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The Crew

The Crew is a reasonable racing game with tons of gameplay modes and an absolutely massive world, however its bland story dents the experience.
The Crew Game Cover
60%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
stability, grinding
57% User Score Based on 11,213 reviews
Critic Score 63%Based on 13 reviews

Platforms

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The Crew Game Cover

About

The Crew is a single player and multiplayer open world racing game. It was developed by Ivory Tower in collaboration with Ubisoft Reflections and was released on December 2, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and neutral reviews from players.

"The Crew" is an open-world racing game set in a vast reimagined USA. Players can explore the game's vast landscapes and cities, and compete in various racing events, ranging from street races to off-road competitions. The game features a wide variety of customizable cars and a multiplayer mode that allows players to form crews and take on other teams in intense races.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
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57%
Audience ScoreBased on 11,213 reviews
story809 positive mentions
stability316 negative mentions
  • story
    3,830 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "The Crew" is often described as clichéd and predictable, revolving around a revenge plot typical of street racing narratives. While some players appreciate the engaging cutscenes and the overall structure of the missions, many criticize the story for being shallow and repetitive, with a lack of depth in character development. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable gameplay and a mediocre storyline, making it more appealing for those who prioritize racing mechanics and open-world exploration over a compelling narrative.

    • “Had a cool concept going with the different modification types you could apply to your cars to make them offroad or street variants, big map and an interesting street racing story.”
    • “Saga of one of the best open-world racing games, with a great story to top it off, has now officially ended.”
    • “Great game, fun story and just fun to drive around trying different challenges with different cars for no reason other than it was fun.”
    • “Ubisoft has stolen from us one of if not the greatest racing game of all time (especially when it comes to its story).”
    • “The ridiculous deep-cover gang infiltration (it's incredible how many things can be accomplished through the medium of illegal street racing) story and world flavor, however thin and clichéd, are so much more fun than the bland sports festival theming that seems to be the trend today.”
    • “The story is hot, stinking, garbage and completely unnecessary.”
  • graphics
    1,457 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "The Crew" have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the game's visuals as impressive for its age, particularly after the 2015 graphical overhaul. While some users highlight the stunning landscapes and detailed car models, others criticize the graphics for being outdated or inconsistent, especially in urban areas. Overall, the game is noted for its decent performance on various hardware, but it struggles with graphical glitches and optimization issues that can detract from the experience.

    • “Looks stunning on max graphics settings.”
    • “The graphics are so realistic and the gameplay is awesome!”
    • “The graphics are amazing, the storyline is incredible and the cars are out of this world.”
    • “I bought the game not too long ago on steam to play with my partner, and she is also upset we didn't get to finish it but it is an old game, it does run very poorly, with bad fps issues and server disconnections as well as having rather ugly and bland graphics.”
    • “Graphics are shit, especially for boasting to be for high end PCs.”
    • “The graphics are very underwhelming and the overall game feels half-finished.”
  • gameplay
    783 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "The Crew" has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its expansive open world and enjoyable driving mechanics, while others criticize its repetitive missions, poor physics, and lack of engaging content. Many users noted that the game feels more arcade-like than realistic, leading to frustrations with driving controls and AI behavior. Overall, while the game offers a visually appealing experience and a variety of vehicles, it suffers from technical issues and a lack of depth in gameplay, making it a hit or miss for players.

    • “The gameplay is fun and the amount of storyline it brings is entertaining.”
    • “The gameplay is great, the graphics are great and the map is great.”
    • “The crew is awesome, gameplay is very good, graphics are cool and the open world makes it really worth it, so I recommend this game to all players who like driving games as this is the best title I played in years.”
    • “However, the game failed to impress me: the gameplay was quite boring, the world was empty and monotonous, high system requirements made it impossible to get an acceptable frame rate in combination with good graphics and clumsy car physics, which diligently prevented me from having fun, as a result of which it was very quickly uninstalled from my system.”
    • “The gameplay is plain terrible, this is way beyond 'arcadish'.”
    • “The gameplay is utter shit, the controls are non-intuitive for the interface.”
  • optimization
    504 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance on high-end systems, reporting smooth gameplay and stable frame rates, while others have experienced significant stuttering, crashes, and poor performance even on capable hardware. Many users noted that the game is poorly optimized overall, with frequent performance issues, especially in urban areas, and a lack of effective fixes despite ongoing updates. Overall, while some players find it well-optimized for their setups, a substantial number express frustration with its inconsistent performance and optimization shortcomings.

    • “Amzingly optimized, went into the game, 14 hours later, still haven't gone into the graphics settings yet because it's not laggy at all, and it still looks amazing.”
    • “The game is worth its money, both in terms of story and optimization!”
    • “Perfect performance for a game like this and for a game of this generation.”
    • “The game looked incredible, but because it was poorly optimized and very heavy, it didn't run on my PC's settings at the time.”
    • “As for the optimization, it sucks; there are graphic glitches that are still there from the very beginning of the game, like the stuttering. It doesn't matter how amazing or beefy your computer is, it will always stutter and have FPS drops randomly.”
    • “I really like this game but it's badly optimized.”
  • music
    341 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players enjoying the ambient and licensed tracks that enhance the open-world driving experience. However, several users note that the soundtrack can become repetitive and lacks variety, leading some to prefer listening to their own music instead. While the in-game music is appreciated for its nostalgic and relaxing qualities, the inability to customize playlists and the limited selection of songs are common points of criticism.

    • “But, more than anything else, I just enjoyed tracing my way across the massive map, winding through the mountainous northeast on a rainy night to Laurent Juillet's ambient music or stomping through a southern swamp to Baby or Black Milk.”
    • “Those relaxing cross-country trips that lasted twenty or thirty minutes before I reached New York or Los Angeles for the first time, flying down the overpass as the buildings gradually enveloped me, decelerating into the smooth cruise of an exit loop, fluidly weaving through traffic as I cleanly transitioned into a tunnel or a grid of city blocks, coolly emboldened by the Arctic Monkeys or American Princes song on the radio—those are the experiences that I'll remember most from this game.”
    • “When I drove along the highway at nighttime listening to some lo-fi music from the radio (good music choice, by the way), that vibe is just immense and I lose words to describe how enjoyable it feels.”
    • “Only negative about this game would be the music on the radio was very disappointing and that there are no achievements.”
    • “The music is all whiney and or emo sounding alternative rock.”
    • “The radio music is very limited and just isn't great; I shut off the radio and play my own tracks.”
  • stability
    326 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users experience issues such as freezing, unresponsive controls, and problems with multiplayer connectivity, leading to frustration and a sense of an unfinished product. While some players find enjoyment despite these issues, the overall consensus is that the game remains highly unstable and in need of substantial fixes.

    • “No lag, no freezes, no 'connecting to server' stuff.”
    • “Runs great with no problems.”
    • “It runs great, the cars look great.”
    • “Extremely buggy, crashes almost every session I play.”
    • “Would not recommend buying this game, it frequently freezes for no apparent reason. All my drivers are up to date and my system exceeds the minimum requirements for play.”
    • “The game is buggy as hell and the missions are way too long; sometimes the lines that guide you are also thrown off course.”
  • grinding
    220 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it can be excessively time-consuming and repetitive, particularly when trying to unlock or upgrade cars. While some find the grind rewarding and a way to extend gameplay, others criticize it as tedious and a means to push microtransactions, leading to frustration over the time investment required for progression. Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy grinding, but may deter players seeking a more immediate and engaging experience.

    • “I think it's too early to give a proper review on this, but so far I love many aspects of the game, for instance, huge map, fast cars, competition (PvP), and the fact that the game isn't too grindy compared to some other MMOs.”
    • “I do have several major criticisms: the game is good at being arcade-y offering numerous events, but they can get a little repetitive and I don’t think it has enough races; to promote microtransactions, cars are expensive and car collectors are forced to do lots of grinding if you don’t spend money.”
    • “The amount of grinding needed to max a car to its full potential is unreal and not very rewarding.”
    • “But if you need to enjoy yourself right from the start and grinding to get there is a no-go for you then avoid this game like a plague.”
  • monetization
    206 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy in this game has drawn significant criticism, with many players expressing frustration over the prevalence of microtransactions and in-game purchases, which they feel detract from the overall experience. Reviewers note that while it is possible to earn in-game currency through gameplay, the high costs of vehicles and upgrades often push players towards spending real money, leading to a perception of a "pay-to-win" model. Overall, the consensus is that the aggressive monetization tactics, including constant ads for DLC and microtransactions, undermine the game's value and enjoyment.

    • “I feel the crew is a good to great game that will keep you busy for a long time and it doesn't really get that boring if you pace yourself through the content. Microtransactions don't matter as you can get everything by just playing the game, but if you want to spend some real dollars on perks and buying a car, well then why not, hey.”
    • “While you can pay real money for cars/customization objects, everything in the game can be bought with in-game credits. Even if you make an in-game purchase like I did for a vehicle, you may have a slight edge to begin with in your story missions, but by the time you hit end game content, everyone is really even.”
    • “Yes, there are microtransactions, but you can easily manage without this, and the story's pretty fun as well.”
    • “Ubisoft bombards you with ads and makes you feel like the game isn't worth playing without all the DLCs; it's pay-to-win and full of microtransactions, has frustrating mechanics, and isn't worth buying unless you seriously want to waste your money on worthless games.”
    • “I do have several major criticisms: the game is good at being arcade-y offering numerous events, but they can get a little repetitive and I don’t think it has enough races; to promote microtransactions, cars are expensive and car collectors are forced to do lots of grinding if you don’t spend money.”
    • “Let me explain that a little: I bought the complete edition for this game for $29.99, which is the price of the regular game, but to me that's still a pretty steep price considering how I buy mostly indie games or really cheap games that run about $15 or lower. My point in stating all of this is that I paid money for the 'complete edition' for a game and the game has microtransactions while you can get all the vehicles or at least to my knowledge by normal means of just playing and earning money. It still has microtransactions, which in my opinion is absolutely absurd for a triple-A title game from Ubisoft, especially for the complete edition of the game, which in my opinion should be by definition complete.”
  • humor
    88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its inconsistent physics and amusing glitches, which players find entertaining, especially when playing with friends. Many reviews highlight the comedic aspects of the game's design, such as the absurdity of car collisions and the quirky behavior of AI characters, making it a fun experience despite its flaws. However, some players also note that the humor can be overshadowed by frustrating gameplay elements and technical issues.

    • “With the dramatic cut and editing in cinematics, the story package is hilariously bad.”
    • “The physics for bikes are so backwards it's painfully funny.”
    • “I've played it with my friends in a crew of 4 and we could not stop laughing.”
    • “Not funny”
    • “Stealing is not funny, fuck Ubisoft”
  • emotional
    43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed responses, with some players finding the nostalgic music deeply moving, while others criticize the storyline as boring and unfocused. Despite the emotional support provided by crew members and the potential for impactful moments, many reviewers feel let down by the overall narrative quality, leading to feelings of regret and disappointment.

    • “The music in this game is nostalgic to the point where I want to cry.”
    • “The story is rather enjoyable for a racing game and it is an adult-level story, not some dumbed-down kids' friendly story that makes me want to cry.”
    • “Each city you unlock, which I might add are major cities throughout the United States (LA, New York, Miami, etc.), you gain new members to your crew, or basically guidance and emotional support to your driving and discovery of locations, races, and more.”
    • “Boring story missions, complete some 4-minute races to see at the end your black homie is meeting with a girl.”
    • “Cliche, boring storyline.”
    • “This game is dead, nice visuals but boring story and 0 online and cooperative, not very interesting.”
  • replayability
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it offers some replay value through a large map and various missions, many players feel it significantly drops after completing the main story. Some enjoy replaying missions for leaderboard competition, but the lack of substantial content post-campaign and server shutdowns limit long-term engagement. Overall, it may appeal to those who enjoy multiplayer or restarting the story, but many recommend looking elsewhere for a more consistently replayable experience.

    • “Infinite replay value, if it weren't for the servers shutting down.”
    • “After around 40 hours of playing, I have completed the story, yet there is so much replayability since the map is amazing.”
    • “You can see how you rank and either just get a good judge of your skill level, or continue competing to see if you can better yourself and move up the leaderboard, making the game more replayable.”
    • “Only major problem is, once you have finished the career, the game's replayability drops very significantly unless you can find some friends to play with.”
    • “Bottom line is that I wouldn't recommend this game because it does lose replayability.”
    • “Limited replayability: there are some bonus missions and 'skills' for completionists to do, but other than multiplayer with friends and a few longer missions, there's nothing really to do after you finish the game until more missions are released with the upcoming DLC next year, assuming you buy it.”
  • atmosphere
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its nostalgic charm and realistic environments, capturing the essence of driving through diverse landscapes like deserts and snowy fields. While some improvements in graphics have been noted, there are mixed feelings about their impact on the overall ambiance, with calls for features like adaptive radio stations to enhance immersion. Overall, the game is recognized for its expansive and inviting world, appealing to players who appreciate a more relaxed driving experience.

    • “The atmosphere and the setting are stunning; they really captured the feeling of driving through the desert, the snow, or the green fields in central USA. The cities are also amazing and expansive.”
    • “To sum it all up, it manages to capture an atmosphere similar to that of Euro Truck Simulator 2. The best moments in this game weren't spent doing some obnoxious slalom challenges in Detroit, but driving calmly down the road to Florida.”
    • “This is one of the most ambitious games out there, with beautiful graphics and a huge, atmospheric world where you can give wings to your driving fantasies. It's certainly one of the most underrated titles of recent years, deserving of a chance and a closer look from everyone who enjoys the simple pleasure of driving.”
    • “The new graphics only seem better at first look, but in practice it turns out to be worse, which killed the atmosphere.”
    • “For a game that depends so much on its atmosphere, that's a very significant negative.”
    • “This game urgently needs some kind of adaptive radio station to blend in with the atmosphere of each area.”
  • character development
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the good writing and story progression, others criticize the lack of depth, particularly for the lead character, and note that the prologue feels rushed. Overall, opinions vary significantly, with some praising the character design and development, while others find it lacking.

    • “The writing was good and the character development was good.”
    • “One of the best and first racing games I've ever played, amazing story, amazing physics, music, character design, and an amazing map.”
    • “Simply put, not exactly the best writing; character development for the lead character is non-existent, and the progression of the prologue goes by so fast I honestly thought there was another beginning section I had skipped beforehand.”
    • “- no character development.”
    • “- no character development.”
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63%Critics’ scoreBased on 13 critic reviews
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25h Median play time
105h Average play time
19h Main story
125h Completionist
10-80h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 168 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

The Crew is a open world racing game.

The Crew is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and others.

The main story can be completed in around 19 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 125 hours to finish. On average players spend around 105 hours playing The Crew.

The Crew was released on December 2, 2014.

The Crew was developed by Ivory Tower in collaboration with Ubisoft Reflections.

The Crew has received neutral reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

The Crew is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include The Crew 2, Forza Horizon 5, Test Drive Unlimited 2, The Crew Motorfest, Grid 2 and others.