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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

8.3

Users

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

TheGamer: 4 / 5 by George Foster

Beyond its unique art style, Need for Speed Unbound doesn’t do anything to reinvent the steering wheel, but it doesn’t need to. This is Need for Speed, so you know what you’re here for - fast races, cop chases, and more cars than you know what to do with. Unbound is all of that packaged in the series’ most stylish entry to date.

Full Review

Destructoid: 8 / 10 by Chris Moyse

Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.

Full Review

Game Informer: 8.5 / 10 by Brian Shea

Need for Speed Unbound feels like a foundational entry for where the series could go from here. Competing across the title’s many events is a blast, and I love the juxtaposed visual aesthetics. Though some elements left me wanting, Unbound is as much fun as I’ve had with a Need for Speed title in years.

Full Review
60%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Mixed (57,511)

STEAM
User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

  • Graphics and Art Style: The game features excellent graphics and a unique cartoonish art style that many players find appealing. The visual effects, particularly during races, are praised for their creativity and style.
  • Car Customization: The customization options for vehicles are extensive, allowing players to modify their cars in various ways, which enhances the gameplay experience.
  • Driving Mechanics: Some users appreciate the driving mechanics, particularly once they get accustomed to them. The sense of speed and handling can be enjoyable, especially in the context of an arcade racing game.
  • Multiplayer Experience: The game offers an active multiplayer scene with a variety of event types, which can be fun for players looking to engage with others online.
  • Nostalgic Elements: Certain players feel that the game captures the spirit of earlier NFS titles, particularly with its focus on street racing culture and customization.

The main cons of the game

  • Technical Issues: Many users report problems with the EA launcher, including difficulties in launching the game and bugs that affect gameplay. Some have experienced crashes and performance issues.
  • Repetitive Gameplay: The game features a grind-heavy progression system that some players find tedious, with repetitive races and a slow pace of earning in-game currency.
  • Poor AI and Cop Mechanics: The AI behavior during races is criticized for being unrealistic, and the police chases are often described as frustrating due to their frequency and aggressiveness.
  • Weak Story and Characters: The story is seen as underdeveloped and lacking depth, with dialogue that many players find cringe-worthy or annoying. Characters are often viewed as uninteresting or overly stereotypical.
  • Difficulty Balancing: Some players feel that the game is either too easy or unbalanced, particularly regarding the handling of cars and the challenges presented by rival racers and police.

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

  • Improved AI: Players express a desire for better AI behavior, both for rival racers and police, to enhance the challenge and realism of the game.
  • Variety in Music and Soundtrack: Many users wish for a more diverse soundtrack that includes different genres and styles, rather than the repetitive tracks currently offered.
  • Enhanced Storytelling: There is a call for a more engaging and meaningful narrative, with deeper character development and less reliance on cliché dialogue.
  • Better Progression System: Some players would like to see a more rewarding and less grind-heavy progression system, with increased payouts for races and a clearer path to unlocking vehicles.
  • Customization Options: While customization is a strong point, some players feel that there could be even more options available, especially in terms of performance upgrades and unique visual modifications.

Summary

  • Overall, while Need for Speed™ Unbound has its strengths, particularly in graphics and customization, it also faces significant criticism regarding technical issues, gameplay balance, and narrative depth. Many players suggest waiting for a sale before purchasing, given the mixed reception.

Summary generated on:

8.3

USERS Score

Average score from votes.

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