While other shows like American Dad and Family Guy have tried to reproduce the satirical comedy of The Simpsons, none have quite achieved the same level of relatable storytelling and cultural notoriety. Since it began airing in 1989, The Simpsons has pumped out several high-quality video games starring its iconic characters. And quite a few forgettable ones, of course. If you’re in love with this classic show and wonder what they have to offer when it comes to gaming, well you’ve come to the right place.
15. The Simpsons: Bartman Meets Radioactive Man (1992)
Released on NES / Game Gear The Simpsons have been active in the gaming industry for almost 30 years now. Developed by Imagineering, Bartman Meets Radioactive Man follows Bart after he’s summoned into the world of comic books by Fallout Boy, Radioactive Man’s sidekick. Under his guidance, Bartman will make his way through several platforming levels (boss fights included) to rescue his heroic idol.
14. The Simpsons: Bart vs. The World (1991)
Released on the NES / Amiga / Game Gear / Master System Also developed by Imagineering, Bart vs. The World came out a year before our previous entry. After winning the Round-the-World Scavenger Hunt, Bart and his family are set to travel the globe – except it’s all a ploy by Mr. Burns to rid himself of the troublesome Simpsons. Now, it’s up to Bart to conquer platforming levels set in China, Egypt, Hollywood, and even the North Pole to stop the evil millionaire and the rest of the Burns clan.
13. The Simpsons Wrestling (2001)
Released on PlayStation The next entry in our list is a bit of a divisive topic. While many Simpsons fans remember it fondly and look at it through nostalgia goggles, most critics consider it one of the worst games ever made. It has certain things in common with other wrestling games, but it’s more of a 3D beat-em-up. It features 20 iconic characters, each with their own set of special moves, who’ll duke it out in detailed 3D locations from the show. If you’re a big fan of The Simpsons and want to try a fighting game featuring all your favorite characters, this won’t disappoint.
12. The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Juggernauts (1992)
Released on Nintendo’s Game Boy Rewinding a couple of years we find Imagineering’s Bart vs. the Juggernauts, where Bart is once again the star. He competes in several physical challenges to earn some cash as part of an “American Gladiator” parody show. These include an obstacle course through Apu’s Kwik-E-Mart and a shoving match in Moe’s Tavern. Despite this early portable console’s technical limitations, the game has cute sprites and varied gameplay that’s sure to keep things interesting through the campaign.
11. The Simpsons Cartoon Studio (1996)
Released on MS Windows and Mac OS The mid-90s were ripe with unique computer programs that blurred the line between games and technical software. Among these was Fox Interactive’s The Simpsons Cartoon Studio, which lets users create rudimentary animations with voiced characters, sound effects, music, and backgrounds from their favorite animated sitcom. This was great for kids with a lot of pent-up creativity. And definitely a unique game to look into today, if you can get it running.
10. Lee Carvallo’s Putting Challenge (2020)
Released as a browser game The tenth spot on our ranking goes to Aaron Demeter’s labor of love – Lee Carvallo’s Putting Challenge. This funny little project is based on the 7th Season episode “Marge Not Be Proud”, where Bart is offered this dull game in place of the hyper-violent Bonestorm, which he’s not old enough to play. You and your Simpsons-obsessed friends can play this very elaborate joke on your browser, for free.
9. The Simpsons: Bart vs. The Space Mutants (1991)
Released on NES / Amiga / Atari ST / Commodore 64 Easily the best Simpsons game from the 8-bit era is Imagineering’s Bart vs. The Space Mutants, a challenging platformer that’ll put your skills to the test. After mysterious aliens infiltrate Springfield, it’s up to Bart and his X-Ray glasses to identify the impostors and convince the rest of the family to help him stop them from completing their “Ultimate Weapon”. Other than the challenging platforming, the bosses and the mini-games were also pretty entertaining. Considering this is the very first Simpsons home console game ever made, the quality and sheer fun factor are remarkable.
8. The Simpsons: Night of the Living Treehouse of Horror (2001)
Released on GBC One of the fanbase’s favorite parts about The Simpsons are the surreal Treehouse of Horror specials, which can be surprisingly unsettling. Software Creations developed this well-reviewed platformer, with seven side-scrolling levels where players take control of different members of the Simpsons family. While the game can get a tad repetitive toward the end, the first few levels are really unique. Each of them almost feels like a self-contained mini-game of sorts. And they’re all a blast to play.
7. The Simpsons: Virtual Springfield (1997)
Released on MS Windows and Mac OS Similar to The Simpsons Cartoon Studio, calling Virtual Springfield a “game” might be taking it a bit too far – but it’s still a total treat for any hardcore Simpsons fan. This interactive piece of software developed by Digital Evolution lets users walk around a detailed virtual representation of Springfield, meeting its inhabitants and laughing at their voice lines. The game’s goal is to collect a host of character cards, mostly an excuse to parade you through every inch of the town. There are also a couple of mini-games, which serve to keep things dynamic.
6. The Simpsons: Road Rage (2001)
Released on GCN / PS2 / Xbox Developed by Radical Entertainment, The Simpsons: Road Rage is one of the most memorable games in the series’ history – in part because it’s an unapologetic rip-off of Crazy Taxi. While this stunt earned publisher EA a lawsuit that they had to settle out of court, that doesn’t make the game any less fun. You play as homer driving his classic pink Plymouth Junkerolla, picking up characters from the show and driving recklessly to drop them off at their destination ASAP. As was often pointed out by critics, the controls and collision detection were kind of terrible, and the graphics weren’t impressive either – but it was fun, and we remember it fondly.
5. The Simpsons: Bart’s Nightmare (1992)
Released on SNES / SEGA Genesis One of the most thematically bizarre games in the Simpsons roster is Bart’s Nightmare, in which the titular rebellious kid must fight his way past strange enemies like flying TVs and living post boxes. Developed by Sculptured Software, the game will have you collecting pieces of Bart’s lost homework. In the process you’ll make your way through dangerous levels and play several mini-games – including one where you turn into Bartzilla and fight against Homer Kong. A lot of fun if you dig the old-school SNES graphics.
4. The Simpsons (Arcade Cabinet) (1991)
Released on arcades / Commodore 64 / MS-DOS Konami’s The Simpsons arcade cabinet was one of the most famous games featuring the iconic family. This beat-em-up remains one of the very best even after all these years. After a valuable diamond stolen by Mr. Burns ends up being used by Maggie as a pacifier, she’s kidnapped by Smithers. Now, it’s up to the remaining family members to fight their way through Mr. Burns’ minions and rescue the infant. Arcades and beat-em-ups go together like butter on bread, and The Simpsons’ chaotic personality was a surprisingly good fit for the genre.
3. The Simpsons: Tapped Out (2012)
Released on Android and iOS If you’re looking for something you can play right after you finish reading this ranking, The Simpsons: Tapped Out is the game you need to try. This freemium title will let you slowly re-build Springfield to your liking after Homer triggers a nuclear meltdown that destroys the original town. It’s regularly updated with new content and holiday events. And though pumping money into microtransactions might make it a tad more dynamic, you can have a lot of fun without spending a dime.
2. The Simpsons: Hit & Run (2003)
Released on GCN / PS2 / XBOX / PC Developed by Radical Entertainment, The Simpsons: Hit & Run is one of the most universally loved games starring our beloved suburban family. This GTA clone lets you play as Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart, and Apu, wreaking havoc all around Springfield as they try to stop aliens Kang and Kodos and their mysterious plot. Like in GTA, there’s a heavy emphasis on the driving and exploration aspects of the game. Simpsons H&R also includes some light RPG elements like a branching storyline and several side-quests. Between the excellent writing, gorgeous graphics, and engaging gameplay, it’s no wonder this game was such a hit.
1. The Simpsons Game (2007)
Released on PS3 / Xbox 360 After the titular family realizes they’re within a video game, it’s up to them to overcome several parody-themed challenges to rescue their 8-bit counterparts from being retired. While the gameplay is pretty good, what makes this game for me is the hilarious writing and 4th-wall breaking jokes about gaming culture, and references to The Simpsons as a show. Also the game has fantastic cel-shaded graphics, which is basically cheating in terms of visual appeal. But it really turned out nice here. It’s also a newer title so if you are more into modern games rather than retro ones, this is a title worth trying.
