Need for Speed is one of the most famous racing series in the world. EA’s arcade phenomenon has spanned 25 years and has produced some incredible games, so we decided to run through them all and rank the top 7 best.
In total there have been 24 unique Need For Speed games in the mainline portion of to date the series. Spread across multiple generations of consoles, players have grown up dodging, dodging, and drifting their way through hundreds of tracks and scenarios.
From simple track racing to intense street action that escapes the law, Need For Speed has it all. Not every game has been an undisputed success, while some have captured the hearts of many.
So here is a definitive ranking of the top seven Need for Speed games.
Our first entry is very popular and respected.
7. Need for Speed: Carbon (2006)
Despite a reduced focus on the Police element that fans had come to love over the years, Carbon’s on-road presentation definitely lived up to expectations at the time.
It was in the unenviable position of following a hot streak of NFS games, and while it didn’t do anything memorable or truly imaginative to reinvent the racing wheel, Carbon’s freer racing formula and larger open world meant that fans would enjoy plenty of hours Had time to enjoy and ravage in the Palmont area.
The path to a more realistic and grounded experience wasn’t for everyone, but it worked.
6. Need For Speed: Shift (2009)
Shift was a literal tonal shift away from the destruction and physical carnage of other Need for Speed games, instead focusing more on a focused driving simulation game akin to Gran Turismo or Forza.
While some of its user-friendly arcade roots bled through to auto-handling, Shift was a lot of fun. With plenty of licensed beauties from Lamborghinis to Bugattis and world-renowned racetracks like the Nürburgring and Laguna Seca Speedway, Shift offered something very different and equally compelling and captivating.
The open world element was borrowed but brilliantly executed.
5. Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012)
Many comparisons were made to 2008’s Burnout Paradise when it came to the 2021 version of Most Wanted, but that’s not a bad resemblance.
An open city filled with collectibles and smashable billboards, the city of Fairhaven was a massive playground to explore and hosted different types of events across the varied terrain. It retained all of its classic arcade racer identity and furthered the interconnectivity of the NFS online universe with its autolog feature.
The driver versus cop aspect would be seen in many later racing games.
4. Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit (1998)
The 1998 iteration of the Hot Pursuit name is still considered by many to be a distinctive entry in the annals of racing as it refined and revolutionized the police element.
Not only did you have to compete against other high-speed opponents to determine the king of the road, but you also had to fight the looming police threat. Crossing them would result in adrenaline pumping chases where they would use spike traps, catch you for speeding, and generally stop at nothing to bring you down.
Combined with a wide range of tracks and cars, many feel that the franchises have really shifted gears here.
Underground was doing very well for EA and the potential for a wider racing game was in plain sight.
3. Need For Speed Underground 1 (2003)
The Need For Speed equation was all but solved and in full effect by 2003, so it was a bold move by EA to pull out the whiteboard eraser, scrub those thoughts, and recreate NFS with a full reboot.
In hindsight it was a stroke of genius. Underground would sell well over 10 million units as players couldn’t get enough of its new story element, array of customization options, and a pounding, pulsing soundtrack.
So are you chasing unqualified success?
It was like Underground 1 but better.
2. Need For Speed Underground 2 (2004)
You do it again, but bigger and bolder of course!
The narrative aspect returned with a deeper look into the life of the underground and length of depth of possible modifications for your vehicle. Capitalizing on the freshness of its predecessor, Underground 2 introduced more events to vary gameplay, and the expansive nature of its Free Roam mode made it a more than worthy successor.
Seriously, how cool does this police car look?
1. Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit (2010)
Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit – the 2010 iteration – almost manages to embody the main goal of every Need For Speed game – breakneck thrills and entertainment.
It also welcomed a brand new mechanic in the series that completely turned the tables on instead of running from the law, You became the law! If you’re a fan of Free Roam, Hot Pursuit might not be for you as it focuses on preset races and events with specific race conditions.
But that was offset by all the groundbreaking gadgets you got to use on the cops and your opponents, the debut of the intuitive and easy-to-use online system Autolog, and heaps of longevity and variety in its events.
Need For Speed has always been considered one of the greatest arcade racing experiences and Hot Pursuit 2010 is the epitome of entry.
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https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/7-best-need-for-speed-games-ranked-1805077/ Ranking of the 7 best Need for Speed games: from Underground 2 to Hot Pursuit