Feature: Two Decades Later, Burnout 3 Is Still Incredible To Play On Xbox
By Just over a week ago, I discussed how the backwards compatibility of Xbox 360 is unexpectedly commendable. It enables you to enjoy a vast selection of original Xbox titles on the console, including one of the greatest racing games ever, Burnout 3: Takedown.
To be candid, I hadn’t played Burnout 3 in several years before penning that piece. The game isn’t operable on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S for presumably licensing issues, leading to Burnout Paradise Remastered receiving the bulk of the attention over the last decade. While I appreciate Burnout Paradise for what it is, the open-world environment and the general atmosphere never resonated with me the same way Burnout 3: Takedown did.
Returning to Burnout 3 in the last couple of weeks, I was astonished to realize how much I adore the game even in 2025. Everything still feels remarkably fresh— from the exhilarating speed to the stunning takedowns, from the unforgettable track designs to the diverse game modes. The soundtrack is phenomenal as well (though likely a significant reason we don’t have this title on current systems), and the entire ambiance is just so wonderfully representative of the mid-2000s.
Undoubtedly, this was where Burnout truly flourished. While Burnout 1 and 2 were enjoyable in their own right, Burnout 3 introduced the crucial Takedown system— allowing you to crash into rivals and trigger a slow-motion wreck sequence that fluidly transitioned back to gameplay afterward. Annihilating your opponents suddenly became more enticing and exquisitely addictive— and 21 years later, it still feels just as thrilling now!
One of the most well-liked features in Burnout 3: Takedown was the Crash mode. For anyone unfamiliar, this mode places you in a scenario where you must inflict as much destruction as possible by crashing into vehicles and obstacles, followed by activating your Crashbreaker— essentially a means to detonate your car and generate even more chaos. This feature was notably missing from Burnout Paradise, which introduced something called “Showtime” that had a similar kind of structure but didn’t quite capture the essence of Crash mode.
I’m enjoying this mode in Burnout 3 while I navigate through the World Tour campaign once more, and it’s all functioning seamlessly on my Xbox 360 at 60 frames per second. As evident from the screenshots, the resolution isn’t quite what we’ve come to expect from contemporary games— I believe Burnout 3 operates at a native 480p— but that quickly fades from your mind when you’re amidst a heart-pounding crash extravaganza.
There are only two aspects I feel disheartened about regarding this title. The first is that it lacks backwards compatibility on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S (can you imagine the number of units this would sell?!), and the second is that online multiplayer is non-functional any longer. Even the incredible Insignia service on the original Xbox doesn’t presently support Burnout 3, leaving no options for online play on any Xbox console.
As I look forward to the future, I’m optimistic it will experience a revival in some form— whether through a new backwards compatibility breakthrough or perhaps even a remaster. However, for the moment, I can assure you that Burnout 3: Takedown is an enjoyable experience on both the OG Xbox and Xbox 360, and you can frequently acquire it for the price of a coffee these days. Alternatively, consider exploring Burnout Revenge— the sequel to Burnout 3 that was released natively for the Xbox 360, and that version is backwards compatible on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
What are your thoughts on Burnout 3? Share your opinions in the comments section below.