Stuntman: Hollywood Brings Back to the Future, Fast & Furious, and Burnout-Style Chaos

Vehicles stay locked to their respective franchises—you won't be drifting the DeLorean through a Fast & Furious set piece—keeping each licensed world distinct .

Hands-On Impressions: "The Best 15 Minutes of My Summer Game Fest"

Multiple outlets played a demo with four or five levels at Summer Game Fest, and the reaction was enthusiastic. GamesRadar described the session as the best quarter-hour they spent at the entire event, praising the rapid restart loop and the challenge of perfecting every stunt cue . PCMag called the experience "thrilling" and noted the collision and destruction feel ripped straight from arcade racing greats .

The gameplay loop is simple and punishing in the best way. You follow on-screen stunt markers—arrows, drifts, timed jumps—through collapsing movie sets. Completing a run is manageable, but nailing every cue for a perfect score demands tight, repeated execution . Runs clock in at one to two minutes each, a deliberate design choice to make failure feel less punishing .

The Standout Stage: Back to the Future

Previewers consistently called out the Back to the Future level as a highlight . You pilot the DeLorean through Hill Valley, weaving through traffic and dodging vans full of terrorists before hitting 88 MPH in front of the iconic clock tower . The sequence isn't a 1:1 recreation of the film—it's an original stunt scenario set in recognizable locations—but it delivers exactly the cinematic spectacle the franchise promises .

Channeling Burnout 3 and Split/Second

Producer Russ Dawson cited Burnout and Split/Second as direct inspirations alongside the original Stuntman games, and hands-on reports confirm the influence runs deep . The weighty, destructive crash physics evoke Burnout 3: Takedown, while the dynamic, crumbling environments recall Disney's Split/Second . The result is a game that feels both nostalgic and modern, blending precise stunt choreography with freeform arcade destruction.

Best of Show Finalist at Summer Game Fest

Smashpad named Stuntman: Hollywood a "Best of Show Finalist" for the event, summarizing the sentiment bluntly: "Sheer enjoyment is why 'Stuntman: Hollywood' is a Best of Show Finalist" . The accolade reinforces just how strongly the demo resonated with the press in a crowded field of summer announcements.

Lingering Questions: Level Length and Campaign Depth

For all the praise, the demo raised valid concerns about longevity. Each stunt run lasts only a minute or two, which is excellent for instant restarts but raises questions about how a full campaign sustains variety and depth across hours of play .

The progression system uses a star-rating mechanic to unlock garage items, a classic structure that could feel like a grind if the level pool stays too thin . The demo featured tutorial-like opening stages, leaving the scope of the final campaign unclear . Saber Interactive hasn't yet shared a release window or detailed how many films and episodes the full game will include .

A 20-Year Comeback Worth Watching

The original Stuntman launched on PlayStation 2 in 2002, followed by Stuntman: Ignition in 2007. Both developed a cult following thanks to their brutal difficulty and precise stunt-driving demands. The original studio, Reflections Interactive, has long since moved on from the IP, making Saber's revival a genuine surprise and a rare example of a dormant driving series getting a major second chance .

By replacing parody films with real Universal blockbusters and fusing that license roster with the raw spectacle of Burnout-style destruction, Stuntman: Hollywood is shaping up to be one of 2026's most unexpectedly exciting arcade racers. The Summer Game Fest demo proved the core loop works. Now the question is whether Saber can build a full campaign around those spectacular 90-second runs.