Want for Velocity was the definitive racing franchise, and many people would argue that it nonetheless holds that crown. EA’s collection has produced roughly a dozen of the greatest racing video games of all time, ones that have been groundbreaking after they launched and have aged gracefully sufficient to face the check of time. Nonetheless, within the final decade or so, NFS has misplaced steam, as none of the latest mainline entries have actually felt like leaps ahead, particularly for the style as a complete. That is to not say they’re horrible, as they’re comparatively enjoyable, however they chipped away on the IP’s fame for excellence. NFS went from a trend-setter to a follower, residing within the shadow of contemporary releases like Forza Horizon.
Presently, Want for Velocity Unbound is the latest console entry, and it got here out in 2022. Whereas logic dictates {that a} correct follow-up is within the works, EA has remained quiet about NFS‘s future, which is (frankly) worrying. The collection has by no means gone greater than 3 years with out a new launch, and now we have already skipped that time limit. Hell, probably the most consideration the collection has gotten lately is the information that EA shut down Rivals‘ servers. Is Want for Velocity performed as a flagship racer? Most likely (and hopefully) not, and it could be a tragedy if that proved to be the case. Within the meantime, let’s have a good time all the pieces that got here earlier than by highlighting the greatest NFS video games ever, alongside the weaker ones.
Up to date on January 9, 2026, by Mark Sammut: As there are sadly no new Want for Velocity video games to debate (and which may stay the case for some time longer), now we have determined so as to add Fast Picks suggestions, together with one other part highlighting the most effective tales within the franchise.
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Fast Picks: Greatest Want For Velocity Video games To Play Proper Now
Whereas we are going to dive into the complete rankings in a second, let’s first dedicate a piece to only easy suggestions. In case you are primarily simply searching for a Want for Velocity sport to purchase/play, then the next desk ought to assist information you in direction of making the perfect alternative. I will embrace a couple of classes to try to solid a large internet.
|
Class |
Prime Choose |
Why It Gained |
|---|---|---|
|
Greatest General Want for Velocity Recreation |
Want for Velocity: Most Needed (2005) |
A traditional racer that delivers arcade controls, nice tracks, and top-notch visuals for the period. Whereas it reveals its age at occasions, Most Needed has typically aged nicely. |
|
Greatest Want for Velocity for Newcomers |
Want for Velocity: Rivals |
Most Needed is sensible, however newcomers ought to begin with one of many more moderen releases. Unbound and Warmth each work, however Rivals is better-rounded than both of them. |
|
Greatest Traditional Want for Velocity Recreation (Pre-2005) |
Want For Velocity: Scorching Pursuit 2 |
Though all of the traditional NFS video games have one thing to supply, the earliest ones could be tough to understand via a contemporary lens. Scorching Pursuit 2 was superior in 2002, and it’s nonetheless playable these days. |
|
Greatest Fashionable Want for Velocity Recreation (Submit-2015) |
Want for Velocity Unbound |
Over the past decade, Want for Velocity has primarily centered on delivering open-world video games that ape the success of one thing like Forza Horizon. Not one of the video games are good, however Unbound has a novel visible model, strong controls, and a satisfactory open-world. |
|
Greatest Arcade-Model Want for Velocity |
Want for Velocity: Underground 2 |
Simply to keep away from going with Most Needed once more, Underground 2 is an superior old-school racer that’s instantly accessible and endlessly charming. |
29
Want For Velocity: Prime Velocity
An On-line-Solely Extension Of Porsche Unleashed That Is Restricted To Historical past These days
Want for Velocity: Prime Velocity has been added for historic and completionist causes, because the web browser game is not accessible, so I can’t personally discuss its high quality. That mentioned, it was primarily a sampler of Porsche Unleashed and hype-building materials for the upcoming Scorching Pursuit 2, and it got here with the novelty of being out there solely on-line. That mentioned, its larger brother was and nonetheless is likely one of the greatest NFS video games, so Prime Velocity ought to have been a fairly first rate slice of leisure.
So, what did it embrace? Properly, Prime Velocity has three tracks and three automobiles from Porsche Unleashed, and also you would want to finish time trials to unlock them. There have been no conventional races, and the content material would in all probability solely maintain you entertained for an hour or so. That mentioned, web speeds in 2001 weren’t nice, so possibly Prime Velocity might have stored you coming again for months.
28
Want For Velocity: Assemble (Or Cell)
A 2024 Cell NFS Recreation That Has But To Announce A International Launch
- China Launch Date: July 11, 2024
- Platforms: Android, iOS
- Developer: TiMi Studio Group
Want for Velocity isn’t any stranger to mobile games, however a lot of them have opted to not come to Western nations. Duel was the Chinese language model of No Limits, with the latter being the one notable cellular NFS sport to be launched in North America. Lastly, there may be Want for Velocity: Assemble or Cell, EA and Tencent’s newest try to seize a bit of the Asian market.
The venture debuted in 2024 in China, earlier than finally spreading to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. At this level, there may be nothing to counsel {that a} Western growth is on the horizon, though weirder issues have occurred.
I haven’t got entry to Assemble, so I can’t give a correct rating. Consequently, I’ve included the sport simply because it warrants a point out, and there may be at all times an opportunity that it might finally make the leap and earn a global debut.
27
Want For Velocity: Edge (Or On-line)
MMO Model Of A Cell Recreation That By no means Got here To Western Nations
No Limits is Want for Velocity‘s predominant cellular sport, and it has been round for greater than a decade by this level. The sport has by no means been ported to consoles or PC; to be actual, it has but to make the transition in Western international locations. In Korea and China, No Limits did sort of obtain a PC model, albeit one which did change sufficient issues to be a singular expertise.
Generally known as NFS On-line in China, NFS Edge solely lasted for about two years earlier than it was shut down for good. These days, there are some methods to play the sport offline, however it’s not out there in its unique iteration. As I can’t play Edge (or On-line) in the best way it was meant to be performed, I am simply including it right here to offer it a shout-out.
26
Want For Velocity: Payback
An All-Time Disgrace In The Sequence’ Historical past
Sadly, it has not been lengthy sufficient for the reason that launch of Need For Speed: Payback to neglect about it. The sport is the worst-ever entry within the Want for Velocity franchise, because of a grindy development system that was seemingly designed to pressure gamers to purchase XP boosters to degree up sooner.
Even when placing the development system apart, Payback was nonetheless disappointing by way of gameplay mechanics, significantly in terms of car handling and customization choices. The sport was making an attempt to inform a compelling story a few prison cartel, however the narrative was closely rushed. Moreover, the free roam is arguably the worst within the franchise, with the world being lifeless and simply not enjoyable to discover as a consequence of virtually nothing occurring. Even cops are largely absent.
Is NFS Payback Price Taking part in In 2026?
Truthfully, no, at the least not the vanilla model with none mods that scale back the development system’s irritating nature. That mentioned, the story is fairly first rate for NFS, and Payback remains to be playable.
25
The Want For Velocity
A Promising Begin
The unique Want for Velocity is a classic racing game that set the stage for a franchise that may come to outline the style. The title that began all of it was thought of fairly the leap ahead for its time, providing gamers some amazingly entertaining arcade-style racing, with fascinating tracks, and nice visuals (from a 1994 standpoint).
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By at the moment’s requirements, The Want for Velocity looks like an extremely lackluster launch that contains a handful of automobiles and tracks. Its “rating” is on no account meant to be a criticism, but it surely’s merely an acknowledgment that NFS has developed by leaps and bounds within the trendy age. These spectacular titles ought to be glad about their origins, which helped elevate them right into a collection that is nonetheless ongoing virtually 30 years later.
Is The Want For Velocity Price Taking part in In 2026?
As a historic artifact to see the franchise’s origins? Positive, The Want for Velocity warrants a boot up and a few races. As an precise sport that may be loved indefinitely, there are just too many higher choices on the market.
24
Want For Velocity: Undercover
An Uneven Affair With A Few Excessive Spots
Though police chases are nonetheless a major a part of this Want For Velocity Installment, gamers play the a part of an undercover police officer in Undercover. To infiltrate against the law syndicate, gamers compete in avenue races and drive stolen automobiles. The speeds gamers can attain on this sport are absurd. This heart-pounding journey is usually a ton of enjoyable, at the least relying on what gamers crave.
Want for Velocity: Undercover even has role-playing parts that permit gamers to enhance their licensed real-world automobiles. Nonetheless, this sport is arguably too simple, and its considerably repetitive nature and lack of racing selection make it really feel like a title that ought to’ve had extra time within the oven.
For all its points, Undercover remains to be a strong choice. The story is ok and shines via the marketing campaign missions extra seamlessly than in a number of the more moderen entries. The monitor design and map are each fairly good, and Freeway Battle is among the many greatest one-off modes.
Is NFS Undercover Price Taking part in In 2026?
Until you might have nostalgia for it, I can’t suggest Undercover at this level. Not solely are there many, many higher NFS video games, however there are additionally loads of 2000s racers that need to be remembered earlier than Undercover. Simply play Burnout 3.
23
Want For Velocity (2015)
A Main Visible Achievement
Want for Velocity (2015) is bizarre. Arguably probably the most hyped entry of the franchise’s trendy period, the self-titled sport launched to a notably combined reception, far more than was typical for the collection on the time. One might argue that Want for Velocity marked a turning level for the license as a complete, one which noticed it obtain a brand new fame for mediocrity quite than brilliance.
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The underwhelming reception shouldn’t be unwarranted both, because the controls are in all probability probably the most polarizing in your complete franchise. If they do not click on with somebody, they’ll simply downright make the sport disagreeable to play, undermining some other positives. The factor is, Want for Velocity has fairly a couple of strengths. The night-only setting provides a powerful sense of ambiance, making this open-world one of the best in the franchise. The story is entertainingly corny quite than simply boring.
Is NFS 2015 Price Taking part in In 2026?
Right here comes a little bit of a shock: Sure, I like to recommend NFS 2015. Do I really like the sport? Not likely, however loads of different folks have proven appreciation for this entry. Give it a go, particularly since it’s so low cost to choose up these days.
22
Want For Velocity: The Run
Attempting New, Wild Concepts
In 2011, the Want for Velocity franchise took a stab at making a story-based journey, not like something they’d created previously. Most conventional NFS titles noticed gamers beginning as beginner racers and had them competing to realize “respect” to rise via the ranks and change into the most effective of the most effective. Want for Velocity: The Run, tosses this premise in favor of one thing much more compelling: a literal race throughout the nation with the participant character’s very life at stake.
The Run spans the countryside and forces gamers to outrun opponents, police, and even the mob, all for a style of freedom. It is an expertise that followers aren’t used to seeing from the collection, and the general story and gameplay mechanics work nicely. It is a cult traditional for a lot of however, sadly, it is extremely quick and would not provide a lot by way of replayability.
Is NFS The Run Price Taking part in In 2026?
Sure, to an extent. The Run remains to be a one-of-a-kind NFS expertise that has moments of brilliance. The driving is usually enjoyable, even when races are considerably undermined by disappointing AI.
21
Want For Velocity World
The First-Ever MMO Entry In The Sequence
Want For Velocity World not exists as Digital Arts determined to close it down again in 2015; nonetheless, it was a hotly anticipated sport for racing lovers again in 2010. It was the first-ever Want For Velocity sport with an MMO premise, the place gamers might compete with one another and AI-driven rivals in a shared universe.
The gameplay of Want for Velocity World was fairly near that of Most Wanted, the place gamers would primarily take the position of unlawful avenue racers, however in addition they needed to run away from regulation enforcement models. The concept behind World was fairly forward of its time, and the sport managed to succeed in 1 million gamers only some months after its launch, however the lack of content material help within the following years pressured gamers to go away World.
World is sort of tough to rank because it is not that accessible these days. Nonetheless, fan servers can be found for anybody who needs to offer this entry a strive.
Is NFS World Price Taking part in In 2026?
Largely only for diehard followers who’ve been enjoying the sport for a very long time. Nonetheless, the servers are round if you wish to strive NFS World.
20
Want For Velocity: Nitro
An Unique Experiment For Nintendo Gamers
Want for Velocity: Nitro was a little bit of an experiment for the franchise. The title was launched solely on Nintendo consoles (the Wii and DS particularly) in 2009 and aimed to make the Want for Velocity model “much more thrilling” by elevating the racing expertise and chopping out pointless fluff. The end result was purported to be a sport that performed and felt higher for youthful audiences whereas nonetheless interesting to longtime followers of the collection.
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Sadly, builders missed the mark when it got here to the general imaginative and prescient for Nitro. The gameplay was strong, however lots of the options that followers had come to know and love felt “pressured” or have been straight-up lacking. It additionally felt “watered-down” in comparison with the remainder of the franchise, with fewer automobiles and tracks than its predecessors. If seen as an NFS spin-off quite than a conventional entry, Nitro fares a lot better, and its stylized presentation is fairly cool.
Is NFS Nitro Price Taking part in In 2026?
The Wii model is value a spin when you’ve got the console round. The sport shouldn’t be nice sufficient to warrant selecting up a brand new copy for something various bucks, although.
