Stunts

In Stunts, players race a lap around the circuit, with the aim of completing the lap as quickly as possible without crashing. These laps often feature special track areas such as loops, jumps (including over tall buildings), slalom roads and corkscrews. The square-shaped game area where the track is built is surrounded by a fence that prevents the player from leaving. Players can either race against the clock or choose between six different opponents; there is no support for real-time multiplayer.

Stunts features 11 different drivable cars, with either automatic or manual transmission. Replays of races can be saved and reviewed. There are four camera views available during replay and actual driving, and the dashboard is an optional overlay on all views. It is also possible to continue the race from any point in the replay, but the time for that race will not be recorded.

Stunts was developed by Distinctive Software, a video game design company that was established in 1982 and based in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Prior to the release of Stunts the company had developed other racing games such as Test Drive (1987), The Duel: Test Drive II (1989) and Grand Prix Circuit (1988).

The popularity of the arcade game Hard Drivin' (1989) from Atari Games led to new style of driving-themed games where vehicles are either greatly modified or could perform incredible stunts. This led to similarly themed games such as the arcade game Race Drivin' (1990) and personal computer (PC) games which included Stunt Driver (1990) and Stunts. Designer Kevin P. Pickell said Stunts initially began as what he described as "a smash-up derby game in an arena". Progress on this format for the game was halted as cars predominantly drove backwards in demolition derbies, making it difficult to execute a 3D game where the player was primarily driving in reverse.

Duncan MacDonald of Zero compared the game to similar racing games of the period. On reviewing 4-D Sports Driving and Crash Course (1990), describing them both as video game clones of Hard Drivin'. MacDonald found the latter game to be the superior of the two titles as stating that 4-D Sports Driving was a strong title only let down by "jerky graphics". Ultimately, MacDonald found the game superior to Hard Drivin', but inferior to Indianapolis 500: The Simulation (1989).

Reviewing the game for the Amiga, a reviewer in Games-X complimented the games sound and suggested players to use the keyboard to control as the mouse and joystick were very insensitive. The reviewer praised the track editor as a highlight, commenting that "without it the lasting appeal would be very thin on the ground."

Stunts continued to have a player base decades after the games release. A fan community surrounding the game involving racing and recording replays to compete with other players and show off their skills. As Stunts allows players to rewind their gameplay during a lap via the instant replay option, it allowed players dexterity to try and find the best routes. In the mid-2000s, the game grew popular enough to have a yearly World Stunts Meeting where players would get together in person to throw parties and play live races.