Need for Speed Unbound

 PlayStation 5
Need for Speed Unbound Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 53 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 524 Ratings

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  • Summary: START AT THE BOTTOM, RACE TO THE TOP. The world is your canvas in Need for Speed™ Unbound. Prove you have what it takes to win The Grand, Lakeshore’s ultimate street racing challenge. Across four intense weeks of racing, earn enough cash to enter weekly qualifiers, beat the competition, andSTART AT THE BOTTOM, RACE TO THE TOP. The world is your canvas in Need for Speed™ Unbound. Prove you have what it takes to win The Grand, Lakeshore’s ultimate street racing challenge. Across four intense weeks of racing, earn enough cash to enter weekly qualifiers, beat the competition, and make your mark on the street racing scene while outdriving and outsmarting the cops. Pack your garage with precision-tuned, custom rides and light up the streets with your unique style, exclusive fits, and a vibrant global soundtrack led by A$AP Rocky and AWGE that bumps in every corner of the world. Express yourself to the fullest with the freshest new art styles and signature tags that represent what you're all about. With separate single and multiplayer campaigns, this latest edition in the Need for Speed™ franchise from Criterion Games™ delivers hours of electric, adrenaline-pumping action.

    • Graffiti comes to life in Need for Speed™ Unbound with an all-new, unique visual style that blends elements of the freshest street art with the most realistic looking cars in Need for Speed™ history. Access a brand-new toolkit of high-energy visual and sound effects to express your driving skills, including Burst Nitrous, a new boost tactic that delivers a dizzying rush of speed.

    • To get to the top, you gotta take risks. Choose how and when to put it all on the line, pulling huge drifts on the street, outdriving the cops, or placing side bets with your own earnings against rival racers. Time is money, so find the fastest way to earn enough cash to enter the weekly qualifiers and make it to Lakeshore’s ultimate race, The Grand.

    • The more you race, the more you build heat. While the cops pile on the pressure, you gotta make tactical decisions using new escape mechanics to take control of the chase. Do you outrun the cops, battle them head on, or hide out in Lakeshore's underground? Run these streets and you’ll reap the rewards.

    • Pull up to a Meetup and show off your unique style with hundreds of cosmetic items to choose from, including exclusive gear from some of the world’s most pioneering fashion innovators. Extend that look to your ride, transforming your cars with unique wraps and cutaways for the ultimate legendary custom. And when you take first, don't forget to stunt on the competition with your own personal win poses.    … Expand
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Need for Speed Unbound - Risk & Reward Gameplay Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 53
  3. Negative: 0 out of 53
  1. The Enemy
    Dec 14, 2022
    100
    Unbound is everything a fan of the franchise could want and an example of how to revamp a series without losing any of the essence of what a good Need for Speed is. More than just an excellent arcade racing game, Criterion leaves players with shining eyes as they imagine how much better this could be in the future.
  2. TheSixthAxis
    Dec 5, 2022
    90
    Need for Speed Unbound is the best arcade racer of 2022, and a real statement from EA and Criterion. Why it’s snuck out with so little fanfare will be one of the mysteries of the year.
  3. TierraGamer
    Jan 5, 2023
    82
    Need for Speed Unbound is a visually appealing game accessible to anyone. Hardcore fans are going to enjoy it a lot, and casual fans too. Thanks to this great work, Criterion has the window open to present new ideas like the one we saw in Unbound.
  4. Hobby Consolas
    Dec 2, 2022
    78
    Need for Speed Unbound does not reinvent the wheel, but it does tune it. Criterion Games wanted to stand out with its new artistic style and has succeeded. We are not facing the best driving game of the year, but we do see an NFS that wants the saga to return to the highest categories. Fun, fast and furious.
  5. The Games Machine
    Dec 9, 2022
    75
    Need for Speed: Unbound is a particular project, capable of forcefully bringing street culture back into fashion, the contemporary one of generation Z, but unable to create new spaces of playful expression. Everything that revolves around the characters in the story and our avatar works like a god, from the style chosen to describe them to the guide system, from the soundtrack to the graffiti-style special effects, in contrast with a Lakeshore which, despite its vibrant technical, remains an ordinary and almost anonymous city, a hub with a few collectibles scattered around that act as glue for a rather lazy play structure.
  6. IGN Adria
    Dec 16, 2022
    70
    As a standalone title, or if it's your first NFS, it's not bad, but it's not the kick-start the series needed. If you're looking for a game to kick back and play race after race, Unbound has enough content to keep you glued to the screen.
  7. Metro GameCentral
    Dec 5, 2022
    60
    The best Need For Speed in a decade – but that says far more about the moribund state of the franchise than it does this workmanlike new entry.

See all 54 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 149 out of 296
  2. Mixed: 33 out of 296
  3. Negative: 114 out of 296
  1. Emsii
    Dec 2, 2022
    10
    I cannot explain how much I am in love with this game. Meanwhile it might not reach the level of the series greats, like infamous Most Wanted,I cannot explain how much I am in love with this game. Meanwhile it might not reach the level of the series greats, like infamous Most Wanted, it does follow the Most Wanted formula, which is catering to the current popculture. And it works just so good. The vibe and energy of cartoonish effects somehow fits in the streets of Lakeshore, not to mention the soundtrack, where some songs just create an "experience" during night time. Finally a great highlight for this series in a long time, that was waiting to happen with their last 2 games showcasing potential. I wonder if they can outdo themselves with the next game or maybe if they have plans for DLCs. I grew up with NFS games and I cannot explain the euphoria I'm feeling right now.… Expand
  2. a7ha
    Dec 3, 2022
    10
    One of the best games in the series. Criterion did a really good job, the game has everything for both new players and old ones. goodOne of the best games in the series. Criterion did a really good job, the game has everything for both new players and old ones. good atmosphere, gameplay, variety of tuning, car physics, everything is at a good level.… Expand
  4. Max_Lazy_10
    Nov 30, 2022
    10
    While by no means perfect, Criterion's put the franchise back on the road with NFS Unbound. Oozing with originality, and giving players theirWhile by no means perfect, Criterion's put the franchise back on the road with NFS Unbound. Oozing with originality, and giving players their fix however they want to play (whether in story mode, online, customizing cars, or outrunning the cops), Need for Speed Unbound is the strongest outing the series has had to date since Criterion's Hot Pursuit entry in 2010.… Expand
  5. Speed971
    Dec 2, 2022
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The best After most wanted et underground. The best performance. The good racing games… Expand
  6. username666872
    Dec 1, 2022
    4
    Cringe racers that behave and look like degenerates or children 12yo. Music is blood from earss. It is impossible to listen this CRAP. PleaseCringe racers that behave and look like degenerates or children 12yo. Music is blood from earss. It is impossible to listen this CRAP. Please give as rivels 2 or HP!… Expand
  7. Sibu12
    Jan 15, 2023
    1
    The cars in this game feel like high speed monorails. I’ll never forgive EA for funding development of racing games in frostbite.
  8. kam945
    Dec 2, 2022
    0
    Big NOPE. This game is insanely bad. Even its ARCADE RACING, the handling is sooo unpredictable. Now, with the BURST nitro you cannot takeBig NOPE. This game is insanely bad. Even its ARCADE RACING, the handling is sooo unpredictable. Now, with the BURST nitro you cannot take the corners fast without the BURST in the bar. Why? Bcs without it ur car is waaay slower. Also the BURST nitro works so randomly. Sometimes the BURST nitro refills in 100% just for doing nothing, sometimes it doesnt want to refill by even 1% while doing ‚grip’ or ‚drift’. Also.. The BURST nitro works extremely randomly. Sometimes it gives BIG ZERO ACCELERATION. Sometimes it makes ur car super wide drifting, sometimes it gives u super big grip. Second thing: handling physic is broken. If you touch the rival/traffic/wall the steering wheel locks for some sec, and your wheels are locked in the ‚neutral’ position, and you cannot make a big angle - so you cannot manipulate the steering wheel, cannot turn. Same thing happens after every ‚drift’. The roads are filled with random bumps, and the bumps also locks ur steergin wheel. The game should be fun, but the only fun thing is the car customization. Thats all. Fckn **** Worst NFS EVER! NFS RIVALS was filled with bugs, but at least it was mooore fun! The drift is also unpredictable bcs sometimes it gives the standard angle, but sometimes extremely wide and then your car makes a spin. Even at the 5th gear and only 5000rpm. Great job EA & Criterion. You guys did this game even worse than the rookie developers. Table Top Racing World Tour has better handling than this. Even Crash Team Racing..… Expand

See all 296 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Best PlayStation 5 Game of 2022
14
#14 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2022

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