Need for Speed: Unbound

Need for Speed Unbound is the best arcade racer of 2022, and a real statement from EA and Criterion. Why it’s snuck out with so little fanfare will be one of the mysteries of the year.

Criterion has certainly made its mark with this latest entry in the Need for Speed series, injecting a bit more fun and polish into the template created by Ghost Games. The result is an arcade racer that truly stands out from the crowd thanks to its visual flair and thrilling police chases. Providing you take the time to tweak the handling to your preferences, and you don’t mind the hip hop-driven soundtrack, Need for Speed Unbound is likely to be the most entertaining racing game you’ll play this year.

Need for Speed Unbound brings plenty of style and builds upon the high stakes dynamic established in 2019’s Heat to create an engaging and enjoyable open world racing game. The large emphasis on story falls flat once again particularly during the slow opening hours, and the online mode lacks some of the best aspects of the single player mode, including police and Takeover events. Fortunately, the excellent performance and smart overhaul to the turbo system ensures the moment-to-moment gameplay always feels great, and the huge amount of unlockable vehicles, customization options and optional ac...

Need for Speed is back and more stylish than ever.

Need for Speed Unbound puts a new spin on the racing series with a graffiti-inspired aesthetic that helps enhance both story and gameplay in refreshing ways. It’s amazing what a new coat of paint can achieve, especially when it’s combined with 60 FPS support on consoles, the return of police chases, an interesting approach to difficulty options, and a well-curated soundtrack. However, there are some pain points that drag the experience down.

The venerable racer returns, in zoomer regalia.

Need for Speed Unbound is a finely crafted ride that's great when running well.

Need for Speed Unbound delights with a vibrant new art style and some exciting arcade racing, but familiar issues are as frustrating as an inopportune oil slick

“Need for Speed Unbound proves that having a distinct style and cool premise does a lot to elevate a game.”

Despite the two latest racing game releases published by EA – Need For Speed Heat and Need for Speed Unbound – being developed by different teams, it’s astonishing how similar the latter feels to the former. Undoubtedly, race heads feeling at home in Heat will have a leg up on this year’s competition. I lost track of the number of times I remarked that if it weren’t for Unbound’s new art style, I’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference between them. For better and for worse, Need For Speed Unbound has finally crossed its proverbial finish line. And I’m not sure it was worth the gas money to g...

Need For Speed Unbound is anything but. EA's latest is a bog-standard entry in the racing series with a muddled presentation and a limited feature set.

Criterion takes the reins once more for an arcade racer that’s capable of going toe-to-toe with the all-conquering Forza Horizon.