20 years ago we got a Simpsons x GTA game, and it's been downhill ever since

Since I was only seven years old in 2003 when The Simpsons: Hit & Run came out I technically didn't get to play GTAbut that didn't stop me. Thanks to my older cousins, I was able to tinker with GTA 3 and Vice city every now and then, but that was the extent of my experience with the franchise at the time. However, The Simpsons: Hit & Run gave me the opportunity to feel like I was playing one GTA games without violence and hardcore crime. The Simpsons: Hit & Run was essentially one GTA gateway drug for many kids in the early 2000s, and it continues to be a beloved piece of gaming history.

The Simpsons: Hit & Run succeeded because of its balance between GTA's open world gameplay and The Simpsons' unique voice

The Simpsons: Hit & Run drew much inspiration from the general GTA formula, but the title still managed to make it its own. As GTA, The Simpsons: Hit & Run was set in an open world map where players could explore and take on missions as they see fit. The main difference was the presence of weapons, or lack thereof. Instead of getting into gunfights with the police, players could wreak havoc with cars, which still gave it a fun edge that appealed to my childish brain.

Beyond the gameplay, it captured the humor and tone perfectly The Simpsons. It often feels more like one The Simpsons crossover episode with GTA than a game that copies a formula. It was a rare moment in the industry where a licensed video game completely nailed its premise, and as much as I love the title, it also stands as a reminder of the potential industry shift that would keep games like The Simpsons: Hit & Run from being possible in the future.

Since The Simpsons: Hit & Run, the industry has changed and not always for the better

Okay, before I sound too doom and gloom about the current state of the industry, I want to make it clear that I have found some of my favorite games of all time in the 22 years since. The Simpsons: Hit & Run was released. Games like The last of us, Death's door, God of war, Alan Wake 2, Returnand Death Stranding are just a few, but the main thing these titles have in common is that they take risks, which is what The Simpsons: Hit & Run was too. It's not that the current state of the industry no longer allows unique and risky games to be made, it's just made it much more difficult.

Over the past two decades, it seems that the more popular gaming becomes, the more secure major studios and companies want to be with their IP. If someone were to pitch one The Simpsons games in the style of GTA today it is unlikely that it would ever be done. Fortnites crossover with The Simpsons proves that the franchise is still incredibly popular, but a crossover is different from a full-scale game.

Speaking of Fortnitethe rise of the battle royale genre has also unfortunately contributed to the rise of risk-averse decision-making. i love Fortnitebut when other companies saw how much money the game was raking in, it opened the battle royale floodgates for years, leaving much of the gaming landscape feeling stale, as everything felt like a copy of each other in some way. I know that sounds ironic, because I'm talking about a game that is basically one GTA copycat, though The Simpsons: Hit & Run feels much more playful, and that's another important aspect of what makes it so special. Then The Simpsons: Hit & Runmicrotransactions and needing an online connection for single player games have quickly become the norm, and GTA-like still stands as a great example of how easy gaming once felt.

Thankfully, this year has shown that risk-taking is well worth it

2025 was defined by games that brought unique ideas to life

• Split Fiction
• DOOM: The Dark Ages
• Hell is us
• Hollow Knight: Silk Song
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• The midnight walk
• Blue Prince
• Silent Hill b
• Arc Raiders
• Keeper
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
• LEGO Voyagers
• Cronos: The New Dawn

This year has been stacked with strong releases, and thankfully many of them are bold risk-takers. Of course, just because a game takes a risk doesn't mean it's landed successfully, but it's important that developers aren't afraid to try new ideas. Kojima Productions' Death Stranding 2 sometimes it feels like a wholesome, wild fever dream, while Hazelight Studios Split Fiction again showing how much more potential there is in co-op games.

In just two decades, the industry has made an incredible amount of progress, but when the biggest companies monitor production value profit over creativity, it can push developers into a corner, forcing them to play it safe for the sake of shareholders. Sure, every developer wants their video game to be a hit, but when creativity and passion are seen as the most important thing, it shows immediately, often paving the way for success anyway. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a fantastic example of this. Such a small team could do something brilliant, and that's because the vision was honored first. Now it is nominated for Game of the Year. When playing The Simpsons: Hit & RunI can feel that fun and creativity were put first, and I hope it comes back in style. GTA 6 is expected to mark a new era for both the franchise and the industry, and I can't wait to see how Rockstar chooses to develop the series. But while the wait continues, I'll jump in The Simpsons: Hit & Run one more time.

System

Released

November 2026

ESRB

Rating pending – likely adult 17+