Flatout 4: Total Insanity

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Flatout 4: Total Insanity is a single player open world racing game. It was developed by Kylotonn and was released on April 4, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and neutral reviews from players.

FlatOut 4: Total Insanity is a return to the franchise's adrenaline-pumping arcade destruction roots. Featuring an exciting blend of white-knuckle speed and wild out-of-control racing tracks, FlatOut 4 promises an intense death-defying demolition derby game featuring muscle cars, race cars, trucks and even a rocket boosted ice cream van!

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48%

Audience ScoreBased on 587 reviews

graphics48 positive mentions

stability15 negative mentions

Fun and chaotic arcade-style racing with destructible environments and explosive crashes.
Variety of game modes including traditional races, demolition derbies, and stunt events.
Good graphics for its time and an appropriate rock/metal soundtrack that complements the gameplay.

Car physics are inconsistent and often frustrating, with vehicles easily flipping or losing control on small bumps.
Repetitive tracks and grind-heavy career mode with limited vehicle variety and weak AI behavior.
Lack of some expected features like manual transmission, proper multiplayer population, and abandoned promised workshop support.

graphics
119 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
7%
The graphics in this 2017 game receive mixed responses; many praise its visual improvements over earlier series entries and find them decent or good for the time, highlighting lighting effects and track design, while others criticize outdated textures, blurry details, and lack of polish, especially compared to previous FlatOut titles. Overall, the visuals are seen as serviceable and sometimes impressive but not groundbreaking, with some users noting that graphics alone don't compensate for other gameplay shortcomings.
- “It's an old game but it still looks graphically stunning, and it's so much fun to play.”
- “The graphics are the best in the series, which goes without saying, as it is a PS4-gen game.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, I think it's the best part that the game has.”
- “Even the graphics are not that good either, considering it's a game from 2017.”
- “And the graphics... this does not look like a game that has been polished at all. In some levels, the reflections make it very difficult to see the racetrack and obstacles.”
- “Graphics are horrible; everything is in a haze and hard to see.”
music
111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
58%
9%
The game's soundtrack predominantly features rock, punk, and metal tracks that generally complement the high-energy racing and destructive gameplay, evoking a similar vibe to earlier FlatOut titles. However, many users find the music less memorable or engaging than previous installments, citing a lack of iconic licensed songs, repetitive and uneven track quality, and occasional poor integration with gameplay. While some appreciate the fit and enjoy the soundtrack, others feel it falls short and occasionally detracts from the overall experience.
- “Sound design further enhances impact: engines roar, collisions crunch with satisfying weight, debris scatters with metallic clatter, and music reinforces the high-energy tone.”
- “The soundtrack is made up of what I figure are mostly lesser-known punk / rock bands, but the music was by no means unenjoyable, and I thought it paired well and added to the overwhelming amount of action that was taking place in each race.”
- “They nailed the vibe just right with this one, too. The graphics, the UI, and the licensed music (not generic electronica) really take it back to the atmosphere Flatout got right in the first place.”
- “Bad physics, repetitive tracks, weak career mode, collisions that lack impact, and a disappointing soundtrack.”
- “Doesn't look great for its age, controls feel bad, extremely arcadey, annoying music, impacts have no weight or feeling behind them.”
- “- soundtrack is very weak and repeatable, small number of tracks.”
- “Music is next or should I say sound in general. I just did a race and wondered why I was so unengaged halfway through. Come to find out it was because the entire time I was listening to the same exact engine sound droning with a very noticeable lack of music, so I through trial and error found out that by muting the car engine noise not only did the game get even more boring but I could also just barely hear the music.”
- “The music, after FlatOut 2 which basically defined my tastes for next 5 years and Focus which, while not as impactful, still added a few bands to my notice list, is uninspired and lame.”
- “- other half of the soundtrack is horrible.”
gameplay
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
62%
11%
Gameplay in this title is a mixed bag: while it shows clear improvements over its troubled predecessor and retains some of the franchise’s core fast-paced, destruction-focused racing mechanics, many reviewers criticize its driving physics as imprecise and frustrating, with overly aggressive AI and chaotic track designs. Some enjoy the addition of weapons and varied modes, but the gameplay often feels dull, unpolished, and inferior to earlier series entries, leaving fans divided. Overall, the game has potential but requires significant refinement to satisfy longtime fans of the series.
- “After the mess that is FlatOut 3, this game is a massive step in the right direction and it shows in the gameplay, visuals, physics, and the fact that FlatOut 4 is not a buggy mess.”
- “FlatOut 4 is a much improved FlatOut game since FlatOut 3, the devs have gone back to the Bugbear roots with similar gamestyle and gameplay, some more innovative ideas could be used to improve, but it's an overall enjoyable and good game.”
- “Nitro'ing out of a corner is both satisfying and a useful gameplay tactic to earn an advantage when you would otherwise crash.”
- “This game is awful, and has nothing to do with the original games beyond its name and a half-assed attempt to feign the gameplay and physics.”
- “Terrible driving mechanics (car feels like it's on ice 24/7). The AI are so overly aggressive with no way to turn it down, and hitting them is like hitting a 10 foot brick wall with a blowup toy, whereas them hitting you is like getting hit by a freight train.”
- “The controls are terrible, it feels like I am driving a potato. The focus point of the game is the destruction and the collisions between cars, but they are terrible too. When someone hits your car, you completely get out of the road and you totally lose your position, reaching the point of causing rage and, with some more minutes of gameplay, the point of boredom. Never buy this.”
optimization
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
48%
26%
Optimization for the game is generally mixed to poor, with many users reporting inconsistent frame rates, stuttering, and performance drops despite having capable hardware. While some find the optimization acceptable or fine, a significant number describe it as poorly optimized with issues like visual pop-in, physics glitches, and performance hitches that hinder smooth gameplay. Overall, the game runs best on higher-end PCs or with reduced settings on older hardware, and many recommend purchasing only when discounted due to these optimization shortcomings.
- “Game performance is great.”
- “It's nicely optimized.”
- “Controls feel responsive, graphics and performance are pretty good and all the classic game modes are there along with a few new ones.”
- “The game's performance is rather pathetic, as a GTX 1070 can only get about 120 fps at 1080p. While the 1070 is older, the game was released around the same time and doesn't look anything special.”
- “The fps holds up okay for the most part, but there are frequent hitches and a ton of stuttering regardless of visual settings used.”
- “The game is poorly optimized, with some players reporting stuttering, visual pop-in, and occasional physics glitches.”
stability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
88%
The game's stability is mixed, with many players reporting frequent physics glitches, buggy collisions, and occasional visual issues like stuttering and pop-in, which can impact gameplay enjoyment and force conservative driving. However, some note improvements over previous entries, with generally acceptable optimization and no major crashes on decent hardware. Overall, while the physics and bug problems detract from the experience, the game still provides fun arcade-style driving for many players.
- “Minus the complaints, I do still have fun with the game, and it runs great on a GTX 1070 at 1440p, with no game crashes, just lots of car crashes.”
- “The most important problem that throws this game from solid mediocre down to borderline terrible - physics is very inconsistent and just buggy as hell.”
- “All these bugs and random physics glitches will force you to drive more and more conservatively, because the risk-to-reward ratio is just not in your favor.”
- “Let's face it… this game is horrendously buggy, especially in terms of physics.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
65%
21%
The story aspect is generally seen as lacking or nonexistent, with no meaningful background or engaging narrative for the protagonist. Some users find the missions repetitive and uninspired, while others acknowledge the game as a decent franchise revival despite these story shortcomings.
- “A respectable franchise rescue mission but one that still needs some fine tuning and some extra grunt.”
- “Flatout 4: Total Insanity is a respectable franchise rescue mission but it needs some fine tuning and some extra grunt.”
- “Makes no sense since there is no story or background behind the protagonist at all, and in fact, one of the rival drivers looks exactly the same.”
- “The first few missions really put me off the game.”
- “But it's the same story all over again...”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its silly, physics-driven antics and exaggerated destruction, which many players find amusing and entertaining. While some appreciate the lighthearted and funny moments, others feel the comedic elements are unintentional or fall flat due to repetitive or lackluster AI and gameplay. Overall, the game’s quirky physics and chaotic events provide a generally humorous and enjoyable experience for those who embrace its wackiness.
- “These events remain silly, physics-driven palate cleansers that reward finesse differently than racing does, proving that FlatOut’s sense of humor is still intact.”
- “I am only giving it a positive review because of how funny the physics are.”
- “We only played for 2 hours with some race and derby games and have been laughing and smiling teeth to teeth constantly.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
Grinding in the game is often seen as tedious and time-consuming, with minimal rewards that make progression feel unrewarding. Players report that prolonged grinding is required to unlock meaningful content, and some gameplay elements, like collisions during races, add to the frustration.
- “The rewards are small and make grinding each derby tedious and boring just so you can buy a new car that doesn't fare any better than the last one because of the atrocious physics.”
- “Requires grinding long hours to unlock real content.”
- “Career can be grindy at times.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development in the game is widely criticized, with users highlighting poor character designs and expressing strong dissatisfaction with the overall quality and lack of authenticity.
- “Quite bad, terrible physics, bad car and character designs.”
- “The only thing that pisses me off about this game other than the lies about featuring assets from previous FlatOut games is the horrible, horrible character designs.”
- “Character design.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization is widely criticized as exploitative and overly aggressive, with users viewing it as a blatant cash grab despite the game's appealing advertisements.
- “A piece of trash cash grab, don't buy unless you are a masochist.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game’s limited vehicle personalization restricts players' emotional connection, making it harder to develop a deeper attachment to their garage.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers strong replayability through its score and time attack modes, encouraging players to improve their performance and compete for better results.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is praised for perfectly capturing the original game's vibe through its detailed graphics, user interface, and carefully selected licensed music, avoiding generic choices to enhance immersion.
- “They nailed the vibe just right with this one, too. The graphics, the UI, and the licensed music (not generic electronica) really take it back to the atmosphere FlatOut got right in the first place.”

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66%Critics’ scoreBased on 19 critic reviews

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7h Median play time

7h Average play time

5-14h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Flatout 4: Total Insanity is a open world racing game.

Flatout 4: Total Insanity is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 7 hours playing Flatout 4: Total Insanity.

Flatout 4: Total Insanity was released on April 4, 2017.

Flatout 4: Total Insanity was developed by Kylotonn.

Flatout 4: Total Insanity has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its optimization.

Flatout 4: Total Insanity is a single player game with local co-op support.

Similar games include TRAIL OUT, FlatOut, FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction, FlatOut 2, DIRT 5 and others.

Flatout 4: Total Insanity

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