Need for Speed used to be the definitive racing franchise, and many folks would argue that it still holds that crown. EA’s series has produced roughly a dozen of the best racing games of all time, ones that were groundbreaking when they launched and have aged gracefully enough to stand the test of time. However, in the last decade or so, NFS has lost steam, as none of the most recent mainline entries have really felt like leaps forward, especially for the genre as a whole. That’s not to say they are terrible, as they are relatively fun, but they chipped away at the IP’s reputation for excellence. NFS went from a trend-setter to a follower, living in the shadow of modern releases like Forza Horizon.
Currently, Need for Speed Unbound is the most recent console entry, and it came out in 2022. While logic dictates that a proper follow-up is in the works, EA has remained quiet about NFS‘s future, which is (frankly) worrying. The series has never gone more than 3 years without a new release, and we have already skipped that point in time. Hell, the most attention the series has gotten recently is the news that EA shut down Rivals‘ servers. Is Need for Speed done as a flagship racer? Probably (and hopefully) not, and it would be a tragedy if that proved to be the case. In the meantime, let’s celebrate everything that came before by highlighting the best NFS games ever, alongside the weaker ones.
Want to jump to a specific Need for Speed game? Just click the Jump Links on the side of this article. Note: The games are listed in release order in the Jump Links.
Updated on December 6, 2025, by Mark Sammut: The intro was updated to better reflect Need for Speed’s current state. The series has been dormant for quite a while, at least by its standards. We hope NFS will eventually grace consoles and PC again, but the wait is starting to get a bit worrying.
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29
Need For Speed: Top Speed
An Online-Only Extension Of Porsche Unleashed That Is Limited To History Nowadays
Need for Speed: Top Speed has been added for historical and completionist reasons, as the web browser game is no longer accessible, so I cannot personally speak about its quality. That said, it was essentially a sampler of Porsche Unleashed and hype-building material for the upcoming Hot Pursuit 2, and it came with the novelty of being available only online. That said, its bigger brother was and still is one of the best NFS games, so Top Speed should have been a pretty decent slice of entertainment.
So, what did it include? Well, Top Speed has three tracks and three cars from Porsche Unleashed, and you would need to complete time trials to unlock them. There were no traditional races, and the content would probably only keep you entertained for an hour or so. That said, internet speeds in 2001 were not great, so maybe Top Speed could have kept you coming back for months.
28
Need For Speed: Assemble (Or Mobile)
A 2024 Mobile NFS Game That Has Yet To Announce A Global Release
- China Release Date: July 11, 2024
- Platforms: Android, iOS
- Developer: TiMi Studio Group
Need for Speed is no stranger to mobile games, but many of them have opted not to come to Western nations. Duel was the Chinese version of No Limits, with the latter being the only notable mobile NFS game to be released in North America. Finally, there is Need for Speed: Assemble or Mobile, EA and Tencent’s latest attempt to grab a chunk of the Asian market.
The project debuted in 2024 in China, before eventually spreading to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. At this point, there is nothing to suggest that a Western expansion is on the horizon, although weirder things have happened.
I don’t have access to Assemble, so I cannot give a proper ranking. Consequently, I’ve included the game just because it warrants a mention, and there is always a chance that it could eventually make the jump and earn an international debut.
27
Need For Speed: Edge (Or Online)
MMO Version Of A Mobile Game That Never Came To Western Nations
No Limits is Need for Speed‘s main mobile game, and it has been around for more than a decade by this point. The game has never been ported to consoles or PC; to be exact, it has yet to make the transition in Western countries. In Korea and China, No Limits did kind of receive a PC version, albeit one that did change enough things to be a singular experience.
Known as NFS Online in China, NFS Edge only lasted for about two years before it was shut down for good. Nowadays, there are some ways to play the game offline, but it is no longer available in its original iteration. As I cannot play Edge (or Online) in the way it was meant to be played, I’m just adding it here to give it a shout-out.
26
Need For Speed: Payback
An All-Time Shame In The Series’ History
Unfortunately, it has not been long enough since the release of Need For Speed: Payback to forget about it. The game is the worst-ever entry in the Need for Speed franchise, thanks to a grindy progression system that was seemingly designed to force players to buy XP boosters to level up faster.
Even when putting the progression system aside, Payback was still disappointing in terms of gameplay mechanics, particularly when it comes to car handling and customization options. The game was trying to tell a compelling story about a criminal cartel, but the narrative was heavily rushed. Furthermore, the free roam is arguably the worst in the franchise, with the world being lifeless and just not fun to explore due to almost nothing happening. Even cops are largely absent.
Is NFS Payback Worth Playing In 2025?
Honestly, no, at least not the vanilla version without any mods that reduce the progression system’s frustrating nature. That said, the story is pretty decent for NFS, and Payback is still playable.
25
The Need For Speed
A Promising Start
The original Need for Speed is a classic racing game that set the stage for a franchise that would come to define the genre. The title that started it all was considered quite the leap forward for its time, offering players some amazingly entertaining arcade-style racing, with interesting tracks, and great visuals (from a 1994 standpoint).
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By today’s standards, The Need for Speed seems like an incredibly lackluster release that features a handful of cars and tracks. Its “ranking” is by no means meant to be a criticism, but it’s simply an acknowledgment that NFS has evolved by leaps and bounds in the modern age. These impressive titles should be thankful for their origins, which helped elevate them into a series that’s still ongoing almost 30 years later.
Is The Need For Speed Worth Playing In 2025?
As a historical artifact to see the franchise’s origins? Sure, The Need for Speed warrants a boot up and a couple of races. As an actual game that can be enjoyed indefinitely, there are simply too many better options out there.
24
Need For Speed: Undercover
An Uneven Affair With A Few High Spots
Although police chases are still a significant part of this Need For Speed Installment, players play the part of an undercover police officer in Undercover. To infiltrate a crime syndicate, players compete in street races and drive stolen cars. The speeds players can reach in this game are absurd. This heart-pounding adventure can be a ton of fun, at least depending on what players crave.
Need for Speed: Undercover even has role-playing elements that allow players to improve their licensed real-world cars. However, this game is arguably too easy, and its somewhat repetitive nature and lack of racing variety make it feel like a title that should’ve had more time in the oven.
For all its issues, Undercover is still a solid option. The story is fine and shines through the campaign missions more seamlessly than in some of the more recent entries. The track design and map are both pretty good, and Highway Battle is among the best one-off modes.
Is NFS Undercover Worth Playing In 2025?
Unless you have nostalgia for it, I cannot recommend Undercover at this point. Not only are there many, many better NFS games, but there are also plenty of 2000s racers that deserve to be remembered before Undercover. Just play Burnout 3.
23
Need For Speed (2015)
A Major Visual Achievement
Need for Speed (2015) is weird. Arguably the most hyped entry of the franchise’s modern era, the self-titled game launched to a notably mixed reception, way more than was typical for the series at the time. One could argue that Need for Speed marked a turning point for the license as a whole, one that saw it receive a new reputation for mediocrity rather than brilliance.
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The underwhelming reception is not unwarranted either, as the controls are probably the most polarizing in the entire franchise. If they don’t click with someone, they can just downright make the game unpleasant to play, undermining any other positives. The thing is, Need for Speed has quite a few strengths. The night-only setting gives a strong sense of atmosphere, making this open-world one of the best in the franchise. The story is entertainingly corny rather than just boring.
Is NFS 2015 Worth Playing In 2025?
Here comes a bit of a surprise: Yes, I recommend NFS 2015. Do I love the game? Not really, but plenty of other people have shown appreciation for this entry. Give it a go, especially since it is so cheap to pick up nowadays.
22
Need For Speed: The Run
Trying New, Wild Ideas
In 2011, the Need for Speed franchise took a stab at creating a story-based adventure, unlike anything they’d created in the past. Most traditional NFS titles saw players starting as newbie racers and had them competing to gain “respect” to rise 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 across 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 taste of freedom. It’s an experience that fans are not used to seeing from the series, and the overall story and gameplay mechanics work well. It’s a cult classic for many but, unfortunately, it’s incredibly short and doesn’t offer much in terms of replayability.
Is NFS The Run Worth Playing In 2025?
Yes, to an extent. The Run is still a one-of-a-kind NFS experience that has moments of brilliance. The driving is generally fun, even if races are somewhat undermined by disappointing AI.
21
Need For Speed World
The First-Ever MMO Entry In The Series
Need For Speed World no longer exists as Electronic Arts decided to shut it down back in 2015; however, it was a hotly anticipated game for racing enthusiasts back in 2010. It was the first-ever Need For Speed game with an MMO premise, where players could compete with each other and AI-driven rivals in a shared universe.
The gameplay of Need for Speed World was quite close to that of Most Wanted, where players would mainly take the role of illegal street racers, but they also had to run away from law enforcement units. The idea behind World was quite ahead of its time, and the game managed to reach 1 million players only a few months after its release, but the lack of content support in the following years forced players to leave World.
World is kind of difficult to rank since it isn’t that accessible nowadays. However, fan servers are available for anyone who wants to give this entry a try.
Is NFS World Worth Playing In 2025?
Mostly just for diehard fans who have been playing the game for a long time. Still, the servers are around if you want to try NFS World.
20
Need For Speed: Nitro
An Exclusive Experiment For Nintendo Players
Need for Speed: Nitro was a bit of an experiment for the franchise. The title was released exclusively on Nintendo consoles (the Wii and DS specifically) in 2009 and aimed to make the Need for Speed brand “even more exciting” by elevating the racing experience and cutting out unnecessary fluff. The result was supposed to be a game that played and felt better for younger audiences while still appealing to longtime fans of the series.
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Unfortunately, developers missed the mark when it came to the overall vision for Nitro. The gameplay was solid, but many of the features that fans had come to know and love felt “forced” or were straight-up missing. It also felt “watered-down” compared to the rest of the franchise, with fewer cars and tracks than its predecessors. If viewed as an NFS spin-off rather than a traditional entry, Nitro fares much better, and its stylized presentation is pretty cool.
Is NFS Nitro Worth Playing In 2025?
The Wii version is worth a spin if you have the console around. The game is not great enough to warrant picking up a new copy for anything more than a few bucks, though.
