Since 'The Simpsons' made its video game debut back in the early 90's, we've seen a plethora of console releases over the years, including the ever popular The Simpsons Hit & Run on original Xbox. In fact, that time period now feels like the last hoorah for The Simpsons in video game form, where the likes of The Simpsons: Road Rage and The Simpsons Game also arrived, much to the pleasure of fans of the famous animated TV series.
However, since then, we really haven't seen much from the IP in video game form. Sure, after 2007's The Simpsons Game there have been a few mobile releases, but even those have dried up over the years. We'd love to see the series return to consoles in some form - it really has been too long since The Simpsons graced our Xboxes!
Looking back, Hit & Run has always been the title that stood out the most amongst The Simpsons fare, and it's a format we'd love to see the IP return to. Whether that be a full-on remake or just another open world GTA-like take on the franchise, we just want to see it happen! Some of our fondest original Xbox / PS2 memories are just cruising around Springfield, smashing billboards and calling in vehicles from some of the most useful video game telephone boxes ever.
Having said that, Xbox 360's The Simpsons Game was also a blast; the game that marked the end of the franchise on console up to this point. The Simpsons Game was more platformer than GTA clone, unleashing the entire Simpsons family — bar Maggie — across a bunch of platforming stages throughout Springfield. These two titles really are the highlights of The Simpsons on Xbox in our opinion, and they should both be looked at for inspiration if the franchise is to return one day.
Still, some of those weird and wonderful spin-offs are also fondly remembered. Sure, it might be largely due to their licensed tie-ins, but we'd wager a few people even still feel all warm and fuzzy about the terrible Simpsons Wrestling and Simpsons Skateboarding games on PlayStation!
We're pretty surprised that The Simpsons has been missing for so long when it comes to console gaming; Hit & Run especially is held in such high regard, and that genre hasn't waned in popularity at all since GTA exploded in the early 2000's. There's a huge opportunity there for a team to bring The Simpsons back to life in gaming, and if it ever returns, we'll be there on day one. We're bringing the faith anyway!
Which is your favourite The Simpsons game on Xbox? Vote in the poll and let us know!
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During the NES, SNES, and Genesis days there was a bunch of Simpsons games. There not all that great put I’ll always enjoy the Konami arcade game. I had the Itchy and Strachey game on Game Gear all those years ago. Had fun with Hit and Run back on the GameCube. I think EA has the rights to the Simpsons at the moment and all they do is focus on that mobile Tapped Out game.
I dont think i have played a Simpsons game since Bartman game on NES or SNES, whichever it was.
The games died not long after Series 11 of the show.
That's when it all went wrong.
@shonenjump86 Disney owns the rights now to Simpsons. They got it when they bought out Fox.
I kinda wanna play those games, but I think nowadays it's pretty difficult.
Would love to see dedicated remakes of The Game, Hit & Run, and Road Rage. Maybe Digital Eclipse could make a collection out of the Arcade Game and the other older ones as a way to keep it on the market permanently.
@hypnotoad The games died when the show did. Seems fitting.
I only discussed this last night. I believe there are 2 reasons for this fact. Disney being the first stumbling block. They have been slow to none existent when releasing MCU based games and has taken a long time to get the star wars franchise up and running.
The second issue is the Simpsons isn't overly popular now. We have rick and morty, family guy etc that has made it less interesting as a show.
@hypnotoad Yep, I have only the first 11 seasons and haven't watched any new simpsons since the movie. Even 11 had some stinker episodes. But it has some classics too and my favorite, E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt), the tomacco episode.
The funniest show ever.
And then it all went wrong and it broke my heart...
I would love a new Hit and Run game.
There's a 12th season of the Simpsons?!? Woah
@Tasuki sorry, I meant the rights to do the video games for the Simpsons. Although I’m not completely sure on that. I just know they keep updating their Simpson game on mobile devices.
@shonenjump86 Oh. Yeah I don't know who has the game rights now that Disney owns them which is maybe why there hasn't been any new ones.
Here is another question where has all the games based on movies gone as well?? Yes they may have been pretty bad but i still have fond memories of star wars episode 3 game.
"Some of our fondest original Xbox / PS2 memories are just cruising around Springfield"
Hit and Run was also on GameCube.
@CunningPig That is one of the funniest eps. I always laugh my head off when Homer declares that he would rather die than give up the tomacco and the ostrich decides to make that happen.
Most of the Simpson games are mediocre if not for the license, and I think they died out with a lot of the Licensed games when TV and Movie studios realised they could get much better results with quick mobile games rather than spend years, and big bucks on a modern console release.
Personally I'd love to see Hit & Run and The Simpsons Game get re-releases some day. I'm not sure what a modern Simpsons game could be. South Park made some great games, but I don't think you could use that formula.
@Zochmenos I'd love a new TNG game too. I've just finished replaying Elite Force and I'm about to start on the sequel. I'm also playing Bridge Commander as well. Activision used to make some great ST games back in the day.
Its been at least 15 years since the Simpsons was funny!
At its peak it was fantastically observant and well written, but it became an over used IP exploited to death and with little resemblance to the insightful humour that made it a household name in the first place.
No doubt any new game would reference the rubbish we've seen in the last 15 years, so it would be pointless and not welcome at all.
I really enjoyed some of the old titles
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