Need for Speed Payback

 PlayStation 4
Need for Speed Payback Image
Metascore
61

Mixed or average reviews - based on 59 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
4.3

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 1372 Ratings

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  • Summary: Set in the underworld of Fortune Valley, players drive as three distinct characters reunited by a quest for vengeance against The House, a nefarious cartel that rules the city’s casinos, criminals and cops. They take on a variety of challenges and events as Tyler, the Racer; Mac, theSet in the underworld of Fortune Valley, players drive as three distinct characters reunited by a quest for vengeance against The House, a nefarious cartel that rules the city’s casinos, criminals and cops. They take on a variety of challenges and events as Tyler, the Racer; Mac, the Showman; and Jess, the Wheelman to earn the respect of the underground. Featuring the deepest customization from the series, players can truly craft a personalized and unique ride, or spend hours finding and tuning an abandoned derelict into a supercar. They can then push their cars to the limit and raise the stakes by betting on their own performance, where they can either multiply their winnings or risk losing it all. [Electronic Arts]… Expand
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Need For Speed Payback - Official Gamescom Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 59
  2. Mixed: 36 out of 59
  3. Negative: 9 out of 59
  1. Game Over Online
    Nov 10, 2017
    82
    Need For Speed Payback isn’t perfect – but it’s a nice step up from prior entries. Outside of Rivals, the series has really struggled over the past five or so years to really find its own way. The FMV-filled reboot wasn’t the right answer, and going for an action movie-styled variant is great for an ad campaign – but doesn’t make for a great campaign itself. Fortunately, the racing action and cop chases that litter the campaign make it worth playing. It looks great in motion, even if the action doesn’t hold up very well. The cop chases are exciting and the point-to-point races bring a level of arcade-style thrill that the series definitely benefits from.
  2. PlayStation LifeStyle
    Nov 6, 2017
    80
    Need for Speed Payback feels like the natural evolution of the series, and that’s a good thing considering the game ends with a great tease for a potential sequel. While I finished the story in around 15 hours, it’s worth noting that there are a ton of side events and collectibles that I failed to collect in that time. I could see myself easily doubling my time within Payback, and do so with a smile on my face the entire time.
  3. COGconnected
    Nov 11, 2017
    71
    Payback is a stark improvement over 2015’s entry in the series, adding likable characters, an enjoyable if not formulaic story, user-friendly tuning, and the best bits and pieces from the previous games rolled into one. Where Payback falters, however, is its misuse of compelling characters, lack of police force, and an open world which – while beautiful – only has about 1/8th of it in the city, leaving most of your driving to be an extended scenic route.
  4. JeuxActu
    Nov 13, 2017
    60
    Need For Speed: Payback is far from the Burnout style crashes we were shown at E3, leaving the game with only a nice looking open world, and a truckload of flaws like the go-buy-lootcrates grinding system, an appalling storyline and heavily scripted races.
  5. The Digital Fix
    Dec 15, 2017
    60
    If you stick with it you'll find a decent racer here but getting past the inane narrative, broken progression systems and longing for racers past takes some doing.
  6. Critical Hit
    Nov 17, 2017
    50
    Need For Speed Payback is several bad ideas on four wheels, a drab racer whose potential is rear-ended by an underhanded upgrade system and a story that belongs in a direct-to-DVD bargain bin.
  7. Metro GameCentral
    Nov 9, 2017
    30
    The worst Need For Speed game of the modern era, that leaves no stone unturned in its attempts to make itself as boring, repetitive, and exploitative as possible.

See all 61 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 313
  2. Mixed: 46 out of 313
  3. Negative: 198 out of 313
  1. Empire_game
    Nov 7, 2017
    10
    I’m not a need for speed fan and I didn’t like the last version but nfs payback is awesome I’ve never seen something like this open world gameI’m not a need for speed fan and I didn’t like the last version but nfs payback is awesome I’ve never seen something like this open world game before I hope you enjoy and rate with justice… Expand
  2. pinismenshox
    May 31, 2020
    9
    While the game can be very annoying it has a decent car range selection and customizability. It's like every other NFS game to date, beingWhile the game can be very annoying it has a decent car range selection and customizability. It's like every other NFS game to date, being more difficult than 2015 and less so than Heat. The story is quite short and the buying parts as cards is slightly easier than 2015, also depends on what parts you got before upgrading it (level 1 to 20.) All in all it was fun if a slightly screaming experience when things didn't go wrong, but no impossible to mediocre players like me who don't really excel much in motorsports, but was still able to finish (with much screaming) in medium difficulty and everything in default options.… Expand
  4. Radam64
    Oct 11, 2020
    7
    This game is way better than Need for Speed (2015) and NFS Heat. I was turned off by the microtransactions but they must of changed it afterThis game is way better than Need for Speed (2015) and NFS Heat. I was turned off by the microtransactions but they must of changed it after launch as now you can just go to the tune up shop and buy the upgrades you want with in game currency and it's no issue at all.

    The voice acting is lame and the soundtrack is hipster nonsense as always but that doesn't take away from the fun arcade style driving.

    Every mode of driving is fun and has great fundamental controls. I haven't enjoyed an NFS game like this since NFS Rivals.

    It has great collision detection, over the top crashes and non stop action thanks to well implemented fast travel. Unlike NFS 2015 and NFS Heat.

    This game is free for PS Plus users this month Oct 2020. I highly recommend downloading it.    … Expand
  5. Drage
    Nov 9, 2017
    2
    Sigh.... Where To begin, I am a HUGE Fan of the Need for Speed Franchise and Have been since "Need for Speed Porsche Unleashed" Released waySigh.... Where To begin, I am a HUGE Fan of the Need for Speed Franchise and Have been since "Need for Speed Porsche Unleashed" Released way back in 2000.... Sence then i have Played Literally Every NFS Game to be created and I can Honestly Say this is By far the Most Disappointing game Of not only the Series but the year of 2017 overall.

    Instead of Listening to NFS Fans EA instead seems to have created what they feel is the new "Hot" Thing Right now. Players are forced to Sit through Hours of Cringe-Worthy Cinematics when all anyone wants to be doing is bloody racing.

    while at its core the Driving is a Slight Improvement over previous Enrerys in the Series its Bogged down under so much Unnecessary Crap that it's VERY VERY hard to actually Enjoy the racing for what it is. a BS Broken Progression system designed to create an emphasis on Selling Loot Creates. A Complete Lack of Replayability Hamers EA's Need for you to Spend more money home even further. The Removal of by many accounts the best aspect of Modern NFS Games Actual Cop Chases.... Not These On Rails Go where we tell you to Go or you fail the "Race" Nonsense, An open world filled with nothing but Busywork with all of the Fun Striped out for a reason ill never understand.

    This game had loads of potential But. ya........ EA screwed this game Hard..... in the Hopes that it in turn will force us (the Players) to Spend as much money as physically Posible.

    What Really Hurts me is that EA will take this as NFS cant sell copies.... that its the NFS brand that is at fault..... God Forbid you made a game Players and Fans NEVER wanted.... If you wanted to make a Fast and Furious Inspired game it should have been the First movie in that franchise where the emphasis was still on street racing..... Remember EA.... that thing your games have Always been about.

    I Prey there will be more NFS Games.... I Hope they will focus more on the Driving and less on well Everything Else....

    For the Love of Got People..... Can we Just Get a Streetraceing Game.... It Doesn't need an "Involved" Story I just want to Race in a game with a proper Progression system where if I find a Car I like I never need to get rid of it to be competitive.

    Overall This Version of NFS has alright Racing at its core.... But sadly you spend so little time actually Driving that it's very easy to Forget how good NFS driving could have been if EA focused on that Instead of the Mountains of Garbage they chose to through on Top of This Poor Game.

    Drage    … Expand
  6. Shadryss
    Apr 22, 2018
    1
    Well, this game is pure garbage.
    driving is not fun at all
    physics are non existent upgrade cards are total rip off and excuse to grind or    Well, this game is pure garbage.
    driving is not fun at all
    physics are non existent
    upgrade cards are total rip off and excuse to grind or buy.
    I'm very disappointed in this installment of the game as long fan.    … Expand
  7. fun_and_games
    Aug 28, 2018
    0
    #Payback --- This game is Payback for people hating on Need for Speed 2015.
  8. galioorfeed
    Nov 10, 2017
    0
    This game is just a very **** and boring version of Forza Horizon. All NFS games after Carbon have been trash and any game working with EAThis game is just a very **** and boring version of Forza Horizon. All NFS games after Carbon have been trash and any game working with EA should not be purchased.… Expand

See all 313 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2017
24
#24 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2017