What is the best Need for Speed?

Need for Speed games have managed to capture the essence of just about the entire spectrum of the automotive world. From million dollar supercars screaming through small towns and forests, to Japanese tuners threading their way through highway traffic. For all of its successes, the series has had a few stumbles along the way and produced some games in the franchise that are simply better than others. With a brand new Need for Speed title, Need for Speed Rivals, set to debut later this year, we thought it'd be a good idea to round up our top three Need for Speeds...

[xReDeMpTiOnx]

I think need for speed most wanted was the best one IMO

[iamnsuperman]

Totally agree. That was the pinnacle of the series for me

[Retroman]

are you serious??? must not never played first 7 NFS on ps1 ROAD AND TRACK PRESENT THE NEED FOR SPEED,NEED FOR SPEED 2,NEED FOR SPEED 3 HOT PURSUIT,NEED FOR SPEED HIGHSTAKES,NEED FOR SPEED PORSCHE UNLEASHED,NEED FOR SPEED RALLY,PS2 NEED FOR SPEED HOTPURSUIT 2,ps2 NEED FOR SPEED UNDERGROUND after underground all hell went down since then. no recovery since. criterion tried twice but failed!!! ghost games RIVAL look promising.

[Kurt Russell]

NFS 2 was incredible... so so fast at the time. And Hot Pursuit (original) was one of the best split screen games on PS.

[Iceman_Nightmare]

if you mean Most Wanted 2005, not the 2012 remake.. I agree.

[NukaCola]

I got Most Wanted on the Vita and it's by far my favorite handheld racing game.

[Godlovesgamers]

"What is the best Need for Speed?"

The one you have the most fun playing.

Next question...

[shivvy24]

Yea I agree , I really like nfs most wanted !

[MKDA_Scorpion]

The Original Most Wanted, the new one was terrible compared to the old one. Hot Pursuit 2 was really good, and NFS Underground 2 was probably the best. Free Roam, didn't just jump into cars and start races, and required constant customization on the cars + a really good OST.

[CPTN MITCHELL]

Underground ftw

[LordStig]

For me, Shift 2 was the best. I loved that professional racing and in-depth car tinkering, Followed by the first most wanted then underground2.

[ironfist92]

Shift 2 was visceral and intense, absolutely loved the experience.

However in terms of the arcade titles, Under ground 2, followed closely by Most Wanted (old one, not the boring new one)

[LordStig]

The new most wanted felt slow and the handling didn't feel responsive but its car roster was very good.

[SkullBlade169]

NFS: Underground

[Avernus]

Underground 1-2... without a doubt. Never enjoyed a NFS game like that since.

[iRocket]

NFS Most Wanted, the original one.

[Retroman]

have not experience a good NEED FOR SPEED since UNDERGROUND that is a fu'king shame.

[Iceman_Nightmare]

Need For Speed Underground 2, the open world, customization, believable handling... Unlike recent NFS you double tap brake to drift, and the game countersteers for you. Main reason I havent bought any NFS after Hot Pursuit 2010, and wont be getting NFS RIVALS. Thank you criterion games, for screwing up NEED FOR SPEED SERIES. Ghost is Criterion Games by the way...

[Master-H]

The original Need for Speed Most Wanted no doubt, such a fantastic games , before i played it i didn't even care for racing games, then it became one of my all time favorite games ever. Would love if EA could get the old team that did it to make the new NFSs instead of Criterion, not that Criterion don't know what they're doing but they kinda do their own thing ,honestly all the NFS titles they made feel more like Burnout than NFS.

[ape007]

imo the best NFS game ever made was Need For Speed: hot pursuit 2 on the Playstation 2

[Elit3Nick]

I adored that game on the PC, it was a few years later that I learnt that the PS2 version was apparently the best version, but it was a blast on the PC version nonetheless.

[FuneralPartier]

Off topic, I really wish Criterion or some other studio would release a 4-wheel drive game similar to NFS.........