfest is a sharp and necessary kick from the noughties. Forget driving etiquette, this is the automotive equivalent of a bar brawl, and a good one at that. Assembled by Finnish destruction racing specialists Bugbear, Wreckfest has revived the spirit of car survival and destruction from the original FlatOut and brought it back to life in the best destruction derby game of the last decade.

Wreckfest.

Wreckfest — a concentrate of cool cars and the spirit of FlatOut

Let it not be misleading that Wreckfest emphasizes exaggerated, metal-destroying mayhem. It’s not just an arcade smash-’em-up; it’s a true successor to the original FlatOut.

And it’s a true successor to the original FlatOut.

There’s actually a serious driving model underneath the combat, and it takes real skill to conquer the cars here. Huge American «muscle cars» and land yachts sag backwards on worn-out springs, and they must be forced to make heroic Hollywood turns and steer with the throttle.

They’re not the only ones that can’t be driven.

Smaller European and Japanese models are nimbler, but they’re also lighter, and some of them have a tendency to turn into deadly tankoplanes. Some cars seem similar to each other, but there are differences between body types — from muscle cars to family station wagons, from sporty coupes to front-wheel-drive hatchbacks.

Some of the cars seem similar to each other, but there are differences between body types — from muscle cars to family station wagons, from sporty coupes to front-wheel-drive hatchbacks.

Specialty vehicles — are a different story, from heavy double-decker cars and school buses prone to rollovers to a combine with its distinctive rear-wheel drive. Perhaps most interesting is the van, which, despite being heavy and relatively low on power, loves to go into skids. There’s also a power sofa, which handles much better than I expected.

There’s also a power sofa, which handles much better than I expected.

There are differences in grip between dirt or gravel and asphalt, but thanks to Wreckfest’s well-tuned sense of weight and friction, handling is excellent. On the same PS5 controller, it feels like you’re riding along with the car on grass or asphalt. And it feels great.

Most important: What about destructibility?”

Self-destruction is no less impressive, whether it’s crashing into objects on the track or mercilessly hitting your opponent. Thanks to Wreckfest’s physics, cars can be knocked, battered, and bent beyond recognition. Wreckfest surpasses most other such games in terms of damage.

Wreckfest has two levels of damage: normal and realistic. Normal, which makes cars tough but still vulnerable, is more fun because you can take a few hits and keep going, but I like to play with realistic damage, where just one mistake can leave you limping to the finish line without a wheel.

Wreckfest’s realistic damage level is more fun because you can take a few hits and keep going.

Collision debris remains, too, and each new lap leaves more evidence of the speed war unfolding on the track. By the end of the race, you’ll be wading through a carpet of metal splinters, shattered wood, scattered tires, and shards of concrete. A special mention should be made of the AI, which is laid out to the fullest. Sometimes they spoil the race — but remember, that’s the point.

About tracks, pumping and more

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The tracks are infused with the spirit of the first two FlatOut games. The dirt and rallycross tracks have a degree of authenticity that really matches the tone of Wreckfest as a serious demolition derby game. That said, there’s still plenty of wild stuff in the game: insanely dangerous «loop-to-loop» tracks, deadly «figure-eights», double-turn tracks, and «bowls» that are essentially skate parks for cars.

All of which are essentially skate parks for cars.

The game has a ton of great visual customization and paint options, though Wreckfest definitely cries out for a rudimentary paint editor where you could apply your own numbers and lettering. Performance customization is also provided, but it’s a shame Bugbear decided to emulate Forza and Need for Speed with clean and sterile upgrade menus that contradict the grim spirit of the junkyard we’re rummaging through everywhere.

Wreckfest has a lot of fun events, but the event types get repetitive over time. Multiplayer allows you to extend that period of enjoyment, but an event editor would bring more value.

Wreckfest was the long-awaited return of quality destruction racing, and in this narrow niche it—s a worthy successor to FlatOut. The game lacks a bit of spark off the track, but in the thick of things it’s one of the most frenetic pieces of entertainment you can have on four wheels. After a lot of sterile racing, you want to throw the rule book in the back seat, get out into the dirt and crash into your opponents.

After a lot of sterile racing, you’ll want to throw the rule book in the back seat, get out there and crash into your opponents.