Crumple Zone

About

Crumple Zone is a single player and multiplayer arcade racing game. It was developed by OutOfTune and was released on May 31, 2019. It received positive reviews from players.

Old School Arcade Crash Racing! Inspired by the countless metal-bending games of the 90s and 2000s, Crumple Zone brings back the simple, colorful and timeless fun of ridiculous car-smashing. It's All About Destruction! You're a bad driver? Great! Crumple Zone is not about racing fast - score high by driving absolutely reckless. Car Customization! Beat highscores in the arcade mode to unlock new …

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86%Audience ScoreBased on 58 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Captures the nostalgic feel and chaotic fun of classic 90s Destruction Derby games with satisfying arcade-style physics and engaging vehicular combat.
Local split-screen multiplayer provides enjoyable co-op play; active and devoted developer continues to update and support the game.
Simple, accessible gameplay with well-implemented AI that offers a good balance between aggressive and passive opponents, making races and derbies exciting.

Limited content with very few tracks and cars which all feel similar, leading to repetitive and shallow gameplay experiences.
Physics and vehicle handling can be inconsistent or janky, causing frustration in control and collision outcomes.
Lacks advanced damage modeling and visual feedback on vehicle damage, with a simplistic health bar reducing immersion and strategic depth.

music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The game's music features a retro 90s electronic and house style that fits well with the overall aesthetic, earning praise for its nostalgic and fitting soundtrack. However, some players find many tracks become background noise during gameplay, with menu music standing out as more appropriate and engaging. Overall, the music is appreciated but seen as somewhat repetitive or less dynamic in the midst of action.
- “A special thanks to whoever made the music. I'm not a big electro fan, but it was perfect for the game.”
- “The game features banging 90s dance music and has great unique characterized AI, similar to that of the old Destruction Derby games.”
- “The music and graphics are very '90s without looking too dated.”
- “However, I feel like many of the songs don't capture the chaotic nature of the game.”
- “The songs tend to only become 'background noise' as you continue to play more.”
- “The menu songs are much better, and more so fit the style and tone of the game.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The graphics are intentionally modest and somewhat bland, evoking a nostalgic 90s vibe without feeling overly dated. While not spectacular, they are a significant improvement over older games from that era and are well-optimized, featuring a clean, stylistically fitting UI. Overall, the visuals serve the game's vintage aesthetic effectively but offer limited customization beyond basic quality settings.
- “Crumple Zone takes me back to these days but with up-to-date (vintage) graphics.”
- “The music and graphics are very '90s without looking too dated.”
- “Directly made for PC using the Unity engine, Crumple Zone does a decent job in terms of graphics and optimization.”
- “The graphics are rather bland.”
- “Graphics are (intentionally) meh.”
- “In terms of graphics, you have only one quality setting for the bulk of the graphics, and a few other settings for motion blur, antialiasing, and ambient occlusion.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The gameplay is fun, arcadey, and accessible, combining elements of destruction derby with a unique twist focused on smashing rather than spinning cars. It features simple controls, a satisfying driving model, and an engaging storyline that adds depth to the experience. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable and often delivers surprising, exciting moments.
- “Gameplay and driving model are fun, arcadey, and forgiving when it needs to be.”
- “Especially if you are looking for destruction derby type gameplay and action, Crumple Zone is a fun, yet challenging experience.”
- “Great gameplay--many 'what!?' moments!”
- “This game very much takes stylistic inspiration from Destruction Derby, from the track designs to the wacky drivers (not a bad thing); however, gameplay-wise it is a totally different beast.”
- “Gameplay is a little different though, not based on spinning cars but rather smashing them.”
- “Punctured tires would add another dimension into the gameplay.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The story in this game is generally seen as simple and sometimes awkward or bland, lacking depth but adding a fun, cheesy context to the straightforward gameplay. While characters and renderings receive mixed feedback, the storyline provides enough engagement to enhance the overall experience, especially in the career mode and missions. The final story mission features a notably interesting arena, adding a memorable touch.
- “Would highly recommend this game for its fun story and local split screen with friends.”
- “There is a storyline that, while sometimes cheesy, adds to the enjoyment and builds some form of a world around the straightforward gameplay.”
- “This little game got me hooked the moment I knew I was playing a demolition derby game. I just had a blast going through the career and doing all the gold medal missions.”
- “The story is awkward and so are the renderings of the characters.”
- “Story is non-existent, characters are bland.”
- “No real in-depth story.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game is well-optimized for PC, running smoothly without needing to lower settings, and offers good compatibility with Xbox controllers. Overall, it delivers decent graphics performance thanks to its Unity engine foundation.
- “Directly made for PC using the Unity engine, Crumple Zone does a decent job in terms of graphics and optimization.”
- “Xbox controllers are picked up very well, and the game runs smoothly even without reducing settings.”
- “Optimization & PC settings: 7/10.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is often viewed as tedious and excessive, particularly outside of completing main campaign or arcade modes. Users also find certain repetitive tasks, like identifying damaged cars for sniping, frustrating due to lack of clear visual feedback. Overall, achievements are criticized for relying heavily on grinding.
- “Just grindy or outright bad, other than 'complete the campaign/arcade mode' ones.”
- “The achievements are mostly grinding.”
- “Sniping the last few cars gets tedious because wrecked cars are difficult to distinguish from live ones; it would have been nice to see them get totaled or set on fire.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, with players enjoying the playful, gimmicky damage mechanics and the cleverly placed sarcasm and jokes throughout the campaign and in-track advertisements.
- “I also love this game for the well-placed humor - or sarcasm - in the campaign mode and in the 'advertisements' along the track.”
- “What can I say, I love to destroy stuff and had so much fun with the driving model & physics and the way the damage works (kind of a funny, gimmicky way).”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game’s monetization is cleverly integrated with humorous, pop-culture-inspired trackside ads and AI driver references, enhancing the campaign mode with witty and sarcastic content rather than intrusive spending prompts.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users feel that for a game with a high price, it needs to offer significant replay value through engaging content or features to justify the cost. Without such effort, replayability may be limited.