Review: Need for Speed is a Fun Ride That Doesn’t Go Too Far

As someone who enjoys a racing game that knows how to balance all of what makes the genre so loved, one franchise that I always find myself coming back to, for one reason or another is EA’s Need for Speed. The franchise just manages to hit a sweet spot, more times than not, and its almost annual releases make it something seemingly unavoidable. But with the newly released title, Need for Speed Unbound, it seems that EA and developer Criterion Software is finally carving a path to make Need for Speed have its own ID going forward. So, here’s what we think about it!

Need for Speed Unbound Review Biggest Takeaways

• Need for Speed Unbound has an art style that makes it feel like something totally new in the racing genre.
• The world of Lakeshore offers quite a bit for players to do without it feeling like too much.
• Cars are very fun to drive and build up over time.
• Creativity is the backbone of Need for Speed Unbound’s entire experience.
• Though there’s a lot to love, $69.99 may be a bit much for Need for Speed Unbound.

Final Score: 8/10

Undeniable Style Sweeps Lakeshore

Quite possibly the best thing going for Need for Speed Unbound is its amazing use of its signature art style. While the majority of the game has beautifully rendered realistic graphics, the characters, and effects from your cars are all done in this graffiti and comic book-inspired art style that breathes life into what would be just another racing game otherwise.

It’s something that I honestly wish other games would implement, because it’s honestly pretty ingenious, especially when taking into account how similar games are starting to look to each other. It goes to show that the team behind Need for Speed is really looking to bring the franchise back to the front of the pack, since falling behind a bit in recent years.

Style doesn’t end at the visuals though, as Need for Speed Unbound also allows players to take things further with some fantastic customization for their vehicles and even the playable character. You have different effects to add to your car to make it stand out as you drive around, and your character can truly be you in the game, or someone entirely different.

Related: Top 10 Tips for Beginners in Need for Speed Unbound

Satisfying Gameplay That Rewards Creativity

One thing that the Need for Speed games have always delivered on is in just how great the cars feel when driving them. In Need for Speed Unbound, that hasn’t changed. Criterion Software has managed to hit a sweet spot that makes all of the cars feel realistic, though with nice arcade racer touches. You’re able to drift easily around corners and pump various kinds of nitrous to push you to the front of the race.

Even customizing your vehicle’s parts is expansive, though not more than a typical casual racing player can handle. Personally, I feel that there can be such a thing as too much choice given in some modern racing games, and it’s a complete turn-off. Here, it’s perfectly balanced for us lamens.

And it’s great how well this all comes together because the racing events taking place in Need for Speed Unbound are extremely fun. Though you have much of the typical fare here, such as lap races or straight runs to the finish line, events like Takeover really highlight just how important it is to tune your car to what you’re comfortable with, as it’s really strategy based.

Lakeshore is Massive, Yet Not Overwhelming

Need for Speed’s Chicago IL-inspired city of Lakeshore is actually a pretty fun place to race. There’s the city, suburbs, and even larger rural areas to take the race to. It’s a varied set of locations that all offer something to shake up the races that you’re going to set out on.

Something I really wasn’t expecting to see though is the Activities that you can play around with across the map. They’re small things like timed races or beating a high speed, but they add something fun to the mix that isn’t invasive of your time. Additionally, there are some great collectibles to find in order to knab cash rewards as well as new decals for your vehicles.

Is it Worth the Price Though?

Something that we’ve been seeing a lot of in the industry as of late is that, while indie titles and what some may call AA games are being fairly priced, AAA titles are on the ups. And that fact rings true for Need for Speed Unbound, as its base price is $69.99 at launch.

It’s a hard thing to debate because, while I really like what’s offered in Need for Speed Unbound, I’m just not sure I would say that most gamers are going to justify spending $70 on yet another racing game. Especially in an economy where everything feels over-inflated, it’s hard not to scrutinize what games you’re investing your money into.

I mean, while the cartoon art style embellishments are gorgeous to look at, I did find Lakeshore to be a bit boring to look at overall. I kind of wish the dev team went even more out there to make things feel hyper-realized. The world can also feel pretty dead too, with not very many other drivers on the road or even people walking by too often. Doing events over and over can also feel very samey, so that could turn people off after a few hours.

Need for Speed Finally Finds Its Voice

I absolutely think that Need for Speed Unbound is a step in the right direction for the series. The cartoon aesthetics work perfectly with the DNA of the Need for Speed franchise, and I hope that this is going to be the new normal, with people associating it with the franchise going forward. Though, I would also hope that the game world as a whole also gets a bit more stylish too.

I’d also have to say that, overall, I had a very great time with Need for Speed Unbound, and it’s honestly one of the better racing games to play right now. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t a few things to nitpick though, as nothing really ever is perfect.

What I will say though is that $70 may be a lot to some when thinking about if they want to pick up your racing game. And with the competition being so fierce in the genre these days, you better have something that nobody else does. For Need for Speed Unbound, it’s the style and aesthetics.

Need for Speed Unbound is available now for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

So, now that you know what we think about Need for Speed Unbound, be sure to check out some more of our coverage and even some of our helpful guides too, such as “All Collectibles in Need for Speed Unbound and How to Find Them”.