Are you fascinated by cars? The NFS games that drive you and the cars crazy are the ones to play for. Gear up, gather the OGs, and prepare for a thrilling gaming experience while playing these NFS games.
With its adrenaline rush games, the franchise has undoubtedly left a massive print on the heart of gamers. The greater the speed, the higher the stakes and the higher the impact on us gamers.
Impact of NFS on the World of Racing Games
Need for Speed (NFS) has attracted millions of gamers worldwide since its release in 1994. The series revolutionized the racing game genre and made an enduring impression with its intense gameplay and breathtaking graphics.
The franchise’s killer feature is its capacity to deliver the thrill and adrenaline of racing on the streets to players’ fingers. Fast cars, violent police chases, and intriguing plots are combined to create an immersive experience that keeps gamers returning for more while on the edge of their seats.
With each new game, the franchise has only improved when it comes to graphics and visual experiences. Their commitment to the game raises the bar of the racing game world with cutting-edge backgrounds. Moreover, the NFS franchise has fostered a flourishing online racing community. In multiplayer games, players can create racing crews, compete against one another, and test their skills.
Use of Real-world Locations and Car Brands in NFS Games
In Need for Speed games, real-world locations and car brands are essential for giving players a more profound sense of authenticity. By including well-known areas and car brands, the games provide a rich experience that is more reflective of life.
When players recognize real-world cities like Los Angeles, Tokyo, or London in the game, it heightens the authenticity and immersion. The virtual world seems more realistic by allowing users to drive by well-known locations or travel through streets they may have already visited.
When prominent car manufacturers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Porsche are added, a similar sense of excitement and familiarity is generated. Players can compete in races in their ideal vehicles or experience the adrenaline of driving actual replicas of the cars they like. The attention to detail employed to recreate these cars’ aesthetic and performance characteristics faithfully enhances the overall experience.
The real-world locations and car brands used in the Need for Speed video games link reality and imagination. By enabling players to immerse themselves in a virtual environment remarkably similar to their real one, it fosters a greater connection and sense of involvement. So buckle up, stomp on the pedal, and get ready for a crazy ride around your beloved cities’ streets in the company of the most recognizable cars ever!
Following are some of the best NFS games OGs should consider playing once in their gaming journey.
NFS Payback
In the action-packed, open-world racing game Need for Speed Payback, you take control of the fastest cars available today. You join an organization of drivers who are seeking retribution against the depraved cartel known as “The House.” With 74 different vehicles available in Payback, your enjoyment is further increased.
You’ll participate in furious racing, risky heists, and fascinating challenges to bring down “The House’s” criminal empire in the action-packed world of Fortune Valley. Payback has an extensive range of cars, from fast off-road to sleek sports cars, which is an absolute delight for car lovers, giving them the headache of selecting the best cars. There will also be thrilling and challenging tasks that test your driving skills and need careful planning.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Need For Speed PayBack (Xbox One) |
$29.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
NFS Payback comes in as a complete package, offering everything you need in an intense racing game. It will keep you on the edge of your seat while you bite your nails when you are on a mission. Be prepared to fire up your engines, outsmart adversaries, and immerse yourself in the thrill of being a skilled street racer in this heart-pounding adventure.
Developer: Ghost Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: November 10, 2017
NFS Rivals
You’ll feel your heart pounding as you play the exciting racing video game Need for Speed: Rivals. The game is set in the stunning landscapes of Redview County. You are free to go on your own, explore the unknown places of the region, and overcome obstacles while you do so.
Here, you can play as a racer or a cop, each with a different gameplay style. You’ll go up against other skilled drivers in rapid, illegal street races while eluding law enforcement. As a police officer, on the other hand, you will protect the law by chasing and charging racers.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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Need for Speed Rivals (Complete Edition) - PlayStation 4 |
$44.24 |
Buy on Amazon |
The AllDrive system, which fluidly combines single-player and multiplayer experiences, is one of NFS Rivals’ most notable features. NFS Rivals is a must-play for OGs of the racing genre because of its stunning graphics, frantic gameplay, and the excitement of high-stakes racing. Prepare your engines for maximum power to easily defeat your rivals!
Developer: Ghost Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: November 15, 2013
NFS: Carbon
Need for Speed: Carbon is an exciting game that will bring out your racing demons. Various cars can be modified to create the perfect racing vehicle for you by changing the features and aesthetics to suit your preferences. Using the Autosculpt tool, you can personalize your car to give it more character and charm to race.
You take on the role of a skilled racer who wants to conquer the city’s areas by outracing other teams. The game features an exciting plot, engaging characters, and tremendous cutscenes. You’ll encounter demanding racing, exhilarating police pursuits, and even top boss fights. Play single-player or challenge your friends to a multiplayer game to add more excitement.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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Need for Speed Carbon - Xbox 360 (Renewed) | 23 Reviews |
$46.30 |
Buy on Amazon |
Additionally, it features “Canyon Duels,” an activity in which you face off against opponents on dangerous mountain roads. Get behind the steering wheel, accelerate the pedal, and let the racers know what this gamer is made of!
Developer: EA Black Box
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: October 31, 2006
NFS Hot Pursuit Remastered
NFS Hot Pursuit Remastered has incredible graphics and action-packed gameplay to put you in the thick of the action. It will keep you engaged until the last minute of the final lap. Based on the West Coast region of the Western United States, the game is set in a fictitious place called Seacrest County.
Players in Hot Pursuit can select between driving as a racer or a police officer, and each position has a full career mode. Cops and racers are said to interact like “a dog chasing down a rabbit” because the cops are stronger and the racers are faster. When you choose to be a racer, you will have to outpace the cops and the obstacles that come your way to reach your mission objective.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered (Nintendo Switch) |
$25.20 |
Buy on Amazon |
Due to its simple controls and thrilling action, Hot Pursuit Remastered is a must-play for all racing gamers. So gear up, start the engine, and prepare for an adrenaline-pumping experience like any other.
Developer: Stellar Entertainment Limited
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: November 6, 2020
NFS: Most Wanted
Need for Speed: Most Wanted is one of the most-played racing games worldwide. With its thrilling visuals, the game touches closely on the reality of racing. Racing competitions include checkpoint, sprint, and drag races in addition to competitive racing throughout circuit or point-to-point races.
Players participate in illegal street races around the Most Wanted environment using a variety of authorized real-world vehicles. The cars can be modified with additional parts while fending off police intervention in the latter’s attempts to disrupt them. There are 4 play modes in specific console versions of the game: Career, Quick Race, Challenge Series, and a fourth mode that supports multiplayer.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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Need for Speed Most Wanted - Xbox 360 (Limited) | 1,766 Reviews |
$24.88 |
Buy on Amazon |
Get ready with your gear and friends to enjoy what awaits you. Experience the adventure and thrill this game brings you. Tell the world of your arrival with your killer instincts and top-class driving skills.
Developer: Criterion Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: October 30, 2012
NFS: ProStreet
Your heart will rush playing the thrilling racing video game NFS: ProStreet! You can select your ideal vehicle from an astonishing selection of vehicles in the game, including both powerful muscle cars and sophisticated sports cars. The gameplay is engaging and engrossing because of the responsive and smooth controls.
The 4 race modes in the game are Grip, Drag, Drift, and Speed. In grip races, the winner is decided by four factors after the player completes numerous track circuits while racing. Examples include having the fastest lap time, shortest sector time, or finishing first or ahead of a group of competitors based on their vehicle’s performance. A sector serves as a visual depiction of a circuit segment.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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Need for Speed: Prostreet - Playstation 3 | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
NFS ProStreet offers a fantastic racing experience with a range of vehicles, realistic damage, and stunning aesthetics. Prepare to rev your motors and control the streets in this thrilling racer!
Developer: EA Black Box
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: November 14, 2007
NFS: Shift
NFS: Shift is an awesome racing game that makes your heart race limitlessly! It seems like you’re competing in a genuine race from the convenience of your couch. Brace yourselves towards your seat while you gear up for exciting gameplay with the best-in-class graphics.
While playing the game, you can literally feel the wind going past you while you hit the top speed and take sharp turns. You can personalize the vehicle according to your likes and tastes and enjoy a ride. G-force is crucial to the game because it impacts both the player and the AI opponents. In the in-car view, you can see the driver changing gears and doing head movements to enhance the immersion.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Need for Speed: Shift - Xbox 360 | $8.96 | Buy on Amazon |
Whether or not you are a racing junkie, the game will take you on a ride like never before. So buckle up the belts, and let the racing begin.
Developer: Slightly Mad Studios
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: September 15, 2009
NFS: The Run
Need for Speed: The Run lets you compete against the elite to emerge and be the best among the best. Here, the players take part in real-world locations in the United States. In the time attack and survivor rounds, players must prevent their vehicles from being smashed while under assault.
The player can stop at a gas station during a race to switch out their vehicle and customize its appearance. Each time you upgrade your vehicle, it only gets better. There are no rules when you compete in illicit racing across the deserts, mountains, and cities of the US that stand between your triumph and you.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Need for Speed: The Run - Playstation 3 |
$17.97 |
Buy on Amazon |
Call on your friends, compete with them, and show them who the best racer is. Reach the checkpoints, collect the points, and enhance your driving skills. Immerse yourself in the joyous adventure that the game provides you with. Sleeve up, and let the races begin.
Developer: EA Black Box
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: November 15, 2011
NFS: Underground 2
Need for Speed: Underground 2 brings you the races happening anywhere and at any time. To make a name for yourself in the game, you will have to level up and show the racing world that you are the best. As you encounter rivals racing on the street, the competition will grow for buying the hottest upgrades or participating in elite racing events.
Being the first game in the series to feature an open world, players can freely explore the city while driving around and competing in races to unlock new spots. Each neighborhood in the game gives the racers a unique and realistic feel. It is also the first game in the NFS racing series that provides three options of SUVs for racing.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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Need for Speed Underground 2 - PlayStation 2 | $16.99 | Buy on Amazon |
It keeps you seated on the edge with nail-biting visuals and gameplay. Invite other OG racers and your friends, and play an exciting game like never before. Roll up and loosen your gaming spirit and let the cars do the talking while you sit on the couch and race.
Developer: EA Black Box
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: November 15, 2004
Final Words
Playing these NFS games will bring back your childhood, especially if you’re an adult who hasn’t played these games in a while. If not, you are in for the exciting journey the series brings you. NFS games offer various gaming options, including battling AI opponents, participating in frantic police chases, and fine-tuning vehicle customizations. They let you escape into the world of fast cars, bringing your imagined cars to reality.
NFS allows the players to fulfill their vehicle personalization fantasies with exciting upgrades and customization options. With games that fill your heart with excitement and thrill, the series is expected to bring more and more mind-boggling experiences. So, make a plan with your gamer friends, roll up your sleeves, and rouse your engines. Accelerate into the world of cars and racing.
Up next, if you’re into action, check out the best PS4 fighting games.
