30 years ago, Twisted Metal revolutionized car combat

Today, November 10, 2025, Twisted Metal celebrates its 30th anniversary. Below, we look back at the entire series' evolution, from games to comic books to wild television spectacle.

I first played Twisted Metal in 1995, the year it debuted. I was 11 years old and played the game at a kiosk in the store where you could choose one of eight games for a “demo” – usually the first level of each game, or a portion of it. My parents and sister must have been shopping or running errands elsewhere that day because I probably played the Twisted Metal demo over 10 times.

I remember starting with “Sweets,” which was the default on the character select screen. I remember switching to Hammerhead and selecting Hammerhead, which allowed me to crush my opponent. But most of all, I remember how twisted and illegal the game felt – like we were seeing something illegal and underground that we weren't supposed to see.

I've never experienced anything like this. While many franchises have gone on to become more popular and successful than Twisted Metal, none are weirder or full of cool personality than Twisted Metal.

In celebration of Sweet Tooth's 30th anniversary, here's a chronological look at the history of the Twisted Metal series, starting with the first game and ending with the latest season of the Peacock TV series. It's time to play.