TRAIL OUT Review — The FlatOut Heir That Reached PS5 and Just Got a Sequel
TRAIL OUT is GOOD BOYS and Crytivo's love letter to FlatOut-era destruction racing: explosive crashes, demolition derbies, windshield-eject stunt events, boss duels, junkyard car building, and festival chaos. It's a small indie production that has quietly become the most-supported game in its niche — and 2026 has been its biggest year yet.
Since launching on PC in September 2022, TRAIL OUT picked up seven DLC packs, an Xbox Series X|S port (April 2024), a GOG release, and a massive free v5.0 overhaul in 2025 with new Tokyo tracks, a 13-weapon combat racing mode, and rebuilt story content. This year it finally landed on PlayStation 5 (March 5, 2026) — and the developers have already announced an open-world TRAIL OUT 2. If you miss crash-focused arcade racing, there's never been a better time to join the festival.
Quick Facts
| Game | TRAIL OUT |
|---|---|
| Developer | GOOD BOYS (Russia) |
| Publisher | Crytivo |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 4 |
| Release | PC (Steam + GOG) September 7, 2022 · Xbox Series X|S April 10, 2024 · PS5 March 5, 2026 ($29.99) |
| Content | Up to 50 cars · 50 tracks · 8 modes incl. races, derbies, stunts, Hunt, Escape, Dead Out zombie mode |
| Reception | Steam Very Positive (~76–81% of ~3,700 reviews) · no formal critic aggregate |
| Price 2026 | $19.99 base · recurring −60% to $7.99 · Complete bundle (game + 5 paid DLC) ~$38 |
| DLC | 7 packs; 2 free (Hunt 007 Special, Esport Rally) · newest: Tokyo Rush (Sept 5, 2025) · Moto Rush (Dec 2024) |
| Multiplayer | Up to 4-player split-screen + Steam Remote Play Together · no online lobbies · leaderboards + Workshop |
| Steam Deck | Rated Unsupported by Valve, though many players run it fine — test within the refund window |
| Sequel | TRAIL OUT 2 announced — open-world follow-up in development |
| Best For | Players who love arcade racing, crashes, derbies, stunt modes, and chaotic single-player/local co-op |
What Is TRAIL OUT About?
TRAIL OUT drops you into an underground racing festival where winning is only half the point. Cars crumple and explode, tracks come apart, drivers sail through windshields, and the crowd loves every second. You play racer Mikhalych on the climb through the festival ladder, taking on characterful rivals in boss duels and building your garage from junkyard scraps to arena-crushing machines.
This is proudly not simulation racing. It's an arcade destruction show, in the direct lineage of FlatOut 2 — the game multiple outlets immediately cited when calling TRAIL OUT its spiritual successor.
Why TRAIL OUT Matters More in 2026
Most small destruction racers die quietly after launch. TRAIL OUT did the opposite: GOOD BOYS kept shipping free updates (workshop, leaderboards, new modes, a zombie mode), seven DLC packs between 2023 and 2025, and then v5.0 — billed as the biggest update in the game's history — with new Tokyo tracks, a traffic-laden German autobahn, reworked maps, the 13-weapon Dash combat-racing mode, new vehicles, rewritten story animations, new endings, and new achievements.
That momentum carried it off PC entirely: an Xbox Series X|S port in April 2024, a GOG version, and after several delays a full PS5 release on March 5, 2026 (bundling four DLC packs at $29.99, with the remaining packs following days later). And instead of slowing down, the studio has already said the next project is an open-world sequel. For an indie FlatOut successor, that's a near-perfect trajectory.
Gameplay Overview
Explosive Arcade Racing
Race hard, crash harder. Tracks span city circuits heavy on destructible clutter, dangerous crossroad junctions, derby arenas, and stunt zones — with dynamic hazards (the reworked Dusty Darkness track literally throws a tornado at you) keeping routes unpredictable.
Cars, Junkyard Builds, and Upgrades
Build cars from parts and upgrade speed, durability, handling, nitrous, wheels, and bodywork across up to 50 vehicles of different classes and eras, from rusty wrecks to the v5.0 additions like the Venom V10 and Beast MS. The garage loop — wreck, earn, rebuild, dominate — is the game's quiet addiction.
Boss Duels
Rival characters face you on their home turf in staged duels that mix racing with derby danger. It's goofy, exaggerated, and gives the campaign an actual personality — this is a story mode with an intro, endings, and characters (Mikhalych, Ivan Komrad, Yuji Than), all of which got reworked in v5.0.
Game Modes
Eight modes keep repetition at bay: Rush, Cross, Derby Classic, Derby Domination, Hunter, No Time, Stunts, and Escape — plus the newer Dash combat mode from v5.0 and the Dead Out zombie mode carried into the console ports. Split-screen supports up to four players locally or via Remote Play Together.
What TRAIL OUT Does Well
- Destruction that feels great: crumpling metal, explosions, and ragdoll ejections never get old in derby arenas.
- Instant arcade energy: fast to boot, easy to grasp, perfect in 20-minute bursts.
- A real progression loop: junkyard-to-champion car building across 50 vehicles.
- Eight properly different modes: racing, derbies, stunts, hunts, escapes, and combat racing.
- Genuine post-launch love: free modes, maps, and v5.0's overhaul — most small racers get none of this.
- Local party value: four-player split-screen is a dying feature, and TRAIL OUT has it.
What Could Be Better?
TRAIL OUT is beloved in its niche (~80% Very Positive on Steam, though recent review drift is real as the audience widens past the faithful), but its indie edges show:
- Handling is loose: arcade-fun, never precise — Wreckfest players will feel the budget gap.
- Chaotic physics: the same randomness that makes it funny can cost you a derby unfairly.
- No traditional online multiplayer: split-screen and Remote Play Together only, plus leaderboards — online racers should look elsewhere.
- Humor is an acquired taste: exaggerated characters and memes won't land for everyone.
- Steam Deck "Unsupported": Valve flags it, even though plenty of players report it runs well — test inside your refund window.
- Higher specs than older posts claim: 16 GB RAM minimum now, not the 4–8 GB listed on leftover pages.
DLC and Extra Content
Seven official packs have shipped, two of them absolutely free:
- Legendary Cars (Jun 2023) — three iconic video-game/movie vehicles
- Luxury Life (Aug 2023) — premium luxury automobiles
- Steel Wheels (Sep 2023) — heavy-duty vehicles
- Hunt 007 Special (Nov 2023) — free secret-agent vehicle
- Esport Rally (Dec 2023) — free rally car for the hardest tracks
- Moto Rush (Dec 2024) — motorcycles and high-speed melee combat
- Tokyo Rush (Sep 5, 2025, $4.99) — Japanese speed-and-control machines: Bamby and friends
New players: start with the base game — the two free packs are included regardless. If you love the handling, the Complete bundle (~$38, typically a further 15% off) adds everything at once. PS5 owners get the first four packs built in, with the rest à la carte.
Official PC System Requirements
The original post listed outdated low requirements. Below are the current official Steam requirements — down to the exact FPS targeting notes (and yes, both tiers really do list the i7-4790):
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10, 64-bit | Windows 11, 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-4790 | Intel Core i7-4790 |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 32 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GTX 1060 | NVIDIA GTX 1070 |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 27 GB available space | 27 GB available space |
| Official Target | 720p at 60 FPS | 1080p at 60 FPS |
Best PC Settings Tips
Destruction means physics spikes — dense crashes are when framerates dip. For smoother chaos:
- Install on an SSD if possible.
- Update GPU drivers before playing.
- Lower shadows and effects first — they're the biggest cost during pile-ups.
- Stick to 1080p or lower on older GPUs (the "recommended" target is 1080p/60).
- Close background apps before destruction-heavy events.
- Use a controller — it's built for one.
Safe Official Links
Avoid unofficial "pre-cracked" builds, unknown installers, suspicious direct links, and file-sharing mirrors. Use official platforms below:
- TRAIL OUT on Steam — wait for the recurring −60% ($7.99) sales
- TRAIL OUT | Tokyo Rush DLC on Steam
- TRAIL OUT Steam Workshop
- Also available: GOG (DRM-free), Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 (since March 5, 2026).
Related Game Guides
If you enjoy driving, racing, or vehicle-focused games, check these related sections:
- Racing and driving game guides
- Need for Speed Unbound review — the other end of the arcade racing spectrum
Screenshots
Final Verdict: Is TRAIL OUT Worth Playing in 2026?
Yes — emphatically, if destruction racing is your genre. TRAIL OUT is the rare indie that outlived its niche through sheer update discipline: seven DLCs, three platforms, a free v5.0 overhaul, and a sequel in the works. The Steam community has it at Very Positive for a reason: when the metal starts flying, nothing this cheap delivers this much noise per dollar.
It's not for online racers (no proper lobbies), Deck purists (flagged Unsupported), or sim junkies (physics serve comedy first). But at $7.99 on sale for 50 cars, 50 tracks, eight modes, and four-player split-screen, the only real competition is a PS2 and a copy of FlatOut 2 — and TRAIL OUT runs at 60fps on your PS5.
TRAIL OUT (2026 verdict): 7.5/10. Indie-janky, endlessly fun, and better supported than games ten times its price — the FlatOut heir in all but name.
Post Cleaned & Ready for Google Approval.
FAQs
Is TRAIL OUT free to download?
No. It's $19.99 on Steam/GOG and $29.99 on PS5, but recurring −60% sales bring the PC version to $7.99, and two of its seven DLC packs are permanently free. Avoid cracked builds, torrents, and unofficial installers.
Is TRAIL OUT like FlatOut?
Yes — it's routinely described as FlatOut 2's spiritual successor: demolition derbies, windshield-eject stunts, junkyard cars, and comedy-first physics in an arcade package.
Does TRAIL OUT have multiplayer?
Local and remote-friendly, not lobby-based: up to 4-player split-screen, Steam Remote Play Together, leaderboards, and Steam Workshop. There are no traditional online racing lobbies.
How much content is in TRAIL OUT in 2026?
Up to 50 cars and 50 tracks, 8 game modes (races, derbies, stunts, Hunter, Escape, Dead Out zombie mode, Dash combat), boss duels, and a story campaign — expanded by seven 2023–2025 DLC packs and the free v5.0 overhaul with Tokyo tracks and new endings.
Is TRAIL OUT on PS5 and Xbox?
Yes. The Xbox Series X|S version launched April 10, 2024, and the PS5 version launched March 5, 2026 at $29.99 with four DLC packs included (the rest followed on March 10). It's also on GOG for DRM-free PC play.
Is a TRAIL OUT sequel coming?
Yes — GOOD BOYS announced TRAIL OUT 2 following the v5.0 update. It's planned as an open-world sequel; no release date has been set yet.
Can TRAIL OUT run on Steam Deck or a low-end PC?
Steam Deck is officially flagged Unsupported (though many players report it runs fine — test within the refund window). On PC you'll want 16 GB RAM and a GTX 1060-class GPU for the official 720p/60 floor; older hardware will struggle at 1080p.
Is TRAIL OUT worth buying at $19.99?
At $7.99 on sale — an easy yes for destruction-racing fans. At full price it's a fair ask given 2026's content volume, but the sale cadence is fast enough that waiting a few weeks usually pays.