Burnout Paradise
2008
- racing
- action
- sandbox
- open world
- single player
- multiplayer
The story
Burnout Paradise is an arcade racing game set in an open world called Paradise City, a departure from the fixed tracks of earlier Burnout games. Players roam the city freely and start events by pulling up to intersections, choosing their own routes to each finish line rather than following set courses. The series' emphasis on high speed and spectacular crashes returns through features such as the Showtime mode, which lets players trigger a crash sequence anywhere at any time. Completing events raises the player's driver rank and unlocks new cars, and an online system supports additional cooperative and competitive modes. It was the first Burnout game released on Windows and later received a remastered version bundling its downloadable content.
What it’s like
Hazy late-afternoon sunshine over a sprawling seaside city, with saturated palm-lined boulevards, glossy car paint and fireballs of orange-red destruction blooming against a bright blue sky. The camera hugs the bumper at speed, so the streets rush past in a blur that feels fast and physical, while crash replays slow into cinematic, debris-filled slow motion. The soundtrack is a hand-picked stream of loud rock, electronic and pop that surges with every near miss, and the engines roar and tyres squeal through every corner. The vibe is adrenaline-bright and carefree, a sunny, slightly reckless joyride best suited to a Saturday afternoon, a long stretch of quiet evening, or a session of wide-open freedom with no set course to follow. Violence is cartoonish: cars smash, flip and explode with no gore and no injuries shown, though the crashes are constant and loud. Its drivers are anonymous and the stakes are about rank and reputation rather than story. It suits players who want an open, high-speed playground, unhurried exploration with a bit of chaos, and sandbox racing where the fun comes from making your own route.
More games like Burnout Paradise
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Burnout Paradiseand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
