Until recently, Twisted Metal was a series all but forgotten by the growing games industry and seems to be making a welcome comeback in the form of a Sony-produced live-action show. Fans of the original games will recognize writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Deadpool, Zombieland) as a near-perfect fit for the franchise's dark comedy tone, and they will certainly look forward to how the series grows as a result of the upcoming show.
While the Twisted Metal series hasn't had a new entry in over a decade, with the last title launching on the PlayStation 3 in 2012, fans have the older titles to play along with the series' inevitable revival. Fans and newcomers alike will delight to hear that most of the original games still hold up, and there are quite a few titles (for better or worse) to look back on and add to this spring's playlist. From worst to best, this is every entry in the series ranked.
Updated July 29, 2023, by Michael Llewellyn: With the Twisted Metal television series launching on Peacock, the potential to gain new fans for the video games has increased exponentially. Bafflingly, there is no video game tie-in or remaster to tie in with the TV show's launch, but if the series does well, the chances of a reboot in video game form go up significantly. In the meantime, fans can play the classics to get an idea of how much fun the vehicular combat titles are. The best Twisted Metal games were highly influential, with action games like Mad Max and even the Destruction Derby-inspired Wreckfest owing something to the iconic series.
10 Twisted Metal Black Online
- Launched: 2002
- Platform: PS2
- Developer: Incognito Entertainment
One of the best elements of the Twisted Metal series is the multiplayer portion of the games. Twisted Metal Black Online was the first in the series to offer online multiplayer and was one of the first to be released alongside the PS2 online network adapter.
Unfortunately, the online spin-off is no longer available to players, and the single-player aspect of the original game is missing. Therefore, Twisted Metal Black Online is no longer a game worth seeking out for fans.
9 Twisted Metal Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition
- Launched: 2008
- Platform: PS2
- Developer: Incognito Entertainment
An enhanced port of the original Twisted Metal Head-On that launched on the PSP, the Extra Twisted Edition never saw a release outside of the US. It lacked the online multiplayer included in the PSP version, but new cutscenes and a documentary were added to the PS2 version.
However, despite the upscaled visuals, Head On's origins as a PSP game are noticeable with its blocky car models and environments. It was still enjoyable as it offers substantial content for hardcore fans of Twisted Metal's lore.
8 Twisted Metal: Small Brawl
- Launched: 2001
- Platform: PS1
- Developer: Incognito Entertainment
A strange turn of events in the series' history, Small Brawl isn't exactly where players saw (or wanted to see) the franchise going with its sixth entry. The premise of Small Brawl is fairly simple, taking the original game's concept and gameplay and translating it into a smaller-scale arena with remote control vehicles instead of life-sized ones. There's no big surprise in saying that this change takes out a lot of the fun of the originals - it turns out toys aren't as shocking and devastating to destroy as full-sized ones, even with friends.
Not only did critics give Small Brawl confused and mediocre reviews, but the game launched at such an odd time that nobody can blame it for falling under the radar, regardless of its design flaws. Revealed for the PS1 directly after releasing Twisted Metal: Black on the PS2, Small Brawl was on a short leash, to say the least, with the PS1 fanbase quickly turning to the new console generation.
7 Twisted Metal 3
- Launched: 1998
- Platform: PS1
- Developer: 989 Studios
Twisted Metal 3, well known as the series' first departure into new territory, is an interesting look at how creative differences and studio trade-offs can ruin a game. Fans will remember that 1998 was the year that Twisted Metal's original studio SingleTrac handed the game's IP over to Sony's development team, 989 Studios, after contractual disputes hit. Because of the circumstances, 989 was put in a tough spot without access to SingleTrac's original engine, meaning they had to build their while simultaneously dealing with time constraints and studio pressure.
Critically, Twisted Metal 3's biggest flaws are purely due to the limited time 989 had to develop their AI and physics. Pitchshifter and Rob Zombie's inclusion on the soundtrack and the multiplayer components were enough to keep Twisted Metal 3 above water, but only to make it a divisive piece of the franchise's history.
6 Twisted Metal: Head-On
- Launched: 2005
- Platform: PSP and PS2
- Developer: Incognito Studios
Head-On, Incognito Studio's third game in the franchise after Black and Small Brawl, is another divisive look into the middle ages of Twisted Metal's lineage. The biggest complaint is the difference between the PSP and PS2 ports, which is ironic because there is very little difference. Head-On wasn't a bad game by any means, following the same narrative and gameplay structure as nearly every game before it, and was a loyal addition to the timeline. It even gained Greatest Hits status during the PSP's early life.
The PS2 port (where things get a little stickier) was announced to release two years later, obviously gaining some traction in the community with rumors of updated graphics and additional gameplay enhancements. Porting studio Eat Sleep Play delivered on at least part of the rumors, with some extra features and previously unreleased bonus content. For the most part, this port got slightly fewer positive reviews, as the graphics hadn't received the update they deserved, and the gameplay felt a little less smooth than on the PSP. The differences, while minor, were enough to lower scores by at least 10% on most sites.
5 Twisted Metal 4
- Launched: 1999
- Platform: PS1
- Developer: 989 Studios
The second in the series to follow 989 Studios' development track, Twisted Metal 4 improved on all the negative feedback the third entry received. This entry focuses on the fan-favorite mascot Sweet Tooth the Clown. The studio wanted to take a different approach while keeping the same beloved formula and decided Sweet Tooth would be the perfect character to follow the titular competition. This time, instead of competing for a competition win, Sweet Tooth looks to overthrow Calypso, the franchise's "big bad," and take over the competition for himself.
Twisted Metal 4 gained mostly positive reviews but still had a few negative points regarding 989's developments, citing some levels and mechanics not hitting the mark and the physics being problematic in parts.
4 Twisted Metal 2
- Launched: 1996
- Platform: PC and PS1
- Developer: Sony Interactive Studios
Twisted Metal 2 hit a peak for the series as SingleTrac was in its stride. Objectively the most successful game in the series, TW2 takes the race worldwide. From the ruins of LA to Moscow, Paris, Hong Kong, and more, the level design is diverse and fun in a classic arcade fashion.
The most controversial part of TW2's reviews concerns the graphics, saying they're no improvement over the original and left some reviewers dissatisfied. That said, fans wanting more - regardless of it being more of the same - got just that. The level design and characters are considered a significant upgrade, and the game remains a fan-favorite for many despite its flaws. It also gained critical acclaim after being added to several sites' top 100 lists.
3 Twisted Metal (2012)
- Launched: 2012
- Platform: PS3
- Developer: Eat Sleep Play
This titular reboot came after a long hiatus on the developers' parts, leaving players waiting nearly seven years for an original title after the release of Head-On in 2005. Studio Eat Sleep Play's second franchise title, Twisted Metal, focuses heavily on multiplayer combat, introducing new gameplay modes and up to 16-player arena battles online.
Twisted Metal 2012's adaptation features four main arcs. They centered on fan-favorite Sweet Tooth, Mr. Grimm, Dollface, and The Preacher. Players are given glimpses into each character's intertwining story and respective twists. The game was praised for its new modes and gameplay but fell to some criticism of its story mode, lack of characters, and some control nitpicks.
2 Twisted Metal: Black
- Launched: 2001
- Platform: PS2
- Developer: Incognito Entertainment
Releasing before the backward-generation spin-off Small Brawl, Twisted Metal: Black was the first in the series to breach the next generation of consoles. It used the PS2's new features to enhance the gameplay of the original quadrilogy for a new audience. It also manages to feel and play better than the 2012 remake for the PlayStation 3.
Twisted Metal: Black takes a new batch of competitors from the setting city's nearby mental asylum, "Blackfield," giving context to the title, as well as bringing back some returning racers. Black received the highest review scores since the original title, making it a perfect return to form after the controversy over Twisted Metal 3 and 4. The biggest highlights include a more well-planned storyline with outstanding character moments, a better variety of weapons and unlockables, and its hardcore road rage madness.
Typically, the main criticisms centered around controls and some imbalanced difficulty. A port of Twisted Metal: Black is available on the PS4 store and runs with smoother visuals, making it a solid entry point for fans curious about the series. Visually, it holds up better than the PS1 entries in the series, and the gameplay improvements put it on par with the much-loved original Twisted Metal (1995).
1 Twisted Metal (1995)
- Launched: 1995
- Platform: PS1
- Developer: Sony Interactive Studios
As usual, it's hard to beat the original. The first title's development was interesting and amusing as the studio SingleTrac had been hired to test a new 3D technology for Sony and came up with the concept while fantasizing about shooting away all the other cars while stuck in a classic LA traffic jam. The lead designers polished that idea with a pitch envisioning a trigger-happy Mad Max movie directed by Michael Bay.
For a comical idea, Twisted Metal found significant leverage to keep it going, as fans loved such a dark, campy game combining '80s action movies and '90s horror motifs. Before fading out in the mid-2010s, the franchise stayed strong and became a PS1 favorite and a top 100 contender for critics and fans alike. As the first game in the series, the original Twisted Metal is the most revered by fans.
However, the blocky PS1 graphics - which look better running on the PS4 and PS5 - can be quite jarring for fans more accustomed to games with a high polygon count. Those willing to look past the visuals will still find a fun vehicular combat game that exceeds its technological disadvantages. It's fun, fast, and hilarious to play.