Need for Speed

About

"Need for Speed is a open-world racing game with a focus on urban car culture and customization. Discover Ventura Bay through multiple overlapping stories, building reputation and earning the respect of five automotive icons. With its thrilling narrative and good graphics, play solo or with others to become the ultimate icon."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

65%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,160 reviews

story254 positive mentions

stability129 negative mentions

story
1,131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
64%
14%
The story in "Need for Speed (2015)" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it enjoyable yet cringeworthy, often likening it to a cheesy B-movie. While some appreciate the nostalgic elements and the inclusion of real-life racing icons, others criticize the plot for being shallow and the characters for lacking depth. Overall, the narrative serves as a backdrop to the racing experience, with many players acknowledging that the gameplay and car customization are the main draws rather than the story itself.
- “Need for Speed (2015) doesn’t just offer a high-octane racing experience — it’s a love letter to car culture, an emotional dive into the pursuit of redemption, and a story about finding your true identity amidst the roar of engines and the blinding city lights.”
- “The game’s story is packed with personality, featuring a crew of eclectic characters and jaw-dropping cutscenes that make you feel like you’re part of an underground racing scene.”
- “The story is engaging and the controls are impressive.”
- “The story is boring, but we can all agree that we don't buy these games for the plot; we want fast cars and tuning.”
- “The story is told via live-action cutscenes and in itself it's super boring with very lame and one-dimensional characters.”
- “The story is cringe, even for a NFS game, and the sad part is, some cutscenes aren't even skippable.”
graphics
1,006 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
37%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising their stunning quality and realism, often describing them as "photo-realistic" and "gorgeous," even by today's standards. The game's night-time aesthetic, enhanced by rain effects and detailed car models, creates an immersive atmosphere that resonates with fans of the racing genre. However, some players noted that while the visuals are impressive, they are often marred by gameplay issues, such as poor handling and online-only restrictions, which detract from the overall experience.
- “The graphics are stunning, the customization of the vehicles doesn't leave much to be desired and the sound is good.”
- “The graphics are amazing and hold up well even by today's standards.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, and it felt like a return to the old Most Wanted/Carbon style games.”
- “Absolutely ridiculous how little graphics improvement we've had since this.”
- “The graphics are extremely poor compared to the way the game looks in the screenshots posted by the publisher.”
- “The only good thing about this game are the cinematic, overall graphics, post processing and night lighting.”
gameplay
493 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
58%
12%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its fun and engaging mechanics, particularly in drifting and car customization. However, numerous criticisms highlight issues such as clunky handling, repetitive gameplay, and frustrating online connectivity problems that detract from the overall experience. While some players find enjoyment in the arcade-style racing and visuals, others express disappointment in the execution of core gameplay elements and the reliance on online features.
- “The gameplay is fun with lots of customization to do and tuning the cars to make perfect builds, and the story is great.”
- “The gameplay is tight, responsive (once you fix that controller), and keeps you fully engaged, making every race feel intense as you push your way to the top.”
- “With its breathtaking visuals, satisfying gameplay, and a robust customization system, it offers a comprehensive racing experience that caters to both nostalgic fans and new players.”
- “The limited customization options compared to previous entries in the series are underwhelming, and the handling mechanics feel clunky and unrealistic, even for an arcade racer.”
- “The gameplay is overall fine, but the car handling is hard to understand and master.”
- “The gameplay is too arcade-like; you can drift at 180 km/h (105 mph) without any problem, which is unrealistic.”
music
291 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
53%
10%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack for its nostalgic elements and variety, particularly its blend of electronic, hip-hop, and rock tracks that enhance the racing atmosphere. However, some players find the music forgettable or not to their taste, often opting to mute it and play their own playlists instead. Overall, while the soundtrack is seen as a highlight by some, others criticize it for lacking the memorable quality of earlier Need for Speed titles.
- “The soundtrack is another standout feature that enhances the emotional depth of the game.”
- “Filled with a diverse mix of electronic, hip-hop, and rock tracks, the music perfectly complements the energy and intensity of the racing.”
- “The atmosphere, the visuals, the soundtrack are top notch.”
- “I don't know anything about music, I turned it off in the settings and played my own driving playlist in the background.”
- “The music is some of the blandest garbage I've ever heard; I'd rather listen to communist propaganda.”
- “The soundtrack is the worst in the franchise by a long shot, literally one good song out of dozens of contemporary EDM/trap rap trash.”
atmosphere
165 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
42%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning graphics, immersive night-time setting, and a powerful soundtrack that evokes nostalgia for earlier titles in the Need for Speed series. Players appreciate the rain-soaked streets and vibrant visuals that create a unique underground racing vibe, although some note that the constant night and rain can become monotonous. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, making it a compelling experience for fans of street racing culture.
- “Driving through the rain-soaked streets under the neon glow of city lights creates an immersive atmosphere that pulls players into the underground racing scene.”
- “The atmosphere is just so unique.”
- “The only saving grace for this game is the graphics, atmosphere, and sound design.”
- “The atmosphere, feeling, graphics, and the driving are just second to none - I play it to this day!”
- “The dark, night-time atmosphere and rainy weather create a fitting atmosphere for street racing, and the reflections and raindrops on cars and roads look nice.”
optimization
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
53%
22%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance and graphics, particularly on high-end systems and the Steam Deck, while others criticize it for poor controller support, bugs, and overall unoptimized performance on PC. Many users report issues such as stuttering, lag, and a lack of responsiveness with controllers, suggesting that the game may not be well-suited for all hardware configurations. Overall, while some aspects of optimization are commendable, significant improvements are needed to enhance the gaming experience for a broader audience.
- “Amazing atmosphere, graphics look better than 90% of games today and performance is excellent.”
- “Great optimization, great graphics.”
- “First of all, the graphics of Need for Speed 2015 are the best of the NFS franchise, even better than Need for Speed Heat, and it has better optimization (you have more fps while playing the game).”
- “This game is not optimized well for controllers.”
- “Terrible PC port riddled with bugs and bad optimization overall (thanks Denuvo for that).”
- “Hands down the most poorly optimized game I've ever laid my hands on.”
stability
138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs, glitches, and controller issues that render it nearly unplayable. Many players experienced random freezes, unresponsive controls, and persistent graphical problems, particularly when using controllers. Despite some positive remarks about the game's visuals and gameplay mechanics, the overwhelming consensus is that the game remains a "buggy mess" years after its release, making it difficult to recommend without substantial discounts.
- “Interestingly enough, this runs great on the Steam Deck and doesn't suffer from those controller input issues on it.”
- “A lot of care has been put into the visuals - it looks fantastic and runs great (60+) on Steam Deck.”
- “It's totally bug free, although the map isn't too big, it's well made.”
- “This game is a complete buggy mess when trying to play with an Xbox controller.”
- “The controls are extremely buggy.”
- “I really want to like this game but I can't recommend a game with such poor controller support that it thinks an Xbox One controller is both a keyboard input and a racing wheel somehow.”
humor
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its cringy cutscenes, glitchy gameplay, and absurd AI behavior, which many players find amusing despite the game's flaws. Players appreciate the nostalgic, campy atmosphere and the unintentional hilarity that arises from the game's technical issues and over-the-top character interactions. Overall, the humor is described as a mix of intentional and unintentional comedy, making for a lighthearted experience that some find endearing.
- “If the game is on a big discount, I personally recommend it since it's just a nostalgic 'what if underground was remastered' in terms of visuals, and it has a lot of fun races and content including the cringy cutscenes that are hilarious sometimes.”
- “I would even count the cringey cutscenes as a pro because they're so bad it's hilarious.”
- “The physics and the racers have also led to some hilarious moments of interaction, sometimes causing my car to go flying, sometimes lifting me up to create some sort of small car stack, sometimes bashing the rear of my car and causing me to do a complete 180, and so many more.”
grinding
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
30%
64%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time to progress. Many reviews highlight issues such as unskippable cutscenes, poor car progression mechanics, and repetitive gameplay that detracts from the overall enjoyment. The consensus suggests that the grinding feels more like a chore than a rewarding experience, leading to frustration rather than fun.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Always-online DRM, menus, car progression, grinding, obnoxious cutscenes, and unresponsive controls.”
- “Very scripted, very grindy, and an awful mess of loading screens.”
- “The driving is fast and fun, but it can feel a bit repetitive after a while, especially if you’re focused on grinding for upgrades.”
emotional
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
77%
23%
The emotional aspect of "Need for Speed (2015)" is characterized by its themes of redemption, identity, and camaraderie, which resonate deeply with players, despite some criticisms of a lackluster story and cringy cutscenes. While the game offers an exhilarating racing experience and a nostalgic connection to car culture, many reviewers feel that it could benefit from a more profound narrative to enhance its emotional impact. Overall, it evokes a mix of feelings, from excitement to disappointment, as players navigate both the highs of racing and the lows of gameplay issues.
- “Need for Speed (2015) doesn’t just offer a high-octane racing experience — it’s a love letter to car culture, an emotional dive into the pursuit of redemption, and a story about finding your true identity amidst the roar of engines and the blinding city lights.”
- “In the end, Need for Speed (2015) is an emotional rollercoaster that blends the thrill of racing with a powerful narrative about identity, friendship, and redemption.”
- “As someone who respects, has admired, and followed Ken Block's work for years, it was emotional seeing him during cutscenes and driving alongside him in the game.”
- “Cringy cutscenes and a boring story.”
- “Boring story line.”
- “Pretty boring story line too.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
63%
19%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while many players find the racing mechanics and social aspects provide significant replay value, others feel that a lack of progression and content limits long-term engagement. Daily challenges and online modes enhance replayability, especially when played with friends, but some players express disappointment over the absence of certain features that could have enriched the experience.
- “This social aspect adds significant replay value and keeps the racing community engaged.”
- “It was fast, brutal, and endlessly replayable.”
- “That with daily challenges and other online modes/races make the replayability higher than I expected.”
- “I feel as if it has no replay value either, and that's sad to say as I love Need for Speed.”
- “There is no progression or replay value once you have all the parts and all the cars.”
- “However, I can't stop feeling that if they had added drag racing from the beginning, and happened alongside the main storyline, the game might have had other proportions when it comes to players and replayability.”
monetization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
31%
46%
Overall, the monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback. While some players appreciate the absence of microtransactions, viewing it as a positive feature that allows for genuine gameplay and progression, others criticize the game for its perceived cash grab tactics and reliance on community fixes. The consensus suggests a welcome relief from microtransactions, contrasting sharply with previous titles in the series.
- “I've seen no hint of microtransactions, that's good.”
- “- Car customization is below Heat’s level but solid; there are plenty of cosmetic options and the upgrade tracks are simple, linear affairs, with no microtransactions at all.”
- “By far the only NFS that combines Carbon and UG2 in a seamless way without introducing microtransactions or the ridiculous cards NFS: Payback has.”
- “Wouldn't recommend on PC; it's just a typical mediocre AAA cash grab, bad controller support, game crashes, and the EA app is useless—it's just on your PC for no reason.”
- “Not recommended as a standalone game; having to make the community fix your own game is by far the most scummiest thing ever (2nd comes microtransactions).”
- “It's like any other EA cash grab tactics.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development in the game is noted to be unbalanced, which may affect players' engagement with the characters, though some may find it less significant.
- “Character development isn't balanced, although you might not care about that part.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack meaningful growth throughout the game.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, making it hard to connect with them.”