Midtown Madness

Midtown Madness (1999)

by Angel Studios, Microsoft
Genres:Simulator, Racing
Themes:Open world, Action
Game modes:Single player, Multiplayer
Story:Midtown Madness (also known as Midtown Madness: Chicago Edition) is a racing game developed for Windows by Angel Studios (now Rockstar San Diego) and published by Microsoft. The demo version was released via download on May 1, 1999 and the completed game was released toward the end of May 1999.[1] Two sequels followed, with Midtown Madness 2 released in September 2000 and Midtown Madness 3 released in June 2003 for the Xbox. The game is set in Chicago and its objective is to win street races and obtain new cars. Unlike racing games that restrict the player to a race track, Midtown Madness offers an open world recreation of Chicago. This setting was said to provide "an unprecedented degree of freedom to drive around in a virtual city".[2] Players can explore the city via one of several modes, and can determine the weather and traffic conditions for each race. The game supports multiplayer races over a local area network or the Internet. The game received generally positive reviews from gaming websites.[3]Show more
user avatarAdded by @cagey
Vote to bring this game to GOG and help preserve it.
3 572
Trailers and screenshots
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Stories about this game (7)
What’s your memory of Midtown Madness?Share your favorite moments and see what others remember about this game.
user avatar@placeholder

Make sure to follow our Guidelines when adding new Stories.

If not sure what to write:
  • What made this game unforgettable?
  • Who did you play this game with?
  • What made it fun or challenging?
  • Why do you want this game on GOG?
The Midtown Madness trilogy were simply the most fun driving games of all time. Maybe Burnout 3 surpassed the mayhem, but for a hilarious sandbox racing game, that ticked all the car-lovers' boxes, there was no substitute. PLUS, big plus, it introduced me to modding. The community used to be so big, if this ever comes to GOG, I hope someone has a harddive with all the mods on there, because most of the hosting websites are dead now lmao, which is even more of a reason to get them here on GOG, now!!!!
user avatar@Cluckeruser avatar@Clucker
January 29, 2025
One of the games of my childhood, and one of my closest friends which i lost back in the day. Sadly this game was never available anywhere else, so i hope you can bring it back
I played the demo of this game for hours and hours just roaming around the city and driving like I was preparing for my drivers license. I even bought a wheel to play this game.
user avatar@DJ_Zephyruser avatar@DJ_Zephyr
January 30, 2025
Not my first racing game, but I think this mighta been one of my (if not THE) first open-world racers. I spent countless hours just driving around, smashing windows and scaring pedestrians. It was highly moddable, too, with tons of cars and tracks to play with. This and its sequel deserve more love.
Midtown Madness was an absolute classic! It was one of those games that felt way ahead of its time. Free roaming throughout the windy city of Chicago was just amazing. The police chase and the pure joy of causing chaos were also amazing! GOG should really add it to the collection. It defines an entire generation
user avatar@Gnatratuser avatar@Gnatrat
February 03, 2025
I didn't play this game much. If I recall correctly, it tried to have a more realistic traffic model than most of the driving games before it. It also tried to be more realistic in other ways. For example, if you peeled out in a FWD car, it would make sure to lay the tire strip from the front wheels.
user avatar@pmaloneyuser avatar@pmaloney
March 22, 2025
This was an excellent game. Very fun! Would love to see this back on GOG. Good graphics for the time. Lots of fun trying out different jumps! Microsoft had a streak of good games back then.
Those games also need your vote!
Rune Factory 4
Rune Factory 4Rune Factory 4 marks the return of the popular Harvest Moon spinoff that combines farming with dungeon adventuring. For the first time in the series, the player can select to play as a male or female hero, and potential suitors of either gender are also available in order to pursue love, marriage, and possibly a child. As the newly-appointed prince or princess, you can fulfill your royal duties of protecting the town from invaders, or take a more rural approach to governing by raising your own fruits and vegetables and helping townsfolk. Should some dungeon adventuring be on the days itinerary, you can select from the castles vast armament of swords, spears, and staffs along with magic for battle against dangerous foes, or even bring along a companion or friendly monster to aid you during your travels.
Action
Sandbox
Action
Sandbox
93
Rune Factory 3 Special
Rune Factory 3 SpecialLive your fantasy life as Micah, who can transform into two forms. Farm, fight and fall in love as you revisit a classic in the series that perfected the blend of RPG & Life-sim genres.
Action
Action
154
Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon
Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest MoonRune Factory 2 is set several years after the first game. The evil Sechs Empire has been defeated, and the Kingdom of Norad is once again at peace. Things may not stay that way for long, however, as dark premonitions foretell of dangers to come. It's up to player to uncover the source of these premonitions and bring peace to the kingdom once more. In a first for the Rune Factory series, the story of Rune Factory 2 is multigenerational. Players begin the game as Kyle, a strange man who comes to Alvarna Village. Eventually, players will take on the role of Kyle's child, opening up a whole new adventure.
200
Need for Speed: Carbon
Need for Speed: CarbonNeed for Speed: Carbon, also known as NFS Carbon or NFSC, is an Electronic Arts video game in the Need for Speed series. Released in 2006, it is the tenth installment, preceded by Need for Speed: Most Wanted, succeeded by Need for Speed: ProStreet in release order and succeeded by Need for Speed: Undercover in chronological order. This was the first game in the series to gain the PEGI rating of 12+.[citation needed] The game is a sequel to 2005's Need for Speed: Most Wanted. The locations of both Most Wanted and Carbon (Rockport and Palmont, respectively) are featured in the 2010 MMO game, Need for Speed: World. The PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance versions of the game are called Need for Speed Carbon: Own the City, set in a fictional city named Coast City with a significantly different storyline and also featuring different AI teammate abilities.[2] In 2009, a version of Own the City was also released on the Zeebo as a pre-installed game.[3] Need for Speed: Carbon is the final game released for all sixth-generation consoles (excluding PlayStation 2)
Open world
Open world
6 580
13
Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Need for Speed: Most WantedThe player arrives in Rockport City, driving a racing version of the BMW M3 GTR (E46). Following Mia Townsend (played by Josie Maran), the player proves his driving prowess as he is pursued by a veteran police officer named Sergeant Cross (played by Dean McKenzie), who vows to take down the player and end street racing in Rockport. Races seem to be in the player's favor until a particular group of racers, led by the game's antagonist, Clarence "Razor" Callahan (played by Derek Hamilton), sabotages and win the player's car in a race.
Open world
Open world
19 636
73
Need for Speed: Collector's Series
Need for Speed: Collector's SeriesA package bundling Need for Speed: Underground, Need for Speed: Underground 2, and Need for Speed: Most Wanted.
783
1
Need for Speed: Underground Rivals
Need for Speed: Underground RivalsExperience the rush of high-octane street racing in Need for Speed Underground: Rivals. Customize your ride, push it to the limit, and dominate the underground racing scene. Race against fierce competitors and build your reputation as the ultimate street racer. With adrenaline-pumping gameplay and stunning graphics, immerse yourself in the heart-pounding world of urban racing like never before. Customize 20 tuner cars and race on 10 new circuit tracks. Eight modes including Drift Attack, and Rally Relay. Tune your ride performance and style. Special Features: Wireless and Party Play Multiplayer Modes EA Pocket TRAX Music Visualization Player
5 795
Need for Speed: Underground
Need for Speed: UndergroundNeed for Speed: Underground is a 2003 racing video game and the seventh installment in the Need for Speed series. It rebooted the franchise, ignoring previous Need for Speed games that featured sports cars and exotics. Underground is the first game in the series to offer a career mode that features a comprehensive storyline, as well as a garage mode that allows players to fully customize their cars with a large variety of brand-name performance and visual upgrades.
5 199
14
Need for Speed: Unbound
Need for Speed: UnboundRace to the top, definitely don’t flop. Outsmart the cops, and enter weekly qualifiers for The Grand: the ultimate street race. Pack your garage with precision-tuned, custom rides and light up the streets with your style.
Action
Action
462
2
Need for Speed: Rivals
Need for Speed: RivalsPlayers assume the role of both cops and lawbreakers in Need for Speed: Rivals, which is the inaugural outing of Ghost Games – the rebranded EA Gothenburg studio in Sweden. Ghost Games is made up of talent moved over from UK-based Criterion Games, best known for its work on the Burnout series and shooter Black, along with former DICE staff.
Open world
Action
Open world
Action
537