Abstract The OBREC is an overtopping structure which is integrated into a traditional rubble-mound breakwater to convert wave energy into electricity. The relatively simple geometry of this overtopping device, with a single frontal ramp and a reservoir, makes the technology suitable to be fully combined also with existing structures. OBREC has been deeply investigated over the last years with physical and numerical model tests, and it is still under development with the ongoing monitoring activities at full-scale in real environments focusing on the wave-OBREC interaction. A comprehensive review of the research studies during the last ten years is here presented. The paper contains some unpublished details on OBREC geometry and power take-off strategy. A special attention is also directed to the description of the full-scale prototype of OBREC at Naples harbour, where an experimental campaign is still continuing.