Need for Speed: Most Wanted

About Need for Speed: Most Wanted

Need for Speed: Most Wanted is a single player and multiplayer open world racing game. It was developed by Criterion Games and was released on June 18, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

The player arrives in Rockport City, driving a racing version of the BMW M3 GTR (E46). Following Mia Townsend (played by Josie Maran), the player proves his driving prowess as he is pursued by a veteran police officer named Sergeant Cross (played by Dean McKenzie), who vows to take down the player and end street racing in Rockport. Races seem to be in the player's favor until a particular grou…

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Reviews

75%Audience ScoreBased on 4,631 reviews

graphics233 positive mentions

story145 negative mentions

graphics
403 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58% positive mentions, 40% neutral mentions, 2% negative mentions
The graphics of "Need for Speed: Most Wanted" (2012) are widely praised for their impressive quality, especially considering the game's age; many reviewers note that they still hold up well against more recent titles. The visuals, including detailed car models and dynamic lighting, contribute significantly to the overall experience, although some users mention issues with performance and graphical settings. Overall, the game's graphics are seen as a standout feature, enhancing the racing experience despite some gameplay criticisms.
- “For a game released in 2012, this game still holds up very well, both graphics and gameplay.”
- “The graphics are surprisingly good for this old of a game.”
- “The graphics still hold up, the chases are fun, the races are fun, the cars are sexy.”
- “If these were the graphics on this game's initial release, this is trash; there were better graphics on other games and more video settings that could have improved them.”
- “It feels like a pre-alpha as the game is unplayable, slows down for nothing, and has outdated graphics, all on a powerful PC!”
- “The graphics settings cannot be adjusted fully; there is no option for formatting the game to the screen (windowed, fullscreen, borderless), Xbox controllers do not even work in this 'driving' game, the gameplay is awful and the audio is insanely loud at the lowest volume.”
story
374 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13% positive mentions, 48% neutral mentions, 39% negative mentions
The consensus among users is that the game lacks a meaningful story, with many describing it as having no narrative or character development. Players note that the gameplay revolves around racing and unlocking cars without any substantial plot or progression, contrasting sharply with earlier titles in the series that featured engaging storylines. While some appreciate the focus on racing mechanics and open-world exploration, the absence of a compelling story is a significant drawback for many fans of the franchise.
- “The main campaign is short, but there is much more to do besides the main story.”
- “While NFS 2005 had a captivating story and an underground racing vibe, Most Wanted (2012) leans into the thrill of high-speed police chases and a more modern open-world format.”
- “Even though the game doesn't have a proper story, every mission has a very cool cinematic intro, it can either be cars forming from pieces, suspense, fear, and many more.”
- “The game has no story and feels like it has no heart.”
- “There's no story or anything remotely resembling one, so we'll just go ahead and get that out of the way real quick.”
- “The story doesn't exist in this game, and whilst that is kinda disappointing, I don't generally play racing games for the story.”
gameplay
251 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34% positive mentions, 52% neutral mentions, 14% negative mentions
The gameplay of *Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012)* is a mixed bag, praised for its polished driving mechanics and engaging police chase elements, yet criticized for its repetitive structure and lack of a compelling story. While many players appreciate the arcade-style fun and visuals reminiscent of the *Burnout* series, others find the car handling frustrating and the progression system flawed, particularly due to the reliance on DLC for additional content. Overall, the game offers enjoyable moments but suffers from significant issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “Gameplay in this Need for Speed is the most polished aspect of the whole game, but it means a lot less than you'd think.”
- “For a game released in 2012, this game still holds up very well, both graphics and gameplay.”
- “The gameplay emphasizes as little downtime as possible, which is a good thing as it's an absolute blast whether or not cops are involved.”
- “Every attempt to continue gameplay is met with an involuntary exit, creating a cycle of frustration that has sapped the enjoyment out of what should have been an exciting gaming experience.”
- “It's disheartening to encounter such a fundamental issue that significantly impacts the gameplay, and the lack of support only exacerbates the problem.”
- “Driving mechanics are ridiculous, there is no personalization available, gameplay is repetitive - you basically run the same 6 or 7 races with different cars, get the same upgrades for all and move to the next car.”
music
227 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54% positive mentions, 41% neutral mentions, 5% negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising the soundtrack as one of its standout features, highlighting its nostalgic appeal and suitability for driving. While some enjoy the selection of tracks, others find it repetitive or not as strong as previous entries in the series, particularly the 2005 version. Overall, the soundtrack is often described as enjoyable and fitting for the game's atmosphere, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- “The soundtrack itself is some of the best I've seen in a Need for Speed game, and I just love blasting along at 150mph listening to that stuff.”
- “Absolutely phenomenal game, the open-world combined with the soundtrack is one of my favorites in the Need for Speed franchise.”
- “The combination of good gameplay, nonstop action, graphics, and great soundtrack makes this game amazing to play.”
- “There is no story, no substance to the gameplay and the music just gets so repetitive after a while.”
- “The music choice isn't that good and it's difficult to drive the cars.”
- “The music sucks which is really unfortunate since that is usually one of the things NFS gets right.”
optimization
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18% positive mentions, 66% neutral mentions, 16% negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players reporting smooth performance on low-end PCs while others experience significant issues on high-end hardware, including stuttering and low frame rates. While the graphics are praised for their quality, the lack of comprehensive car customization and repetitive gameplay detracts from the overall experience. Many users suggest that the game feels poorly optimized for modern systems, leading to frustration despite some positive aspects of performance tuning.
- “However, I do like that you can customize the car (changing performance parts) to make it suit your needs on the fly.”
- “The game ran really well and that’s always good to see, so you should have no issues with performance.”
- “Another thing I also like about this game is that the optimization it has for older computers is insane.”
- “The game is not optimized for better PCs, and the FPS is capped too low.”
- “Terrible performance on high-end hardware.”
- “This is an 8-year-old game now, yet it still suffers from graphic stuttering and performance issues even when played on a system that handles modern titles with ease.”
monetization
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9% positive mentions, 42% neutral mentions, 49% negative mentions
The monetization in this game has been widely criticized as excessive and intrusive, with many reviewers labeling it a "cash grab" that detracts from the nostalgic experience. Players express frustration over the prevalence of microtransactions and paywalls, which lock essential content and vehicles behind additional purchases, making the game feel more like an advertisement than a genuine sequel. Overall, the monetization strategy has left many feeling disappointed and regretful about their purchase.
- “This game was one of many racing games that built my childhood and it still holds up very strongly today, but the microtransactions are a downside.”
- “Now this port has a lot more monetization than what I played it on originally (Xbox 360), but it is still an enjoyable experience.”
- “It's a short and sweet little racing game I love and also hate because of what EA marketed it as and the microtransactions, but I still love it.”
- “Honestly a disgrace to NFS like all the new ones are. I got this with the false hope of perhaps reliving one of my favorite childhood games, and instead it's another paywall cash grab with actually garbage AI. You can drive straight and get out of a police chase, no vehicle customization, no winning cars, no buying cars, just find them around the map.”
- “The biggest reason to not recommend this game is the abundance of DLC/microtransactions.”
- “This just further proves the point that the monetization is ridiculous, or in other words, classic EA.”
grinding
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9% positive mentions, 32% neutral mentions, 59% negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being repetitive and tedious, often requiring players to invest excessive time to achieve 100% completion or unlock new content. Many reviewers express that the grinding can detract from the overall enjoyment, with some suggesting that it feels like a chore rather than a rewarding experience. While some players find enjoyment in the grind, particularly in multiplayer settings, the consensus leans towards it being a significant drawback in single-player mode.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding is simply a must to upgrade cars and become better.”
- “You will pretty quickly obtain all of the cars freely available in the world and are essentially just grinding out the same repetitive racing events until you level up enough to challenge the next car.”
- “Menus are a pain in the rear, choosing a car and customizing are tedious and unsatisfying; the progress system is confusing and a chore.”
humor
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it genuinely funny due to its absurd scenarios, such as overly aggressive police and quirky cutscenes. While some aspects, like the game's bugs and the ridiculousness of certain mechanics, provide comedic moments, others, like the frustrating DLC pricing and annoying online interactions, detract from the overall experience. Overall, players appreciate the humor as a lighthearted element that makes the game enjoyable, despite its flaws.
- “Also, the police are so hilariously aggressive that it puts the GTA police to shame.”
- “It's like they spent most of the budget on licensing a Muse song and then had to pick what was left—screw that, that intro with the cop cars turning into a huge pinwheel and chasing the player is just hilarious!”
- “I was having a hard time driving as I was laughing so hard.”
stability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19% positive mentions, 5% neutral mentions, 76% negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, glitches, and issues with controls, particularly on keyboard. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay and good performance on various hardware setups, others have faced persistent problems such as infinite loading screens and crashes. Overall, the game appears to be more stable on consoles, but many players find it frustratingly janky and in need of further optimization.
- “Runs great on the deck too.”
- “Really enjoyed the nostalgia of 2012; so far, no glitches and smooth gameplay.”
- “The game runs great on my GTX 1660 and my laptop with GTX 1650. I love how this game combines modern graphics with an older style of racing games.”
- “Literally all of the remaining 34 hours have been spent in settings trying to get the game running better, trying to start the game, sitting on an infinite loading screen, and even more time has been spent outside of that troubleshooting and looking for fixes that'll make the game function as I'd hoped.”
- “Very buggy...changing all buttons to controller is very frustrating because once you enter one there's no way to clear buttons...not gonna play the game the whole time with the W key or arrow keys...disappointing because this was a fun game back in its day :(”
- “Buggy, bad keyboard optimization, every second car in the game requires multiple extra DLCs, multiplayer and leaderboards do not work.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28% positive mentions, 55% neutral mentions, 17% negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed among users; while some appreciate the ability to explore the city and engage in various challenges, others find limited replay value after completing the main objectives. Players who enjoy racing may find it more appealing, but many express disappointment in the lack of substantial progression or updates, leading to a general consensus of moderate to low replayability. Overall, the game offers some replay potential, particularly in multiplayer and car collection, but it may not satisfy those seeking extensive replay value.
- “ Infinitely replayable (or almost).”
- “Players can drive around the city and discover hidden challenges and rewards, adding to the replayability of the game.”
- “- Replay value is huge; like I said, every car out there has its own race events.”
- “I don't see any replay value unless you like racing games, and to that I say, more power to you.”
- “After beating the most wanted list, it had no replayability for me.”
- “Overall, I want to enjoy this game... and I hope there are updates made or announced soon. I regretfully give this game a 3/10, and that's only because there's a soft spot in my heart.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64% positive mentions, 9% neutral mentions, 27% negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, featuring a unique blend of gritty visuals, dynamic day/night cycles, and a vibrant city environment. Players appreciate the effective use of lighting, soundtracks, and vehicle selection, which collectively enhance the overall experience and contribute to a fun, nostalgic vibe. Despite some criticisms regarding its title, the game's atmosphere remains a standout feature that resonates with long-time fans.
- “It had a unique atmosphere that Most Wanted (2012) didn't fully replicate.”
- “The atmosphere is just so cool.”
- “The atmosphere, the music, the graphics, and the straight-to-the-action gameplay make this game incredibly fun.”
- “After more than 1k hours spent in this game on Xbox 360 and after a break of almost 7 years, this game still gives me the same vibe and atmosphere as it did then.”
- “I sorta grew up with this game, and thus I have major nostalgia goggles, but the driving, the atmosphere, the music, and the jack spots all make this game my all-time favorite racing game.”
- “Sure, it's very burnout-y, but the atmosphere, the music, the graphics, and the straight-to-the-action gameplay make this game incredibly fun.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
89% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 11% negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional disappointment with the game, feeling that it fails to deliver a meaningful experience and lacks the nostalgic charm of earlier titles in the series. The rapid progression and lack of emotional investment in new cars contribute to a sense of emptiness, leading some to feel "emotional damage" and regret over the game's direction. Overall, the sentiment is one of mourning for the franchise's past glory rather than enjoyment of the current offering.
- “Very touching for me.”
- “I cried :(”
- “I have emotional damage because of this multiplayer now.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions
Character development in the game is minimal, primarily limited to superficial interactions such as police comments on driving behavior, which often feel disconnected from meaningful character growth or narrative depth.
- “The maximum character development you'll get is cops declaring your driving style 'aggressive', and then proceeding to crash 10 Fords, 5 SUVs, and 3 Corvettes along the same 1-mile stretch of road.”
- “Character development feels non-existent; the choices you make have little to no impact on the story or the characters themselves.”
- “I expected a rich narrative with deep character arcs, but instead, I was left with flat characters and predictable outcomes.”

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Play Times

20h Median play time

446h Average play time

12-90h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 17 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Need for Speed: Most Wanted is a open world racing game. Common tags for Need for Speed: Most Wanted include first-person, driving, trading, third person, soundtrack and others.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted is available on PC, Windows, Cloud and NVIDIA GeForce NOW.

On average players spend around 446 hours playing Need for Speed: Most Wanted.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted was released on June 18, 2020.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted was developed by Criterion Games.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked Need for Speed: Most Wanted for its graphics but disliked it for its story.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Need For Speed Hot Pursuit, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered, Need for Speed Rivals, GRID Autosport, Need for Speed and others.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted

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Reviews

graphics

story

gameplay

music

optimization

monetization

grinding

humor

stability

replayability

atmosphere

emotional

character development

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