User Score
5.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 278 Ratings

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  1. Dec 10, 2022
    1
    Terrible cartoon effects. I have no idea what they were thinking with this game. Progression and vehicle unlock system is horrible. I cannot believe how they have messed up the NFS this badly. I have played every single NFS title and thoroughly enjoyed each title (some more than others) however, this game isn't even worthy of the title NFS.
  2. Dec 10, 2022
    8
    This isn't perfect but this is the first need for speed since Carbon & most wanted that I've truly enjoyed. It's feels like most wanted 2. The heat system is a little jank. Like I don't see why we should get heat after ever race even if police didn't see anyone racing. It can sometimes feel grindy but it actually makes you think about your next race. But let's talk about the style, IThis isn't perfect but this is the first need for speed since Carbon & most wanted that I've truly enjoyed. It's feels like most wanted 2. The heat system is a little jank. Like I don't see why we should get heat after ever race even if police didn't see anyone racing. It can sometimes feel grindy but it actually makes you think about your next race. But let's talk about the style, I honestly thought it looked trash watching gameplay and fully intended to turn it all off but it just feels right when your playing it actually make the game look amazing at night I find myself actually trying to drift now because that smoke mixed with thr blue and red lights hitting that perfect drift feel epic. Obviously 5his isn't a sim racer if you are looking for that then go somewhere else need for speed has never cared about being realistic. Welcome back NFS you wasn't missed but dam it's nice to see you back again Expand
  3. Dec 9, 2022
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have no idea what they were thinking with this game. Progression and vehicle unlock system is horrible. For example: to unlock the 2016 mustang you have to purchase a Ford and do so many seconds of drifting in it just to unlock it. (The very scarce amount of money you have because races only give you a max of 20k.) Making enough money to level up your cars in the story mode and progress to the big race are crap as well. So very disappointed... Expand
  4. Dec 9, 2022
    0
    There is no Russian language. Well 0 points. Grow a new fascist Germany, freaks!
  5. Dec 9, 2022
    10
    played NFS series since NFS-3, back to the last century lol.
    This one, NFS Unbound, is the best in the last decade, personally.
    Intense gameplay experience, great graphics, +anime style.
    Great, it's just great.
  6. Dec 9, 2022
    0
    I cannot believe how they have messed up the NFS this badly. I have played every single NFS title and thoroughly enjoyed each title (some more than others ofc) however, this game isn't even worthy of the title NFS.

    Firstly the game just feels empty, like it has no soul, which I've never encountered before in a NFS title and secondly the childish artwork and graffiti animations is beyond
    I cannot believe how they have messed up the NFS this badly. I have played every single NFS title and thoroughly enjoyed each title (some more than others ofc) however, this game isn't even worthy of the title NFS.

    Firstly the game just feels empty, like it has no soul, which I've never encountered before in a NFS title and secondly the childish artwork and graffiti animations is beyond horrible, it is like they ran out of time or money and decided to hire some teenager and pay them minimum wage as a way to add a "fresh" look and all it comes across as is extremely budget and childish.

    I played for about 5 - 6 hours and just couldn't take it anymore. The story is boring as all hell, the converations are just pointless and the game is the biggest failure in the NFS to date.

    If this is what the NFS franchise has come to, then they are well and truly out of ideas and creativity because this is a disaster.

    I put in for a refund request.

    Oh and also bugs? Not that it matters because I would have refunded anyways because of everything already said above, but almost every single race (at best every second race) the car just stops accelerating and I have to let go of the accelerator and push it again, it is extremely odd but caused me to lose placing a fair amount of times.

    But as I said regardless of this, the game is beyond bad anyways.

    Oh and like others have said, the driving experience is terrible as well, cars drive not how they have in any other NFS title (or other game for that matter) it is a unique terrible experience that makes it not at all enjoyable and like you are fighting the car constantly. I feels almost if I had to try and explain it, like a car game on an ancient console with a terrible controller that was terribly optimised.
    Expand
  7. Dec 8, 2022
    3
    Minus:
    -physics of drift;
    -cheating cops after 3 level of chase; -cartoon effects during race or chase by cops which close your view ahead and crash into traffic or objects; -one type music; - very high price for this game; - the most worst graphic between:NFS 2015, payback , heat.( In the 2015 the best for my mind) Plus: -try to make atmospheres in game according to the trends of night
    Minus:
    -physics of drift;
    -cheating cops after 3 level of chase;
    -cartoon effects during race or chase by cops which close your view ahead and crash into traffic or objects;
    -one type music;
    - very high price for this game;
    - the most worst graphic between:NFS 2015, payback , heat.( In the 2015 the best for my mind)
    Plus:
    -try to make atmospheres in game according to the trends of night life; - some cartoon effects which dont close your viewing ahead;
    -cool tuning.
    After all have only one question - what did they (EA) do last 3 years?
    Expand
  8. Dec 8, 2022
    1
    Скучно, не интересно, ужасная графика, отбитый сюжет, скучнейшие персонажи, и многое другое ждёт тебя в этой игре, лучше не тратить на это деньги
  9. Dec 8, 2022
    3
    the story was much better heat I didn't like the effects, they were better heat
  10. Dec 8, 2022
    1
    we arrived in the age of progressivism in games... it doesn't matter if the game is bad, as long as it follows the progressive agenda
  11. Dec 8, 2022
    6
    Not a terrible game, but not a great game either. It's somewhere in between.
  12. Dec 8, 2022
    10
    Great game and a must buy, rlly enjoying the game i rlly suggest you take a trial its awesome!
  13. Dec 7, 2022
    10
    I will tell next: This is the best Need for Speed game ever!!! Best graphics, Best physics, Best cars, tuning, street racing, open world and very smart cops!!!

    EA, please, make the new NFS game with open world, but on EGO engine...
  14. Dec 6, 2022
    4
    It is okay.

    Surely a step into the right direction but nothing special. Gameplay: Feels waaaay better than anything that Ghost has created but extremely grindy. Also... who thought out the prices of the tuning parts??? I mean... 50k for a turbo?! Am I driving a Bugatty Veyron?! I just want to mod my crappy Crown Vic... Graphics: Looking decent. Nothing special but imo a little
    It is okay.

    Surely a step into the right direction but nothing special.

    Gameplay:
    Feels waaaay better than anything that Ghost has created but extremely grindy.
    Also... who thought out the prices of the tuning parts??? I mean... 50k for a turbo?! Am I driving a Bugatty Veyron?! I just want to mod my crappy Crown Vic...

    Graphics:
    Looking decent. Nothing special but imo a little better than Heat.

    Story:
    Cringetopia... OH YEAH INTERNET BUZZWORDS WE COOL NOW, WE LIT BROOOOOO! TWITTER REDDIT INSTAGRAAAAAAAAAM!!!!111!!

    little summary:

    you get screwed over by a friend of your who steals your car and you have to win four big events in four weeks to have the chance to challenge her and win back your car.

    Literally the main character smashing through civilians, destroying public property be like:

    Why Cops hate me? :(

    Edit: Why are English songs Censored but german songs for example are not? Literally singing about weed "canabis", "hoes". I dont mind that i just think its hypocritic
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  15. Dec 6, 2022
    9
    9/10 clumsy character drawing, otherwise this is clearly the best part in the last 10 years
  16. Dec 6, 2022
    7
    NFS Heat clone, but in Chicago. This could be 8/10, if it weren't for those annoying and childish cartoon graphics all over the place. The game targets high school -wannabe gangsters- kids. The handling of the cars didn't improve, it feels like playing on smartphone.
  17. Dec 6, 2022
    0
    Definitely not worth it especially at that high price, its a heat copy with a few minimalistic changes, cops are meh, pursuits not enganging, best was MW 05, Rivals and Hot pursuit. Customization is wacky goofy and cringe story and dialogue with political direction IN A RACING GAME
  18. Dec 6, 2022
    0
    Game is good 8/10 but the steam version has many problems. Will update score when devs patch game

    - Highly CPU bound game min 6 core requirement - Fairly low draw distance - Slow texture loading at times - Limited Wheel input device options - Many people report random crashes or outright inability to launch the game - 2015 "map doesn't load and your car falls through" glitch
    Game is good 8/10 but the steam version has many problems. Will update score when devs patch game

    - Highly CPU bound game min 6 core requirement
    - Fairly low draw distance
    - Slow texture loading at times
    - Limited Wheel input device options
    - Many people report random crashes or outright inability to launch the game
    - 2015 "map doesn't load and your car falls through" glitch returns
    - Fullscreen to borderless may screw up graphics settings
    - Skip track button doesn't work
    - Nvidia Game Ready Driver 527.37 in a 1060 Max-Q sometimes doesn’t render map sections and crashes in-game often
    - A few cars (can’t list them all yet) have tall stance even at the lowest setting
    - Minimap gets “refreshed” and shows blacked out before loading itself again
    - Character icons in the minimap disappear often. The container stays, it’s just the images
    - dirt/grass borders on the road seem to have low LOD/pop out/in often
    - some textures load slow
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  19. Dec 6, 2022
    10
    Weeb car vrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
  20. Dec 6, 2022
    0
    I just sent the game back.

    The driving experience is a lot worse than with NFS Heat. Cars are very, very difficult to drive. and you could have brought in effects like water splashing when driving over puddles. That's just how it looks prettied up (more apparent than real) Positive point: The textures from the street are done really cool, You can NOT turn off the comic
    I just sent the game back.

    The driving experience is a lot worse than with NFS Heat.

    Cars are very, very difficult to drive.

    and you could have brought in effects like water splashing when driving over puddles.

    That's just how it looks prettied up (more apparent than real)

    Positive point: The textures from the street are done really cool,

    You can NOT turn off the comic effects as promised..

    - The sayings of the actors are underground.

    - The soundtracks are worse than all parts before...

    It's a shame I still had a glimmer of hope.

    I would be for a Need for Speed ​​Underground 3 Back to the roots..
    unnecessary nonsense with police etc.

    just (illegal street racing scene), tuning options such as system, screens, Nos bottles, interior lighting, etc. built into the vehicle.

    like Need for Speed ​​Underground 2

    That would bring many people closer to the game, because you can identify with it.
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  21. Dec 6, 2022
    0
    Worst nfs. Big optimization problem on top end set. Terrible cartoon effects.The worst driving model
  22. Dec 6, 2022
    10
    Alright... im gonna be honest with you....criterion..... NAILED THIS GAME HOLy SMOKES THE SENSE OF SPEED IS KILLER IM ALSO SCARED TO USE THE BOOST BCZ THE CAMERA AND STUFF LOOKS SOO FAST!!!!!!!! EVEN AT 110 MPH, THE MAP IS SOO DETAILED AND THE WIREING OF THE ROADS IS JUST SOO GOOD!, take the negative reviews with a grain of salt, although the game might feel hard at first, but when u startAlright... im gonna be honest with you....criterion..... NAILED THIS GAME HOLy SMOKES THE SENSE OF SPEED IS KILLER IM ALSO SCARED TO USE THE BOOST BCZ THE CAMERA AND STUFF LOOKS SOO FAST!!!!!!!! EVEN AT 110 MPH, THE MAP IS SOO DETAILED AND THE WIREING OF THE ROADS IS JUST SOO GOOD!, take the negative reviews with a grain of salt, although the game might feel hard at first, but when u start racing it willl be fast. A must play/ Expand
  23. Dec 6, 2022
    8
    Other then dialog section this game is pretty decent, fun and enjoyable graphics
  24. Dec 5, 2022
    0
    Heat was better, Criterion f'd this one up. Sloppy gameplay, slow progression, wonky and goofy art style. Recycled cars. Terrible online.
  25. Dec 5, 2022
    0
    Положительный отзыв не доступен на вашем языке
  26. Dec 5, 2022
    8
    I love NFS Unbound it’s really great and also a lot of fun, the effects on your car are a little bit annoying at first but after a few hours I have to say that I like them a lot. The music is Meh sometimes it’s good but sometimes it’s just really weird and bad.
    The reason I gave it an 8 is because of the multiplayer it is really bare bones and you can only race against other people no
    I love NFS Unbound it’s really great and also a lot of fun, the effects on your car are a little bit annoying at first but after a few hours I have to say that I like them a lot. The music is Meh sometimes it’s good but sometimes it’s just really weird and bad.
    The reason I gave it an 8 is because of the multiplayer it is really bare bones and you can only race against other people no police no AI to race against and only 16 player lobby’s, right now it’s really hard to find 8 player races. I hope we will see some more content for online and some needed updated but besides that it’s a really good NFS
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  27. Dec 5, 2022
    0
    Worst NFS ever created, art style is annoying and intrussive gameplay is boring and not to mention the gen Z humour and characters, disgusting also handling is awful
  28. Dec 5, 2022
    1
    Year by year, game after game... they got it even worse... RIP real NFS franchise... feels like a mobile childish game...
  29. Dec 5, 2022
    10
    Unbound it's a nice game with a better arcade driving, best nfs of the decade
  30. Dec 5, 2022
    8
    Almost all I have seen right now is telling me that NFS is back on the road!
    That feeling of hunt and be hunted, this awesome setting and creative car customization make Unbound better than any of the last decade. The atmo got improved a lot! But not everything is gold: the cars still feel like glued to the ground even though it is not that bad anymore like in NFS Heat. And also NOS ist
    Almost all I have seen right now is telling me that NFS is back on the road!
    That feeling of hunt and be hunted, this awesome setting and creative car customization make Unbound better than any of the last decade. The atmo got improved a lot! But not everything is gold: the cars still feel like glued to the ground even though it is not that bad anymore like in NFS Heat. And also NOS ist still not feeling like in the very old Underground 2, MW or Carbon where my whole body felt pressed into the seat. i hope they treat downhill drifting not like in NFS Heat, where it was far too rarely seen. Need to play more, bye
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  31. Dec 5, 2022
    0
    I've played all of the other NFS games, and this has to be the smoothest release so far. First, the drifting seems to feel more realistic, making it actually fun to drift. The takeover events which are smash and drift, are great fun. The only draw back to the game is that there isn't a radio available in car. The music only plays while in the garage or menus. It's kind of weird to beI've played all of the other NFS games, and this has to be the smoothest release so far. First, the drifting seems to feel more realistic, making it actually fun to drift. The takeover events which are smash and drift, are great fun. The only draw back to the game is that there isn't a radio available in car. The music only plays while in the garage or menus. It's kind of weird to be racing around a city without any music on. The smoke from burnouts and drifting is more noticeable, making for easier boosting, overall this game would be a 10 with a radio in car. Expand
  32. Dec 5, 2022
    10
    Such an amazing game, really cool art style, a great return for Need for Speed!
  33. YSJ
    Dec 4, 2022
    10
    Better than nfs heat in every way. I hope the follow-up support lasts for a long time.
  34. Dec 4, 2022
    10
    its the best nfs in like the last 15 years, tbh i dont get why people hate it so much i like end like the anime style is fire its matching whit like the vibe of the game end have a good day
  35. Dec 4, 2022
    0
    Terrible handling model all cars feel like driving a bucket with wheels and what's with all the unnecessary cartoony animations they even pop-up during gameplay they are very annoying, Feels like this game was made for 12-year-old kids so childish and completely out of reality. NFS IS TRULY DEAD uninstalled and refunded. Don't waste your money for this.
  36. Dec 4, 2022
    9
    I really don't understand people who rated zero points. This is a great "need for speed" game that I've been waiting for years. Although the game is simplified rather than realistic, it gives me great motivation to play the game.

    SPOILER: A friend of ours we race with in the game ripped off us and we are embarking on a racing adventure to take revenge on him. I was really happy with
    I really don't understand people who rated zero points. This is a great "need for speed" game that I've been waiting for years. Although the game is simplified rather than realistic, it gives me great motivation to play the game.

    SPOILER: A friend of ours we race with in the game ripped off us and we are embarking on a racing adventure to take revenge on him.

    I was really happy with the details such as breaking the barriers on the road and not being able to play every race as much as we wanted, unlike in the old games. Although this game is very expensive right now, it's really worth playing, at least on GeForceNow, Xbox GamePass, or when it's on sale.
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  37. Dec 4, 2022
    0
    Анимэ!!!1!! Как можно было испоганить проект, который все так любили. Я просто не знаю как это все описать: как им только ума хватило добавить эти помойные эффекты. Одно дело, когда это обусловлено стилистикой, к примеру тот же Borderlands, в котором все красиво сделано в мультяшном стиле, другое дело это "нечто". Как же я обожаю анимэ, бородатых баб и прочие непотребства. Была надежда наАнимэ!!!1!! Как можно было испоганить проект, который все так любили. Я просто не знаю как это все описать: как им только ума хватило добавить эти помойные эффекты. Одно дело, когда это обусловлено стилистикой, к примеру тот же Borderlands, в котором все красиво сделано в мультяшном стиле, другое дело это "нечто". Как же я обожаю анимэ, бородатых баб и прочие непотребства. Была надежда на то, что это можно будет отключить, но нас обманули. Очень жаль любимую франшизу, которая с каждым годом деградирует благодаря эффективным" маркетологам. Спасибо ЕА за очередную убитую игру Expand
  38. Dec 4, 2022
    10
    much better handling than a decade nfs games before, and people who complaining bout epileptic FX u can select default effect that has only cartoon smoke other thing r turned off
  39. Dec 4, 2022
    10
    Gooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
  40. Dec 4, 2022
    9
    This game brings me back to the "golden age" of Need for Speed (for me, the early-mid Blackbox era)

    It's a solid Need for Speed, handling feels good and you can tune it to your liking (Grip style, turn off Break to drift etc), the car selection is massive for a title like NFS, sadly no Toyota tho. It just feels great, the map has a hanfull of memorable spots, there is traffic on the
    This game brings me back to the "golden age" of Need for Speed (for me, the early-mid Blackbox era)

    It's a solid Need for Speed, handling feels good and you can tune it to your liking (Grip style, turn off Break to drift etc), the car selection is massive for a title like NFS, sadly no Toyota tho.
    It just feels great, the map has a hanfull of memorable spots, there is traffic on the streets and even people walking around, it doesn't feel dead like HEAT and especially Payback did.

    Tuning is absolutly amazing and they did listen to our critique from the previous "new" titles. The cars are fun to drive around, the races are challenging and the story is cringe, just how I remember Most Wanted 2005.
    Expand
  41. Dec 4, 2022
    9
    The game is really good, it captures the spirit of the old NFS. The game has a very cool tuning and visual style, the game is well optimized on PC, I advise everyone to play. 9/10
  42. Dec 4, 2022
    10
    I played it and it feels like a completely different game, it's not those dull NSF with terrible physics, it's something else. I like the effects here, but you usually don't notice them and get used to it in a couple of minutes of playing. As for me, this is the best nsf at the moment
  43. Dec 4, 2022
    0
    Game is annoying cannot turn off effects, literal NFS Heat copy, cringe characters and dialogue and not to mention the awful marketing and the price for this trash. Who likes this game doesn't have a brain simple as that
  44. Dec 4, 2022
    3
    Unfair and too hard because of poor vehicle handling and a cheated IA. Extremely slow progression, forgettable music and scenario. Repetitive, I did some races over and over again during the course of the first week in the game. Also I don't get how drifts works, seems broken to me. But I love the style with those manga touches. Performance wise, it is terrible. Run poorly on a ryzenUnfair and too hard because of poor vehicle handling and a cheated IA. Extremely slow progression, forgettable music and scenario. Repetitive, I did some races over and over again during the course of the first week in the game. Also I don't get how drifts works, seems broken to me. But I love the style with those manga touches. Performance wise, it is terrible. Run poorly on a ryzen 5600x, an RTX 3070 and 32go of RAM tridentz neo 3600.l with drops to 30fps without DLSS and to the upper 40 with DLSS quality Expand
  45. Dec 4, 2022
    8
    Near perfect arcade racer, the track design is great, very creative routes and placement, except for certain checkpoints. The world is interesting, Beautiful game visuals to look at. The sounds are fantastic especially the RB26 sounds very accurate and better. The smoke effects are 50/50 great but not really distracting. Handling-wise, grip handling is back, and it's better then ever,Near perfect arcade racer, the track design is great, very creative routes and placement, except for certain checkpoints. The world is interesting, Beautiful game visuals to look at. The sounds are fantastic especially the RB26 sounds very accurate and better. The smoke effects are 50/50 great but not really distracting. Handling-wise, grip handling is back, and it's better then ever, while drift handling just doesn't feel right.

    Cops are decent and toned down even at Heat level 5, but they are still fun to race with. Spotting feature is interesting in concept. Bodykits and parts are mostly the same, but only 60% new. Photomode needs an update, for portrait size, and needs more options for color adjustments.
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  46. Dec 4, 2022
    0
    Trash game not worth it anime game made for weebs 70€ for this BS u cant even disable the effects + copypaste of Heat
  47. Dec 3, 2022
    0
    Cant play the game on steam deck outside home cause game uses denuvo, plus the slutter it is causing.... Refunded sadly :(
  48. Dec 3, 2022
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Finally, an all round decent need for speed game.

    We're in an age now where modern racing games *cough* forza horizon, give you everything as soon as you start the game, I mean jeez, a corvette as a starter car? There's no progression, no saving up.
    Thank the devs for not going that way with the new need for speed. You start off at the rock bottom (after the prologue) with the best you can get is a slow eclipse. Which makes you appreciate the cars that you're saving up for even more, you've earned them instead of it being won in a wheel spin.

    - Good things:
    Comparing it to heat, the game is drastically different, for starters the map in unbound is gorgeous! Very big, vibrant and the new addition of npc's make the world come to life. I have not been this impressed with a map since most wanted 05.

    Like many others, I was very sceptical of the 'anime' effects when I first saw the rumours. I can't even lie, as I massive need for speed fan like I am. I thought 'damn this is for real the death of need for speed' BUT NO!! THEY'RE SO GOOD!!! I LOVE THEM. It reminds me of nfs nitro, blur, and the promoting images for nfs shift. It gives the game as nostalgic vibe. Especially with the taillight trails. And, the different tyre smoke is cool too, its something different!

    The cops are DRASTICALLY better than Heat. I hated heat cops, they ever so slightly touch you and half of your heath is gone. It's the same if you smash into them, or if you're in their radar whether you are behind a wall or not, they will still find you. With unbound, they're not like that. You will still take damage, but no where near as the amount on heat. Which makes the chases ALOT more exciting.
    I also love how the helicopters are always scanning on heat 5! .

    If you're coming from heat, you will notice a huge difference in difficulty, even on easy mode. Gone are the days where you're 2 miles in front of 2nd. You make a mistake? You pay for it. Its challenging to reach 1st. Which I honestly love. Plus you only get so many restarts!

    Other things I like:

    - ADJUSTABLE TURBO/SUPERCHARGER SOUNDS!!! It's something I've always wanted. Now I have it. I can not fault this feature.
    - Customisation is fantastic too, with even more parts, body kits etc.
    - Upgrade system has been improved. No more risking your money for the 'good' performance parts!

    Iffy/bad bits

    - First of all. the dialogue is annoying and cringy. Still wayyyy better than heat and payback. They will talk when ever they want, whether you're in the garage about some nonsense which is annoying as at the time i was trying to shazam a song. The story is definitely clearer than heats to understand what's going on. But again it is so cringy.

    - Some car sounds are a little too quiet sometimes. Especially the subaru impreza. Now, nfs has always perfected its subaru boxer sounds. In most wanted 05/carbon/prostreet they were perfection. But in unbound it sounds weak. Even with exhaust tuning.
    - Physics.....I don't mind them. Nfs is an arcade. So expect arcade physics. They are dodgy at times but i assume an update will polish them out.
    - Also please let me take photos in portrait mode! I don't always want landscape.

    Summary:

    If you're worried about the game being abandoned. you shouldn't This nfs was made by criterion, look at their past nfs games. 2010 hot pursuit, most wanted 2012, rivals. They've all had a chunk of DLC'S and support.
    Criterion have honestly surprised me. This is by far the best nfs game made by them.
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  49. Dec 3, 2022
    1
    This is the THPS5 of NFS games. The graphics and art style look very similar, and it's the same sort of low point for the series. Ignore the paid promoters, this game is pure disappointment. Do yourself a favor and play the EA Play trial before you buy if you are really interested.
  50. Dec 3, 2022
    9
    I must start saying I've played all the other NFS games, and Unbound runs well, it is fast, the camara shake enhances the speed sensation, although is quite different from Heat, cleaner, I like it, Unbound is way more raw, direct, no fumbles, but the dialog is a bit cringe (zoomer like), I do not like many of the player models, and the clothes are subpar, driving is a-ok, works for me,I must start saying I've played all the other NFS games, and Unbound runs well, it is fast, the camara shake enhances the speed sensation, although is quite different from Heat, cleaner, I like it, Unbound is way more raw, direct, no fumbles, but the dialog is a bit cringe (zoomer like), I do not like many of the player models, and the clothes are subpar, driving is a-ok, works for me, challenging, but not impossible, control of the car is clearly tied to your ability to let go of the throttle, maneuvering feels nice, love the garage, love the city, the lighting, the car models look good. Expand
  51. Dec 3, 2022
    9
    Have had zero crashes and bugs on PC apart from game soft locking twice during the 40 ish hours I've played. Nothing a quick restart didn't fix plus I didn't lose any money.
  52. Dec 3, 2022
    10
    love it, i have had no bugs or issues at all, i hope this gets a lot more updates than nfs heat
  53. Dec 3, 2022
    10
    Good underground style, didnt find any bug yet, feels like street racing, that's the way
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 21
  2. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. Jan 11, 2023
    60
    Need for Speed Unbound is a beautiful street racing game that features a cool soundtrack and welcome cross-platform play, but frustrating car physics and CPU drivers sully the experience.
  2. Jan 3, 2023
    80
    Need for Speed Unbound is a solid comeback for the series, provided you can deal with some potential annoyances. The risk/reward system functions well in creating tension during all parts of a race, but the grind is an annoyance until you get better cars or parts for your initial ride. The presence of elements borrowed from other racing titles is done well enough, but the story can be a chore to sit through if you aren't already using this slang every day. Overall, Unbound is a solid racing title that should hopefully start bringing the series back to prominence.
  3. Edge Magazine
    Dec 29, 2022
    70
    Unbound is ultimately and encouraging statement of intent, demonstrating that Criterion is not afraid to tinker with established formula. [Issue#380, p.114]