Need for Speed Unbound
NFS Unbound, Need for Speed 2022
Release Date: December 2, 2022
Racing, cars, Game Pass, EA Play, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet
OpenCritic
Steam
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.
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.
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!
Videos and Screens
[1:48] Need for Speed Unbound Vol. 9 Reveal Trailer
[0:41] Need for Speed Unbound Porsche 75th Anniversary trailer
OpenCritic Rating
Game is Recomended by 63% of Critics. There are 116 Critic Reviews.
PC Gamer: 76 / 100 by Phil Iwaniuk
Some well-judged bold calls in both mechanics and visual direction elevate a familiar arcade racer above NFS's previous monotony.
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.
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.
The main pros of the game
- Visual Style: Many users appreciate the bold artistic direction and graphics, noting the graffiti-inspired visual effects and overall aesthetic as standout features.
- Customization: The game offers extensive car customization options, both aesthetically and for performance, which many players find satisfying.
- Gameplay Mechanics: Some players enjoy the driving mechanics, particularly the risk-reward system in the campaign and the handling of cars.
- Online Mode: The multiplayer experience has received praise, especially with the introduction of new game modes and regular updates that enhance gameplay.
- Car Variety: There is a good selection of cars, which players enjoy experimenting with.
The main cons of the game
- Grindiness: A significant number of reviews highlight the grindy nature of the game, where players feel forced to repeat races to earn enough money for upgrades, which can be frustrating.
- Police Mechanics: The police system is frequently criticized for being overly aggressive, with many players finding the constant chases annoying and disruptive to the racing experience.
- Story and Characters: The story is often described as lackluster, with characters and dialogue that some players find cringe-worthy or poorly written.
- Handling Issues: While some enjoy the driving mechanics, others find the handling awkward and unresponsive, making it difficult to control vehicles effectively during races.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Diverse Race Types: Users expressed disappointment that the game lacks a variety of race types (e.g., drift, drag, off-road) and feels limited to standard racing events.
- Controller Customization: Several players noted the lack of options to remap controller buttons to their preferences, which can hinder gameplay.
- Performance Upgrades: Some players feel that performance upgrades are hard to come by early in the game, limiting their ability to improve their cars.
- Story Depth: Many reviews mentioned a desire for a more engaging and fleshed-out story, as well as more memorable characters akin to earlier titles in the series.
In conclusion, while *Need for Speed? Unbound* has its share of visual flair and customization options that appeal to players, it also faces criticism for its grindy mechanics, police interactions, and story elements. The game appears to be more enjoyable when purchased at a discounted price, and its online mode has potential for fun and engagement.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 587 votes. 286 players anticipated the game.
Need for Speed Unbound Description
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.
Gameplay
Need for Speed Unbound resemble what we know from previous installments of the series. All the fun focuses on illegal street racing. Of course, everything has been constructed to look as impressive as possible.
There were also police chases - the greater our success in racing, the greater the interest of law enforcement officers. This time, this aspect has been expanded, and the game features a variety of chase units; avoiding getting caught requires adjusting to the type of vehicles chasing us.
The developers have improved the physical engine, which translates into a better driving experience than in previous installments of the series. The focus here is on a level of complexity similar to what we might associate with simulators. The sensitivity of the controls has also been increased, which translates into better control over the cars.
In Need for Speed Unbound, we have to pay to participate in subsequent races. So if you lose, you will lose the invested cash. In addition, it is possible to place bets.
List of cars
NFS Unbound offers more than 150 car models from manufacturers such as Porsche, Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Ford. At the same time, the title lacks vehicles from Toyota and Audi. The full list of vehicles available at launch can be found here.
Graphics
NFS Unbound features unique graphics that interweave realistic and cartoonish elements inspired by street art.
29
GAMES
in Need for Speed Game Series
Game Series
Need for Speed 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).
29 video games
Need for Speed Unbound Summary
Early Access:November 29, 2022
Platforms:
PC / Windows
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X/S
Developer: Criterion Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts Inc.
Age restrictions: 12+
Need for Speed Unbound System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: 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: 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
PlayStation 5
Uses: 60 fps @ 4K
Xbox Series X/S
Uses: XSX: 60 fps @ 4K | XSS: 60 fps @ 1280p
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
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
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
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 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
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
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 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 - 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 Compared With Leaks Shows Visual Improvement
A gamer was tempted to compare the current graphics in Need for Speed Unbound with footage leaked a few months ago. It turns out that since the August leak, the developers have heavily tweaked the visual aspect of the title.
video games
Kamil Kleszyk
November 30, 2022