I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest fan of racing games on any platform. Yes, I enjoy them and like to play them, but I’m usually not very good at them. Especially the more realistic ones tend to be way too difficult for me to master. So I typically stick to the more cartoony or arcade type of racers. One exception to this rule is the ‘wreck them’ genre, games like Burnout or Destruction Derby. I love those. So, let’s drive-in, shall we…
Wreckfest
Wreckfest is all about brawling, driving, and causing mayhem! So throw out your textbooks on how to drive a car and what not to do because you’ll do everything your driving teacher has ever told you not to do. Assembled by Finnish destruction racing specialists Bugbear, Wreckfest rekindles the door-slamming spirit of their original FlatOut games and brings it back to life inside the best demolition derby game in over a decade.
When I mentioned the arcade games, I’m not specifically talking about Wreckfest; I’m more in the Burnout corner. Wreckfest is a spiritual successor to games I grew up with, like, Destruction Derby, the original FlatOut, and Driven to Destruction. It combines severe championships with short bursts of what I am doing with my life, and it feels great. There’s a strict driving model beneath this over-the-top, elbows-out competition, and conquering the cars here requires more than hope and a heavy right foot – you need genuine skill. A fairly typical array of driving aids is on hand to tone it down, but I reckon Wreckfest is at its best when most of them are stripped away, and we must work harder behind the wheel.
Muscle Lawn RVs
Wreckfest combines American muscle cars, which tend to be heavier and harder to control, and European and Japanese models, which are nimbler. Still, they’re also lighter, which can lead to flying off-road just as quickly as you say Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (which is an actual town). Some of the cars feel pretty similar, but overall there are notable differences between the range of body types, from muscle to family wagons and sports coupes to front-wheel-drive hatchbacks. But it wouldn’t be Wreckfest if they didn’t include some ‘special cars.’
And by special cars, I mean cars you usually don’t end up driving in competitions. They range from the top-heavy double-decker cars and rollover-prone school buses to the massive harvester with its distinctive rear-wheel steering. I loved riding around on my lawnmower and making my opponents eat literal dirt when I knocked them over. There’s also a motorized couch, because why not, which handles a lot better than I’d expected it would (but probably could’ve done with some wheelie bars). It made me wonder where the developers took inspiration from (hands-on experience, maybe?).
Gameplay
And since the game is called Wreckfest, let’s talk about some actual wrecking gameplay. The developer of Wreckfest uses soft-body dynamics, which means the cars can be bruised, battered, and bent beyond recognition. The level of damage goes well clear of most other driving games; indeed, most everything is this side of the realistic car-crashing simulator Beam.NG Drive, which uses similar soft-body tech. It seems just about every panel and part can be punished, pulverized, or prised off completely. Wreckfest has two damage levels you can pick from: normal and realistic. Standard, which makes cars tough but not invincible, is more fun because you can take a few hits and keep going – but I enjoy the challenge of playing with realistic damage, where just one mistake can see you limping to the finish line missing a wheel. Unfortunately, it’s compulsively addictive and not suitable for your temper.
What I also love about Wreckfest is the feeling that you get while driving on the tracks they created. There’s a level of authenticity to the ovals, dirt tracks, and rallycross circuits here that suits Wreckfest’s tone as a serious destruction derby game at heart. But, of course, there’s still plenty of wild stuff, like an insanely dangerous loop-the-loop track, deadly figure-8s, courses that double back on themselves, and derby bowls that skate parks for cars.
Nintendo Switch Performance
But you probably came here to find out if Wreckfest holds up on the Nintendo Switch. THQ Nordic’s track record on the system is good, but I don’t think they have ever attempted to port such a demanding game for the console. This game features complex physics, sixteen concurrent racers in one match, well-constructed (and destructible) car models, and a proprietary engine. Yet, somehow the Switch manages to run it better than expected. Sure, at 30fps, and with reduced graphical fidelity (less unique textures and a lower resolution), but all things considered, the frame pacing and visuals are still much better than most AA ports to the system. And that’s why we play the Nintendo Switch. Don’t we. To have fun, not for the graphical nonsense the PlayStation 5 blurts out (keep up the excellent work, THQ).
Loading times are not as long as a game like this would make you assume, as the file size hasn’t been overly compressed. Everything ran smoothly, and all content featured in other ports is included in the Switch version. With that said, one singular mode stood out in this version: Arcade. Boot Wreckfest, go straight to the arcade mode prompt, set up a match, and go nuts. The Switch is a godsend for arcade gaming, all thanks to its portable nature, so picking the game up and playing a quick match is the ideal way to enjoy Wreckfest on the go.
Conclusion
So to conclude, Wreckfest is the long-overdue return of serious, high-quality destruction racing; in that narrow niche, it’s the king of the crop. It lacks a little spark off the track, but out in the thick of it, it’s some of the most frantic fun you can have on four wheels. I have played plenty of serious racers, but sometimes it’s nice to toss the rulebook into the back seat, get out in the mud, and trade some paint.
