Need for Speed Unbound

 PlayStation 5
User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 587 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 318 out of 587
  2. Mixed: 58 out of 587
  3. Negative: 211 out of 587
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  1. Dofoo
    Dec 12, 2022
    0
    having asap rocky inside the game really is not necessary. it feels nothing more than an npc for me
  2. Pigonestuck
    Dec 3, 2022
    1
    I dont really see this game being any different than nfs heat. i dont know why this game gets so much hype. also i hate the fact that this idio* named LPRIPPER just tries every single way to idolize this game so much. probably paid guy. his image of lashing on ppl doesnt help either
  3. WALEED-207
    Dec 5, 2022
    0
    There is no major change in the game after NFS 2015. Copy-paste the game is 75% similar and the difference is 25%. The driving has not changed, the cars have not changed, the same police cars and police sounds. Create a new part or make a remake of the old parts.
  4. whoami21
    Dec 5, 2022
    1
    worst Music ever, unlogic KI and many bugs and Lagging for now.
    I would not buy it for now, also the Online Modus is very "rare" and not many Playlists with all the same Racetracks. But the Music is really the worst, then the stupid Fortnite Graphic Look which i even can not deactivate.
  5. yuja
    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.
  6. oonabe
    Dec 5, 2022
    0
    This game could be much better if they didn't add some mechanics that ruin the whole fun. Driving in the game is the best part, I really enjoying racing and upgrading my cars, getting new ones, the graphics look quite good and even the new cartoony style additions are nicer than I expected before buying.

    But unfortunately there are some mechanics in the game that are ruining the whole    This game could be much better if they didn't add some mechanics that ruin the whole fun. Driving in the game is the best part, I really enjoying racing and upgrading my cars, getting new ones, the graphics look quite good and even the new cartoony style additions are nicer than I expected before buying.

    But unfortunately there are some mechanics in the game that are ruining the whole experience for me. Starting by the fact that you need to go to your garage to do practically anything other than drive, like changing your selected car, tuning it, or even change its color. Primarily that doesn't sound like a bad idea but the problem is that the new game has week system and every single time you enter the garage you change from day to night or from night to the next day, so you cannot visit your garage without forcing your way into the next big race, which happens always on saturday.

    What seems like a minor issue becomes a bigger one because the more you advance through the game the more expensive the participation fee becomes for the big race on saturday, so that means you need to collect more and more money every day so you can upgrade your car with more expensive items and also to participate on the next race.

    And here is where the worst part of this game mechanic comes. In the game there are so many police cars you can barely drive for more than 3 seconds without finding at least one police car in your radar, and there are often more than one, and if your wanted by the police, which usually is always turned on on the night time you cannot drive freely anywhere for more than 3 seconds because you need to hide or try to drive so fast that they don't see you. This is really very limitating because it's a game about racing and you cannot drive freely for more than half of the time.

    And if that wasn't enough, the more oney you carry on you the more aggressive the police cars get so they are more likely to take your money away, and that together with the weekly mechanics and the increasing amount of money needed every time ends up forcing you to replay the same races over and over again, specially if you happen to fail the race at saturday since you're forced to go back to the prior friday and you're forced to make the whole amount of money needed for that race, which usually you can collect during a whole week, in one single day, meaning you will need to carry a lot of money on you and get the police trying to steal your money again and if they succeed, well, guess what, you can repeat the friday all over again because there is barely any freedom in this game.

    I find it weird that people are complaining more about the story or the graphics when the real problem is that the game isn't fun to play due to this lack of freedom and big amount of repetitiveness, which in my opinion is a lot worse because that's actually the core of the game.

    It's sad because otherwise I really was enjoying it but I've had that situation described above already a couple of times and it's no fun to play the same missions all over again. I'm really near to giving up the game even when I already got into class S, which is number two in the highest rank, but I don't enjoy being forced to repeat the same thing over and over again.    … Expand
  7. Shinchan420
    Nov 30, 2022
    5
    Take positive reviews with a grain of salt, the game is barely out and the NFS community is already prepped for damage control. It's mostly the same as Heat with minor tweaks and improvements, but a 70 dollar price tag for this game is laughable. If you enjoyed Heat you'll find some enjoyment with Unbound, since it recycles much of its car list, drifty car handling, and mediocre policeTake positive reviews with a grain of salt, the game is barely out and the NFS community is already prepped for damage control. It's mostly the same as Heat with minor tweaks and improvements, but a 70 dollar price tag for this game is laughable. If you enjoyed Heat you'll find some enjoyment with Unbound, since it recycles much of its car list, drifty car handling, and mediocre police chases. Also, there is no way to completely remove all stylistic effects.

    If you are expecting a return to early 2000's gameplay, you wont find it in Unbound. Consider waiting for a sale if you really want to try it as the game is in no way worth full price.    … Expand
  8. d3vil787
    Dec 4, 2022
    0
    technical problem
    super AI racer on 1st position, with no phisics and rules.
    poor driving
    grind
  9. nilakite2
    Dec 5, 2022
    1
    At least one thing you know how to do properly - killing all your games.
    Visuals: 2/10 - not possible to disable cartoon effects which is annoying me entire time playing and poorly optimized, hell even NFS Heat or NFS 2015 looks better at this point.
    Handling: 2/10 - worse handling model than NFS Payback UI: 1/10 - go back to school to learn how to make proper UI (user-interface), not    At least one thing you know how to do properly - killing all your games.
    Visuals: 2/10 - not possible to disable cartoon effects which is annoying me entire time playing and poorly optimized, hell even NFS Heat or NFS 2015 looks better at this point.
    Handling: 2/10 - worse handling model than NFS Payback
    UI: 1/10 - go back to school to learn how to make proper UI (user-interface), not very good to navigate and poorly designed
    Story: 1/10 - why bother even

    And for love of god stop showing "asap" up my face, it is even more annoying than all things above.

    Would not play this again even if I got payed for it.    … Expand
  10. Lobotany
    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
  11. Petatey
    Dec 5, 2022
    0
    Forget everything else. Asap this, asap that, asap everywhere. Like, why? I listened to like 5 of the soundtracks and all of them are forgettable. Yes i can turn them off but remember, the soundtrack is one of the critical part of the game, and certainly it doesnt deliver whatsoever.
  12. Pulancur
    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
  13. Theboss_360
    Dec 5, 2022
    0
    4 party players instead of 8 !???? WHY !!???????
    Unfortunately this game is a downgrade fro the previous game “NFS Heat”
  14. GoodWinGameHS
    Dec 5, 2022
    1
    Русского языка нет, с такой музыкой больше 10 минут не смог играть
  15. Boyabatu
    Dec 5, 2022
    1
    The grinding is the one big thing that makes me hate this game. Ruined of what could be a good game
  16. Woyem
    Dec 5, 2022
    0
    This game is only nfs heat but slightly different, which of course lacks creativity. Yes they tried different graphics but i dont care about those.
  17. Mamosha
    Dec 8, 2022
    0
    NFS is back! Finally, reallyu love this game, don't understand what happened with critics today
  18. llSBuNNYll
    Dec 8, 2022
    1
    So another NFS game. People said it was a true successor to underground and most wanted so boy oh boy was I excited! Only to get reslly disappointed yet again.
    Let's start with the positives: the game looks good. The customization is good as always, and the sound is also pretty good. But this is where the good stuff ends. The characters in this game, as they where in Heat aswell, are    So another NFS game. People said it was a true successor to underground and most wanted so boy oh boy was I excited! Only to get reslly disappointed yet again.
    Let's start with the positives: the game looks good. The customization is good as always, and the sound is also pretty good. But this is where the good stuff ends. The characters in this game, as they where in Heat aswell, are cringe at best. Feels like the people that have written the lines are from outer space and does hardly even know what a human being is, let alone have they ever met one. The driving feel is horrible. Same disaster as heat with brake to drift, it just feels so bad. Feels like it's peogrammed by people that never have deiven a real car. Just as in heat, you can be at 300kph/186mph+ turn and yank the e-brake and stop in 10 meters.
    I dont like the anime stuff either. This game is more arcade than ever, and I would only recommend this game to people below 14 years of age. I'm truly disappointed, and while this game deserves a 4, I'll give it a 1, just because the 7.3.it has in total now is waaaay to high.    … Expand
  19. Lesnos4r2
    Dec 7, 2022
    1
    Unbalanced opponent difficulty and despite the developers coming out and saying that the graffiti effects could be turned off, that is NOT the case. You can turn SOME of the effects off and only on your car. The opponents cars have all the effects still on. Got a refund on this one. Garbage.
  20. jdm-2000s-boi
    Dec 6, 2022
    0
    It does not have interior customization which i was hoping for. also i would like more of an updated wheel list and more new body kit parts. and more tuner/muscle cars there's majority super cars like the car list needs to be updated alot!
  21. YamkoYamko
    Dec 6, 2022
    0
    Tried the trial. Its just heat with few extra touches here and there. Definitely not worth the price tag. (Yes sale discount or some sort exist but still, its not worth the price)
  22. Noggyyew
    Dec 8, 2022
    0
    For the price tag they are giving, this one is certainly not worth it. The experience was mediocre, and compared to the price, its no good.
  23. Maraud30
    Dec 4, 2022
    3
    Unfair and too hard because of poor vehicle handling and a cheated IA. Extremely slow progression, forgettable music and scenario. In one word, frustrating. 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.
  24. drcoates
    Dec 2, 2022
    0
    Trying to do races at night on Heat level 5 and all I'm doing is driving away from cops. I finally get away and have 2 helicopters hovering above me, one not moving, and 2 to 3 cop cars spawning close to me. All I do is run away from cops at night, when all the good stuff is happening.
  25. aralalkan
    Dec 5, 2022
    0
    From someone who has been playing NFS since I was a kid this sh*t is just getting more ridicilous release after release. I literally grew up playing NFS Underground 2 and NFS Most Wanted, NFS Carbon. Also played recent ones such as NFS Heat. Recent games all just seems to be memory manupilating cash grabbing trash releases. I just don't have any future hope from EA about NFS If you like itFrom someone who has been playing NFS since I was a kid this sh*t is just getting more ridicilous release after release. I literally grew up playing NFS Underground 2 and NFS Most Wanted, NFS Carbon. Also played recent ones such as NFS Heat. Recent games all just seems to be memory manupilating cash grabbing trash releases. I just don't have any future hope from EA about NFS If you like it good for you, I just can't anymore. And I know that we will never get a remastered Underground 2 cuz EA just does not have the balls to do that. I hope they will sell the game to another company who whould do way more exciting NFS than EA. Chlidhood ruined once again.

    Note:This is not hate speech is just from someone who's hopes has been crushed from almost every new NFS release I would just say stay in Forza instead.    … Expand
  26. Radloffmaik
    Nov 30, 2022
    5
    It’s not bad but the story is only for 13yo max. From yo yo-yo and bro brooooo over to cringe moments . The comic lool can NOT disabled btw. You have to play with this crap
  27. Logccmong55
    Dec 3, 2022
    0
    Garbage game cant turn ugly effects off heat copy game very easy trash mp nothing is interesting about the game gen z humour totally fail
  28. PhoenixZocker
    Dec 4, 2022
    4
    Dieses Spiel reiht sich für mich ein in die letzten Jahre, wo wieder und wieder enttäuscht wird. Handling nicht besonders gut. Wagen machen was sie wollen wann sie es wollen oder auch nicht. Das neue Boostsystem ist sowohl gut als auch schlecht. Beim Driftig eher störend als helfend während es in Rennen sie gerade zu Kinderleicht macht. Den dein Wagen wird immer durch einen starken BoostDieses Spiel reiht sich für mich ein in die letzten Jahre, wo wieder und wieder enttäuscht wird. Handling nicht besonders gut. Wagen machen was sie wollen wann sie es wollen oder auch nicht. Das neue Boostsystem ist sowohl gut als auch schlecht. Beim Driftig eher störend als helfend während es in Rennen sie gerade zu Kinderleicht macht. Den dein Wagen wird immer durch einen starken Boost gerade gezogen und leicht oder stark nach vorne unkontrollierbar geboostet. So brauchst du nicht mehr gucken wie nehme ich die Kurve am besten sondern einfach bisschen quer gehen in den führenden knallen oder einfach so den Boost benutzen der sich meistens durch leichtes driften 1 von 3 Balken geladen hat und zack bist du erster weil die Ki sowas natürlich nicht macht.Wer Cops aus den letzten Teilen liebte(jetzt sehr schwer bis gar nicht mehr zerstörbar ) wird sie hier auch lieben hat sich quasi nichts dran getan nur das jetzt bei jedem Rennen deine Fahndungsstufe erhöht. Dadurch du quasi immer Stufe 5 bist wenn du mal mehr Geld haben willst oder aber einfach Rennenfahren. Die Gegner sind meistens nicht sonderlich stark bei Rennen egal welcher Schwierigkeitagrad.
    Für Grafik geb ich 1 Punkte und fürs okaye Driften 1. Dafür das sie nun dieses Tag/Nacht Rhythmus geändert haben u d nun nicht mehr Nachts Street Credit oder wie das hieß sammel musst und dieses doppelte farmen wegfält auch 1 Punkt. Und den 4ten und letzten Punkt gibt es für zu gewinne Wagen bei Rennen wo man nur ein bruchteil für die Wagen zahlen muss und sie meistens sogar mit doppeltem gewinn verkaufen kannst als das rennen dir abzieht und das du in manchen mission Late Game Wagen schon einmal fahren kannst.
    Story is halt ok interessiert am Ende eh keinen.

    Alles im allem haben sie also Heat mit besserer Grafik ein paar bug fixes und Verschönerungen/ Verbesserungen. Dafür mit neuen Fehlern und Sachen die einem das Spiel zur Hölle machen wo vorallem das schlechte Handling und Cops zubuche stehen.    … Expand
  29. BananaInMyButt
    Nov 30, 2022
    5
    Unique gameplay and design compared to older NFS games. Cops are finally challenging and don't chill out, which is good, but they can be infuriating to deal with when they get spammed in every direction of your surrounding (Heat 5 in the highest difficulty; am there for nice challenges, not spam; quality > quantity)
    Also, I highly appreciate y'all adding new backgrounds for the plate and    Unique gameplay and design compared to older NFS games. Cops are finally challenging and don't chill out, which is good, but they can be infuriating to deal with when they get spammed in every direction of your surrounding (Heat 5 in the highest difficulty; am there for nice challenges, not spam; quality > quantity)
    Also, I highly appreciate y'all adding new backgrounds for the plate and for the "up" camera, in which you push up-button to have a better view on what is ahead of you. It's very helpful for me. There are new kits that got criticized recently, but I'm a fan of uniqueness and would never say no to more customizations. However, you guys removed certain customizations, like watanabe rims or sunline racing kits, even removed almost all brake brands. Additionally, you guys added a liberty walk hood and yet… there is no kit? Why? Also, what happened to ChargeSpeed for BRZ and Urban Outlaw for RSR? They are gone as well. That's not all though, KS kits… where are they? You guys had it in Heat, yet they're nowhere to be seen in Unbound. The missing parts play an important role in the (street) racing genre and I really hope they get added back in the future… considering that your UTC explains the game would focus on customization, which makes no sense for the several missing parts. No comment on multiplayer as I haven't tried that yet.    … Expand
  30. Citybustling
    Dec 4, 2022
    1
    While i get the idea of making the graphics different, it just doesnt work for me. The graphics really turns me off
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Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Best PlayStation 5 Game of 2022
13
#13 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2022

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 53 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 53
  3. Negative: 0 out of 53
  1. PLAY
    Feb 11, 2023
    80
    Terrifically fast, well-balanced street racing that really makes the most of PS5. Not quite as cool as the new art stylings would suggest, but still a fine game. [Issue#23, p.68]
  2. Games.cz
    Jan 19, 2023
    90
    Need for Speed was seriously starting to look dead and buried – and here comes the rescue party! The combination of beautiful, realistic-looking graphics and effects borrowed straight from an anime works surprisingly well, the story doesn’t get in your way and the driving model hits exactly the right spot. Even the open world is fun! This is how you make an arcade racing game.
    Read full review
  3. PLAY! Zine
    Jan 6, 2023
    80
    Need for Speed Unbound is the best modern NFS to date. It is still riddled with issues like rubberbanding and weird drifting physics, but it still provides its players with the best handling system in years, with grip racing finally back. With the best visual design NFS has ever had and some interesting campaign decisions, it gives hope that the series is back on track to becoming something great.
    Read full review
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