Wreckfest (Nintendo Switch)
Bugbear has had a tough decade, but it’s looking for a return to form with a no-nonsense approach to racing that involves, as the name more than hints, causing rampant destruction. Ridge Racer Unbounded earned the studio some critical acclaim but was, unfortunately, bogged down by the Ridge Racer name. The Flatout series that Bugbear made its reputation with, meanwhile, did not cover itself in glory under the guidance of other stewards. But what’s done is done, and Wreckfest is piquing the interest of critics with its no frills approach to off-road racing. It’s a full throttle, muscular affair that thrives in Bugbear’s zone of expertise – big old vehicles bashing into each other and causing a lot of mayhem as they go. Much of the game’s strength lies in the physics. A lot of care has been put into the physics modelling so that you’ll definitely feel it when a bigger car crunches into you, while you’ll really need to work a front wheel driver as it careens round a corner or tame some of the bigger, longer beasts in your garage. You’re either racing or wrecking, but the truth is that it’s always at least a little bit of both. Of course, it’s even more satisfying when you take matters online to wreck your friends!
