Absolute masterpiece of aggressive arcade racing. The Takedown - eliminating opponents - revolutionizes the genre. Spectacular crash modes, devilish rock soundtrack, hallucinating speed. One of the best games of the Xbox generation and all time.
Your verdict
Category
Racing1 player7+
Description
Third entry in the risk-racing franchise, introducing the Takedown mechanic to eliminate rivals through deliberate collisions. Published by Electronic Arts, released in 2004 in the United States and Europe. Over 100 events, a Crash mode with 16 junctions, online multiplayer via Xbox Live, and an extensive licensed rock soundtrack.
Burnout 3 - Takedown review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Dizzying speed, motion blur and spectacular pile-ups filmed in slow motion: everything celebrates the crash as a genuine firework. The brilliance of the settings torn through at full tilt heightens the heady sensation. This visual extravagance, snappy and readable, makes every crash a peak of staging.
Supercharged, the EA Trax selection strings together edgy rock and nervy electro to electrify races built around the crash. Every track spikes the adrenaline and matches the insane speed of the pursuits. This infectious energy, cut for chaos, is an integral part of the sensation of pure release.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Shoving a rival into the scenery is no longer an accident but the very heart of the game: each takedown recharges a boost that turns the race into a violent, jubilant ballet. The dizzying speed and the clarity of every collision still hit the mark. A cocktail of pure arcade, perfectly balanced between attack and driving, it keeps an edge few racing games ever reach.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Here, slamming into your rivals is no longer an accident but the goal: triggering a takedown by hurling an opponent into the scenery delivers a brutal, hilarious satisfaction. The speed hits new highs, the boost chains endlessly and crashes become an art. Aggressive, spectacular and fiercely addictive, arguably the peak of the series.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Triggering a rival's crash mid-race to instantly recharge your boost turns aggression into the engine of fun, where every takedown calls for the next. Crash mode and the progression of events relaunch the session without respite. Repetition eventually creeps in, but this stylized violence and this unbroken flood of speed remain devilishly gripping.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Clearing the World Tour's hundred-plus events demands serious dedication, yet the real longevity comes from chasing perfect medals, mastering every Takedown and wrecking your way through all sixteen Crash junctions. The pursuit of high scores, the addictive replay value of each race and the online play keep this title alive as one of the most endlessly playable arcade racers ever.
An absolute peak from Criterion, Burnout 3 Takedown turns the Takedown and the crash slow-motion into an attack mechanic, an arcade racer seen as a genre milestone. Become rare on Xbox, especially in its Asian pressing, its interest combines this masterpiece status and a real physical scarcity. A safe bet, a must for fans of aggressive racing.
Is Burnout 3 - Takedown still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2004, this third entry is widely seen as the apex of the series. The takedown, that aggressive contact that hurls a rival into scenery, turns every race into a sustained brawl without ever compromising the purity of the driving. The sense of speed remains one of the cleanest ever crafted in the genre, the crash replays have lost none of their grim joy and the Crash FM radio bumpers still set a tone of their own. A few low resolution textures show their age but the essentials are intact. A genuinely strong arcade racing pick today.
