Racing games are classic and we all love to play a good racing game, either alone or against opponents. There was a time when racing games were quite popular and everyone was playing racing games. That was also a time when there were a lot of amazing racing games being developed and released for racing game lovers. One of such racing that we all have played and loved is the Need for Speed aka NFS games. This is one of the best racing game series as it is quite popular and loved by everyone.
The first Need for Speed game debuted in 1994, during that time it was very much loved by players across the world. With the first game being such a huge success the developers decided to develop another game in the series with some changes. This was the start of the game series and after that, the Need for Speed game continues to release every year.
The game features an illegal racing platform where you will have to complete several races to win points and trophies. Even though all the games in Need for Speed games follow the same mechanics and rules, there are differences from one another. So fans are excited to play every game in the series or at least the good game in the series.
So here, we are going to list down the Need for Speed games in order from the first game in the series to the last one. Go ahead and take a look at the following games in the list and see which ones you like the most.
Contents
- 1 Need For Speed Games In Order
- 1.1 1. The Need for Speed
- 1.2 2. Need for Speed 2
- 1.3 3. Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit
- 1.4 4. Need for Speed: High Stakes
- 1.5 5. Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed
- 1.6 6. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
- 1.7 7. Need for Speed: Underground
- 1.8 8. Need for Speed: Underground 2
- 1.9 9. Need for Speed: Most Wanted
- 1.10 10. Need for Speed: Carbon
- 1.11 Conclusion
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Need For Speed Games In Order
1. The Need for Speed
The first game in the series debuted in 1994 for 3DO. Later, the game was also released for DOS PCs, PlayStation, and Saturn, so naturally, it got a huge reach and almost everyone was playing this amazing racing game that can take their breath away. The game offered everything a player would want in a racing game, or even if they didn’t know what they wanted until they played this classic racing game. The game offered high-speed thrills with some fastest sports cars. Players who loved cars or wanted to play the speed certainly liked this game.The game also explored the roster of licensed vehicles from iconic brands, this was a rare thing at that time. The game features highly detailed vehicles which are real and unique models based on the real-world counterpart. It featured a simpler gameplay mechanism that followed a great soundtrack and interesting visuals along with some of the best racing tracks.All of these things made the players very happy and made this game pretty popular at the time of its release. It also became a popular choice for critics too because of the details and gameplay mechanism. Overall, even though this was the first game in the series, it certainly made a huge mark on the players and left them in awe of racing games.
2. Need for Speed 2
Even though the first game was a success, the developers took some time before releasing the next game in 1997. The game was released for PC and PlayStation. There are some changes introduced to the game for example this game ditched the generic highways and provided several unique courses that provide the much-needed personality to the game. It also features the ‘who’s who roster of the 90s cars that made a huge statement for the game. You will find some popular sports cars of that time including the McLaren F1, the Ferrari F50, and even a few unconventional picks like the Ford GT90 and the Isdera Commendatore 112i.Although this game has let us down when it comes to graphics. The graphics were not that good especially for a console like PlayStation. This is one of the overlooked games in the series as it has underperformed. Because of the graphics, it was difficult to appreciate the cars and overall vehicle collection, this was quite disappointing. Overall, the game wasn’t that good but you would still get a pretty good time with the new courses for racing and the vintage car collection too. So you should certainly check out this game if you are on a Need for Speed marathon.
3. Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit
Unlike the last game, which was released after 3 years of the first installment, the developers decided to launch the game just after a year of the 2nd installment, that is in 1998. The game was released for PC and PlayStation, so people were really excited to play this game after the last two releases. Even though the last game was a letdown for most of the players, developers made sure they righted their wrongs and address the graphical shortcomings.The visuals of this game are good enough to convince Sony about what can be achieved on the PlayStation. The physics for this game was improved and tracks from NFS2 were revised and included in the game. The best part of this game was the Pursuit System which added cops into the mix. The police will be able to issue tickets, place roadblocks, and even use the spike stripe to pop your tires. This will make the game even more exciting and thrilling as not only you will have to win the race but also save yourself from the police.Overall, this is one of the best games in the series and the Pursuit System is something all the fans remember fondly.
4. Need for Speed: High Stakes
High Stakes is the next Need for Speed game that you need to know about. This game was released in 1999 for PlayStation and PC. This game has also left the fans and critics impressed and it surely became a good enough game after the success of the last game. Because the Pursuit System was well received by the players, the developers decided to expand this feature and also build a single-player campaign.One of the most interesting features of this game is that players would be able to buy the cars and even race for pink slips. Even though the race tracks for this game weren’t that impressive, this game certainly overcame this by mixing some new features in the game including the Hot Pursuit System in the game. It also consisted of several multi-race championships which made it hard to pick up and play. But it does feature a high degree of technical polish that makes it one of the best entries in the series. Overall, fans were overjoyed to get this game as it was mostly perfect and gave a great experience for racing games.
5. Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed
Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed is the next entry in the series that was released in 2000 for PC, PlayStation, and GBA. This is the first game in the series that focused on one car brand. Porsche is already a well-known name in the car industry and we all are aware of that, so when the game first launched Porsche fans were quite excited to play the game. This game was a result of time and stemmed from a 20-year exclusivity deal between EA and the car manufacturer Porsche.The game features the single-player campaign which became one of the greatest hits for the company’s legacy. Although the game also featured the old models of Porsche which highlighted some of the issues with handling and speed that were highlighted by some critics.Overall, this is an ambitious entry in the series and if you like the Porsche cars then you must like this installment too. The soundtrack and graphics are quite applaudable and you would most certainly enjoy the game as well.
6. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
This is the next Need for Speed game that you would like to know about. This game also became a popular entry in the series and it is kind of a sequel of Hot Pursuit which was released a few years ago. This game was launched in 2002 for PC, PS2, Xbox, and GameCube. This game was an improved version of the first Hot Pursuit game in almost every aspect. The roster included some of the most luxurious and popular supercars of that time. Not only the cars but some prestigious courses also have been added to the game.The cars were not the only thing that is good about this game because the game is becoming much more responsive than it ever has been. This game is the best arcade experience for players. Overall, this is a pretty good game in the series with improved physics and gameplay mechanics.
7. Need for Speed: Underground
This game was released in 2003 and this one is also a great addition to the series. The game was launched for PC, PlayStation3, Xbox, GameCube, and GBA. With this new entry, the developers have tried to shake things up to overcome the fever of Hot Pursuit for a change. This game has featured a great emphasis on car modifications so players got to experience the car with their favorite features.The game doesn’t feature a selection of supercars but features a complete racing event for cash and buying new vehicles or upgrades. Overall, the vehicle modifications feature is pretty good and players would be able to explore various spoilers, decals, tires, rims, paint jobs, and more.
8. Need for Speed: Underground 2
Underground 2 is another game in the series in order and this one was released in 2004 for PC, PS2, Xbox, Nintendo DS, GameCube, GBA, and Mobile, so naturally, the reach of this game was pretty high. This game introduced new events, cars, vehicles, and so many more customization features.The best part of this game is its open-world exploration so players will get the full freedom to explore the in-game world without any limitations. The game didn’t feature the cop chase feature yet players were happy with the game mechanisms and gameplay tactics. Speed is a good part of this game and it also features the best physics as well. The racing fundamentals and the cat handling is improved in the game which makes it one of the best entries in the series.
9. Need for Speed: Most Wanted
This game was released in 2005 for several gaming consoles such as PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, GameCube, GBA, and Mobile. This is the most significant game in the whole series because it features a cross between the tight handling and physics of the Underground games along with the cop chases of Hot Pursuit and its sequel.Not only this, but the game also introduces us to one of the best racing open worlds which features vibrant scenery and unique city blocks. This game can be played for hours and players have enjoyed this game for its sound, background, courses, and of course the open-world cop chase element in the open world.
10. Need for Speed: Carbon
Carbon is the next Need for Speed game that was released in 2006 for PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Wii, Mobile, and Mac. This game wasn’t as well-received as the former games in the series because it lacked individuality and unique personality as it emphasized the recreation of Most Wanted which failed. Although, you can still try this one out and have a good racing experience.
Conclusion
So these are the Need for Speed games that you have been looking for. All of these games are quite popular and we loved them all. Even though people do love some games in the series more than the others, if you are a true racing game fan, then you must watch all the games in the series and see which one you like the most.That would be all for now and we hope you got everything that you have been looking for. Thank you.