The Best, Worst, and Weirdest Simpsons Games

The Simpsons has been a tv staple since 1989, spanning over 790 episodes, a theatrically launched characteristic movie, one other on the way in which, and a ton of online game variations, just a few of which have been genuinely nice. In spite of everything, The Simpsons even invented its personal in-universe video video games, referenced precise video video games always, and even went to a online game conference. However as a sitcom household that includes members that largely spent their time at work, college, or hanging round the home, making a online game out of The Simpsons was no straightforward job, inspiring builders to create complete Simpsons video games out of issues that perhaps appeared in an episode as soon as, or simply make up a sport concept out of skinny air, resulting in some actually loopy outcomes. Right here is the bizarre, wild historical past of The Simpsons video video games.

Don’t have a cow, man.

Bart vs. the Area Mutants (1991)

The very first Simpsons online game is a very weird one. Bart vs. The Area Mutants was extremely formidable and filled with nice references to the present, even when it wasn’t precisely enjoyable to play. The title display screen performed a chiptune model of the theme track over an 8-bit model of the enduring TV household and their beloved sofa, fuzzy voice samples allowed Bart to say issues like “Eat My Shorts,” and you could possibly even prank name Moe the bartender from outdoors of his tavern. By the way in which, when you don’t like that chiptune cowl of The Simpson’s theme track, powerful luck, as a result of it performs on loop for everything of a few of its very lengthy ranges.

It being the primary Simpsons online game that gamers may purchase at a retailer and shove into their NES consoles made it an enormous gross sales success, regardless that it was notoriously obtuse, punishingly troublesome, featured unreliable and floaty platforming mechanics, and was frankly simply plain odd for anybody who even had a passing familiarity with the present. Utilizing “They Dwell” model glasses that Bart can put on to see invisible aliens, he’s in a position to traverse via the streets (whereas additionally dodging seen aliens) so he can spray paint purple objects round Springfield as a result of the aliens… want purple objects… for intergalactic dominance… or one thing.

As a child, Bart vs. the Area Mutants was in all probability the primary time I noticed a online game based mostly on a TV present or film I liked might be dangerous, a life lesson that the NES handed out always throughout that period. However hey, all of us thought it was the best that Bart talked and skateboarded within the sport, and we have been used to pushing via brutally laborious video video games on the time, so all of us made the perfect of it… even when I didn’t know a single child who really beat this sport with out utilizing a cheat code gadget just like the Sport Genie.

Moreover, in 1991 all of us knew the actual greatest Simpsons sport wasn’t in our dwelling rooms however on the arcade throughout city…

The Simpsons Arcade Sport (1991)

Are you aware how enjoyable your online game needs to be to persuade a ten yr outdated boy that he ought to play as a keep at residence mom of three with a vacuum cleaner? Actually enjoyable, and by chance The Simpsons arcade sport was an absolute blast, particularly with three of your folks huddled round it after devouring two complete pizzas at a birthday celebration. The early ’90s arcade scene was filled with co-op sidescrolling beat ‘em up video games based mostly on issues like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the X-Males, and The Simpsons match proper in, prepared and desperate to devour your arcade tokens.

Not solely was The Simpsons arcade sport completely attractive (due to the good artists and sport builders at Konami) but it surely was additionally extremely humorous, filled with apparent and esoteric references to the present. And whereas its plot (rescue Maggie from Smithers as a result of she thinks a stolen diamond is a pacifier?) didn’t make a lot sense, who cares? It was a terrific excuse to ship your complete Simpsons household into the streets collectively to beat the crap out of dangerous poorly dressed henchmen, zombies, bears, gigantic Krusty the Clown balloons, and no matter else the sport decides to chuck at you.

Sadly you possibly can’t buy this sport and play it on fashionable online game platforms, though it was ported to consoles in 2013 earlier than being delisted for good. You’ll be able to, nonetheless, spend a whole bunch of {dollars} on a recreated Arcade 1-UP model, a factor I’ve been tempted to do dozens of occasions in my grownup life and one way or the other been ready to withstand. 34 years later, The Simpsons arcade sport remains to be top-of-the-line Simpsons video video games ever made, and a totally kickass beat ‘em up in its personal proper. I actually hope Konami decides to re-release it so extra individuals can expertise this absolute traditional.

Bart Simpson’s Escape from Camp Lethal (1991)

In the meantime that very same yr, in my again pocket, the AA battery-devouring machine referred to as the Nintendo Sport Boy received its personal unique Simpsons sport known as Escape from Camp Lethal. It was as soon as once more far more troublesome than it had any proper to be. In comparison with the NES sport, although, Bart’s character sprite was at the very least greater than seven pixels tall, even when the Sport Boy’s restricted palette made his eyes seem like he was perpetually stoned.

Escape from Camp Lethal, because the title suggests, is about Bart fleeing a deranged and harmful summer season camp the place individuals throw knives and forks throughout cafeteria meals fights and guys that seem like undercover cops attempt to beat you to loss of life in a forest. And also you thought summer season college sucked. This sport wasn’t nice by any stretch, but it surely was satisfying sufficient and in addition had the good thing about being a conveyable sport you could possibly undergo via anyplace you went, from the varsity bus to your personal horrible summer season camp. And when you make it to the ending you even get to see Camp Lethal get shut down and a skunk joins your loved ones celebration, as a result of why not.

Bart vs. the World (1991)

Acclaim’s second Simpson’s NES sport in the identical yr was Bart vs. the World, a sport about Bart profitable a contest that places him on a worldwide scavenger hunt, which is usually only a skinny excuse to drop him in worldwide areas that haven’t any bearing on actuality, like an enormous boat in China the place individuals shoot fireworks at children, and the North Pole’s frozen river – a dream trip of each youngster sporting a t-shirt and shorts.

Bart vs. the World performs like way more of a regular platforming sport than vs. the Area Mutants did, and the top result’s a slightly-better-but-still-not-great sport. However hey, you at the very least can flip into Bartman and fly round, there are minigames to interrupt issues up between ranges, Moe the Bartender tries to kill you with beers, and you’ll throw pies within the faces of Smithers and Mr. Burns for an uncomfortably lengthy stretch of time.

Bart’s Home of Weirdness (1991)

In some way the fifth Simpsons online game launched in 1991, Bart’s Home of Weirdness brings Konami again into the image for an MS-DOS sport (and if you recognize what which means, you need to schedule a colonoscopy) that when once more pits Bart towards a bunch of stuff in Springfield that’s making an attempt to kill him. Or ought to I say “uncool” him, for the reason that sport’s well being bar is definitely a cool meter that goes down relying on how a lot you get damage.

Regardless of being named Bart’s Home of Weirdness, a lot of the sport is definitely spent outdoors of Bart’s home doing the same old Simpson’s online game stuff like preventing aliens or lengthy, awkward poses on loading screens. Total it’s a reasonably good trying sport and use of the license typically (though the theme track cowl right here is totally unhinged) even when it is nowhere close to the identical stage of high quality as Konami’s different Simpson’s sport that yr.

Bart vs. The Juggernauts (1992)

The yr 1992 introduced us a trio of latest Simpsons video games, probably the most unhinged of them being Bart vs. The Juggernauts, a parody of the hit late ’80s/early ’90s aggressive strongman present, American Gladiators, now set in Springfield. Oh, and it’s hosted by resident surly information anchor Kent Brockman and native therapist Marvin Monroe, each of which assume no obligation for the general public beating that Bart is about to endure. Bart Simpson – canonically a fourth grader – takes on quite a few Juggernauts, hulking behemoths who need to pulverize him for money and prizes. So sure, precisely the form of lawsuit manufacturing facility that notorious Simpsons lawyer Lionel Hutz would’ve liked.

Whereas the premise is deranged, the writing is genuinely witty and sharp, with all the adults absolutely conscious that this televised event is a reckless and harmful factor to throw children into, particularly the extent the place Bart has to punch and bounce kick a grown lady at Moe’s Tavern, a dive bar stuffed with cheering alcoholics. Oh, and that’s when he’s not jousting towards a special grown as much as see who can push their opponent right into a pit of poisonous sludge down at Mr. Burns’ energy plant, which is strictly how The Joker as soon as turned a factor. Bart vs. The Juggernauts is basically a minigame assortment strung loosely collectively lby cutscenes, and whereas the sport as a complete can really feel form of hit and miss, it’s a singular tackle the supply materials. Plus, it ends with Bart profitable his very personal Truckasaurus for his household to drive residence with, and actually, how can anybody be mad at that?

Krusty’s Enjoyable Home (1992)

After a number of Simpsons video games starring Bart have been launched again to again (with many, many extra to return) it was time to ship within the clowns and provides Krusty his personal online game. Properly, form of. Krusty’s Enjoyable Home was technically a reskin of an Amiga sport known as Rat Entice that Acclaim determined to throw Krusty and another Simpsons sprites into, form of like how Tremendous Mario characters took over the Japanese sport Doki Doki Panic when it was launched within the US. If you happen to’ve ever performed Lemmings or the Mario vs Donkey Kong video games, you’ll shortly acknowledge that Krusty’s Enjoyable Home performs equally however with a barely darker final result for the tiny herdlings: that’s as a result of the participant has to lure them into massive machines the place they’ll be smashed to bits. So in all probability not fairly what you’d anticipate from a Krusty the Clown sport however on the identical time precisely the form of factor you’d anticipate Krusty the Clown to do in his free time, so hey, why not.

Bartman Meets Radioactive Man (1992)

Whereas Krusty was coping with diseased vermin infestations, Bart was busy tackling different probably lethal well being code violations in 1992’s Bartman Meets Radioactive Man, which lastly options Bart’s superhero alter-ego Bartman as a completely playable character moderately than a brief power-up. Sadly, it’s marred by the identical floaty platforming that plagued the earlier Acclaim Simpsons video games, and whereas the Bartman flying ranges combine up the pacing a bit, it largely lands in the course of that all-too-common licensed NES sport ditch of approach too laborious and never very enjoyable.

The whole lot of Bartman Meets Radioactive Man is ready in areas that don’t have anything to do with any Simpsons episodes and have little to no Simpsons references or characters in any respect, so it’s not even prefer it’s price pushing via when you’re a Simpsons fan. In hindsight it’s fairly loopy how a lot Bartman stuff was on the market by 1992 contemplating that character didn’t precisely have an enormous presence on the present on the time, and I say that as somebody who as soon as efficiently begged his mother and father to purchase him a Bartman motion determine. God I liked that factor. The Bartman online game, not a lot.

Bart’s Nightmare (1993)

On to the yr 1993, the place Bart Simpson is as soon as once more starring in an absolute fever dream of a Simpsons sport, though this time that’s lastly a deliberate alternative. Bart’s Nightmare opens with Bart passing out face first into his homework and waking up in an imaginary hellscape the place all the pages have flown out of his bed room window and on to a chaotic fantasy model of the streets of Springfield. Whereas dodging obstacles with a leaping sound impact that seems like a sick cat about to retch, Bart should gather his lacking homework pages, triggering one among a number of random doorways that result in even crazier nightmares.

Behind one door there’s a Godzilla-inspired stage the place Bart has to dodge a model of Mothra that appears like his mother (Margethra, I assume?) Behind one other, a side-scrolling shoot ‘em up model stage the place Bartman takes down missiles and Krusty balloons together with his trusty slingshot. There’s even a stage the place Itchy and Scratchy attempt to kill Bart with hammers and bazookas whereas sentient vacuum cleaners tear throughout the carpet. Does any of this make any sense? No, and nightmares seldom do, so hey, simply roll with it and attempt to get an A+ as your ultimate rating so the entire household can stare in awe at your laborious work and dedication (though it’s not totally clear if Bart didn’t simply write that grade on the paper himself.)

Itchy & Scratchy in Miniature Golf Insanity (1993)

Hey, it’s about time that Itchy & Scratchy – The Simpsons’ ultra-violent parody of Tom & Jerry – received their very personal online game, though a side-scrolling mini golf sport was in all probability not precisely what most followers anticipated on the time. Nonetheless, Itchy & Scratchy in Miniature Golf Insanity manages to be ultra-violent, which is very humorous for a Sport Boy sport rated “E for everybody.”

It’s Scratchy’s job to whack the ball over varied obstacles and into the opening whereas managing difficult platforming sequences and amassing weapons he can use to explode, maim, and straight up chop in half his resident nuisance animal, Itchy, who repeatedly makes it some extent to bother and hurt him. In some way that is all Krusty’s fault for causes which are by no means clearly defined and finally don’t matter, as a result of the top consequence was distinctive, particularly when you think about your typical minigolf sport on the time didn’t contain throwing knives or hitting a mouse so laborious his eyeballs fly off of his face and into the 18th gap.

Bart & the Beanstalk (1994)

Okay, I promise that is the final Acclaim-developed Simpsons sport for the unique Nintendo Sport Boy. I swear. 1994 was when The Simpsons was proper in the course of its peak of recognition, so clearly the perfect place to set the following online game starring ‘90s cool child Bart Simpson was the 1700’s royalty-free British fairy story, Jack and the Beanstalk. Wait, what? Acclaim, a writer clearly set on driving The Simpsons license till the wagon wheels fell off, as soon as once more gave Bart a brief and floaty platforming sport for the Nintendo Sport Boy, this time a retelling of the traditional story of a poor child promoting his household’s cow to generate income after which spending mentioned cash on a magical bean that grows right into a towering beanstalk resulting in an enormous’s fortress.

There isn’t a logical clarification for why any Simpson could be doing any of this except some ‘90s online game govt heard Bart’s oft-repeated “don’t have a cow, man” line and determined a fable a few household promoting their cow was an ideal match. That’s the perfect I can do right here. Let me know when you’ve received a greater concept. Bart & the Beanstalk is as soon as once more an odd match for the license and, outdoors of the large trying like Homer and a cloud formed boss trying like Mr. Burns, there’s not a lot right here for Simpsons followers… though it does lastly carry closure to Acclaim’s prolific and peculiar run of Sport Boy unique Simpsons video games. Relaxation in peace.

Digital Bart (1994)

It doesn’t actually get any extra Nineties than Homer voice actor Dan Castellaneta yelling “Digital Bart” over the intro of a 16-bit online game. See, in 1994 digital actuality appeared like the best idea on this planet, even when no one actually knew what it meant and it was a label thrown round for something from video video games to simply… being on the web and doing digital stuff like studying web sites. The thought of placing on a futuristic helmet or particular glasses and all of the sudden being whisked away to a simulated 3D world was each child’s dream, and with very early VR experiences beginning to trickle out in arcades, and films like Demolition Man and the Lawnmower man exhibiting their varied makes use of, combining VR and Bart Simpson made a ton of sense when you have been a advertising and marketing man making an attempt to get a child to purchase a online game. That mentioned, Digital Bart is usually a randomized mini-game assortment the place Bart does varied issues each child thought was cool, like watersliding, grime bike driving, throwing eggs at academics, and uhh, turning right into a pig and escaping a canned ham manufacturing facility. Yeah, that form of stuff. Cool stuff children love. Digital stuff. Cool.

The Itchy & Scratchy Sport (1995)

Again for an additional extremely violent motion platforming sport (this time with none pesky mini-golf to get in the way in which) 1995’s The Itchy & Scratchy Sport allows you to play as Itchy to precise revenge on that horrible cat who’s at all times making an attempt to kill you. The Itchy & Scratchy Sport looks like somebody mentioned “What if we made a a lot slower and far worse Sonic the Hedgehog sport with horrendous controls and stage design and we gave it a soundtrack that appeared like individuals hitting free floorboards with hammers the entire time. That might suck, proper? Who cares, children gained’t understand it sucks, simply ship it.”

Properly, we did know. We knew then and we all know now and this sport was so dangerous that no one made one other Itchy & Scratchy sport for almost 15 years after this. Extra on that later, however till then, it’s time we are saying goodbye to Acclaim’s seemingly infinite run of mostly-not-great Simpsons video video games and kick the license over to a bunch of latest publishers. Thank to your service Acclaim, it’s possible you’ll go away now.

The Simpsons Cartoon Studio (1996)

Watching Simpsons cartoons is nice, however have you ever ever needed to make your personal? Seems it’s actually laborious however nonetheless very humorous when you received foolish, inventive, or bizarre sufficient with it, which was just about a given in The Simpsons Cartoon Studio for PC and Mac. Sizzling off the heels of “construct your personal cartoon” applications like Spider-Man Cartoon Maker and Felix the Cat’s Cartoon Toolbox, The Simpsons Cartoon Studio allows you to layer tons of various characters, results, and sounds over varied Simpsons settings to create hilarious and surrealist quick movies. It’s not likely a “sport” in that it doesn’t have an outlined ending or scoring system, since inventive expression is the entire level, but it surely nonetheless manages to yield some very enjoyable and silly outcomes. Additionally, I’m utterly satisfied that a number of film administrators working as we speak lower their tooth by modifying quick movies in these ’90s PC animation applications based mostly on kids’s cartoons. Simply my principle, although. I’ve no proof.

The Simpsons: Digital Springfield (1997)

The yr is 1997 and whereas The Simpsons grip on popular culture is beginning to loosen, pleasure over the nebulous idea of all issues “digital” continued to climb, giving us the best-looking Simpsons sport that had been launched up till that point. Digital Springfield determined to make the Simpsons residence city the principle character, permitting gamers to discover it via a tool the sport calls a “Digital Actuality Viewthingy,” which permits a first-person view of varied Simpsons characters, settings, and gags, just by pointing and clicking round.

However by far the best factor that Digital Springfield gave the world is the promotional contest tied to it, the place one fortunate winner would turn into the proprietor of a real-life recreation of The Simpsons home inbuilt Henderson, Nevada. Not solely did they really construct the enduring home inside and outside, however the contest winner refused the prize, accepting money as a substitute, and the native HOA hated its vibrant colours and decorations for trying misplaced within the neighborhood, so it received stripped of all its Simpsons appeal and repainted to a way more muted beiges and browns, none of which has stopped diehard Simpsons followers from touring from all over the world to go to it to at the present time. That story utterly blew my thoughts, so thanks to Digital Springfield and the adjoining Simpsons contests occurring that yr for bringing all of it to life.

The Simpsons Bowling (2000)

Welcome to the yr 2000! You efficiently survived the Y2K bug hysteria and your reward is a trackball arcade bowling sport starring The Simpsons. It’s a bit odd that it took 9 years of Simpsons video video games to get one based mostly on bowling, contemplating how a lot of a presence bowling has the present (in Homer’s life, particularly, a lot to Marge’s chagrin.) And whereas seeing low-poly 3D modeled Simpsons characters is barely disturbing, the sport itself is enjoyable sufficient. Like the unique Konami Simpsons Arcade Sport, The Simpsons Bowling lives on within the recreated 1-Up Arcade Simpsons cupboard (which I’m as soon as once more making an attempt to speak myself out of shopping for) so when you’re keen to trace one down or get fortunate sufficient to search out one within the sport room of an actual bowling alley on the market, you possibly can expertise it yet again.

The Simpsons Wrestling (2001)

Lastly, PlayStation house owners get their first Simpsons sport ever and it’s a… wrestling simulator? Uh, okay. If you happen to thought the 3D graphics in Simpsons Bowling have been jarring, get a take a look at this factor. Yikes. On the time, 3D wrestling video games like WWF Smackdown and No Mercy have been big hits, whereas Simpsons reputation and common episode high quality positively began to dip a bit, so The Simpsons Wrestling might have been some form of hail mary hopeful state of affairs for the franchise. Gamers and critics alike virtually universally hated it, with IGN calling it “probably the most horrific demolition of a license ever.” However hey, you get to punch Flanders within the face, so at the very least Homer in all probability liked it.

The Simpsons: Night time of the Residing Treehouse of Horror (2001)

Oh, you thought we have been achieved with Sport Boy Simpsons video games developed by a online game writer that when filed for chapter 11 chapter, solely to return years later when their firm emblems have been bought and repurposed by funding teams? Properly, THQ says “Maintain my Duff Beer.” The Simpsons: Night time of the Residing Treehouse of Horror is a Sport Boy Colour motion platformer impressed by The Simpsons’ custom of annual spooky Halloween time episodes, and one way or the other it’s really a reasonably enjoyable sport and strong proof that The Simpsons labored higher as pixel artwork within the early 2000s. And hey, you possibly can even play as robotic Homer as a nod to the Simpsons 1991 Frankenstein meets Wizard of Oz parody “If I Solely Had a Mind.”

The Simpsons Highway Rage (2001)

Lastly, a Simpsons driving simulator, or “What in the event that they made a complete online game of that half in The Simpsons present intro the place Homer drives recklessly round Springfield?” The Simpsons Highway Rage is mainly The Simpsons meets Loopy Taxi, a comparability that Sega discovered so hanging that it really sued EA and FOX over it earlier than settling out of court docket. Developer Radical Leisure would go on to make a significantly better sport the place you wreak havoc and destruction round Springfield just a few years later, however when you may push previous the frequent loading screens and unreliable hit detection, The Simpsons Highway Rage was first rate sufficient enjoyable on the time.

The Simpsons Skateboarding (2002)

As soon as once more a bit behind the occasions on online game development chasing, The Simpsons Skateboarding in 2002 tried to tackle the 4 Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater video games that had already been launched on the time (the fourth only a month earlier) and sadly, it was no contest. Regardless of having 9 playable characters and first rate sufficient visuals, the gameplay was atrocious and The Simpsons sound bytes being performed on repeat a whole bunch of occasions per stage have been maddening sufficient to make you need to break a skateboard in half.

However don’t fear, issues are about to get a complete lot higher.

The Simpsons: Hit and Run (2003)

The yr was 2003, and when you have been taking part in video video games on the time you may not have realized it however you have been about to get what’s arguably the best Simpsons sport of all time. Across the identical time, the Grand Theft Auto franchise was firing on all cylinders between GTA: Vice Metropolis and the quickly to be launched GTA: San Andreas, so the creators of The Simpsons Highway Rage determined to broaden lots of the foundations that they had beforehand constructed and created The Simpsons: Hit & Run. A GTA impressed open-world Simpsons sport, Hit & Run allow you to steal automobiles, trigger chaos, and discover Springfield to unlock collectibles and meet and/or beat your entire favourite Simpsons characters. This mix of GTA and the Simpsons went collectively like peanut butter and chocolate, and whereas it completely sucks {that a} sequel was pitched, deliberate, after which finally canceled, Hit and Run completely holds up as we speak and has a passionate and devoted speedrunning group collaborating to complete it as quick as humanly potential again and again.

The Simpsons: Minutes to Meltdown (2007)

When The Simpsons Film arrived in theaters in 2007, Digital Arts printed a pair of video games to experience off of the hopeful success of the movie, banking on nostalgia from longtime followers and newcomers alike. The primary Simpsons Film tie-in sport was Minutes to Meltdown, a top-down cell sport performed in 30 minute periods, the identical size of time it takes to observe an episode of The Simpsons with commercials. The artwork model is nice, trying like a long-lost isometric Sega Genesis Simpsons sport, as soon as once more proving that The Simpsons usually works properly in pixel artwork. However with solely three ranges and a few very fundamental puzzles, most followers bounced off this one fairly shortly. Both approach, Minutes to Meltdown is formally within the abandonware class, as you possibly can now not legally buy it or play it. However hey, at the very least now you recognize it as soon as existed.

The Simpsons Sport (2007)

In the meantime, The Simpsons Sport was a a lot greater and extra formidable swing, launching on almost each console and handheld in 2007 and giving The Simpsons an enormous, enjoyable motion platformer to coincide with the discharge of the movie. The sport is damaged up into 16 episodes, with every member of the family showing as a playable character and a particular set of objectives. The writing was unbelievable and humorous due to the direct contributions of The Simpsons writing employees, the cel shaded polygonal artwork model was an ideal match, and every stage was filled with tons of nods to gaming, like references to Grand Theft Auto, The Sims creator Will Wright, Frogger, Area Invaders, and extra. Sadly the digital camera was a bit laborious to regulate and the general sport size left a lot to be desired. A sequel was initially deliberate however finally scrapped, so right here’s hoping we see one thing new when the second Simpsons film comes out in 2027, 20 years after the discharge of the primary movie.

The Simpsons: Itchy & Scratchy Land (2009)

A yr later, EA Video games printed one other isometric pixel artwork Simpsons sport for cell phones known as Itchy & Scratchy Land, which regardless of its title, doesn’t really allow you to play as Itchy or Scratchy. As an alternative, the Simpsons household does their greatest to outlive their native theme park, which is now overrun with lethal Itchy & Scratchy robots together with a plethora of traps and hazards designed to kill them. Whereas managing to be a bit deeper than EA’s earlier Simpsons cell sport, it’s nonetheless a reasonably simplistic providing that you can also’t obtain in your cellphone lately since assist for it ended way back.

The Simpsons Arcade (2009)

Keep in mind the 1991 Simpsons Arcade sport I praised close to the beginning of this listing? Properly, in 2009 EA made a cell unique tribute to it, or actually, a religious successor that was lacking a lot of spirit. EA’s tackle The Simpsons Arcade was nonetheless a side-scrolling beat ‘em up the place gamers pulverized varied goons and Simpsons characters throughout Springfield, however with no native multiplayer and solely Homer featured as a playable character, it missed out on a lot of what made the unique so enjoyable. Nonetheless, since Konami had by no means (and nonetheless hasn’t) ported the unique arcade sport to cell, it was enjoyable having a brand new tackle it on the go, even when it wasn’t almost as nice.

The Simpsons: Tapped Out (2012)

As you’ve seen by now, quite a few Simpsons video games allow you to discover Springfield, however The Simpsons: Tapped Out allow you to design and construct it your self to your personal liking, and the outcomes have been shockingly enjoyable for a cell sport, even when it was sometimes suffering from the same old microtransaction nonsense. Checking in day by day to unlock new constructing, reorganize your city structure, and undergo your massive pile of Simpsons villager requests was an obsession of mine whereas ready for a bus or practice to reach on my morning commute, a lot in order that I as soon as found out tips on how to construct gigantic 8-bit Nintendo sprites of Tremendous Mario and the Legend of Zelda’s Hyperlink made totally out of Simpsons washing machines, bushes, and mailboxes. Sadly after 12 years of regular updates and content material drops, the sport’s assist formally ended just lately and it’s since been delisted from cell shops, that means it is a bit difficult if you wish to try to play it for the primary time this yr. However man, when it was at its greatest it was actually cool to hold round my very own private model of Springfield in my pocket.

LEGO Dimensions (2015)

Between amiibo, Skylanders, and extra, the “toys-to-life” style of actual life bodily collectibles you could possibly scan into digital video games have been all of the craze in 2015, and LEGO determined to get in on it huge time. LEGO Dimensions performed like your typical LEGO sport on the time, combining co-op motion platforming and lightweight puzzles, however as a substitute of specializing in one franchise they determined to mix tons of them, together with the Ghostbusters, DC Comics, The Goonies, Beetlejuice, and naturally, The Simpsons.

Actual life LEGO units corresponding to every franchise might be bought, constructed, and scanned into the sport to unlock in-game characters and rewards, giving us a trio of Simpsons “enjoyable packs” that includes Homer, Bart, and Krusty. You in all probability already guessed, however this meant absolute hell for each collectors and anybody making an attempt to 100% the sport because it required the acquisition of tons of various LEGO units to finish all of it. By 2017 the toys to life style was utterly oversaturated, gross sales fell quick for LEGO Dimensions, and future additions have been cancelled. Nonetheless, it’s fairly cool that that is the one Simpsons sport on this listing to offer us new toys to go along with it, and you’ll nonetheless repeatedly discover them for fairly low cost lately, in case you’ve at all times needed a tiny LEGO Homer automotive to place in your shelf.

And there you will have it, an entire historical past of each Simpsons online game up to now, spanning a number of many years, consoles, handhelds, PC, and extra. However with The Simpsons getting added to the immensely common multiplayer sport Fortnite, the present nonetheless ongoing with no plans to cease, and a Simpsons film sequel coming in 2027, I’ve a sense we’ll be getting new Simpsons video games for years to return. So what’s your favourite Simpsons sport of all time? Obtained a private reminiscence of getting a Simpsons sport and bringing it residence to play for the primary time? Tell us within the feedback beneath, and rank your favourite Simpsons sport within the tier listing beneath.