Leon Patel
The Need for Speed franchise has been around since 1994, capturing the hearts of racing fans and setting the standard for thrilling street racing games. While the series continues to release new titles, many fans feel it has lost some of the spark that made it a phenomenon.
Although it was only mildly received by Fans and Critics, the franchise was so big at one time, it spawned a Hollywood movie staring Aaron Paul as the lead in 2014. Despite this, Need for Speed remains a beloved staple in gaming, proving that it still has a loyal following.
To make this list, I determined the games, have to be memorable, fun to play and repayable in their own rights and did enough to switch up the formula instead of a simple copy and paste job. With that in mind, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the series’ legacy and highlight the five best Need for Speed games that have defined this iconic franchise.
5 – Need for Speed: Payback (2017)
With its emphasis on cinematic storytelling, explosive action sequences, and a crew of charismatic characters, Payback felt like a playable version of the hugely popular Fast & Furious movie series. The game leaned into Hollywood level of stunts, high-speed car chases, and dramatic set pieces, piggybacking off the Fast & Furious formula to create a fun, adrenaline-fueled experience.
Whether players were pulling off daring heists or outrunning the cops, Payback delivered fast-paced fun that echoed the excitement of Hollywood’s most successful car-driven franchise. This game was fun as a first go through, but it didn’t really have that replay value the series was known for. Still I can’t help but remember my playthrough of this and remember it being a blast and would happily replay this and enjoy it in the same way I would enjoy watching a movie at home again.
4 – Need for Speed: Rivals (2013)
This entry might not always get the spotlight, but it was a real standout in the series for a lot of players. The seamless blend of single-player and multiplayer was a total game-changer. You could be racing AI one minute and suddenly get ambushed by another player—no menus, no waiting—just pure, unfiltered adrenaline.
The open world of Redview County was massive and gorgeous for a mid HD entry, with highways, forests, and mountain roads that felt alive thanks to the dynamic weather system. But the real hook was the rivalry (HA HE SAID IT!) between racers and cops. Whether you were flooring it to evade a high-speed pursuit or hunting down rogue drivers as a cop, the game had an intensity that kept you excited.
3 – Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (2010)
What really set Hot Pursuit apart was the Autolog system, which revolutionized multiplayer. Competing against friends’ times and scores felt seamless, pushing you to always do better. The game also looked stunning, with breathtaking scenery and cars that felt fast and responsive.
And if you missed it the first time around, the remastered version in 2020 brought all that excitement back with improved visuals and cross-platform multiplayer, making it the perfect time to jump back in. It’s no surprise Hot Pursuit (2010) is still considered one of the best in the series—it’s the ultimate cops vs. racers showdown, and an absolute blast to play.
2 – Need for Speed: Underground 2 (2004)
Need for Speed: Underground 2 is hands-down one of the franchise’s best, and easily my personal favourite. It took everything great about the first Underground and cranked it up to 11. The introduction of Bayview, a sprawling open world, let you cruise the streets, find hidden races, and customize your car like never before. The freedom to explore and build your reputation was exhilarating to me as a kid.
Customization was next-level—you could tweak every aspect of your ride, from flashy neon underglows to wild body kits. Add in new race modes like Street X and URL, plus the dynamic weather and day-night cycles, and it was a game that kept you hooked. Underground 2 didn’t just build on the original, it evolved it into the ultimate street racing experience. Still it may be my all-time favourite, and a true gem of the series, I have to admit my number 1 pick is right to be considered the best…
Bonus – Need for Speed: World (2010)
So, I said at the start, to make it on this list, the games had to still hold up to today’s standards and still be fun to play. The game was shutdown back in July 2015 and if this game was still online, it would’ve made this list easily.
Players were treated to a blend of a fictional world that combined the best of Rockport, the gritty urban setting from Most Wanted, and Palmont, the neon-lit cityscape of Carbon. The game’s map design stitched these two worlds together, enhanced by redesigned graphics and fresh locations that bridged the cities seamlessly. The result was a massive open-world playground where players could lose themselves in the thrill of high-speed pursuits, blending nostalgia with innovation in one cohesive racing experience.
So, while it is no longer possible to play this game due to it being an online only game that got shut down, I still felt this needed to be mentioned because it was still a fun experience and looking back at the old website, brings back a lot of nostalgic memories.
1 – Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005)
We all knew this one was coming. The original Need for Speed: Most Wanted from 2005 still holds up insanely well and is STILL widely considered the best in the franchise. So, it’s not a surprise that there are Rumours that EA are making a 1to1 remake of this amazing game.
What set Most Wanted apart was its ability to combine the thrill of underground street racing with the heart-pounding tension of cat-and-mouse pursuits with the cops. The mix of arcade-style racing, cinematic cutscenes, and memorable moments of smashing through roadblocks or outsmarting police helicopters made it an instant classic. It struck the perfect balance between accessibility for casual players and depth for hardcore fans, making it a defining entry in the Need for Speed franchise.
What I feel sets this older entry apart from the newer ones in the franchise is the arcade controls. When Need for Speed went full HD (as in not cross gen like this one), myself and other players felt that arcade controls were lost for a more realistic feel. While I agree that its good to innovate and improve on old tech, there is a reason players can replay this multiple times over, as apposed to the latest release and that’s because the arcade and simplicity these games brought. I sure hope the remake at least has an option to play with retro controls.
