Simpsons Games: Ranking the Best, Worst, and Weirdest Springfield Hits
For over three decades, The Simpsons has been a cornerstone of pop culture, and its journey through the world of video games is as long, storied, and chaotic as the show itself. From beloved arcade classics that devoured our quarters to infamous duds that have been relegated to the bargain bin of history, the interactive adventures of Springfield's most famous family have been a wild ride.
Join us as we plug in our controllers, look back at the digital history of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, and rank the absolute best, the unforgettably bad, and the wonderfully weird Simpsons video games of all time.
The Best: When Springfield Went Digital Gold
These are the titles that not only captured the spirit and humor of the show but were also legitimately fantastic games in their own right. They stand as shining examples of how to do a licensed game right.
The Simpsons: Hit & Run (2003)
Often hailed as the undisputed champion, The Simpsons: Hit & Run is more than just a great Simpsons game—it's one of the best licensed games ever made. Released for PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and PC, the game took the open-world chaos of the Grand Theft Auto series and masterfully applied it to the town of Springfield.
The story centers on a bizarre conspiracy involving mysterious black vans, surveillance wasp cameras, and a new brand of Buzz Cola. Players take control of various family members (and Apu) to uncover the truth. What made it so perfect was its incredible attention to detail. Every street, building, and character felt ripped directly from the show. The ability to freely explore Springfield, collect character cards, find hidden gags, and interact with the original voice cast made it the ultimate fan experience.
The Simpsons Arcade Game (1991)
For an entire generation, this was their first and most beloved Simpsons video game experience. Developed by Konami, this side-scrolling beat 'em up was a staple in arcades across the country. The plot was simple: Mr. Burns and Smithers kidnap Maggie after a jewel heist gone wrong, and the rest of the family sets off to rescue her.
Players could choose to be Homer, Marge (wielding a vacuum cleaner), Bart (on his skateboard), or Lisa (with a jump rope). Its vibrant, cartoon-accurate graphics and chaotic four-player cooperative gameplay made it an instant classic. It was pure, simple, button-mashing fun that perfectly captured the energy of the show's early years.
The Simpsons Game (2007)
Arriving on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, The Simpsons Game was a brilliant, self-aware adventure that lovingly satirized video games themselves. After discovering they are characters in a video game, the family gains special powers to navigate a world filled with gaming tropes.
Homer can turn into a giant, destructive "Homerball," Bart becomes Bartman, Lisa uses the power of the Buddha to influence the world, and Marge can rally mobs of citizens to do her bidding. The game's sharp writing, which felt like a lost script from the show's golden era, was its greatest strength, earning it a place among the very best.
The Worst: The Digital Disasters of Evergreen Terrace
Not every trip to Springfield was a success. For every masterpiece, there were several titles that felt like cheap, rushed cash-grabs that tarnished the brand's good name.
The Simpsons Wrestling (2001)
This PlayStation title is infamous and almost universally considered one of the worst games ever made. The premise of Simpsons characters battling it out in a wrestling ring sounds fun on paper, but the execution was a complete disaster.
The game suffered from horribly clunky controls, mind-numbingly repetitive character quotes, and a shallow, almost unplayable combat system. Characters would float around the ring, attacks rarely connected properly, and the entire experience felt less like a fun wrestling game and more like a frustrating technical mess.
The Simpsons Skateboarding (2002)
Attempting to cash in on the massive popularity of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series, The Simpsons Skateboarding for the PlayStation 2 was a spectacular failure. While the idea of skating around a fully 3D Springfield was appealing, the game was plagued by issues.
The controls were unresponsive and frustrating, making it nearly impossible to pull off even the simplest tricks. The level design was bland and uninspired, and the graphics were muddy and unimpressive. It lacked any of the charm or polish of the games it was trying to imitate, leaving players with a hollow and disappointing experience.
The Weird: The Strange and Experimental Outings
Beyond the clear-cut good and bad, there are Simpsons games that occupy a strange middle ground. These titles were often ambitious, bizarre, or just plain odd, but they remain memorable for their unique approaches.
Virtual Springfield (1997)
Long before Hit & Run gave us a fully explorable town, Virtual Springfield offered PC gamers a chance to tour their favorite locations. This point-and-click "interactive tour" was less of a game and more of a digital diorama. Players could explore locations like the Kwik-E-Mart, Springfield Elementary, and the Simpsons' home in pre-rendered 3D. While the gameplay was minimal—mostly consisting of clicking on objects to trigger animations or gags—it was a fascinating and ambitious project for its time, giving fans an unprecedented look inside the world of the show.
Bart's House of Weirdness (1991)
One of the earliest Simpsons titles for DOS, this game lived up to its name. Trapped in his house, Bart must navigate a series of bizarre levels—from a basement filled with spiders to an attic full of ghosts—to recover his lost belongings. The gameplay was a mix of platforming and adventure, but its strange art style and surreal enemy designs made it a truly weird and unforgettable experience from the early days of PC gaming.
Itchy & Scratchy in Miniature Golf Madness (1994)
This Game Boy title was a bizarre mashup of genres. On the surface, it was a miniature golf game. In practice, it was a violent side-scrolling platformer where players, as Itchy, had to navigate nine mini-golf courses while brutally dispatching Scratchy with weapons like chainsaws and mallets. The strange combination of wholesome mini-golf and cartoon violence made it one of the most uniquely weird games in the franchise's history.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is widely considered the best Simpsons video game?
A: The Simpsons: Hit & Run is almost universally regarded as the best game in the series due to its fantastic open-world gameplay, faithful recreation of Springfield, and hilarious story.
Q: What is the worst Simpsons video game?
A: While there are several contenders, The Simpsons Wrestling for the original PlayStation is most often cited as the worst for its broken controls and fundamentally flawed gameplay.
Q: Will there ever be a sequel or a remake of The Simpsons: Hit & Run?
A: Despite massive fan demand and occasional comments from the original developers expressing interest, there are currently no official plans for a sequel or remake of The Simpsons: Hit & Run. Fans continue to hold out hope that it will one day happen.