đšī¸ Cheats & Secrets
OutRun on the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive may look simple on the surface, but it hides a neat secret for players who know the right code. With the Hyper Options cheat, you can unlock extra settings in the Options menu - most importantly, the ability to pick your Stage and adjust the Mode. It's a perfect way to explore every route the game offers without starting from the beginning each time.
How to activate Hyper Options:
On the title screen, press Enter. Then enter the following sequence:
- S Ã 11 times.
- W Ã 3 times.
- Space à 8 times.
After that, go into the Options menu. You'll notice two new settings unlocked: Stage Select and Mode.
đŽ Gameplay & Mechanics
At its heart, OutRun is not about crossing the finish line before anyone else - it's about beating the clock. You drive a bright red Ferrari Testarossa with a passenger in the passenger seat, racing along highways that stretch through beaches, forests, deserts, and mountain passes. The road is always busy: other cars weave across lanes, trucks slow you down, and sudden curves can throw you off if you're not careful.
Controls are simple but rewarding. You can shift between low and high gear, and mastering the right moment to switch is key to keeping your speed without losing control. Sliding into turns at just the right angle feels smooth and satisfying, especially when you recover without crashing. Every second counts, and hitting traffic or spinning out costs precious time.
One of the game's most unique features is its branching path system. At the end of each stage, the road splits into two directions. Go left, and you might find yourself cruising along the coast, go right, and you're suddenly climbing steep hills or navigating twisting mountain roads. With multiple routes and endings, OutRun feels more like a personal journey than a standard race.
⨠Fun Facts & Trivia
đ Yu Suzuki's road-trip spark
OutRun was designed by Yu Suzuki, who took a research trip across Europe to capture the feel of coastal highways, mountain passes, and open roads that shaped the game's stages. The result was a driving experience built around vibe and freedom, not just lap times.
đļ Pick your soundtrack before you drive
Before the race even starts, you "tune" the in-car radio and choose a track like Magical Sound Shower, Passing Breeze, or Splash Wave, composed by Hiroshi Kawaguchi. That radio-style music select was a signature part of the arcade experience.
đŖī¸ Five routes to five endings
Each run spans five stages, with a fork at the end of every leg. Across all branches there are 15 unique stages and five different destinations, each with its own ending scene.
đī¸ The iconic convertible
You're driving what is clearly modeled on a Ferrari Testarossa convertible, a perfect match for the game's "blue-sky" road-trip fantasy.
đī¸ Arcade tech that turned heads
OutRun ran on SEGA's advanced sprite-scaling hardware (often called Super Scaler) and shipped in a deluxe hydraulic sit-down cabinet that moved with the road - a big reason it stopped people in their tracks on arcade floors.
đ From arcades to the living room
After dominating arcades, OutRun was ported to many systems - including the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive - helping the game find an even wider audience at home.
đ A smash hit with lasting influence
It became the highest-grossing arcade game of 1987 worldwide and one of SEGA's most successful cabinets of the decade. Its style even helped give a name to the retro-futuristic "outrun" music/aesthetic.
â Legacy & Reception
When OutRun hit arcades in 1986, it was an instant phenomenon. Players were drawn to its stylish look, innovative branching routes, and unforgettable soundtrack. By 1987, it had become the highest-grossing arcade game in the world, cementing SEGA's reputation as a leader in racing games. Critics praised not just the technology behind its smooth scaling graphics, but also its unique focus on the thrill of the drive rather than strict competition.
Over the years, OutRun has appeared on countless "greatest games" lists and influenced everything from arcade racers to the synthwave music scene that later borrowed its name. The Ferrari Testarossa, the branching highways, and those iconic tunes remain symbols of '80s gaming culture.
The game's home release on the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive brought that same excitement into living rooms, making it one of the most recognizable titles in the system's library. Today, its spirit lives on not just in sequels like OutRun 2, but also in modern indie racers that echo its carefree, sun-soaked vibe.
And the best part? You don't need to track down an arcade cabinet to experience it. You can play OutRun online right here on our site, take the wheel, and relive one of SEGA's most iconic rides.