Top 10 Need for Speed Games

First on our list is one of the series’ most polished entries. Porsche Unleashed takes everything that made the franchise fun and exciting from previous titles, but focuses more on the prestigious history of the Porsche cars. The game features actual licensed Porsche models and tracks based off real locations in Europe. The game even let’s you play as an official Porsche test driver in its Factory Driver mode where you would have to beat challenges in order to sign with the company. It’s an elegant addition to the series that has the same kind of luxury you would expect from Porsche.

Shift 2 stays true to its car simulation style and gameplay. This title brings a lot to the table. On top of the realistic racing style, the game also features well known Formula D drivers, such as Vaughn Gittin Jr., Darren McNamara and Tommy Milner, just to name a few. Damage to your car also plays a big role in the game, as it will affect the way your car handles during a race. Shift 2 features a new helmet camera view where you see exactly what the driver sees as he turns his head. And let’s not forget the 145 gorgeous cars to choose from.

Cars, cops and crashes are what you can expect from this high-speed thriller. In this game you get to race fun tracks as either a speedster or a cop. You’ll have objectives as a speedster, like racing through a track without crashing or if you’re a cop, you would have to pursue and immobilize speedsters under a time limit. The game even introduces the franchise’s standard social interactive feature, Autolog, where players can post their achievements into the feed for their friends to see online. It is an interesting take on the classic Hot Pursuit titles and it does not disappoint.

EA achieved much success from the first Need for Speed and followed it up with this classic racer. It was the first Need for Speed to include customization. Although limited, players got a taste of personalization in this installment in the franchise. The same quick arcade driving style carries on from the first game. But what really does it for this installment are the exciting tracks. There is never a dull moment when you’re racing. Even though the graphics haven’t aged well, the game is still a fun favorite for fans of the series. If you were lucky enough, you got the Special Edition on PC that came with video card support, greatly improving the visuals.

You know what’s fun? Being the baddest, fastest, most wanted racer, that’s what! Not much has changed from the previous Most Wanted title and that’s a good thing. You still have a sizable selection of licensed vehicles, but like the races, you access them through an open-world environment. You even can customize your vehicle on the road. It comes in handy when you’re trying outrunning the police. This time around, Most Wanted adds the social interaction element to it with Autolog. This feature puts online players against each other in several ways. Now you have the chance to see who really is the most wanted.

Picking up after the first Most Wanted title, Carbon races right into the thick of another street racer thriller. This game brings back a lot of the same features from previous titles. However, this time around, instead of racing as an individual, you race and challenge other racers as part of a crew. As you progress you can add new members to your crew who offer their skills in racing or tuning. But it’s the addition of the Canyon Drift and Canyon Duel races that really make this game worth a play. There’s nothing like drifting down a mountainside and breakneck speeds.

We couldn’t forget about this classic. Underground is perhaps the most important title in the franchise. It is the first game in the series to have a storyline in its career mode. The game features the same speedy driving style but with a more realistic focus on how each car handles. It was a different kind of racing game altogether. Underground delves players into the dangerous world of illegal street racing. Add in a killer soundtrack, intricate tuning and customization, and tracks riddled with shortcuts, and you have a game that guarantees hours of gameplay that even new fans to the series can enjoy.

This title was the first game in the series to be released for a sixth generation console. Following up from the first: Hot Pursuit, the game possesses the very core of what aNeed for Speed game is. It has a nice selection of fast cars to choose from and new tracks based off real world locations. The cops are back with immobilizing police tactics, like spike strips and roadblocks. Hot Pursuit is a simple racer with not a lot of depth but that isn’t what players were looking for in this title. It is just a fast, fun game.

Any driver can race at night, but only the gutsiest drivers race in broad daylight. Most Wanted carries on the tuner culture theme from the previous titles before it. The game features a free-roam world environment and visual and performance customization. But instead of racing at night you get to race during the day. The pursuit system in this title is very advanced. Owned cars can acquire a heat level. The higher the heat level, the more persistent the police become. Try getting away from a Corvette driving cop. If you can’t, not only will you be arrested, but you would also have to pay a fine based off the damages done during the pursuit. Talk about high stakes!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions:

“Need for Speed: High Stakes” (1999)

“Need for Speed: Rivals” (2013)

“Need for Speed: Shift” (2009)

“Need for Speed Pro Street” (2007)

Our number one pick greatly improves on its predecessor, but it was a very close pick between this and Most Wanted. Carrying on the tuner theme, you get to race fully customizable vehicles. You even get to customize the appearance of the onscreen speedometer. Like the first Underground, most of the cars are imports but you also have the option to race and customize SUVs. This title was also the first game in the series to feature a free-roam map where you drive to race events. Underground 2 is a unique and fun racer that cemented the kind of gameplay fans expect from a Need forSpeed game.
Do you agree with our list? What Need for Speed titles do you think deserves a mention? For more entertaining top tens published everyday, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.