Need for Speed Payback

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 12,220 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Need for Speed Payback Game Cover
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In Need for Speed™ Payback, players explore the criminal underworld of Fortune Valley to take down the ruling cartel, "The House," through exciting heist missions, car battles, and high-stakes challenges. Customize and upgrade a variety of unique vehicles, and evade the authorities in high-speed chases. The game offers an adrenaline-pumping action-driving experience with a compelling story of revenge and redemption.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 12,220 reviews
story1,064 positive mentions
optimization80 negative mentions
  • story3,152 mentions

    The story of "Need for Speed: Payback" is generally viewed as a mix of engaging and cheesy elements, often compared to a Fast & Furious film. While some players appreciate the action-packed narrative and character dynamics, others criticize it for being predictable, shallow, and filled with cringe-worthy dialogue. Overall, the story serves its purpose in driving the gameplay forward, but many agree that it lacks depth and can feel repetitive, especially as players progress through the missions.

    • “The game's story is engaging, and the graphics and physics are impressive.”
    • “Very cheesy and over the top story, I love it, very little grind too, most of the time it's just progressing through the story, the handling is very arcade and just makes you go fast, really enjoyable.”
    • “The story follows three protagonists as they seek revenge on a criminal organization.”
    • “Story: absolute garbage.”
    • “The story is from beginning to end really bad.”
    • “The races and events in the story mode feel repetitive by the time you hit mid-game, and unbearable by the end-game.”
  • graphics1,090 mentions

    The graphics in "Need for Speed Payback" are generally praised for their impressive visuals and attention to detail, particularly in car models and environments, which many players find stunning even by today's standards. While some reviews note that the graphics can feel outdated compared to newer titles and mention occasional graphical bugs, the overall consensus is that the game delivers a visually appealing experience that enhances the gameplay. Players appreciate the vibrant art style and dynamic weather effects, contributing to an engaging open-world racing atmosphere.

    • “The visuals are jaw-dropping, with smooth textures, vibrant colors, and realistic lighting effects.”
    • “Need for speed payback boasts impressive visuals and detailed car models.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, the car customization options are extensive, and the storyline keeps you hooked until the very end.”
    • “First of all, you launch the game... you don't see anything, no menu, no choice of anything... the game launches straight to story mode, without the ability to change the settings, the controls, the graphics, the languages, nothing... then you start racing, no controls are shown, what to press, how to drift, how to change the view... and pressing esc won't do anything, so I thought just pass the first mission with weird controls and bad graphics, and I'll adjust them later... about 10-15 minutes later, the prologue ends!”
    • “On the downside: the graphics are a clear step down from NFS 2015; the cops felt very scripted and ultimately were mere window dressing; the UI is obnoxious to go through; the performance customization card system is RNG trash that feels really out of place; and the overall world is visually bland for how much space they had to work with.”
    • “The graphics are okay, but I find it really hard to handle the car, maybe because it's the first car game that I play in a decade.”
  • gameplay914 mentions

    The gameplay of "Need for Speed Payback" is characterized by a mix of engaging arcade racing mechanics and a variety of event types, including drifting, drag racing, and police chases, which keep the experience fresh. However, many players criticize the game's upgrade system, which relies on a slot machine mechanic, and the driving controls, which can feel unresponsive and frustrating. Overall, while the graphics and customization options are praised, the gameplay experience is often marred by inconsistent mechanics and a lack of depth in certain areas.

    • “This game delivers an exhilarating open-world experience with a diverse range of events, stunning visuals, and satisfyingly fast-paced gameplay.”
    • “The driving mechanics are well-tuned, providing a satisfying and immersive experience.”
    • “The addition of police pursuits and heist missions adds variety to the gameplay.”
    • “Terrible driving controls, a system of jerky car controls and just driving didn't even feel like a second of satisfaction, especially drifting. The drifting mechanic is so stupid in this game it's hard to explain how a car can drift only if you press the handbrake. Forza Horizon series is the best in these terms - it has close to realistic driving and drifting mechanics which at least feels satisfying to do, but in NFS Payback it feels so jerked whenever you try to drift or brake!”
    • “The gameplay consists of the usual brake-to-drift physics (seemingly somehow worse than in the 2015/2016 reboot), making every car an understeer monster, fighting you at almost every corner and taking both the control and the fun out of driving your car, no matter the upgrades.”
    • “Driving mechanics are worse than most mobile games. The way you upgrade engine parts is terrible, cop gameplay is boring and really isn't a great deal of it.”
  • music398 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the soundtrack to be either mediocre or outright disappointing. While some appreciate the variety and specific tracks, others criticize it for being repetitive, heavily leaning on pop and rap genres, and lacking the memorable quality of soundtracks from earlier titles in the series. Overall, the music seems to be a divisive aspect, with some players opting to mute it entirely in favor of their own playlists.

    • “The soundtrack is really nice and the game's sound mixing is also a blessing.”
    • “From adrenaline-fueled rock tracks to pulsating electronic beats, the game's music keeps players pumped up and ready for action.”
    • “Amazing story, soundtrack, map and selection of cars and types of races.”
    • “Very bad music selection.”
    • “The music soundtrack is even worse than terrible... I actually don't remember ever playing a game with such a lousy soundtrack.”
    • “I had to lower the music volume to 0 because I couldn't listen to that garbage, and played through the whole game like that.”
  • optimization370 mentions

    The optimization of "Need for Speed Payback" has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering and frame drops, even on high-end hardware. The game's unique card-based performance upgrade system has been criticized for being overly complicated and reliant on RNG, detracting from the overall experience. While some users noted smooth performance during gameplay, the general consensus is that the game suffers from poor optimization, making it frustrating for many players.

    • “The car customization options are extensive, allowing you to fine-tune your vehicles for optimal performance and style.”
    • “Players can customize their cars with a wide range of performance upgrades and visual modifications.”
    • “Payback maintains a smooth and consistent performance, even during high-speed races and intense action sequences.”
    • “Very, very, very, very bad optimized with lots of stutters.”
    • “The performance is dogshit and it lags constantly, even on modern higher-end hardware that's 3 years newer than the game itself.”
    • “Now, for the performance - the game feels poorly optimized.”
  • grinding218 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received significant criticism, with many players noting that it feels excessive and tedious, particularly due to the need to repeatedly complete events to earn upgrades and unlock cars. The reliance on a randomized loot box system for upgrades further exacerbates the grind, leading to frustration as players often find themselves stuck in a cycle of grinding for parts and money. While some players appreciate the complexity of the upgrade system, the overall sentiment is that the grinding detracts from the enjoyment of the game, making it feel more like a chore than a fun racing experience.

    • “There are microtransactions to make this easier, but not worth it since it’s not too grindy in my opinion.”
    • “The redeeming quality is that it's not too grindy; the game showers you in tokens and package drops.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “So basically, they want you to grind the same events over and over, to play the game for as long as possible and turn the game into a grindy RPG.”
    • “The story, graphics, and cars are good, but it's the upgrading method that ruins this game; it's just so annoying grinding and mostly praying to gods for luck so you could get a part that you need.”
    • “When you get to rep 40+, the game gets super grindy; I was having issues winning basic races and getting the right missing speed card was rare, really rare.”
  • monetization110 mentions

    The monetization in "Need for Speed Payback" has drawn significant criticism for its reliance on microtransactions and loot boxes, which many players feel detracts from the overall gaming experience. While some users report that these microtransactions can be ignored and do not heavily impact gameplay, the pervasive nature of ads and the pay-to-progress mentality have left a negative impression, leading to perceptions of the game as a cash grab. Overall, the monetization strategy is seen as a major flaw that overshadows the game's potential.

    • “Despite being an actually fun NFS game, Need for Speed Payback is dragged down by its monetization system.”
    • “Microtransactions are in there but can be ignored completely.”
    • “Despite being an actually fun NFS game, Need for Speed Payback is dragged down to hell by its dogsh*t monetization system.”
    • “This was the dark age of EA when they were pushing loot boxes and monetization.”
    • “Overall, Need for Speed Payback is a good racing game let down by egregious monetization in its upgrade system.”
  • humor56 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players appreciating the cheesy one-liners and funny moments, particularly in multiplayer and customization aspects. While some find the dialogue and certain gameplay mechanics amusingly cringe-worthy, others criticize the attempts at humor as forced or unfunny. Overall, the game offers a lighthearted experience that can lead to unexpected laughs, especially during chaotic racing scenarios.

    • “Since I bought this on sale, I would say for the past 50 hours I spent on the game getting all cars and all achievements, it's a good game with replay value. Plus, its mods for online have some good trolling action where a stock Z can beat a drag Beetle. I totally recommend this game due to the funny moments it has and how much trolling you can do.”
    • “The cheesy one-liners are hilarious (I mean, it's so bad that it's hilarious!).”
    • “But kinda good... when driving, all of a sudden you crash into the wall... hilarious and annoying at the same time.”
    • “It doesn't make me feel like I'm beating a cool race against an interesting rival; it makes me feel like I'm listening to the most unfunny comedy routine in recent memory.”
  • stability56 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches, including audio issues and freezing during missions. While some users experienced a mostly bug-free experience, others faced significant technical problems, including crashes and performance issues, particularly on certain hardware setups. Overall, the game is seen as fun despite its stability concerns, but players caution that it may not be suitable for those seeking a polished experience.

    • “The visuals are great, the driving feels good for the most part, and along with the surprisingly solid technical performance, it's also been a mostly bug-free experience for me.”
    • “Runs great on the deck!”
    • “The racing is fun, the graphics look gorgeous, and it runs great (after disabling V-Sync in-game and using NVIDIA V-Sync plus a 60fps frame limiter).”
    • “The audio is horrible and constantly glitches or cuts out entirely.”
    • “While being in a story mission, the game occasionally freezes even though it has current hardware to rely on... such as an RTX 3070, a 6-core CPU, and 32 GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM.”
    • “It's okay, but the launching is so buggy that sometimes the game won't launch at all.”
  • replayability44 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed, with some players enjoying the variety of racing modes and multiplayer options that enhance replay value, while others find it limited due to a lack of diverse content and a short storyline. Many appreciate the fun and humorous aspects of online play, but overall, opinions range from average to high replayability depending on individual play styles and interests.

    • “Players can compete in various racing modes and events, adding significant replay value.”
    • “The controls are smooth, the graphics are breathtaking, and the multiplayer mode adds endless replay value.”
    • “Since I bought this on sale, I would say for the past 50 hours I spent on the game getting all cars and all achievements. It's a good game with replay value, plus its mods for online have some good trolling action where a stock Z can beat a drag beetle. I totally recommend this game due to the funny moments it has and how much trolling you can do.”
    • “If you don’t plan on exploring the map or doing collectibles, then the replayability may be little to none here.”
    • “If you're looking for a lot of replayability and a decent storyline, you're not getting that here.”
    • “❎ fair: some replay value, but lacks variety.”
  • emotional30 mentions

    Overall, players find the emotional aspect of "Need for Speed: Payback" lacking, with many describing the story as boring and devoid of depth or engagement. While some moments, like character interactions, provide a slight emotional connection, the overwhelming sentiment is one of disappointment, with players feeling uninvested in the narrative and characters. The game's attempts at emotional impact often fall flat, leading to a general sense of frustration rather than connection.

    • “The car stealing and some cutscenes made me feel I was playing as Dominic Toretto at times.”
    • “When Tyler said 'it's payback time,' I cried.”
    • “Getting to play three different characters who all cooperate and communicate throughout the game made me feel more invested than I'd typically feel with the nameless self-insert found in other racing games.”
    • “The most boring story I have yet to experience, and all the cars feel the same except for the drift cars.”
    • “Cringe characters, annoying dialogue, boring story, cutscenes that take too long to let you skip them, framerate drops, origin requirement, etc. etc.... an inferior attempt at a Forza Horizon / Burnout experience.”
    • “Overall, I feel that EA has killed some great features here and brought about a boring story that you're not invested in.”
  • atmosphere26 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is generally praised for its alignment with the soundtrack and impressive graphics, creating an engaging experience that resonates well with players. However, some reviews note that the atmosphere can feel lacking compared to previous titles, particularly criticizing the reliance on current music and the absence of the classic "Need for Speed" spirit. Overall, while many appreciate the immersive environment and visual effects, there are mixed feelings about its depth and replay value.

    • “The cars outshine everything else in the game, customization feels really good here, and the overall atmosphere feels right in this game.”
    • “I have no desire to revisit this title unlike 2015, despite its problems, it is very fun and nails down the atmosphere perfectly.”
    • “The best game in this series, I can say without a doubt that it is 'Payback'. The atmosphere, the effects, the graphics, and the landscapes make you feel the game at the highest level of competition that a car racing game can offer.”
    • “It was ok, I liked the 2015 NFS more though. Even though that one was only set at night and mainly focused on drifting, it had better graphics and atmosphere than Payback.”
    • “I don't know why the developers feel bound to use only current music, because the atmosphere and visuals would lend themselves to songs from all eras.”
    • “Although there is no atmosphere or the spirit of Need for Speed in it, the whole thing is surprisingly good, and the final effect is spoiled mainly by the forced microtransaction system, tedious grinding, infantile scenario, and Polish dubbing.”
  • character development10 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it shallow and lacking depth, particularly regarding the antagonist's portrayal. While there are moments of nice character development, many feel that the execution fails to fully engage players, suggesting that improvements could enhance the overall experience. Additionally, some critiques mention that character designs may come off as overly politically correct.

    • “The character development is also nice.”
    • “However, the execution of the story and character development feels shallow at times, lacking the depth needed to fully engage players.”
    • “I'm in chapter 3 and the character development of the antagonist felt a bit off, like the developers could do better with it even if it increases the amount of time to finish it.”
    • “Character development is shallow.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Need for Speed Payback

Play time

15hMedian play time
36hAverage play time
6-36hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 54 analyzed playthroughs

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