Need for Speed Games is one of those game franchises that has been around for years now and gives players more than a few parts to enjoy. The Need For Speed has shown from time to time, that it is a remarkable gaming industry with excellent racing games. In this article, I have provided the best need for speed games.
Need for Speed has endured since 1994, positioning itself as one of the most famous and iconic racing video game series of all time. It has been updated in many ways since its beginning, but it has always stayed reliable to its core, giving an arcade experience with a varying focus on police chases, customization, and more.
Grouping with several developers, the Need for Speed industry has produced 20 official main series games, making it one of the longest series in history. Some of these games were hot, while some smelled like burning rubber, and it has long been argued which of these main titles is the best among the rest.
Here’s an updated list of the Best Need for Speed Games each one deserving trying for the first time. Putting every Need for Speed game from worst to best.
Top Need For Speed Games Ranking Worst To Best
10. Need For Speed No Limits

- Platform: Android And IOS
- Release Date: 30 September 2015
- Genre: Racing
- Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
Need for Speed: No Limits is the first-ever original game in the complete series of Need For Speed games from the scratch for IOS and Android devices. Need for Speed: No Limits sets a large focus on street racing, vehicle customization, and escaping the police. There are 900 various events in the race, the players can try climbing 100 levels as they go ahead through various stages 38 race tracks in multiple cities, and 30 fully authorized cars.
9. Need For Speed: Carbon

- Platform: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Wii, Windows, and Mac OS X
- Release Date: 18 November 2008
- Genre: Racing
- Modes: Multiplayer
Need for Speed Carbon is produced under the banner of Electronics Arts. It is the tenth part of the series. Need for Speed Carbon game is set in the city named Palmont. Players run a team and can pick street racers who are especially on their team and active racers are called wingmen. Each high-end road racer includes two skills, a racing skill, and a non-racing skill.
Need for Speed Carbon takes you totally diverse, charming, and innovative gameplay, such as Streetcar Racing, Gangs, Crew, Controlled Racing Environments, Exciting Racing Events, Enhanced Graphical Features, and a large number of choices to customize the game.
8. Need for Speed Undercover

- Platform: PlayStation 2, 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Windows, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS
- Release Date: October 30, 2006
- Genre: Racing
- Modes: Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Need for Speed: Undercover can be considered one of the most popular and best need for speed racing games of all time. Although the game was launched in 2008, it is still loved by the players. This game is about an illegal street race taking place in the fictional tri-city area. The story follows an undercover police officer examining links between stolen cars, street racers, and a criminal syndicate. Still, this part comes with a large variety of real-world cars. Along with that, you’ll also experience the RPG-style system in the main story mode.
7. Need For Speed Hot Pursuit

- Platform: PlayStation 3, Android, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, Wii, iOS, Java, Windows Phone, WebOS
- Release Date: 16 November 2010
- Genre: Racing
- Modes: Multiplayer
Need For Speed Hot Pursuit is the sixteenth part of the NFS franchise. The game has earned several accolades and awards due to its excellent gameplay and features. In this game, you can compete in many racing tournaments that catch the crux of the game. It has won the award for “Best Need For Speed Racing Games” from the 2010 Game Critics Awards. The game is based on a fictional town known as Seacrest County. Here you can compete in many types of racing tournaments and later reach the top of the country. It has a career mode that is equipped with many race options.
6. Need for Speed Payback

- Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
- Release Date: 10 November 2017
- Genre: Racing
- Modes: Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Typically, in racing video games, all you have to do is compete with your opponents, overtake them on the race track and cover your lap time before anyone else, and win the round. Unlike regular road racing games, NFS Payback has a story to offer. It will definitely give you the feel of a cinematic driving hero who is riding on the roads with police chasing after him. The developers of this series have focused on building the plot interesting.
The story in this game is about an iconic street racer Tyler Morgan. The story is about his hunt for revenge, captured and thrown into exile by those controlling Fortune Valley’s underworld activities.
5. Need For Speed (2015)

- Platform: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
- Release Date: 3 November 2015
- Genre: Racing
- Modes: Singleplayer, Multiplayer, Racing, Adventure, Simulation
Need for Speed (2015) is the 22nd installment in the Need for Speed series of games. The story of the game follows a group of players who want to be an icon. The group consists of five members including Spike, Amy, Robin, Manu, and Travis. As the game progresses, the player becomes the ultimate icon and his final challenge is to defeat the group and the icon. The game is placed in the creative city of Ventura Bay and its surroundings. It highlights five different gameplay types including Speed, Style, Crew, Build, and Outlaw.
4. Need For Speed: Shift

- Platform: Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS, PlayStation Portable, Java Platform, Micro Edition, Xbox 360
- Release Date: 15 September 2009
- Genre: Racing
- Modes: Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Need for Speed Shift is the thirteenth part of the Need for Speed franchise. It gives gamers a real-life racing experience, joining the game with real-world physics, interesting gameplay, racing mechanics, pixel-perfect car designs, and diversity of racing tracks. Need for Speed Shift has been appreciated for its ridiculous driving visuals and experiences, and excellent soundtrack. The game is specifically developed for hardcore gamers.
The game highlights over 60 various cars, available in 4 levels. Tier 1 lets players access luxury cars like Infiniti G35, and Audi TT. Tier 2 lets players own mid-level performance cars like the BMW M3. In Tier 3, players can run supercars like Lamborghini Gallardo. Finally, at the highest level, the game allows the Pagani Zonda R or Bugatti Veyron.
3. Need For Speed: Underground 2

- Platform: PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, Xbox, GameCube, PlayStation Portable, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Java
- Release Date: 9 November 2004
- Genre: Racing
- Modes: Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Need for Speed: Underground 2 had plenty of car variety and customization to make the game stand alone. Underground 2 took a significant step ahead for the franchise by giving players the first open-world map to play in, where racers had to go to events to unlock them. This Game allowed players unlimited content to get fallen in with tons of customization, a long story, exciting side missions, and improved graphics.
Underground 2 also provided players the opportunity to drive around in an SUV, a trait that hasn’t been available since. Still, the purpose it finished a close third is due to police intervention in an amazingly criminal setting, as well as an extreme amount of driving to arrive at some races.
2. Need For Speed Most Wanted (2012)

- Platform: Android, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita, iOS, Wii U, Amazon Fire tablet
- Release Date: 30 October 2012
- Genre: Racing
- Modes: Multiplayer
It is an open-world racing game with a unique racing style that the player can use to his advantage during the gameplay to find hiding places. The game also lets the player buy new vehicles by doing great in the game which will help the player to make a move ahead in the game. Need for Speed Most Wanted game is about the player’s ability to escape from the police team. This game lets your friends enjoy the experience through the real Criterion mode present in this game. In this game, your opponents will try various tactics to stop you from reaching the top by scoring more. The player has to be very alert while playing this game.
1. Need For Speed Heat

- Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
- Release Date: 28 October 2019
- Genre: Racing
- Modes: Singleplayer, Multiplayer
I put the Need For Speed Heat up in the first place because it is the best need for speed games. I think it is the last and final part of the need for a speed franchise, which has become everyone’s preference in a short span of time. It is the twenty-fourth installment of the game series. The game takes place in a fictional land called Palm City. It is an open-world game where various players compete against each other in a show of speedhunters during the day. The game also lets players race against evil police force cars at night. Players can decide whether they want to play during the day or at night.
Final Words
So, here is the Best Need For Speed Games Ranked from worst to Best. If you think I have missed any series of this game and you think it should be added to this article, you can comment below and I will add the game.
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