You may have heard about Futurama: Hit and Run, a fan-made project that reimagines The Simpsons: Hit & Run as a full-blown Futurama adventure. While it’s technically a mod, not a standalone game, it’s a surprisingly polished and hilarious way to relive this classic with a sci-fi twist.
To play it, you’ll need the original Simpsons: Hit & Run game and a special mod launcher. Don’t worry, this guide walks you through everything step by step.
Step 1: Getting the Base Game
If you already own a legitimate copy of The Simpsons: Hit & Run, use that. That’s always the best and most stable option.
However, if you can’t find it through official means (it’s an old title and can be tough to track down), you can download a working version from MyAbandonware.
This download is a 1.6 GB ZIP file, so it may take a few minutes to complete, depending on your internet speed.
Step 2: Unzipping the Files
Once it’s downloaded, right-click the ZIP file and choose:
“Extract All…” → Choose a location → Click Extract.
For simplicity, I recommend extracting everything to your Desktop. This makes it easier to find and manage the files while setting things up.
After extraction, you should see a new folder that contains:
- Lucas’ Simpsons Hit & Run Mod Launcher
- The Simpsons Hit & Run
- A ReadMe file
Please keep all of these together in one folder and don’t move them around yet.
Step 3: Setting Up Lucas’ Mod Launcher
Inside that folder, open Lucas’ Simpsons Hit & Run Mod Launcher.
When it starts up, it might ask for login details. You can either create a free account on DonutTeam or click Skip to continue without one.
You’ll now see the Launch Menu.
If you wish, you can select the “Enable Cheat Keys” checkbox. This allows you to use Numpad keys for quick cheats, such as car repair, teleportation, and speed boosts. It’s optional, but fun.
To test the setup, click Launch.
If prompted, browse to your extracted folder, open The Simpsons Hit & Run, and select the game’s .exe file (it’s the main file that launches the game).
If everything’s working, the base game should boot up normally. That means your setup is ready for mods.
Step 4: Installing the Futurama Mod
Now for the good part.
Head to ModBakery’s project page and download the Futurama: Hit & Run (Demo) mod.
The file is approximately 155 MB in size (zipped).
Once it’s finished downloading, right-click the ZIP file and choose Extract All… again.
This time, extract the files directly into your Mod Launcher’s “Mods” folder. That’s located inside the same folder where you found Lucas’ Mod Launcher.
After extracting, you should see a file named:
FHAR Demo 0.1.0.lmlm
That’s the actual mod file. Ensure it’s located inside the “Mods” folder, directly adjacent to other mod files, such as ones that would make sense with “Cheat Keys”.
Step 5: Launching the Futurama Mod
Reopen Lucas’ Mod Launcher.
You should now see a new checkbox option called:
Futurama: Hit & Run (Demo)
Tick that box, then hit Launch.
The game will start, but this time it’s Futurama-themed!
Step 6: What’s Included in the Demo
The current demo includes quite a bit of content for something fan-made:
- 4 Story Missions
- 1 Bonus Mission
- 1 Wager Race
- 3 Street Races
- 4 Costumes
- 6 Vehicles
- 9 Gags
- 1 Secret Gag
- 25 Wasps
- Custom Music
- Custom Map (~¼ of New New York)
It’s a promising start, and if the full version is released later, you’ll be able to install it in the same way.
Final Tips
- Keep everything on your Desktop while testing. Once it’s working, you can move it to a Games folder or an external drive.
- If the mod doesn’t show up, double-check that the
.lmlmfile is inside the “Mods” folder (not another folder inside it). - You can safely experiment with other mods later; untick the Futurama mod and tick another one before launching.
Wrap-Up
That’s it! You’ve successfully set up and launched Futurama: Hit & Run, a clever reimagining of one of the best cartoon-based games ever made.
Enjoy exploring New New York, running down robots, and causing all the cartoon chaos you can handle.
Happy gaming!
