FlatOut

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FlatOut is a simulation game that offers single-player and multiplayer modes, supporting up to 8 players in local multi-player. The game boasts impressive graphics, physics, and damage modeling, along with 16 upgradeable cars and 48 tracks. Its open environments allow for taking shortcuts, and it includes wacky mini-games featuring ragdoll physics and humor.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,286 reviews

music79 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

The game features impressive destruction physics and ragdoll mechanics, making crashes entertaining and satisfying.
Despite its age, the graphics hold up well, and the game runs smoothly on modern systems.
The gameplay is fun and challenging, with a variety of tracks and vehicles that encourage exploration and experimentation.

The car handling can be frustratingly slippery, making it difficult to navigate tight turns without crashing.
The AI can be overly aggressive, often leading to unfair situations where players are knocked out of races.
The game lacks a robust multiplayer experience, with no online support and limited local options.

music
187 mentions
42 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the energetic rock and punk soundtrack that enhances the racing experience. However, some users noted that the limited track selection and repetitive nature of the songs can detract from the overall enjoyment, as players often find themselves listening to the same song multiple times during races. While the soundtrack fits the game's chaotic atmosphere, opinions vary on its quality, with some praising it as nostalgic and fitting, while others criticize it as forgettable or subpar.
- “The soundtrack consists of grunge, garage rock, and punk rock, which emphasizes the racing dynamics and keeps players energized.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing, the car physics are different which I enjoy; other racing games typically don’t have the same mechanics.”
- “A fun crash-em-up with a great soundtrack backing up the mayhem!”
- “I was excited to relive childhood nostalgia with this one, but what I got were slippery tracks and an annoying soundtrack.”
- “The music is repetitive rock; some of it sounds like boy bands, and all the music tracks I heard I didn't know one.”
- “The soundtrack is just trash, unlike the other games.”
graphics
112 mentions
35 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of this game, released in 2004, have aged surprisingly well, with many reviewers noting that they still hold up decently compared to modern standards. While some aspects appear dated, the overall aesthetic, car models, and environments are praised for their detail and charm, especially for the era. Additionally, players with NVIDIA RTX cards can enhance their experience with ray tracing, further improving the visual quality.
- “The graphics are good for its days, but there's a bonus treat for those with NVIDIA RTX cards... there's an RTX remix config available for FlatOut that adds ray tracing to the graphics.”
- “Despite the fact that the game was released quite a long time ago, it does not cease to amaze with its graphics and physics to this day.”
- “The graphics, though showing signs of aging, still hold up well, especially considering the game's release date.”
- “The graphics are kinda dated.”
- “The graphics are obviously dated as all hell, don't expect a lot in that regard.”
- “This game sucks and is not worth buying, it has crappy 1980's graphics and very few levels.”
gameplay
94 mentions
43 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of FlatOut is widely praised for its fun, chaotic racing mechanics and innovative physics, which have aged surprisingly well over the years. While some players note frustrations with certain mechanics and AI, the overall experience is characterized by enjoyable destruction, a variety of tracks, and a light-hearted atmosphere that makes it a standout in the arcade racing genre. Despite its age, many reviewers believe it still offers a more engaging experience than many modern racing titles.
- “The physics and gameplay of this original FlatOut are unsurpassed by any successor since-- until Wreckfest.”
- “Its innovative gameplay is what made the franchise popular; this was the first combat racing game for many gamers back in the day.”
- “An arcade racer at its core, FlatOut offers fast-paced, crash-riddled gameplay showcasing a fantastic physics and deformation engine all the way from 2004, great track variety including racetrack, farmland/town, snow, forest, and mine sites, and a great underrated soundtrack which is very dated but fitting to the racing and destruction.”
- “I am sure there is some flat-out pro out there who will say that I simply need to 'get good' at the game, but for such a simple game, I expected to be able to enjoy it casually, without having to worry too much about its outdated mechanics and physics.”
- “The graphics are fine, but the gameplay is horrendous, not acceptable for today's standards.”
- “The merely mediocre artificial intelligence and the repetitive driver-launching mechanic are probably going to annoy the hell out of some people.”
humor
33 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is primarily derived from its absurd ragdoll physics and the comedic ejection of drivers during crashes, which players find consistently entertaining. The juxtaposition of a serious racing aesthetic with chaotic destruction and funny mini-games, like launching drivers for long jumps, adds to the overall comedic experience. While some mechanics can be frustrating, the game's ability to evoke laughter through ridiculous scenarios and interactions makes it a standout in the racing genre.
- “It's kinda funny because the overall aesthetic of the cars and tracks gives the impression of an official championship, except that drivers are allowed to destroy each other's cars.”
- “What makes these games so entertaining is the ridiculous ragdoll physics Bugbear has given your drivers, making them contort in horrifically hilarious ways that never fail to make you cringe, even if just a bit.”
- “Along with your standard racing, FlatOut goes a step further and gives you semi-fully destructible vehicles as well as often hilarious bonus activities, such as throwing your character at a dartboard or bowling with the top of his skull.”
optimization
21 mentions
24 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received positive feedback, with many users noting that it runs flawlessly and is well-suited for modern hardware, achieving smooth performance even at high settings. The recent reboot has further enhanced its optimization, addressing past issues and ensuring that the car damage mechanics realistically impact performance. However, some players have reported minor control issues and a lack of depth in the upgrade system.
- “Now 17 years later, the game got its deserved reboot update and fixed and optimized the game to today's standards.”
- “The game ran perfectly and it’s incredibly well optimized!”
- “There's no optimization issues for modern hardware either, as I was able to run it at a perfect 60 fps with everything on max at 1080p.”
- “The whole idea is to crash into things to get more money, but cars in the game are so fragile that you end up having to avoid obstacles more often than not because damaging a car enough will reduce its performance and cause misalignment, steering problems, and other issues.”
- “The only stat shown for each car is horsepower; to compare any other aspect of performance, you have to drive them in quick race, and it's not always clear in career mode what buying a certain upgrade will do for you.”
- “However, while the game does allow you to do some modifications that some other developers who aren't really into cars would never think of implementing, such as upgrading the exhaust for actual performance purposes rather than cosmetic, or the engine's flywheel to make it linger at high revs for longer, generally there's no real depth to the whole upgrade system.”
story
21 mentions
14 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal, primarily consisting of simple tournaments without complex narratives or additional missions, allowing it to focus on racing mechanics. Many reviews highlight the lack of a substantial storyline, with some players appreciating the straightforward approach while others express a desire for more engaging content. Overall, the consensus is that the game prioritizes racing over storytelling, resulting in a limited narrative experience.
- “The story had me never wanting to stop playing, for fear that I would die before I found out the twist.”
- “A pretty decent game with a really fun story mode.”
- “That's just one story of many cool things that may happen in this game.”
- “The absence of complex storylines and additional missions keeps the game focused on its core element — racing.”
- “The story is just a simple few tournaments to complete.”
- “This game type is only based on racing in career mode, so it doesn't have a story.”
stability
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
-10 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly related to controller support and the physics engine. While it runs well on modern systems, the dated graphics and persistent issues detract from the overall experience, leading to a consensus that it can be frustrating despite its enjoyable gameplay.
- “This game runs great out of the box on Proton with controller support.”
- “It runs smoothly on modern systems.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive, providing a seamless experience.”
- “Controller support for the menu is so weird and buggy.”
- “Be ready for 2005 graphics and a buggy physics engine.”
- “Disappointing, buggy and all in all underwhelming - avoid.”
grinding
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and often boring, with some suggesting it requires excessive time investment to unlock upgrades and tracks. While the races can be challenging, many feel that grinding through easier tracks is necessary to progress effectively.
- “Controlling the car off-road is too tedious.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Just kind of boring and grindy.”
emotional
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, often feeling nostalgic and moved by its soundtracks and visuals, which can evoke tears even in adulthood. However, frustrations with gameplay mechanics, such as rubber banding and problematic respawn points, detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed feelings about the game's design.
- “Now I am already an adult uncle, but when I heard the soundtracks and saw the picture, I shed a tear.”
replayability
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while hotseat mode enhances enjoyment and offers hours of fun with friends, some users find the replay value lacking, rating it as low as 2.5/10. For fans of the racing genre, it may provide 20-40 hours of gameplay, but others may feel it lacks sufficient content to warrant repeated play.
- “Hotseat really adds to the game's replayability and has hours of fun, especially when playing with others.”
- “Content/replayability: 2.5/10”
- “🔲 404 - replayability not found”
- “Replayability: 20-40 hours if this is your kind of racing genre.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a vibrant art style and imaginative environments, enhanced by a high-energy soundtrack that blends rock and alternative music. Players appreciate the beautiful visuals, including stunning sunsets and winter scenes, which contribute to an engaging and immersive experience that surpasses similar titles.
- “The soundtrack, featuring a mix of rock and alternative tunes, adds to the high-energy atmosphere, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “The beautiful atmosphere: the sunsets and the winter light which you can also find in FlatOut 2.”
- “Yup, it's more challenging than the arcade-like atmosphere suggests.”
- “But in terms of atmosphere, art style, imaginative alternate routes and shortcuts, speed boosts, and superior music, this surpasses Wreckfest.”
monetization
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its monetization model, as it features no microtransactions or downloadable content (DLC) that cuts out in-game content, and it does not include digital rights management (DRM), providing a straightforward and user-friendly experience.
- “No microtransactions, thank you!”
- “They didn't cut out in-game content and sell it as DLC; there are no microtransactions in-game and, most importantly, no DRM.”
- “The microtransaction and DLC policy is frustrating.”
- “There are no microtransactions in the game, which is a relief.”
- “It's great that they didn't cut out in-game content to sell as DLC.”