The Simpsons have been dominating the silver screen since their debut way back in 1989, making it the l ongest-running American scripted prime-time television series. During the 90s, The Simpsons blossomed, becoming one of the most loved TV series and gaining a massive following.
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The Simpsons was developed into a multimedia franchise, spawning comic books, toys, a movie and, of course, video games. Some of these games were better received than others, with some clearly cheaply made to cash in on the brand. But there are a select few that are not just amazing Simpsons games but are regarded well as standalone video games.
Updated July 13, 2024, by Ben Painter: The Simpsons is entering its 36th season. Since its conception in 1989, it has spawned several different forms of media; comics, books, toys and video games. There aren't too many video games, with one not being released since Tapped Out on mobile in 2012. However, there are still a lot of Simpsons games for fans to enjoy and this updated article gives fans a better idea of the best The Simpsons games of all time, ranked from worst to best.
11 The Simpsons Wrestling
A Clunky But Fun Fighting Game
- Release Date: 2001
- Developers: Big Ape Productions
- Platform(s): PlayStation
- Genre: Sports
- Metacritic Rating: 32
The popularity of The Simpsons and WWE were intertwined with both blooming in the 90s and early 00s, so it made perfect sense that the yellow family would crossover into the combat world with The Simpsons Wrestling.
Although it was fun to see the 20 playable Simpsons characters fight and perform their own moves and special moves, the game was bombed by critics. The graphics and gameplay were slated, the game was just a button masher. The Simpsons Wrestling was praised for its audio track and having an authentic voice cast. If gamers are looking for a wrestling game, they should look elsewhere, but for a nostalgic Simpsons experience, this game is perfect.
10 Krusty's Fun House
A Challenging Puzzle Game
- Release Date: 1992
- Developers: Audiogenic
- Platform(s): NES, SNES, Game Boy, Master System, Game Gear, Gensis, Amiga, MS-DOS
- Genre: Puzzle
The first The Simpsons game to not include a member of the family as the central character. With Krusty's Fun House, gamers take control of Krusty the Clown in this puzzle-based adventure.
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The objective of this one is to navigate through mazes to exterminate rats with characters from Krusty's in-game show and Bart and Homer serving as bosses on each level. The game was really well-received at its time of release in the 90s with fun and strategic levels. The game was known as Krusty's Super Fun House Super NES and the Mega Drive/Genesis to reflect the better graphics on those consoles and perhaps a little nod to a certain Italian plumber.
9 The Simpsons: Bart vs The Space Mutants
A 2-D Side-scroller Done Really Well
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- Release Date: 1991
- Developers: Imagineering, Arc Developments
- Platform(s): Nintendo Entertainment System, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Genesis, Master System, Game Gear
- Genre: Platform
The second ever The Simpsons game ever produced and the first on console, The Simpsons: Bart vs The Space Mutants is a 2D side-scrolling platformer. Gamers could play as Bart Simpson, as the Simpsons' son looks to stop aliens from taking over Springfield.
Playing very much like Super Mario, Bart must jump on the Alien's heads to defeat them, as he progresses through each level which increases in difficulty. The game is very much a challenge with aged controls, but it is still a fun experience, even in comparison to modern games. It is a solid entry in the franchise but there are some which play better.
7 The Simpsons: Virtual Springfield
A Unique Simpsons Game
- Release Date: 1997
- Developers: Digital Evolution
- Platform(s): Windows, Macintosh
- Genre: Adventure
The Simpsons: Virtual Springfield gives players the chance to explore Springfield in a 3-D world for the very first time. Using an in-game device called the Really Virtual Viewthingy, players can interact with their environment and solve puzzles to progress through the game. The overarching objective is to collect character cards in the town.
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Although the gameplay can get repetitive at times, the comedy and scale of the game, especially when it was released, received a lot of praise. There isn't another Simpsons game quite like it, and it is truly an awesome experience for fans of the franchise. Even today, players can find enjoyment in playing The Simpsons: Virtual Springfield, even if there are better games on this list in terms of genuine gameplay.
6 Night of the Living Treehouse of Horror
A Side-scrolling Action Game With High Praise
- Release Date: 2001
- Developers: Software Creations
- Platform(s): Game Boy Color
- Genre: Action
Taking inspiration from t he popular Treehouse of Horror episodes of The Simpsons, this Game Boy Color side-scrolling platformer was highly praised at the time. Gamers can play as Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie in levels based on episodes, with each one being unique.
The game actually poses a challenge, complete with beautiful artwork and engaging gameplay, Night of the Living Treehouse of Horror is certainly one of the better Simpsons games that have been released. Even if it doesn't live up to the modern style of video games.
5 The Simpsons: Road Rage
Poor Graphics, But An Engaging Driving GAme
- Release Date: 2001
- Developers: Radical Entertainment
- Platform(s): PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance
- Genre: Vehicular Combat
- Metacritic Rating: 64
In The Simpsons: Road Rage, players can control characters in Springfield with the objective of picking up passengers and taking them to their destination in the quickest time possible. Very similar to Sega's Crazy Taxi, which prompted developers Radical Entertainment into legal trouble.
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The graphics aren't great, Springfield is poorly detailed, and the controls are questionable, to say the least. But, the game has a certain charm to it and fans of a certain generation hold this game with high regard. Without this game, there wouldn't be the best Simpsons game ever, so this allows for a high enough ranking.
4 The Simpsons: Arcade
The Simpsons First Forte In The Gaming World Started With A Bang
- Release Date: 1991
- Developers: Konami
- Platform(s): Arcade, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
- Genre: Beat 'em up
- Metacritic Rating: 67
The Simpsons: Arcade is a beat 'em up game much like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Arcade Game, Streets of Rage and Yakuzu . The genre was very popular in the 90s on arcade systems. The Simpsons dabbled in this, with the game first appearing as an arcade game, later being ported to Commodore 64, MS-DOS and much later for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Being the first in a series always allows for higher ranking, but this game is genuinely amazing. Fans could take control of their favorite The Simpsons characters for the very first time and fight opponents to progress to the next stage. A really fun experience but also one that was groundbreaking when it came to The Simpsons video games.
3 The Simpsons Game
A Genuinly Good Platformer
- Release Date: 2007
- Developers: EA Redwood Shores
- Platform(s): Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable
- Genre: Platform
- Metacritic Rating: 71
The Simpsons Game is highly detailed and immersive with a fun plot, exciting levels and fantastic graphics and game design. The Simpsons family become aware that they are in a video game and develop exciting powers as they battle their way through enemies.
Released in 2007, the same year that The Simpsons Movie came out in cinemas, it was a fantastic year for fans of the franchise. This is a must-play for casual and hardcore fans of The Simpsons, but was criticized for its repetitive gameplay, troublesome camera system and short run-time. However, the good certainly outweighs the bad on this one and it deserves its ranking as one of the best The Simpsons video games.
2 The Simpsons: Tapped Out
Mobile Games Don't Get Much Better Than This
- Release Date: 2012
- Developers: EA Mobile
- Platform(s): iOS, Android, Amazon Fire
- Genre: City Building
- Metacritic Rating: 69
The Simpsons: Tapped Out is a mobile game where fans can create their own version of Springfield using the iconic buildings and locations that were present in the series. Gamers can complete missions, and daily objectives and tap on buildings to receive cash to buy more items.
A very big criticism of this game is the use of micro-transactions, as the richer players can cheat their way to the top using real-world cash. However, this game doesn't require that and there is enough free content in the game to make it really enjoyable. The more time and effort that fans put into this one, the better their world will become, which gives a great sense of reward. Despite its release in 2012, the game is still regularly updated and fans of the franchise should definitely give this one a go.