Flatout, or stylized as FlatOut, is a racing/demolition derby game that came from Bugbear Entertainment and was passed down to several developers over the years, and it was the thing that led to the lowest point of the series as their underrated gem became one of the worst racing games ever made and it shows due to how it was covered by various video game outlets and media companies.
But that doesn’t stop the fact that it needs to be reviewed no matter what the quality of the product is. With over seven games in their portfolio, FlatOut never recovered from the abomination it just created and had to be put out before it worsens. And for a demolition derby game, it proves to be the wreckage of a game and it left disastrous aftermath.
Which games are they? Let us rank all seven FlatOut games from worst to best and see which are actually decent racing games and which are drop-dead awful?
With the starting point at number seven…
7. FlatOut 3: Chaos and Destruction
| Developer | Team6 Game Studios |
| Release Date | December 13, 2011 |
| Platforms | Windows |
Where am I going to start with FlatOut 3? It’s the lowest-rated game ever on Steam and Metacritic and the point isn’t proven there just yet. Everyone was on the edge of their seats when this game was announced and immediately fell off once it was released. FlatOut 3: Chaos and Destruction is a shameful addition to the series and is what brought it to its grave and buried it with the golden shovel.
From booting it up to playing the actual game, you will feel sick to your stomach and feel robbed even if you had it for free. FlatOut 3 doesn’t deserve your one dollar so save it for a better racing game instead. The controls are clunky, the graphics are far worse than its predecessors and the original game, and the physics don’t make any sense at all.
It deserves the title of the worst racing game ever made. How come you mess it up? It seems like the game was developed by a bunch of amateurs who are huge fans of the FlatOut series but they have little to no experience in making a racing game, and now you have FlatOut 3. The most horrifying game in video game history. Ever. No debates about that. It sure lived up to its name Chaos and Destruction because it’s the game that destroyed the franchise by committing all-out chaos.
6. FlatOut 4: Total Insanity
| Developer | Kylotonn |
| Release Date | March 17, 2017 |
| Platforms | Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Yet another entry to the FlatOut series that is not made by Bugbear Entertainment, FlatOut 4: Total Insanity isn’t as bad as FlatOut 3 but isn’t as good as the older games. Made by Kylotonn, which brought us familiar racing titles such as World Rally Championship and V-Rally, FlatOut 4 removes one thorn to the series that suffered from thousands of it.
One of the only aspects that can be praised is the graphics because come on, why would there be a bad-looking game in the year 2017? Also, the driving has been worked on and improved, something that the previous FlatOut games never bothered to emphasize. These parts alone made FlatOut 4 a decent racing game, but it never took off and remained mediocre, still carrying the burden that FlatOut 3 left.
FlatOut 4: Total Insanity is average at best. There is nothing special to it, especially since the era of having total fun in racing games is over and is now being replaced by simulation games. There is nothing special to it, just an apology letter for the destruction of FlatOut 3 brought to the series.
5. FlatOut (2010)
| Developer | Team6 Game Studios |
| Release Date | November 23, 2010 |
| Platforms | Wii |
FlatOut for the Wii is an iteration of the series on that platform and is not a remake nor a remaster. It’s just FlatOut trying to break into the Wii market like most of the companies from the 2000s do, and almost all of them didn’t succeed in cashing in on the console’s success. As for the game itself, it is nothing but a mediocre game in exchange for a cash grab.
Due to the hardware limitations of the Nintendo Wii, FlatOut cannot put out a phenomenal racing game, let alone its other game modes. There are only four cars available on the screen, and your vehicle and the NPC cars included don’t have any drivers present at all. What is this? A self-driving game? It is unintentionally unsettling and that’s where the lack of effort comes in.
FlatOut for the Wii isn’t anything impressive. It isn’t a must-play exclusive because it is a product of its time. FlatOut didn’t see the light of success once its era was over. And it is on the Wii, what can everyone expect? If this was a remaster or a remake for the PlayStation 3 or the Xbox 360 and add some more features in it, FlatOut 2010 might have been their greatest hit.
4. FlatOut: Head On
| Developer | Bugbear Entertainment |
| Release Date | March 12, 2008 |
| Platforms | PlayStation Portable |
FlatOut: Head On is the handheld remake of FlatOut 2, released on March 12, 2008, for the PlayStation Portable. The game shockingly slaps for a handheld version of a full game released on the PC and consoles, and this was the time when the console wars were on and the handheld market was having theirs, but we all know what happened in that story.
For a PlayStation Portable exclusive, FlatOut: Head On delivered that it deserves to be a full-fledged PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 somehow. It is literally what you get on FlatOut on a small screen that fits in your pocket for a fair price, how can you complain about that? Okay, maybe it was kind of watered down, but it is still playable.
FlatOut: Head On isn’t a perfect game due to its texture resolution and framerate issues, but it is still a must-have for those who still rock their PlayStation Portable consoles. But if you are looking for a better experience, you should play FlatOut 2 instead.
3. FlatOut (2004)
| Developer | Bugbear Entertainment |
| Release Date | November 5, 2004 |
| Platforms | Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Linux |
On some rare occasions, the original is better than the modern renditions, and FlatOut proves that effortlessly. Released on November 5, 2004, FlatOut entered the world of demolition derby and racing games and made a statement right away. And for the period that defined gaming as a whole, the original FlatOut became one of its classics.
Although the game’s graphics are a little bit dated for today’s standards, the first FlatOut is about nothing but pure chaos and demolition. The tracks are a bit generic, however. But you will ignore that once you get to play it, you are in for some treat. The mini-games will bring joy too, but only short-term and you will fall back on the racing portion.
Even though it is the first game in the series, it was superb but there are still some adjustments to be done, and those will be present for future games. It wasn’t a full package and all, and loose ends need to be necessarily tied up.
2. FlatOut 2
| Developer | Bugbear Entertainment |
| Release Date | June 29, 2006 |
| Platforms | Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, Linux, macOS |
FlatOut 2 is an action racing game made by Bugbear Entertainment for various platforms, and it was released on June 29, 2006. Since then, FlatOut made their names in the hall of racing games during that time. FlatOut 2 was inspired by street racing on this one, reminiscent of EA’s Need For Speed: Most Wanted.
Everything that the first FlatOut was good at, it was even better on FlatOut 2. Every single aspect of the game was tuned sweetly so that you wouldn’t run out of excuses to play this, especially if you’re tired of modern sim racing titles. You won’t feel guilty about going back to the classics, especially for a game that is FlatOut 2.
Overall, FlatOut 2 is a refined game and it certainly overshadows the original. It was the first game released on the seventh gen and the last one on the sixth generation of consoles, and they sure went out on a high note. Sadly, it isn’t the best game in the series, but it’s…
1. FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage
| Developer | Bugbear Entertainment |
| Release Date | June 22, 2007 |
| Platforms | Windows, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360 |
Trilogies are either good or bad, and the third game defines that curse. Luckily, FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage is one of those games that broke it and remains the true third game of the series. Sorry, FlatOut 3, but you don’t have a place anymore. For those who are harsh on it, I think you might change your mind if you play FlatOut: UItimate Carnage.
Just like DiRT 3, Ultimate Carnage manages to blend both arcade and simulation racing styles on the game and had the upper hand of successfully pulling it off even if it is a high-risk, high-reward move. The graphics are top-notch for a game released in 2007, and if you’re bored from racing, you can live up to the game’s name and cause ultimate carnage with its other game modes.
So go ahead and race, pull off some stunts, or crash your car all over the place, and prepare to be amazed. FlatOut 3 is a pitiful disappointment, and FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage makes up for it. Unfortunately, this wasn’t released on PS3. But if you have a PC or your good old Xbox 360 lying around, just make sure it doesn’t have the Red Ring of Death or anything and grab a copy of the game and see what demolition derby is all about.
