Need for Speed Unbound

Need for Speed Unbound is a great showcase for a new generation of hardware. Criterion has delivered a high quality, breathtakingly fast open-world street racer that is both technically superb and strangely familiar.

63%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

music, optimization

61% User Score Based on 22,574 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

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About

Buy Need for Speed Unbound on PlayStation Store. Start at the bottom, race to the top in the latest entry in the iconic Need for Speed franchise.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

61%

Audience ScoreBased on 19,975 reviews

story981 positive mentions

music645 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics with a vibrant, cel-shaded art style that combines realistic car models with comic-inspired elements, creating a visually fresh experience.
The gameplay introduces enjoyable mechanics like burst nitrous and a solid risk-reward system, making the racing experience engaging and fun.
The atmosphere is electric, enhanced by dynamic visuals and a sense of urgency that immerses players in the underground racing vibe.

The game suffers from significant performance issues, including stuttering, crashes, and poor optimization, making it nearly unplayable for some players.
The storyline and character development are criticized for being clichéd, predictable, and lacking depth, leading to a disconnection from the narrative.
The grinding aspect of the game is seen as excessively tedious and repetitive, with slow progression and low race payouts that detract from the overall enjoyment.

story
4,795 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
66%
14%
The story in "Need for Speed: Unbound" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it forgettable and clichéd, often revolving around themes of betrayal and revenge. While some appreciate the attempt at character development and the unique art style, others criticize the dialogue as cringeworthy and the plot as lacking depth. Overall, the narrative is seen as a weak point in the game, with many players suggesting that the focus should remain on the racing experience rather than the story itself.
- “The game focuses on storytelling while events take place, with very few pre-rendered cutscenes and scripted gameplay moments.”
- “It is technically more tell and less show, but I actually found it more enjoyable for this genre, and allows the story to be stretched across easily over thirty hours.”
- “The story is a classic and relatively cliché, in my opinion.”
- “The story is forgettable, but at this point, that's to be expected from modern NFS.”
- “The story is boring and dialogue is cringe-inducing, but who actually cares in a Need for Speed game?”
- “The story is really bad, and the gameplay is maybe the worst part.”
graphics
3,153 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
51%
5%
The graphics in "Need for Speed Unbound" have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the vibrant, cel-shaded art style that combines realistic car models with cartoonish effects. While some appreciate the unique aesthetic and find it refreshing compared to previous titles, others criticize the inconsistency between the realistic environments and the stylized character designs, arguing that it detracts from immersion. Overall, the game showcases impressive visuals, but performance issues and graphical glitches have been reported, leading to a divided reception among players.
- “The graphics are stunning, actual next gen and in some cases photorealistic, skylines beautiful.”
- “The game's unique art style blends realistic graphics with comic-inspired elements, making every race feel fresh and visually stunning.”
- “The graphics look amazing, the anime effects can be turned off so if you don't like them you can play like that too.”
- “This game is an insult to the NFS franchise... way too overpriced and the game has a very childish art style... considering most of this game's fanbase should be over 18.”
- “No matter what it's launched from, no matter what graphic settings, and it seems no matter how good your hardware is, this game will find a way to lag and stutter to the point it is unplayable.”
- “The graphics look like I'm playing in 144p resolution, and not in 1440p...”
music
2,807 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
59%
23%
The music in "Need for Speed: Unbound" has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the heavy reliance on rap and hip-hop, often describing the soundtrack as repetitive and lacking variety. While some appreciate the inclusion of international artists and find a few tracks enjoyable, a significant number of players recommend muting the in-game music and using their own playlists instead. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a major downside, contrasting sharply with the more diverse and memorable music from earlier titles in the series.
- “The music is primarily rap, with an emphasis on bringing in some foreign artists too.”
- “These types of music are generally a lot faster in pace, which helps with the sense of speed as it complements game flow.”
- “The soundtrack is a mix of energetic and pulse-pounding tracks that complement the fast-paced nature of the game.”
- “The music is awful, put on your own playlist.”
- “The soundtrack, simply the worst I've ever heard in any racing game.”
- “The music is absolute trash, the story is very one note and the character alienating.”
gameplay
2,360 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
58%
13%
The gameplay of "Need for Speed Unbound" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant changes in driving mechanics compared to previous titles like "NFS Heat." While some appreciate the new burst nitrous mechanic and the balance between grip and drift styles, others criticize the handling as inconsistent and frustrating, particularly the "brake to drift" system. The game features a repetitive gameplay loop, heavily reliant on police chases that can detract from the racing experience, leading to a sense of grind and frustration for many players. Overall, while the graphics and customization options are praised, the gameplay mechanics and structure have left a divided impression among fans.
- “Lockdown mode is a welcome surprise for the game, tense gameplay with risk and reward incentives, and the introduction of bikes was very much well received by the community. I certainly recommend you to buy this game and give it a try, especially if you've tried NFS Heat.”
- “The gameplay is pretty fun with additional burst nitrous mechanics, and both grip and drift driving styles are finally very distinctive and enjoyable!”
- “The gameplay loop is pretty fun and addictive, with a solid risk-reward mechanic that keeps players engaged and immersed in the action.”
- “The core gameplay of NFS Unbound is buried way too deep in multiple layers of garbage identity politics, lecturing, hand-holding, and cringe.”
- “The gameplay itself is boring at best too, and I say this as a mega fan of the series and someone who loved Payback and Heat.”
- “The driving mechanics are terrible, no consistency except for bad.”
optimization
664 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
61%
24%
The optimization of "Need for Speed Unbound" has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, crashes, and inconsistent frame rates, even on high-end systems. While some users noted improvements over its predecessor, "NFS Heat," the game still suffers from memory leaks and poor optimization, making it nearly unplayable for some. Overall, while the game offers great customization options and visuals, its technical performance remains a major concern for many players.
- “Overall, I find the performance to be a step up from Heat because of the consistency and DLSS support.”
- “From performance upgrades to aesthetic tweaks, the game offers plenty of ways to make your ride your own.”
- “I feel like it's better optimized than NFS Heat; I loved this game.”
- “The game is borderline unplayable due to the random stuttering and lag that just happens.”
- “Shittiest optimization I've seen yet; fix your memory leak, it's horrendous.”
- “The optimization is so unbelievably bad.”
grinding
555 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
8%
92%
The grinding aspect of "Need for Speed Unbound" has received overwhelmingly negative feedback from players, who describe it as excessively tedious and repetitive. Many reviewers express frustration with the slow progression system, low race payouts, and the need to repeatedly complete the same races to earn money for upgrades and new cars. The constant police chases further exacerbate the grind, making the overall experience feel more like a chore than an enjoyable racing game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “The grinding required to progress is off putting.”
- “The game overall is very grindy; if you play every race, it takes ages to progress, and if you don't, you don't get that much money so the progression is slow.”
- “The grind to unlock new cars and upgrade them felt unnecessarily tedious, with little sense of accomplishment upon achieving these milestones.”
stability
297 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of frequent crashes, freezes, and various glitches that significantly disrupt gameplay. Many players experience issues such as graphical artifacts, unresponsive controls, and game-breaking bugs, particularly after updates. While some users with high-end rigs report smoother performance, the overall consensus is that the game is a buggy mess that requires extensive troubleshooting to even launch properly.
- “It runs great, solid 70 fps with a RTX 2060, Ryzen 5 5500, and 32GB of RAM.”
- “As far as PC ports go, this game runs great, feels great, and has tons of tweaking to do in the graphics category.”
- “Surprising how this game came out of the blue without years of teasing and delays & came out polished and not buggy.”
- “This game is a terrible buggy mess, if I can even get it to launch properly.”
- “The game suffers from stability issues, with frequent crashes and unexpected glitches disrupting the gameplay.”
- “It's clear that Unbound was rushed to release before it was ready, resulting in a buggy mess that's more frustrating than fun to play.”
humor
208 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The humor in "Need for Speed: Unbound" is a mixed bag, with players noting a range from genuinely funny moments to cringe-worthy dialogue that often feels forced or out of touch. While some appreciate the comedic interactions and police banter, many criticize the writing as overly reliant on millennial and Gen Z humor, leading to a disconnect with players. Overall, the humor can be entertaining at times but frequently misses the mark, resulting in a frustrating experience for some.
- “The dialogue is very humorous.”
- “You’ll find yourself rooting for the underdog, and the character banter adds a nice touch of humor and humanity to the high-octane action.”
- “It's hilarious, but also incredibly annoying if you're just trying to get home after a long day of racing.”
- “The cutscenes, the mid-race voicelines, and the radio chatter just have the most unfunny millennial humor ever written.”
- “Didn't think it was possible, but they somehow made cringier dialogue than Borderlands 3. It's not funny cringe; it's the 'I think I'm clever and witty, but in reality, I've never actually had a normal conversation in my life because I'm a weirdo' type of cringe.”
- “The jokes feel forced and unfunny.”
monetization
91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
43%
53%
The monetization in this game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with numerous microtransactions and a battle pass system that feels unnecessary for a racing title. Players express frustration over the game's high initial price combined with aggressive in-game purchases, leading to a perception of exploitation rather than genuine engagement. Many reviewers recommend avoiding the game unless purchased at a significant discount, citing the overwhelming presence of microtransactions as a major detractor from the overall experience.
- “The game offers no microtransactions, good customization, and good core mechanics, so I can still recommend it.”
- “Overall, NFS Unbound is a great polished arcade street racer that puts the series in a much better direction, and it's really nice to see no microtransactions in the game whatsoever for now.”
- “Graphics, gameplay, and best of all, no microtransactions needed to play.”
- “Microtransactions are everywhere, and not in a subtle way.”
- “The monetization in this game is disgusting (but it is EA™, after all).”
- “Overall just feels like a cash grab.”
atmosphere
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
3%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its vibrant and dynamic qualities, enhanced by stunning visuals, stylized effects, and a diverse soundtrack that complements the racing experience. Many players appreciate the authentic underground racing vibe, with elements like day-night cycles and lively city environments contributing to an immersive feel. However, some critiques mention inconsistencies in the soundtrack and a perceived childishness in the art style, which detracts from the overall atmosphere for certain players.
- “The overall atmosphere is electric, with a sense of urgency and adrenaline that keeps you hooked for hours on end.”
- “The combination of stunning visuals with its bold, graffiti-like art style and high-octane street racing creates an atmosphere that's both fresh and exhilarating.”
- “The driving effects, the lighting engine, the speedlines around the screen, the character designs, the dialogue, the custom score and licensed tracks - everything builds up this amazing atmosphere of street and car culture - simply sensational.”
- “Unbound adds a cool risk-reward element by letting you decide how much heat you want to take on for bigger rewards, but I miss the overall grit and atmosphere from Heat.”
- “The story is okay, but the political messages of the characters are really annoying and destroy the game atmosphere.”
- “I can't say anything else about it because I could not play it more than a few hours; the atmosphere is too childish.”
emotional
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The emotional aspect of "Need for Speed Unbound" elicits mixed reactions from players. While some appreciate the game's exploration of self-expression and the heartwarming moments within its narrative, many criticize the story for being boring, formulaic, and lacking depth, leading to feelings of frustration and disappointment. Overall, the emotional engagement varies significantly, with some players finding joy and nostalgia, while others feel disconnected and underwhelmed by the character development and plot.
- “Need for Speed Unbound isn’t just a racing game; it’s an emotional rush of adrenaline, color, and rebellion.”
- “What makes Unbound emotionally gripping is how it explores self-expression and defiance.”
- “The game’s emotional payoff isn’t just about crossing the finish line first; it’s about understanding that in the end, it’s not just the car you drive that defines you, but the spirit you race with.”
- “Everything else from the way they designed the car grading, to the terrible voice acting, boring storyline, and campaign mode just gives the player an awful experience.”
- “Massive dogshit of a career mode... slow and unrewarding progression, boring storyline, and cringe characters.”
- “It's nothing special, just another NFS with cheesy voice lines and a boring story...”
replayability
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
61%
15%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its high replay value in multiplayer modes and customization options, while others criticize the campaign for its repetitive missions and lack of engaging content after completion. Many reviews highlight that the single-player experience offers limited replayability, often feeling stale once the story is finished, though some find enjoyment in the challenge of racing mechanics. Overall, while there are elements that can enhance replayability, such as online play, the single-player mode is generally seen as lacking in this regard.
- “The multiplayer mode also adds significant replay value, allowing players to compete with friends and others online, which keeps the excitement going long after the main story is complete.”
- “This game is quite fun and always has something to make you want to play again, definitely a ton of replay value especially with friends in the online component of the game.”
- “The campaign is highly replayable.”
- “The campaign isn't terribly replayable, but unlike other NFS games, there isn't one overpowered car you can grab and just win everything; it's definitely semi-challenging and forces you to play smart.”
- “While the campaign offers a decent length, the game’s replayability is somewhat hampered by repetitive mission structures and limited multiplayer options.”
- “There isn't much replay value to this game unless you engage with the online content.”
character development
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
56%
25%
Character development in the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players criticizing the lack of depth and emotional engagement in the storyline, often describing it as clichéd and predictable. While some appreciate the unique and stylized character designs, others find them out of place and poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the dialogue and character arcs are seen as weak, overshadowing the game's visual appeal and gameplay mechanics.
- “The character designs are unique and well-crafted, adding to the game's overall charm.”
- “The driving effects, the lighting engine, the speedlines around the screen, the character designs (the models can be eh at times but they grow on you), the dialogue, the custom score and licensed tracks - everything builds up this amazing atmosphere of street and car culture - simply sensational.”
- “To start off with the presentation, Unbound's environment is set up in fictional Chicago and stylistically takes inspiration from anime like Initial D and Wangan Midnight with its character designs, and Spiderverse with its visual flair and effects.”
- “Now I know this is a Need for Speed game and the dialogue isn't a big focus, but it tragically affects character development, which ruins the story.”
- “The story is full of cringe-worthy dialogues and clichés, and there is no character development or emotional impact.”
- “There are glimpses of genuine good ideas being pushed out in the writing, but the cringe dialogue, the neither likable nor dislikable characters, the worst concept for a villain, as well as the worst-paced character development all culminate into a laughable mess of a story.”