Imagine Lethal Company crashing headfirst into Sea of Thieves, with a healthy dose of physics-driven chaos thrown in for good measure. That’s the best way to describe Wreck Runners, an extraction game that begs you to survive by working together as everything around you falls apart.  

Developed and published by Disruptive Games, Wreck Runners is set within a supernatural version of the infamous Bermuda Triangle, as you and up to three friends work for the suspiciously cheerful Trustwell Corporation, salvaging valuable cargo from haunted wrecks while piloting the ORCA: a gigantic, all-terrain vehicle capable of driving, flying and diving. It’s a unique approach to the extraction genre, and one that immediately gives Wreck Runners its own identity.  

There are no weapons in the Bermuda Triangle. Your only way to fight back is to co-operate.  

Every expedition begins with you and your selected crew aboard the ORCA, before traversing into mysterious wrecks as you search for valuable salvage. Recovering loot isn’t as simple as pressing a button. Oversized cargo must be physically dragged, lifted, balanced and secured using the Scrapjack, an anti-gravity item- and enemy-grabbing device. This item creates hilarious moments where your skilled, planned-out teamwork quickly turns into a complete disaster. Everything obeys the game’s physics system, meaning one poorly timed throw or careless ORCA driver can send an entire haul tumbling into the sea.  

Unlike many extraction games that rely on constant firefights, Wreck Runners builds tension through exploration and uncertainty. The Bermuda Triangle is constantly changing, with each new expedition placing loot in different locations, environmental hazards evolving, and a mysterious Fog ensuring that no two expeditions ever play out the same way.

Salvage items range in appearance, selling price, and fragility. The more fragile the item, the higher its salvageable payday. But take note: a slight bump, knock, fall, or enemy attack will cause the price to drop dramatically. Assign your steady-handed teammate to handle these items with care.  

Enemies range from mutant frogs to strange astronaut bombers to a gigantic, missile-launching alien you find attacking the ORCA to be his most enjoyable pastime. Thankfully, a quick use of the Scrapjack will have these baddies packing. It will take some getting used to defending yourself with the Scrapjack, for it can teeter between super sensitive and painfully accurate. It’s a slippery slope to defend yourself in this game.  

The progression system is equally satisfying, yet confusing. First, the satisfying part: successfully extracting salvage items earns cash that can be spent on better equipment, vehicle upgrades and cosmetics, creating a rewarding gameplay loop that steadily opens new possibilities for future expeditions. The confusing part: other than the names of the purchasable items, there is no further description, guide, or tutorial on how to use these unlockables. It may cause players to put a halt to the grind or want to buy new items.  

Where the game truly shines, however, is in those unscripted multiplayer moments. One teammate desperately trying to balance a fragile item suddenly has the ORCA flip due to a careless driver, whilst another could accidentally lure baddies back to base, as they all explode upon arrival. Chaos.  

Playing solo is possible, but it’s clear that this game is designed as a co-op party game. Sadly, when we attempted to join a public game, there were no other players online. Given that the game had a solid player base back in May 2026, it’s a shame to see such a drop-off already. Granted, it could be chalked up to a time zone difference; we hope that this game continues to thrive for the rest of the year.

The hidden star of the game here has to be the ORCA. There are a ton of doors, switches, and guns to help handle your time in the Bermuda Triangle. Each level has a quota of how much salvage it needs to sell off before it considers your mission successful. Meeting quota means you can summon the Barge, a large ship that will both sell off your loot and sail you back home. To sell off the item requires you to drive and defend the ORCA on its path to reaching the shore.

For such a large vehicle, the ORCA handles like a shopping trolley: one of its wheels always seems off or broken, as movement shifts between handling like an absolute chore or a sensitive movement ride from hell. Thankfully, the ORCA has two other travel styles: Air and Sea. Taking to the air transforms the ORCA into a Helicopter, allowing you to (slowly) rise above the obstacles and enemies.  

Movement feels responsive, albeit somewhat sensitive, whether you’re hauling salvage, operating equipment or piloting the ORCA. The physics interactions occasionally create entertaining moments and situations. Though it will take some learning to handle heavy cargo, there is no tutorial, guide, or story mode to assist with the learning curve. Even the control screen in the options menu is quite vague. So, in the Bermuda Triangle of all places, you’re going to have to figure it out on your own.  

Wreck Runners strikes an excellent balance between realism and stylisation. It takes the extraction genre and shoves it into an ultra-high-definition car wash. All the familiar mechanics are here, just way more detailed and easier on the eye.  

The fog-covered islands, abandoned facilities and twisted wrecks feel like they carry a history, while dynamic weather and lighting constantly reinforce the feeling that you’re somewhere that humanity should have never ventured into.

Creature designs remain mysterious and somewhat unnerving. Most enemies appear to either die quickly or self-destruct, so it’s hard to get a good look at them. Which is great for the game, but some enemies will trick you into thinking they’re another player. Keep an eye out!

For a game about picking up and carrying heavy objects, it’s the Audio that does a ton of the heavy lifting here.  

All foley and sound effects sound crisp and impactful. From the constant howl of wind, crashing waves, unsettling environmental noises, and a dramatic shift in music when an enemy is nearby, the combination of it all helps to create an immersive yet intriguing atmosphere that rarely lets you chill out and relax.  

For what we experienced, the soundtrack wasn’t that noticeable. This can be good and bad. Good, because soundtracks that provide music that doesn’t feel like the style or genre ruin the immersion. Bad, because there isn’t anything memorable in the form of a theme or battle song that will have you humming it down the street, hours after playing.  

Wreck Runners successfully stands on its own because it’s aware that scripted moments aren’t what makes this genre memorable; it’s the co-op chaos and unplanned moments that are clipped, saved, and shared with people forever.  

While it still has room to grow in enemy variety, item explanation and mission diversity, the core gameplay loop remains strong. The combination of physics-driven teamwork, extraction mechanics and supernatural exploration gives Wreck Runners an identity all its own. If you’ve been looking for the next great cooperative game to enjoy with friends, this is one worth climbing aboard for. 

Written by: James Fraser-Smith