Simpsons Hit and Run remake in Unreal 5 puts a cult classic in an open world

Fan has recreated 2003’s cult-favorite classic The Simpsons: Hit & Run in Unreal Engine 5, adding in a hefty number of details that befit 2022 — like an open world map, better vehicles, and online multiplayer.

Eurogamer reported that the remarkable project was initially watched by more than 1 million people. The 17-minute video has been uploaded to YouTube. It opens with a disclaimer noting that the project is “for entertainment purposes,” and will “never be available to download” — so you won’t be able to play it, but that doesn’t make watching the video any less engrossing.

Reuben Ward goes on to detail the changes and pure effort that went into this remake project — from importing pieces of the map to create an open world, and adding in foliage and lighting effects to make the visuals pop. He used Unreal Engine 5, a dialogue tool of his own design called “Narrative Quest and Dialogue Editor,” plus Blender.

The best part about watching this video is the ability to see how small tweaks can make the difference when modernizing its look. Ward explains how specific shaders can make everything look better, from homes in the neighborhood to buildings high up. “If you just do a little bit of work, you can get a great result,” Ward says in the video.

This project comes eight months after Ward initially went viral for “remaking” the cult classic game in a week. Joe McGinn (the lead designer of that game aged 19) even spoke out about the initial project. “Amazing what you accomplished!” he said. “Really gives a taste of what a full modern remaster could be.”