Need for Speed™ Unbound

Open-world arcade street racing with cop chases and custom cars

Criterion Games · Published by Electronic Arts · Released Dec 1, 2022

Reviews: Mixed; 60% of 61K
Recent reviews: Mixed; 57% of 534 in 30 days
Playing now: 607; right now
Steam Deck: Unsupported
Last update: 1 year ago; Dec 3, 2024

What is Need for Speed™ Unbound?

An open-world arcade racing game set in Lakeshore, where you enter street races, evade police, customize cars, and advance through weekly qualifiers toward the Grand. It includes single-player and cross-platform multiplayer competition.

For you if...

+you want arcade street racing in an open city
+you enjoy tuning and visually customizing a garage
+you want both solo and cross-platform competitive play

Not for you if...

−you want realistic handling rather than arcade driving
−you dislike repetitive tracks and frequent police pursuits
−you expect strong writing and natural-sounding dialogue

What players say

60% of 60,506 reviews are positive · 57% of 534 in the last 30 days

Players most often praise the arcade racing, car customization, and stylized visuals, though opinions on handling vary. Common complaints target the dialogue, story, soundtrack, repetitive single-player progression, police chases, and limited restarts. Players also report recurring trouble with the required EA launcher, account activation, and DRM.

Screenshots and trailer

Need for Speed™ Unbound system requirements

As published by the developer.

Minimum

OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: Ryzen 5 2600, Core i5-8600
Graphics: RX 570, GTX 1050 Ti
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Storage: 50 GB available space
DirectX: Version 12

PC version details

DRM, required accounts, controller support and Steam features.

DRM: EA online activation and EA app software installation and background use required. Denuvo.
Third-party account: EA Account
Controller: Keyboard and mouse
Platforms: Windows
Achievements: 41
Steam features: HDR

Steam Deck: Unsupported

Not supported on SteamOS

Multiplayer and co-op

Languages

Full audio: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Japanese, Polish, Simplified Chinese. Text only: Arabic, Korean, Portuguese - Brazil, Traditional Chinese.