Cruise through Springfield. Smash stuff for coins.
Uncover an alien conspiracy. Just don’t fill the Hit & Run meter.
Click anywhere to raise the meter… police are watching 🚔
The Simpsons: Hit & Run is a 2003 open-world action-adventure game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Universal Games. It takes the chaotic freedom of early Grand Theft Auto titles and drops it straight into a living, breathing Springfield filled with the show’s signature humor, voice cast, and locations.
You drive, race, smash, collect coins, talk to dozens of Springfieldians, and slowly peel back a bizarre conspiracy involving wasp cameras, mind-control cola, and two very familiar green aliens. It remains widely regarded as the best Simpsons video game ever made.
Seven story levels across three distinct maps of Springfield. Each level stars one playable character, packs seven main missions, optional bonus missions, and three street races that unlock new cars.
Story and dialogue written by actual Simpsons show writers. Nearly the entire original voice cast returns. Over 50 characters from the series appear with unique lines.
In the week leading up to Halloween, Springfield is overrun by strange events: tiny wasp-shaped surveillance cameras, mysterious black vans, crop circles, and a “new and improved” Buzz Cola that makes people increasingly unhinged.
Homer, Bart, Lisa, Marge, and Apu each take a turn investigating. What begins as petty errands and local chaos escalates into a full-blown alien conspiracy. The culprits? Kang and Kodos, who are filming the residents of Springfield for their intergalactic reality show Foolish Earthlings. Declining ratings have driven them to spike the water supply with Buzz Cola and hand out free laser guns so the townsfolk will destroy each other on camera.
Only the Simpsons (and one very stressed convenience-store owner) can stop the invasion before Halloween night turns into an interplanetary bloodbath.
Dozens of vehicles with distinct handling, speed, and toughness stats — from the Family Sedan and Honor Roller to the Canyonero, Duff Truck, and secret cars. Hijack almost any civilian vehicle (you hop in as a passenger while they drive).
Mailboxes, trees, hydrants, Buzz Cola machines, and wasp cameras all drop coins. Coins buy new cars and character outfits. Fill the Hit & Run meter and the police give chase.
Timed races, tailing jobs, destruction runs, item collection, and on-foot platforming sections. Three street races per level (hosted by Milhouse, Nelson, and Ralph) unlock bonus vehicles.
Seven collector cards hidden in every level. Find them all to unlock tracks for the bonus racing mini-game. Outfits and secret cars reward thorough exploration.
The reluctant hero. Starts the week buying Buzz Cola and ends it saving the planet… mostly by accident.
Smartest person in Springfield investigates the Squidport and uncovers darker truths.
Mom takes the wheel. Donuts, rednecks, and interdimensional cola wars await.
Kwik-E-Mart owner turned action hero. Caffeine, pigs, and one very long shift.
Released in September 2003, Hit & Run sold millions and earned strong reviews for finally delivering a Simpsons game that felt like the show. Its mix of open-world freedom, sharp writing, and pure chaotic fun has kept it a cult favorite for over two decades.
Fans still dream of a remaster or sequel. In 2026, Matt Groening even hinted that the original game might be “coming back in some form.” Radical Entertainment’s spiritual successors have returned as a new studio focused on remasters — so the dream lives on.
Originally launched on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube (Sept 16, 2003), with a Windows port following in November.
Still widely played via original hardware, emulators, and community mods that connect the maps or add cel-shading.
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