- Primary Subject: Stuntman: Hollywood
- Key Update: Stuntman: Hollywood revives the franchise with licensed movie sets but retains the original rigid gameplay.
- Status: Preview
- Last Verified: September 2, 2026
- Quick Answer: This article previews Stuntman: Hollywood, discussing its new licensed movie themes, unchanged core gameplay, and lack of modern features.
The original Stuntman was released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2, followed a few years later by Stuntman Ignition in 2007. Both games carved out a distinct niche within the driving genre. Instead of racing AI opponents to the finish line, you were racing against a film director's strict demands.
You had to memorize routes through explosive sets across various fictional B-movies, hitting each mark with precision. Failing to drift at the right moment or missing a ramp meant ruining the take and enduring a grueling cycle of trial and error.
Saber Interactive is now reviving the beloved franchise with Stuntman: Hollywood, a game that proudly clings to that exact same formula, for better or worse.
The biggest change this time around is the departure from the fake parody movie sets. Stuntman: Hollywood has secured some big licenses, bringing in various Universal Pictures properties to make things feel a little more legit.
Sliding the infamous white Ferrari Testarossa under exploding obstacles in the Miami Vice stage or hitting 88 mph in a Back to the Future level adds a layer of genuine blockbuster spectacle that the older games had to dupe.
The big-name licenses certainly look the part and add some novelty. However, the development team confirmed during my hands-on session that they aren't currently adding any additional movie properties to the roster.
My preview session offered a short but very telling slice of the final game. I played through a brief Fast and Furious tutorial, a chaotic Jurassic World bike level, and two completely original non-licensed tracks.
The core gameplay loop remains completely unchanged from the classic games. Minor secondary challenges are scattered across each track to help raise your overall star rating for the level, but outside of following the director's instructions as precisely as you can… there is very little room for player expression.
If anything, Stuntman: Hollywood feels much closer to a rhythm game than a typical arcade driving game. You are essentially pressing the right inputs at the right moments on a linear path. It lacks the chaotic, freeform vehicular action found in something like the Wheelman game Vin Diesel made back in the 360/PS3 era. You hit your marks, you trigger the background explosions, and you do not deviate from the script.
That rigid structure unfortunately soaks into the game's overall feature set. When I asked the development team if there was any kind of sandbox mode or a track builder to let players create their own explosive stunt courses, the answer was a flat no.
In addition, the package includes no multiplayer elements. A focused single-player arcade driving game is completely fine in today's market, but the lack of extra modes raises real questions about value. Given how much money Saber Interactive undoubtedly spent to secure these massive movie licenses, it is highly unlikely this title will launch at a budget price point.
Stuntman: Hollywood feels like a game from a completely different era, sticking to its roots to a fault. As someone who loved the original releases, I am definitely going to play it and will likely enjoy mastering every single take. But without modern concessions, sandbox freedom, or real player agency, the TikTok generation might lose interest incredibly fast.
For more like this, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com, the best website for gaming news, reviews, features, and guides.