Players traverse a set route across the continental United States from New York City to Los Angeles.

In addition to a time limit, Turbo OutRun also adds a computer-controlled opponent driving a Porsche 959.

Ports of Turbo OutRun were released for home computers as well as Sega's own Mega Drive.

They have to either be outrun by using the turbo boost or destroyed by the player by ramming them off-road and into an object on the side of the road.

[1] At every sub-goal (reached after passing through about four cities), an upgrade can be chosen, the three being: Hi-Power Engine, Special Turbo, and Super Grip Tires.

In the 1993 arcade game Daytona USA, a song from Turbo OutRun can be played on the name entry screen by entering the initials TOR.

The Commodore 64 home version soundtrack, composed and arranged by Jeroen Tel, was well received.

[2] In Japan, Game Machine listed Turbo OutRun on their March 15, 1989 issue as being the third most-successful upright/cockpit arcade unit of the month.

The review pointed to "hopeless, mega-jerky 3-D graphics, juddery scrolling, dreadful tunes, naff sound effects, and badly drawn sprites", and concluded it to be a "clapped out Robin Reliant of a race game".