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Need for Speed Unbound

Need for Speed Unbound

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NFS Unbound, Need for Speed 2022

Released

Release Date: December 2, 2022

Racing, Cars, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, EA Play, Multiplayer, Singleplayer, Internet, PC Game Pass

Need for Speed 2021 is the next instalment of the well-known series of racing games from Electronic Arts. Criterion Games studio is responsible for developing the game.

7.5

OpenCritic

6.0

Steam

8.5

Users

Rate It!
Ratings
[1:48] Vol. 9 Reveal Trailer Videos: 6
Screenshot Images: 72
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Screenshot
Screenshot

NFS Unbound is the next installment in the popular series of arcade racing games. It was developed by Criterion Games (known for Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered and Burnout Paradise Remastered). It was released by Electronic Arts.

Plot

The story presented in NFS Unbound focuses on the fate of two friends. One day they are separated as a result of a robbery at a garage and the theft of a valuable car located there. Our hero undertakes an attempt to recover the vehicle, and in order to achieve this, he must take part in a series of street races.

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Platforms:

PC Windows

PC Windows

PlayStation 5

PlayStation 5

Xbox Series X/S

Xbox Series X/S

Early Access:November 29, 2022

Developer: Criterion Games

Publisher: Electronic Arts Inc.

Age restrictions: 12+

Game Series

Need for Speed Unbound
Need for Speed Unbound
Need for Speed Unbound

29GAMES

Need for Speed Game Series

One of the oldest and most popular racing game series in the history of the industry. Need for Speed is one of the most valuable brands in Electronic Arts' portfolio, with the US company's in-house development studios, such as EA Black Box, EA Gothenburg, and Criterion Games, usually responsible for its subsequent installments. The series started in 1994 with The Need for Speed, designed for fifth-generation consoles (3DO, PlayStation, Sega Saturn) and PC. The production was prepared by the team from EA Canada studio, created as a result of the acquisition of Distinctive Software (devs of Test Drive and Test Drive II).

Need for Speed Game Series

Features

Need for Speed Unbound Guide
Guide

Last update: December 2, 2022

Need for Speed Unbound Guide

Need for Speed Unbound guide is the best Beginner's Guide and description of all mechanics. We describe how to use drift and how to set up the car, a list of all cars, trophies, secrets, system requirements, controls.

Need for Speed Unbound Guide
Originals

November 30, 2022

Not So Cold! New Games Coming in December 2022

We're slowly wrapping this year up, how time flies! December will be a decent ending of a decent year in terms of releases, and while there aren't any grand smash-hits inbound, it will be a satisfying conclusion to 2022!

Not So Cold! New Games Coming in December 2022
Not So Cold! New Games Coming in December 2022

News

New Need for Speed won't be coming too soon, but it will definitely be created. „We plan to bring the franchise back in new and interesting ways”

New Need for Speed won't be coming too soon, but it will definitely be created. „We plan to bring the franchise back in new and interesting ways”

Fans of the Need for Speed series won't see a new installment for a long time. Criterion studio is now fully focused on Battlefield 7.

video games

Zuzanna Domeradzka

February 4, 2025

New Need for Speed won't be coming too soon, but it will definitely be created. „We plan to bring the franchise back in new and interesting ways”
New Need for Speed Already in the Pipeline

New Need for Speed Already in the Pipeline

The next installment in the Need for Speed series remains an unknown, but a job announcement posted by Criterion Games leads us to believe that a new game is already in development.

video games

Adam Celarek

July 24, 2023

New Need for Speed Already in the Pipeline
NFS Unbound Coming to Xbox Game Pass; That Was Awfully Fast

NFS Unbound Coming to Xbox Game Pass; That Was Awfully Fast

Xbox Game Pass will soon add seven games. The main course will be Need for Speed Unbound.

video games

Hubert Sledziewski

June 20, 2023

NFS Unbound Coming to Xbox Game Pass; That Was Awfully Fast
For Need for Speed to Work Again, It Needs to Go Back to the Past

For Need for Speed to Work Again, It Needs to Go Back to the Past

It's quite obvious that NFS lost its way somehow. It had to concede to Forza Horizon as the kind of arcade racing, but all is not lost for the venerable franchise. Here's my idea for the perfect Need for Speed.

Opinions

Hubert Sosnowski

February 10, 2023

For Need for Speed to Work Again, It Needs to Go Back to the Past
NFS Unbound Patched; New Free Content on the Way

NFS Unbound Patched; New Free Content on the Way

A new patch numbered 1.1.4 has arrived to Need For Speed Unbound, introducing a number of minor improvements. On the occasion of the update's debut, we learned that the new content will hit the game in March at the earliest.

video games

Marcin Przała

January 24, 2023

NFS Unbound Patched; New Free Content on the Way
NFS Unbound Team Hit as Group of Veteran Devs Leaves Criterion

NFS Unbound Team Hit as Group of Veteran Devs Leaves Criterion

After the release of NFS Unbound, Criterion Games lost five key employees. The oldest of them had worked at EA for more than 30 years.

video games

Adrian Werner

December 18, 2022

NFS Unbound Team Hit as Group of Veteran Devs Leaves Criterion
Here's NFS Unbound Without the Cartoonish Effects

Here's NFS Unbound Without the Cartoonish Effects

A redesign has appeared on the Internet that shows how Need for Speed Unbound would look without the cartoonish effects.

video games

Agnes Adamus

December 8, 2022

Here's NFS Unbound Without the Cartoonish Effects
NFS Unbound - Engine Swap Explained

NFS Unbound - Engine Swap Explained

In NFS Unbound you can make a number of vehicle modifications. One of them is engine swap. Here you will find its description.

video games

Agnes Adamus

December 5, 2022

NFS Unbound - Engine Swap Explained
NFS Unbound Launches; How Was It Received?

NFS Unbound Launches; How Was It Received?

The launch of Need for Speed Unbound takes place today. The game was very much liked by the players. What do the fans praise it for?

video games

Adam Adamczyk

December 2, 2022

NFS Unbound Launches; How Was It Received?
NFS Unbound - Easy Money Guide; Glitch Your Way to Money

NFS Unbound - Easy Money Guide; Glitch Your Way to Money

You are starting your adventure in Need for Speed Unbound and you need cash. Here you will learn how to make easy money.

video games

Agnes Adamus

December 1, 2022

NFS Unbound - Easy Money Guide; Glitch Your Way to Money

Downloads

Top downloads for Need for Speed Unbound Video Game:

All Downloads

System Requirements

System Requirements for Need for Speed Unbound Video Game:

PC Windows

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-8600 3.1 GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti / Radeon RX 570 or better, 50 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Recommended System Requirements:
Intel Core i7-8700 3.2 GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 8 GB GeForce RTX 2070 / Radeon RX 5700 or better, 50 GB SSD, Windows 10/11 64-bit.

Sony PlayStation 5

PlayStation 5

Supports:
60 fps @ 4K

Microsoft Xbox Series X/S

Xbox Series X/S

Supports:
XSX: 60 fps @ 4K | XSS: 60 fps @ 1280p

Add-Ons and DLCs

List of Game Add-Ons and DLCs for Video Game:

Ratings

Game Ratings for Need for Speed Unbound Video Game.

7.5

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 63% of Critics. There are 116 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

Eurogamer: by Martin Robinson

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

Full Review

Shacknews: 6 / 10 by Morgan Shaver

If you’re looking for a game to kick back and play race after race with a sizable campaign and other options including an online mode, Need for Speed Unbound has plenty to keep you busy and entertained.

Full Review

IGN: 7 / 10 by Luke Reilly

Need for Speed Unbound hasn’t strayed very far from the fundamentals of 2019’s Heat, but its bold new animated style impresses.

Full Review
60%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Mixed (55,012)

STEAM
User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

  • Graphics and Art Style: Many users praised the game's graphics, calling them beautiful and immersive. The cartoonish art style and visual effects were noted as unique and appealing, adding personality to the game.
  • Car Customization: The game offers extensive customization options for vehicles, which players found enjoyable and satisfying.
  • Gameplay Mechanics: Some players appreciated the handling mechanics, particularly after getting used to them. The sense of speed and the driving experience were also highlighted positively.
  • Active Multiplayer: Players noted that the multiplayer mode can be fun, with a variety of events available.
  • Challenging Cops: While some found the police chases frustrating, others enjoyed the challenge they presented, adding tension to gameplay.

The main cons of the game

  • Technical Issues: Many reviews pointed out problems with the EA launcher, including crashing, difficulty in launching the game, and other technical bugs that hindered gameplay.
  • Repetitive Gameplay: Users expressed frustration with the grindy progression system, where players felt forced to repeat races for minimal rewards, making the experience tedious.
  • Poor AI and Police Mechanics: The AI for both rival racers and police was criticized as being unbalanced and frustrating, with frequent rubber-banding and unrealistic police behavior during chases.
  • Lackluster Story and Characters: The story was often described as weak, with cringe-worthy dialogue and uninteresting characters that detracted from the overall experience.
  • Microtransactions and Paywalls: Some users were unhappy with the presence of microtransactions, feeling that certain cars and upgrades were locked behind paywalls, impacting the sense of progression.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

  • Improved Single-Player Experience: Many players desired a more engaging single-player narrative and better integration of story elements with gameplay.
  • Better Handling Mechanics: Some users wished for a return to the handling style of previous NFS titles, criticizing the current model as feeling heavy or unresponsive.
  • More Variety in Events and Races: There were calls for a wider variety of race types and events to reduce repetition in gameplay.
  • Enhanced AI: Users wanted more intelligent and challenging AI, both for rival racers and police, to create a more dynamic racing experience.
  • Dynamic Progression: Players expressed a desire for a more balanced and rewarding progression system that would not feel artificially slowed down.

Summary

  • Overall, while Need for Speed™ Unbound received a mix of praise for its graphics and customization, it faced significant criticism regarding technical issues, gameplay mechanics, and narrative depth. Many players recommend waiting for sales or discounts before purchasing, given the game's flaws.

Summary generated on:

8.5

USERS Score

Average score from votes.

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