Racing games have always fallen into two categories: serious simulations, and arcade-style action exaggerated for thrills. For every Gran Turismo came a Need for Speed, but somewhere in the middle a Burnout would release to encourage wild drifts and crash carnage. While the serious sims align well with the latest graphics and tech of 2025 to showcase the industry’s progression into reality, gamers that have cut their teeth on Burnout haven’t had the depth of servings outside of some indie gems. Enter Wreckreation by THQ Nordic, creators of Burnout Paradise and Dangerous Driving. Knowledge holders when it comes to assisting those of us that just want to let loose.
From the moment the game loads, players are dropped into an open world of 400 square kilometres that can be traversed and manipulated at will. Want to build a ramp on a hill to reach an interesting rooftop? Go for it. See a sky-reaching track in the distance that twirls into the clouds? You’ll find a race there. Littered with activities, collectibles and unlockables, the unnamed island in Wreckreation is only limited by your imagination as the fog clears on the map through exploration. Playing solo, inviting friends to your world or jumping into their playground sees Wreckreation focus on pure fast-paced fun at every turn. There does not always need to be extensive car builds or scaling stats to see success. Whether racing, stunting or taking down foes with a sideswipe, all sessions during the review period were full of high-octane madness. The ‘one more activity’ addiction is here, combining Burnout nostalgia with the trimmings of a 2025 release packed with options to play with.
Wreckreation is an arcade racer encouraging high speeds in an open world, but it is your open world. While it is already full of jumps, secret routes and sights to see, the ability to use a Live Mix feature to place your own ramps, pipes, obstacles and scenery means no two players will be playing the same way. All the customisation is not available right off the bat, though – you’ll have to earn it by driving through the biomes seeking out billboards, build symbols, gates and races. Additional cars are unlocked through specific races and levelling up your licence, while the 400+ individual build pieces can be accessed through smashing through all manner of structures. Initially, I was building straight ramps to hit billboards. Then I started to unlock options that really changed traversal and the layers of the game. Just to put creativity to the test, I dropped a giant circular piece of concrete in the sky after driving to the summit of a track. There it was, floating without support and viewable throughout the map whenever I looked in the direction. I then placed a long ramp on the edge of the skyscraper track and landed on the concrete. I was met with 360-degree views of the map and no way to get down without dropping like a pin from the sky. Scrap that – I placed more concrete blocks like steps back down to the track, continuing on my way as though what I’d just done was the most normal thing in this track-heavy world.
Driving around your island will see races and other activities pop up gradually, and your attention will split in multiple directions. You can access anything at any time (except if you don’t have a specific car) or fast travel through the world by clicking on any petrol stations that have been discovered (this is also where you heal/fix your car or change to other unlocked cars). My first race was fairly general across the weaving roads, with speed a focus through boosts. Drifting also adds points, though taking down other players is where the enhancements really rise. Some of the races have a greater emphasis on takedowns, such as smashing 12 opponents before the timer runs out. Your best times and takedown numbers are recorded, creating challenge opportunities for friends and foes. While these events have a set path and conclusion, there are always alternatives in this open world. I also noticed interesting areas during races, returning to them afterwards when time was not of the essence. This style of play is very free and encouraging. All races or activities are quick, navigation through the game world is snappy and exploration feels rewarding. While games like Forza may have already established the joys of navigating large areas rather than just jumping from race to race, the creativity here really adds another layer of replayability and character.
Yes, this is not a sim. But that does not mean you can’t change up the look of your car. Colours, wheels, finishes, lights – all have options to style your car. Much of this is done through the Game DJ, which serves as a menu to basically change everything from weather, traffic, radio stations, sharing your creations with the community and adding all your pieces to the world. It’s live, updating on the fly, and the narrator explains all the options to ensure you’re making the most of your experience. Much of my play was solo due to this generally being my review process with games, but I did drop into some multiplayer games to test the scene. This sees a host create challenges or invite others to create challenges in their world. With a host of friends, I can see this being the primary way the game is played or replayed. Though in single player, there is always plenty to do (146 events, by last count).
The challenges extend beyond the races and takedowns. The open world is really emphasised in activities such as placing a large X anywhere the host likes, adding rules such as timers or other limits to really test skills. One of my favourites is shutdown, where an AI car is speeding through the world and you must drive it off the road before it escapes. I’m not always competent at stunts in racing games, but after a few hours my car was twisting through the sky with its doors open. The game operates on an ‘easy to learn, challenging to master once other players hit the world’ focus. The sheer unpredictability of other human players caught me off guard. Chasing down ‘Wreckords’ and noticing that my go-to manoeuvres are not exactly fool-proof saw me lean forward in my seat. The game generally circulates pace, entertainment and chaos. Yet there are still moments needing to draw on skill for bragging rights.
In terms of graphics, sound and performance, I did not encounter any game-breaking bugs or glitches. The look of the game is not at the highest end of racers, but the environment and its reaction to the gamer’s wild antics always looked and sounded crunchy and loud. I played on base PS5 and found the draw distance strong in a game that really benefits from its surroundings. There is a good selection of radio stations, though they did start to become repetitive after a while (expected) from classical music to heavy, soaring beats. I didn’t spend too much time navigating accessibility or options in game configuration, and I don’t believe the game really wants or needs you to in the field of arcade racing. All my menu-based time was in mixing my world to create the most absurd arena possible.
Wreckreation is an arcade and destruction racer at heart, filled with hundreds of events across its giant open world that is only extended by creativity and online play. It is easy to jump in and have fun from the opening minutes, not bogging the player down in countless menus. Through its Game DJ and Live Mix options, the ability to add ramps and other features is seamless and encouraged through snappy navigation that only builds across hours. The world is just a joy to drive through, always offering quick wins and more challenging places to reach. I can see myself returning to the unnamed world of Wreckreation frequently, especially when needing a break from the heavier, more serious titles of 2025 and beyond. For here is a game that leans on nostalgia, speed and the simple desire to drive recklessly without consequence. It’s the fizzy soft drink foaming over the sides while the dry martinis are sipped in the other corners of the room, and sometimes that is exactly what we need.
Pros
- Speed in navigation, accessing activities and entering the action
- Always a new challenge on the horizon
- Open world that can be manipulated is such a fun option
Cons
- Looks are not the main focus, despite some strong visuals
- Not everyone will gel with the creative aspects
Review conducted on the Playstation 5
