Most racing games are about finding the optimal racing line around a track while trying very hard not to hit other cars along the way. But Burnout isn’t like most racing games. Burnout was conceived in 1999 after the team at Criterion set out to meet a unique challenge: encourage players to drive headlong into oncoming traffic. That inspired the Boost mechanic, which rewards players with extra speed for putting themselves in danger, including racing against the flow of traffic and intentionally smashing into other racers.
It’s been over a decade since the last Burnout installment with zero signs indicating we’ll be getting a new one. The good news is that the old games are as good as they’ve ever been, so if you’ve been missing the unparalleled rush of barreling sideways into another moving vehicle at full speed, here’s where to play the Burnout games today.
Where Can I Play the Burnout Games Now?
Other than 2008’s Burnout Paradise, the only way to play any of the Burnout games today is to do so on the original hardware or via backwards compatibility. Here’s a breakdown of where you can play each Burnout game.
WHERE TO PLAY: Burnout 1 | Burnout 2 | Burnout 3 | Burnout Revenge | Burnout Legends | Burnout Dominator | Burnout Paradise | Burnout Crash!
Where To Play Burnout 1
Console | Version | Physical / Digital |
---|---|---|
PS2 | Original | Physical |
PS3 | PlayStation 2 version (via Backwards Compatibility) | Physical |
GameCube | Original release | Physical |
Xbox | Original release | Physical |
Xbox 360 | Xbox version (via Backwards Compatibility) | Physical |
The original Burnout isn’t available anywhere digitally. Luckily, it isn’t hard to find a physical copy of any of the versions online, though they can get pretty pricey (the Xbox version costs almost as much as a brand-new game today).
The Xbox version of Burnout can be played on a Xbox 360 via backwards compatibility.
The PS2 version is also playable on a PS3 via backwards compatibility.
Where To Play Burnout 2: Point of Impact
Console | Version | Physical / Digital |
---|---|---|
PS2 | Original | Physical |
PS3 | PlayStation 2 version (via Backwards Compatibility) | Physical |
GameCube | Original release | Physical |
Xbox | Original release | Physical |
Xbox 360 | Xbox version (via Backwards Compatibility) | Physical |
Burnout 2: Point of Impact is also only available physically. This one’s a bit harder to find an unopened copy of, but used versions are in ready supply.
The Xbox version of Burnout 2: Point of Impact can be played on a Xbox 360 via backwards compatibility.
The PS2 version is also playable on a PS3 via backwards compatibility.
Where To Play Burnout 3: Takedown
Console | Version | Physical / Digital |
---|---|---|
PS2 | Original | Physical |
PS3 | PlayStation 2 version (via Backwards Compatibility) | Physical |
Xbox | Original release | Physical |
Xbox 360 | Xbox version (via Backwards Compatibility) | Physical |
Burnout 3: Takedown is only available physically. It’s one of the easiest games to find both used and new and is super cheap to boot.
The Xbox version of Burnout 3 can be played on a Xbox 360 via backwards compatibility.
The PS2 version is also playable on a PS3 via backwards compatibility.
Where To Play Burnout Revenge
Console | Version | Physical / Digital |
---|---|---|
PS2 | Original | Physical |
PS3 | PlayStation 2 version (via Backwards Compatibility) | Physical |
Xbox | Original release | Physical |
Xbox 360 | Xbox version (via Backwards Compatibility) | Physical |
Original release | Both | |
Xbox One | Xbox 360 version (via Backwards Compatibility) | Both |
Xbox Series X | S | Xbox 360 version (via Backwards Compatibility) | Both |
GameCube | Original release | Physical |
Physical copies of Burnout Revenge can be easily found on Amazon and eBay. As of the time of writing, a digital copy of the game can also still be purchased for the Xbox 360 on the Xbox 360 Marketplace.
The PS2 version of Burnout Revenge is also playable on a PS3 via backwards compatibility.
Where To Play Burnout Legends
Console | Version | Physical / Digital |
---|---|---|
PSP | Original release | Both |
PS Vita | PSP version (via PS3 Store transfer - US only | Digital |
Nintendo DS | Original release | Digital |
Physical copies for both the Nintendo DS and PSP versions of Burnout Legends are very hard to find.
If you live in the US and have a PS3 and PS Vita, you can purchase the game from the PS3 Store and transfer it to and play it on your PS Vita.
Where To Play Burnout Dominator
Console | Version | Physical / Digital |
---|---|---|
PS2 | Original release | Physical |
PS3 | PS2 version (via Backwards Compatibility) | Physical |
PSP | Original release | Both |
PS Vita | PSP version (via PS3 Store transfer - US only | Digital |
Physical copies of the PS2 and PSP versions of Burnout Dominator are all over the internet.
The PS2 version of Burnout Dominator is also playable on a PS3 via backwards compatibility.
If you live in the US and have a PS3 and PS Vita, you can purchase Burnout Dominator from the PS3 Store and transfer it to and play it on your PS Vita.
Where To Play Burnout Paradise
Console | Version | Physical/Digital |
---|---|---|
PS3 | Original release | Both |
PS4 | Remastered | Both |
PS5 | PS4 version (via Backwards Compatibility) | Both |
Xbox 360 | Original release | Both |
Xbox One | Xbox 360 version (via Backwards Compatibility) | Both |
Remastered | Both | |
Xbox Series X | S | Xbox 360 version (via Backwards Compatibility) | Both |
Xbox One version (via Backwards Compatibility) | Both | |
PC | Remastered | Digital |
Original release | Physical | |
Switch | Remastered | Both |
Burnout Paradise has been released for or is playable on almost all major home consoles from the PS3 and Xbox 360 onward.
Criterion released a remastered version in 2018 for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Both console versions are playable on the latest-gen Sony and Microsoft consoles via backwards compatibility.
In 2020, the remastered version was released for the Nintendo Switch.
Where To Play Burnout Crash!
Console | Version | Physical / Digital |
---|---|---|
PS3 | Original release | Digital |
Xbox 360 | Original release | Digital |
iOS | Original release | Digital |
Burnout Crash! is a 2011 digital-only release for PS3, Xbox 360, and iOS.
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