Twisted Metal

A vehicular combat video game series featuring destructive arena-based tournaments hosted by the mysterious Calypso.

Driving

Racing

Games

1995–2012

Years

Platforms

$54.30

Ø CIB

+111.2%

24M change

About

The Twisted Metal series began with the original 1995 release on the PlayStation, which saw various editions including the Long Box, Black Label, and Greatest Hits releases. The franchise expanded with sequels such as Twisted Metal 3 and Twisted Metal 4, and later received a reboot on the PlayStation 3 in 2012. Players select unique vehicles armed with ballistic projectiles and machine guns to battle to the death in various arenas.

The narrative centers on Calypso, a mysterious figure who hosts a demolition tournament, promising to grant the victor any single wish, often with ironic or tragic consequences. This dark, comedic lore and character backstories were heavily documented in official strategy guides, such as the Twisted Metal 3 [Prima] and Twisted Metal 4 [Prima] books.

The publishing history of the franchise reflects its immense popularity, with the original Twisted Metal (1995) spawning highly sought-after physical variants for collectors. These include the early cardboard Twisted Metal [Long Box] edition, the standard jewel case Twisted Metal [Black Label] release, and the budget-line Twisted Metal [Greatest Hits] version. As the series transitioned to later hardware, official documentation continued to support players, notably through the Twisted Metal [PS3 BradyGames] strategy guide, which assisted players in navigating complex multiplayer modes. Co-creators David Jaffe and Scott Campbell established a legacy of destructive gameplay that influenced an entire genre of demolition-derby style games throughout the late 1990s and 2000s.