Other games have tried, but none have hit the nail on the head quite as hard as Hit & Run, which is why it's great to see modders enhancing and expanding the game. Related: The Simpsons' 10 Most Underrated Episodes Homer Simpson was also a playable character in Lego Dimensions, which included a brick-built hub world based on Springfield that players could explore once they bought a Simpsons-related set at retail. However, outside of the novelty of walking around Moe's Tavern for a bit, there wasn't really much to do in that world, and the game's lack of music in these segments made it feel eerily unfinished. EA's The Simpsons Game was mostly a platformer that parodied video game tropes, but there was an open world to explore between levels as all four members of The Simpsons clan. Other games released in the following years would attempt to employ a fully explorable Springfield as a gameplay hook. When compared to other releases based around the FOX sitcom, there was a notable step up in quality, and many gamers still ask about a modern HD rerelease today.

Gamers on PlayStation 2 era consoles and PC could drive around Springfield as Homer, perform missions for his friends and neighbors, and run over hapless pedestrians while thinking about donuts. Two years after Grand Theft Auto 3 changed gaming forever, the team at Radical Entertainment brought the open-world gameplay loop to the town of Springfield. Modders have revealed a new project based around expanding one of the best games based on The Simpsons, namely 2003's The Simpsons: Hit & Run. (Update 13/01/21: This article has been modified to more clearly express this Hit & Run mod was made by a single person, not a team.)

Simpsons road rage vs hit and run