Then many things accept to happen for a racing game to stand out. It has to take advanced driving mechanics, car customization with depth, deeply engaging tracks, and more. The wish listing for video game racers is so long, which is why a game can neglect for not having information technology all.

Need For Speed has proven time and time again, that information technology is a phenomenal gaming franchise with exceptional racing titles. Games such every bit Need For Speed: Underground have tremendous cornball value. We are thrown for a loop because more of these games aren't backward compatible. These are theNeed For Speed games ranked from worst to best.

Updated by Russ Boswell on June 15th, 2021: The Need for Speed name has become synonymous with Arcade Racing over the years and the franchise has managed to crank out an impressive 24 titles. With no signs of stopping, and development currently underway for their next release, this list has been given an update. Some of the best Need For Speed games out there are lesser-known, strange, or only overlooked. With 24 different titles released on a wide array of platforms and most 30 years since the franchises' inception in 1994, what is the best Need for Speed game? Here'south a look at an updated list of the best Need for Speed games, ranked.

20 Need For Speed

It's hard to get out the original Demand for Speed off a best-of-the-all-time list, because the franchise wouldn't be anywhere near as pop as it is today had its 1994 darling not set the stage for the futurity. The title that started it all was considered quite the spring-forrad for its time, offering players some amazingly entertaining arcade-style racing, with interesting tracks, and not bad visuals (from a 1994 standpoint).

By today's standards, Need for Speed seems similar an incredibly lackluster release that features a handful of cars and tracks. Its spot on this list isn't a dig at the title in whatever way, it'due south simply an acknowledgment that NFS has evolved by leaps and premises in the modern age. These impressive titles should definitely exist thankful for their origins, which helped elevate them into a serial that's yet ongoing nigh 30 years later.

19 Need For Speed: Nitro

Need For Speed: Nitro was a fleck of an "experiment" for the franchise. The title released exclusively on Nintendo consoles (the Wii and DS specifically) in 2009 and aimed to make the Demand for Speed make "even more exciting" by elevating the racing experience and cut out unnecessary fluff. The end issue was supposed to exist a game that played and felt better for younger audiences while still appealing to longtime fans of the serial.

Unfortunately, developers missed the mark when information technology came to the overall vision for Nitro. The gameplay was solid but many of the features that fans had come to know and honey felt "forced" or were direct-upwardly missing. It also felt "watered-down" compared to the rest of the franchise, with fewer cars and tracks than its predecessors.

xviii Demand For Speed: V-Rally 2

Need for Speed: Five-Rally two may not seem familiar to a lot of players thanks to its unconventional titling and focus on Rally racing. The release dropped in 1999 for the PlayStation and would release again in 2000 for the Dreamcast. If it doesn't look familiar to those of you lot that played the Dreamcast, it'due south because the championship was renamed to Test Drive5-Rally, omitting the Demand for Speed moniker.

The reason for this is that 5-Rally isn't a "traditional NFS" game. It's actually a sequel to the original V-Rally and produced by the same studio, Eden Studios. Past its anarchistic naming and Rally focus, 5-Rally 2 is actually a pretty impressive game. It features a multitude of tracks and vehicles, fun gameplay, four-player support, and even offers upwards a track editor. It may only be a Demand for Speed championship in proper noun, but information technology'south a great improver to the franchise regardless.

17 Demand For Speed: The Run

In 2011, the Need for Speed franchise took a stab at creating a story-based adventure, unlike anything they'd created in the by. Most traditional NFS titles saw players starting out as newbie racers and had them competing to proceeds "respect" in lodge to rising through the ranks and become the best of the best. Need for Speed: The Run, tosses this premise in favor of something far more compelling; a literal race beyond the country with the player character's very life at stake.

The Run spans the countryside and forces players to outrun opponents, police, and even the mob, all for a gustatory modality of freedom. It's an experience that fans are non used to seeing from the series, and the overall story and gameplay mechanics work extremely well. Information technology'southward a cult archetype for many but, unfortunately, it'south incredibly short and doesn't offer much in terms of replayability.

16 Demand For Speed: Estrus

Demand For Speed: Heat marks the latest entry in the franchise, bringing the full number of games to an impressive 24. At start glance, Heat seems like a formula for absolute success, with incredible visuals, tight driving mechanics, and the iconic gameplay elements that fans of the series crave. There's an open world to explore, auto customization, sim-manner upgrading, arcade racing action, and even intense police chases.

Heat has all the elements of an iconic championship but information technology'due south been met with mixed reviews, with players either loving the installment or lambasting information technology. Information technology'southward definitely not the greatest NFS experience players have seen just it's still a blast for anyone looking for a modern racer.

15 Need For Speed: ProStreet

A green color sports car waits to start driving in Need For Speed ProStreet

The series tried to become for both an arcade-mode and a simulation for this ProStreet , resulting in a bit of a mess in the final product. Things are tighter in the game, equally the focus is more than on the legal side of racing, which doesn't exactly interpret into the "fun" side of things.

Still, ProStreet can exist considered underrated since it brings in a sense of realism that the Need for Speed series didn't feature earlier. It's certainly not the best in the series but is withal worth checking out.

14 Need For Speed 2

A yellow MacLaren rides through the countryside in Need For Speed 2

Back in the twenty-four hours, there could be no cooler game than Need for Speed II . The title didn't have a great campaign style or the near creative flair, but it fabricated up for all that with flash and fashion. Not to mention the affluence of cars and tracks to race on.

The biggest trouble with the title was its buggy nature, as glitches were mutual to find and interfered more than a few times with gameplay. Its sleek nature still deserves praise, as the game was lauded for making the cars look extra realistic.

13 Need for Speed: Rivals

A police car chases after street racers in Need For Speed Rivals

It wouldn't exist out of the ordinary to compare Need For Speed: Rivals to Burnout Paradise. Both games take cinematic crashes, and both games are open up-world. Unfortunately, Need For Speed: Rivals has its off-white share of bugs and glitches. Had the game been more polished, it could take been an exceptional launch game for the PlayStation iv and Xbox I. The concept of the game looks good on newspaper, but it had poor execution. Yet, Need For Speed: Rivals is 1 of the all-time Need For Speed games thus far.

12 Demand For Speed: Porsche Unleashed

A red car is shown with a number of customization options in Need For Speed Porsche Unleashed

The game'south expertise with bringing Porsche cars to the forefront can besides be considered its negative indicate. It brings in a narrow point of view in the racing world, as Porsche is the but brand featured. That'southward not to say the game isn't enjoyable, as this might be the classiest entry to date.

There's likewise the fact that Porsche Unleashed is the kickoff game to bring an actual story, equally players can appoint in this plot in improver to their racing exploits. The focus on completing stunts is another aspect with a sure charm.

11 Need For Speed: Hugger-mugger

An image of a woman is shown above a picture of cars racing with the Need for SPeed Undercover logo

Although police chases are still a pregnant part of this Need For Speed Installment, players play the function of an undercover police officer. To infiltrate a law-breaking syndicate, players compete in street races and drive stolen cars. The speeds you lot can reach in this game are absurd. This centre-pounding adventure is a ton of fun, and it's why Need For Speed: Cloak-and-dagger is considered 1 of the best Need For Speed games to engagement. The game even has office-playing game elements that allow players to improve their licensed real-world cars.

ten Need For Speed: Carbon

A number of cars drive in super speed in Need for Speed

Need For Speed: Carbonorth is a lot like Need For Speed: Underground, but it had a shorter, albeit still enjoyable unmarried-player campaign in comparison. It too has less car customization than Demand For Speed Cloak-and-dagger. Equally information technology allows you to apply nitrous oxide, it'due south worthy of being included in the best games for street races and has genuinely fun gameplay that surprises at every turn.

For a game that released more than ten years ago, it holds upward well. Driving mechanics are exceptional, and the game has high replay value. Cornball players can go dorsum to Need For Speed: Carbon without thinking twice.

9 Demand For Speed: Hot Pursuit

A silver colored car is pursued by a police car in Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit

This stunning open-world racing game pits players confronting the police or outlaw drivers. Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit was the start game that allowed players to be behind the cycle of a law car. It contains a story-mode for the almost wanted driver and a policeman.

From the makers of the Burnout series, Demand For Speed: Hot Pursuit is a ton of fun. This 2010 game stood out when information technology released. Its driving mechanics and exotic vehicles are extraordinary. Futurity Need For Speed games should have inspiration from Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit.

viii Need For Speed: Most Wanted (2012)

Three cars try to overtake one another in Need For Speed Most Wanted 2012

Set in an open up world, 2012's Need for Speed: Almost Wanted aimed to delight long-time fans by bringing back the plus points of the original and combining it with elements from other games. More anything else, exploring the urban center is the main selling betoken.

The i negative betoken is the lack of appeal in single-player mode, as there but isn't as much quality in races here. The game does its all-time job in pushing the boundary of multiplayer racing, with competitions carrying the sense of thrill the fans dearest.

7 Need For Speed (2015)

A green color sports car with a vanity number plate of "Ghost" is parked in a street during the night in Need for Speed

Every bit one of the most predictable Need For Speed games to be released, Demand For Speed (2015) brought back the clandestine feel but added updated graphics and a more than immersive open-globe. However, it failed to deliver on many of Demand For Speed's nearly renowned qualities like motorcar customization and race variation. The game didn't comprise drag races like it should have. The concept should have worked simply the execution was poor. Despite its unforgivable flaws, Need For Speed (2015) is ane of the best games of the Need For Speed franchise.

6 Need For Speed: Shift

A car tries to overtake another in Need For Speed Shift

It was with this entry that the series completely dived into the simulation aspect of things. Need for Speed: Shift is alike to games like Gran Turismo and Forza in that learning how to drive is the heart of the matter and excelling hither is the key to victory.

Information technology has no story, which can be a turn-off for long-time fans merely the shift toward simulation ways a level of originality can be found in this game. Highly detailed cars and points of view are perfect for fans to get their racing dreams on.

5 Demand For Speed: Underground

need for speed underground three quarters shot of Nissan race car driving through street

It wouldn't be out of the question to place Need For Speed: Surreptitious higher on this list, given the amount of customization. It laid the foundation for the other Hugger-mugger and subsequent Need For Speed games. NFSU proved that even a Dodge Neon or Honda Civic could be turned into a race machine. The game released on consoles such equally the PlayStation ii, Xbox, and PC. NFSU'due south drag races and time attacks were fun. This game released effectually the fourth dimension that The Fast and the Furious released, so the hole-and-corner car scene was trendy.

4 Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2

A Lamborghini drives around the countryside in Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2

The Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit game series contains a couple of Need For Speed's most recognizable games.Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 came back with improved gameplay, amend open-world environments, and some of the finest exotic vehicles of all time. The game even allows players to get off-road, which is something that was rarely seen in video games when information technology released. When we retrieve of Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, we can compare information technology to games similar Forza Horizon. Unfortunately, the serial has taken a downturn since this game's release.

3 Need For Speed: About Wanted

A silver and blue colored car is parked in an alleyway with the Need for Speed Most Wanted logo above

Demand For Speed: Nigh Wanted is a masterpiece driving game. It avoided the trend of bad reboots, and who could've guessed that a game that released on consoles such equally Android, iOS, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 could be enjoyable? It may have actually been the best on mobile devices.

The fact that near anyone could leap into the game made it appealing. Information technology took afterward the Demand For Speed Underground merely too differentiated itself with unique race tracks and peak-notch driving mechanics. It won the VGX Award for Best Driving Game. This is one Need For Speed game y'all tin can't miss!

2 Need For Speed: Shift 2 – Unleashed

Two cars race neck and neck while another chases them in Need For Speed: Shift 2 – Unleashed

The career style of Need For Speed: Shift 2 – Unleashed is its highlight. Its races feature a wide range of tracks against top-tier drivers.Need For Speed: Shift ii – Unleashed is a huge improvement over its predecessor. As a game that released in 2011, the graphics don't look that dated. According to ea.com, "SHIFT 2 Unleashed redefines the racing simulator genre by delivering authentic and true-to-life, dynamic crash physics, plus insanely detailed real-world cars, drivers and tracks."

ane Need For Speed: Surreptitious 2

Need For Speed

The soundtrack could have had more variety. Listening to the same songs playing over and over was frustrating. Notwithstanding, Demand For Speed: Cloak-and-dagger 2 had enough auto diversity and customization to make the game stand on that alone. The career fashion is the high-point of Need For Speed Underground 2, but the online and local multiplayer weren't bad either. The game has the most customization of any Demand For Speed game, and it's why it's considered the best Need For Speed game of all time.

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