Going on seven years now, Wreckfest has carved out a space for itself as a technically ambitious racing game built around robust soft-body physics simulation. This year, the long-awaited sequel has finally launched in early access on PC. While Wreckfest 2 is still very much a work in progress, it already makes a strong case for itself, not just as a worthy follow-up, but as a showcase for some of the most advanced real-time physics we’ve seen in the genre.
The current early access release is exclusive to PC, but the final game is set to arrive on consoles as well. The present build contains just a handful of tracks, with both online and offline racing supported. Like the original, it’s being developed by Bugbear Entertainment of Ridge Racer Unbounded fame.
Wreckfest 2 is defined by its physics, which has been completely rebuilt to take advantage of modern hardware and runs as part of Bugbear’s in-house ROMU engine. It boasts a fully dynamic simulation system that runs in real time across all vehicles, debris, and environmental elements. Currently, the game supports up to 24 cars in a single race, ensuring sufficient chaos to really demonstrate the possibilities of such a simulation.
When you first begin a race at the back of the pack, it’s honestly amazing to watch everything unfurl before you. From the car’s suspension to the plethora of objects scattered across the environment to the realistic damage and crumble zones, it really does exhibit a level of fidelity that I’ve never seen in a racing game. Panels twist and shear based on contact angle and force; suspensions buckle under strain. Even minor impacts can have visible mechanical consequences that make it harder to stay on the road. Crucially, none of it is pre-calculated – it’s all properly simulated. When another car smashes into you, they seem to deploy a mix of materials and mesh damage. Paint is scraped away, revealing the metal beneath, but the actual individual pieces can also crumble and change based on external forces.