Need for Speed Rivals

About

Need for Speed Rivals is an open-world racing game where players take on the role of both cops and racers. The game features a multiplayer experience that seamlessly transitions between single-player and multiplayer modes. As players race through the game's various events and challenges, they must manage the risks they take in order to build up their Speed Points and increase their reputation. Overall, Need for Speed Rivals offers a thrilling and immersive experience for racing game fans.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,247 reviews

graphics205 positive mentions

stability128 negative mentions

graphics
346 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
2%
The graphics of "Need for Speed Rivals" are widely praised as outstanding, with many reviewers noting that they still hold up impressively well even years after its release in 2013. Players appreciate the detailed environments, realistic car models, and vibrant visuals, often comparing them favorably to more recent titles. However, some users have reported issues with graphical settings, including a frustrating 30 fps cap and occasional bugs, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “Outstanding graphics, even for 2025 standards.”
- “The graphics are superb and shockingly optimized, the gameplay is a fun kind of chaotic, very pretty terrain and areas, and the AI cops and racers put up a dang good fight.”
- “The graphics still hold up to this day, one of the most beautiful looking NFS games out there.”
- “The graphics are overloaded with effects and details which can help develop your ADHD and epilepsy.”
- “The game is locked to 30fps and graphics at the highest possible settings still look like a mediocre game from 2005.”
- “I have played and beat it twice on Xbox 360 and Xbox One so naturally I decide to buy it here so I can play it with the superior mouse and keyboard... long story short: mouse doesn't work, it's capped at 30 fps, doesn't register keyboard presses half of the time, graphics are somehow worse than the 360, I couldn't even join online either basically don't buy this, not even at 80% off is it worth it.”
gameplay
310 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
55%
8%
The gameplay of "Need for Speed Rivals" is generally praised for its engaging mechanics, intense police chases, and satisfying driving experience, often likened to its predecessor, "Hot Pursuit." However, players express frustration over technical issues such as a 30fps cap, frequent disconnections, and bugs that can disrupt the experience. While the game offers a fun and chaotic racing environment, some find the gameplay repetitive and marred by a lack of depth in customization and mission variety.
- “The driving feels phenomenal, the pursuit tech is devastating and super satisfying to use, the cars and open world are gorgeous, and the gameplay loop is addicting.”
- “Gameplay: overall pretty good handling, cars feel weighty and satisfying to control.”
- “With its adrenaline-fueled gameplay and stunning visuals, it delivers an exhilarating experience that will keep players on the edge of their seats.”
- “30 fps cap, always online gameplay, and random freezing out of nowhere really ruin the game experience.”
- “The vehicle damage mechanic is absolutely ridiculous in a game that's meant to be played for fun.”
- “The gameplay loop itself is just cops vs racers in an open world, which I found boring.”
story
249 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
16%
The story in the game is generally viewed as lackluster and often forgettable, with many players noting its generic themes of rivalry between cops and racers. While some appreciate the attempt at narrative through character interactions and mission structures, others criticize it for being overly simplistic or even cringe-worthy, with many preferring to focus on the gameplay rather than the story itself. Overall, the narrative serves more as a backdrop to the racing experience rather than a compelling element of the game.
- “The storyline was engaging and I was always tuned in to see what the next chapter had to offer.”
- “The story portraits the rivalry of the cop and racer, and it's two representatives, F-8 and Zephyr, both very dangerous with specific and different ideologies.”
- “The police and racer modes being available as two separate campaigns with connected story and individual vehicles/upgrade paths creates a great experience.”
- “The story is nothing special, just some edgy racer and some edgy cop hating on each other.”
- “The voice acting is awful, the story is pointless; stop putting stories in your games, Need for Speed, they suck and only take away from the game!”
- “There is barely any story.”
stability
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting frequent crashes, glitches, and disconnections that severely impact gameplay. Many users experience issues such as freezing, map loading failures, and bugs that require restarting the game, making it frustrating and often unplayable. While some enjoy the game despite these problems, the overall consensus is that its stability issues detract from the experience.
- “I've only got 6 hours on the game so far and I can probably count the number of times I've had to restart the game due to some bug freezing me in place forever.”
- “This game is very good, but there is one problem, and that is that I play at 30 fps instead of 60-200 fps, but it's not very buggy for me and I like this game, 9/10 (that -1 point for the fps).”
- “So, in short, the game would be nice if you could actually play with your friends and have a decent, bug-free experience.”
- “Kind of unfortunate I spent a lot of time grinding only to suffer a lot of bugs, glitches, frequent disconnections because the host of that connection disappears every five minutes, and the fact that you are forced to be in a server with other people rather than having the option to just be in your own server room without interruptions.”
- “The game often freezes, crashes, or oftentimes the map just doesn't load at all which leaves you floating in the air.”
- “Game is a buggy mess.”
music
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
60%
10%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the energetic and diverse soundtrack that complements the high-speed action, featuring artists like Gary Numan and Knife Party. However, frequent interruptions during police pursuits detract from the experience, leading some to criticize the limited song selection and repetitive nature of the tracks. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it also suffers from design flaws that prevent it from being fully enjoyed.
- “The soundtrack is very good and the graphics are insane.”
- “From pulse-pounding electronic beats to adrenaline-fueled rock tracks, the game's music keeps players pumped up and ready for action.”
- “The music is really good, and the way it's louder the faster you drive makes for a good adrenaline kick.”
- “Worst of all, the music is such trash that I had to turn it off... never had to do that with any other game... barely worth the 3 dollars I paid for it.”
- “The soundtrack is very limited, which is a shame.”
- “There are 29 songs in total, and most are bad and forgettable.”
optimization
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
49%
32%
The optimization of the game on PC has been widely criticized, with many users reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering, a frustrating 30 fps cap, and frequent crashes. While some players noted that the game runs smoothly on consoles, the PC port is described as poorly optimized, leading to a disappointing experience for those attempting to play on that platform. Overall, the consensus is that the game suffers from significant technical problems that detract from its otherwise enjoyable gameplay and visuals.
- “The graphics are superb and shockingly optimized, the gameplay is a fun kind of chaotic, very pretty terrain and areas, and the AI cops and racers put up a dang good fight.”
- “[✔️] ⚙️ smooth performance: rivals maintains a smooth and consistent performance, even during the most intense moments of gameplay.”
- “From visual upgrades to performance enhancements, players can create their ultimate racing machine to dominate the streets of Redview County.”
- “However, the PC version is a complete mess in terms of optimization.”
- “It's okay, I guess, the biggest issue is easily its optimization; it loves to crash and lag for no real reason, which is annoying as your progress only saves at safehouse places.”
- “Thirdly, absolutely abysmal optimization and performance on systems that should be able to chew through this game.”
grinding
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
45%
45%
The reviews on grinding in the game present a mixed bag of experiences. Some players find the grinding tedious and repetitive, especially in comparison to other racing games, while others appreciate the less grind-heavy progression system that allows for a more natural flow of gameplay. However, issues like bugs, disconnections, and the need for extensive grinding to upgrade cars or earn points have left some players frustrated.
- “The game also features little to no grinding; it is very easy to earn all the money for the cars and pursuit tech.”
- “The progression system is not grindy like modern games and just naturally flows with player engagement.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Kind of unfortunate I spent a lot of time grinding only to suffer a lot of bugs, glitches, and frequent disconnections because the host of that connection disappears every five minutes. The fact that you are forced to be in a server with other people rather than having the option to just be in your own server room without interruptions is frustrating.”
- “Compared to games like Forza Horizon and The Crew, NFS Rivals World is so small that the roads and races became grindingly repetitive after a few hours.”
- “The map, cars, and graphics are good, but the grinding races can be infuriating when you have a lot of speed points and then get wrecked by an AI cop, causing you to lose 50,000 speed points.”
replayability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
Overall, the game offers a satisfying level of replayability, particularly through its open-world environment, dynamic events, and online multiplayer mode. While many players appreciate the variety of missions and challenges, some feel that the ease of the cop campaign can lead to repetitive gameplay, diminishing its long-term replay value compared to other titles in the series.
- “Fun and extremely satisfying replayability.”
- “While the story follows a classic Need for Speed style, offering different missions and challenges for both sides increases the game's replayability.”
- “Endless replayability: Rivals offers endless replayability with its open-world environment, dynamic events, and online multiplayer mode.”
- “While I did enjoy the game, I'd say that it would be a lot more replayable if the cops weren't so easy.”
- “All in all, the game isn't bad but doesn't provide as much content and replayability as I expected it to.”
- “I think it's fun for a while, but eventually the cop campaign just requires you to grind speed points; it gets super repetitive and doesn't have the same replay value as other NFS games.”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurd situations, such as police ineptitude and cringe-worthy voice acting, which often leads to unintentional hilarity. Players find the combination of bad controls and forced tutorials amusing, especially when they result in comical accidents. Overall, the game's attempt at a serious narrative falls flat, adding to its comedic charm, particularly when enjoyed with friends.
- “Funny cars go speeding while police piss their pants about how they can't catch them (sometimes)”
- “Also the voice acting when you pick challenges is cringe and funny to listen to.”
- “Likewise the inability to pause in the world due to 'connectedness' is often hilarious when the aforementioned forced tutorials decide to rudely interrupt and force you to crash into a wall.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
42%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its intense and immersive qualities, enhanced by impressive graphics, art direction, and dynamic weather conditions. Players appreciate the lively environment created by day-night cycles and the thrilling sense of urgency during cop chases, making it a standout experience in racing games. Overall, the combination of aesthetic appeal and engaging gameplay contributes to a captivating atmosphere that resonates with many users.
- “Great atmosphere, graphics, and art direction aging well.”
- “Weather conditions and day-night cycles keep the atmosphere lively, adding strategic depth to races and chases.”
- “I gotta say though the atmosphere and visuals are probably the best I've ever seen.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the absence of microtransactions, while others criticize the focus on graphics over gameplay and the lack of depth in content. Many feel that the game prioritizes profit-driven elements, leading to a less passionate experience compared to older titles in the series.
- “It is an okay version of NFS, but I prefer the old NFSMW and NFSU2 because you can sense the passion of the old devs towards those games. Unlike this one, it is just all about the graphics and monetization.”
- “Don't add microtransactions.”
- “It has no microtransactions.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players express frustration with its short open world, boring story, and repetitive missions, others have a strong attachment, highlighting their return to the game and enjoyment of the campaigns despite its flaws.
- “I loved this game so much that after buying it on Origin and barely touching it years ago, I came back to it, finished both campaigns, and bought it on Steam.”
- “Nope, incredibly short open world, boring story, repetitive missions, annoying cops as much as you couldn't even imagine.”
- “Overall boring storyline/progression.”