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FlatOut | |
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Developer(s) |
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Publisher(s) |
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Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Android, OS X, Linux, Meta Quest, PlayStation 5 |
First release | FlatOut November 5, 2004 |
Latest release | FlatOut 4: Total Insanity March 17, 2017 |
FlatOut is a series of action demolition derby/racing video games created by Finnish independent video game developer Bugbear Entertainment. [1] The FlatOut series has sold a total of almost 3 million units worldwide. After Bugbear developed FlatOut: Head On, Dutch video game developer Team6 Game Studios developed the next three games in the series, which are the Windows-exclusive FlatOut 3 and two spin-offs on Wii and Android. Kylotonn developed the series' fourth installment, FlatOut 4: Total Insanity , which was released on March 17, 2017 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in Europe and May 2 in the United States. In 2024, Flat2VR Studios announced a remake of FlatOut (2004) for Meta Quest, PSVR2, and SteamVR. [2]
The series has received both critical acclaim during Bugbear's development [3] and notable negative reception after the bankruptcy of Empire Interactive and ownership change to Team6 [4] [5] with most notably FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction being considered one of the worst video games of all time [6] and FlatOut 2 being considered the best in the series. [7] It was called a welcome addendum to the derby-racing genre at first but eventually died out due to a lack of critical reception alongside constant developer and publisher changes. [8] Original developer Bugbear have since released Wreckfest (2017), which is considered a spiritual successor to the FlatOut series.
Title | Year released | Platforms |
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FlatOut | 2004 | Windows, PS2, Xbox |
FlatOut 2 | 2006 | Windows, PS2, Xbox |
FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage | 2007 | X360, Windows |
FlatOut: Head On | 2008 | PSP |
FlatOut | 2010 | Wii |
FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction | 2011 | Windows |
FlatOut Stuntman | 2013 | Android |
FlatOut 4: Total Insanity | 2017 | PS4, Xbox One, Windows |
FlatOut VR | TBA | Meta Quest, PS5, SteamVR |
FlatOut's gameplay style remained mostly consistent over the years, so much so that it was criticized for being stagnant and repetitive. [9] The first game featured standard lap races and destruction derby competitions against 7 computer-controlled opponents in either open environments or stadium laps. It was notable for featuring excessive car damage, silly physics and fun gameplay [10] and FlatOut 2 was praised for evolving the gameplay of the first game and having better races, vehicles, graphics and controls. [11] It received an enhanced version on Xbox 360 called FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage, which also received a port to the PlayStation Portable called FlatOut: Head On.
After FlatOut 2 , the developers behind the series, Bugbear Entertainment, left the series and Dutch Team6 Game Studios took over the franchise for the next three entries and Kylotonn developed FlatOut 4: Total Insanity , the latest game in the series. However, future games didn't exceed FlatOut 2 's critical reception, with FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction being considered one of the worst games ever made, [12] FlatOut for the Wii being considered "awful" by Nintendo Gamer [13] and FlatOut 4: Total Insanity receiving middling reviews. [14] An iOS rag doll spin-off titled FlatOut Stuntman was developed and published by Team6 Game Studios in 2013.