Whenever people talk about classic games that need a comeback, The Simpsons Hit & Run is always near the top of the list. It's a beloved classic, and while I think a like-for-like remake wouldn't quite hold up today (it was a little short and very janky by modern standards), I'm amazed EA has refused to channel The Simpsons' enduring popularity, and the cult classic status of their games, into something new.
In 2022, the most watched thing on Disney Plus was The Simpsons. While it did drop a new season (and contrary to popular belief, despite a wobble in the late 20something seasons, the show is a solid watch once more), most of these viewing figures come from reruns. While that might suggest a new venture is risky when people just want the comfort of what they know, it also suggests that the nostalgia of The Simpsons is more powerful than the promotional power of Marvel and Star Wars. This is a force to be reckoned with, and gaming should be an outlet for that.
The Simpsons last had a video game with the creatively titled The Simpsons Game back in 2007, which was thoroughly okay. Not Hit & Run, but few games are. It was goofy and silly and better than both Futurama's and Family Guy's (multiverse fuelled) attempts at the same thing, although in fairness Futurama's game did pre-date their yellow cousins'. A pseudo-open world game where you wandered around Springfield and completed tasks, it was a solid (if low budget) attempt at bringing Springfield to life.
When it comes to The Simpsons games, 'thoroughly okay' is not to be sniffed at. I played The Simpsons Skateboarding and The Simpsons Wrestling too, so I know what true pain is. As a lifelong Simpsons die-hard, I would play anything with The Simpsons in it, but I understand it doesn't have the best track record. However, there's so much creativity in the world of the show, so many classic characters, and a lot of directions you can spin it in. The problem is The Simpsons games have historically been basic gameplay archetypes with The Simpsons thrown on top. That's true for Skateboarding and Wrestling, but it's also true of Hit & Run.
The next Simpsons game doesn't need to be a rugged, God of War or The Last of Us-style story driven and dark adventure game, but there is a lot of potential in starting with The Simpsons and building from there. Maybe it's a journey through different Treehouse segments, with a range of open zone levels with collectibles and challenges like Spyro, Jak, or Psychonauts. Maybe there's a high concept tying it all together - The Simpsons Ride imagines Sideshow Bob taking over Krustyland and turning it into a death trap, and there's a lot of mileage in a Sideshow Bob story. Maybe it's more of a puzzle adventure game. Maybe they just do The Simpsons Game again, but better. Just do something.
While I don't think a Hit & Run remake would be as warmly received on its own as we imagine it, I'd take a collection of the biggest hits. Hit & Run, Road Rage, and maybe Arcade if The Simpsons Game is deemed a poor fit for that sort of classics collection. This feels like leaving money on the table, but at the same time, EA will be very pleased with the money The Simpsons gaming division brings in thanks to Tapped Out, a freemium city builder that has been running for 11 years and rakes in easy cash. Tapped Out is cheap and has a high profit margin, where even a double-A attempt to bring Springfield to life would be costly and risky.
The Simpsons viewing figures on Disney Plus have proven that it is an enduring love, and I'd like to think a game would too if given a chance. Just please, ignore everybody else. Don't give us a Hit & Run remake, that would doom Simpsons games for all eternity.