The first Need for Speed game came out in 1994, and it immediately became one of the most popular games in the racing genre. Many of us still remember what a mind blowing experience NFS Underground was when it came out. With an abundance of features and flashy visuals, this game series set the standards for all the racing games that would come out later.
It’s no wonder Need for Speed games were published for most gaming platforms, such as the PlayStation, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Switch, Wii, Xbox, and even smartphones. However, not all NFS Games are available for all the platforms. So if you’re looking for the ones you can play on your Xbox 360, we compiled a list of the top Need for Speed Games for you to try out.
Make sure to check out our article on home racing simulator setups to take your Need for Speed experience to the next level.
1. Need for Speed Most Wanted
Need for Speed Most Wanted is the franchise’s best-selling street racing game, with 16 million copies sold worldwide. The original came out in 2005 and did so well that it got a rework in 2012, two years after Criterion Games took over developing the franchise. The success of the Most Wanted title was so huge it deserved a collector’s edition, the so-called Black Edition, which brought additional content.
This game features intensive races and police chases, as well as a solid story and a villain you’ll want to take down. All of this happens in an open-world setting, in the fictional city of Rockport. You’ll play the role of a street racer seeking to become the hottest and most wanted driver, all so you can get your revenge against your rival who took your car. But if you’re not interested in the story and the single-player experience, and you just want to race, you’ll be happy to learn that Need for Speed Most Wanted supports multiplayer gameplay for up to four people.
2. Need for Speed Underground and Underground 2
The legendary Need for Speed Underground is the seventh installment in the franchise, but the first to introduce the comprehensive storyline, car customization, drag, and drift racing. And the fans were impressed, to say the least. The game moved on from exotic cars into the world of import culture, perfect for adding various modifications such as neon lights, paints, tinted windows, and even performance parts.
The import car culture scene is also a perfect setting for underground racing, which is in the spotlight of both Underground and Underground 2 games. You’ll be driving in the dark of the fictional Olympic City, and as a new face on the streets, you’ll have to prove your skills and beat your opponents to become the number 1 racer.
In the Need for Speed Underground 2, the story continues, but this time you’ll be racing the streets of Bayview, where you’ll get your first sponsorship deal. Customization and variety will keep you in the race to unlock your dream race car.
3. Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2
Hot Pursuit 2 is a sequel to Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit. But unlike its prequel, Hot Pursuit 2 is available on the Xbox platform. Hot Pursuit 2 has two primary gameplay modes: World Racing Championship in which you’ll compete against other drivers, and Ultimate Racer in which police will be chasing you. If you’re a collector you’ll be interested to know that the Limited Edition gives the players exclusive access to certain cars.
In Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2, you’ll get access to various exotic and high-performance cars if you want to play as a racer. But the game also gives you a choice to play as a cop chasing the illegal street racers. Police chases make all the races more challenging, and you’ll have to not only be the first at the finish line but also avoid getting caught.
4. Need for Speed Rivals
Need for Speed Rivals was created as a collaboration project between Criterion Games and Ghost Games. In fact, it was the debut title for Ghost Games, a studio that took over the franchise in 2013. Rivals received the Best Racing Game from the Game Critics Awards and remains one of the most popular titles in the genre.
Although the gameplay of Rivals is similar to the previous NFS titles, there are some improvements in the field of performance. This game uses the Frostbite 3 engine which adds a new dimension to the NFS world, and the developers opted for 30 FPS instead of the usual 60 FPS. This is due to the AllDrive system that matches the players in multiplayer mode. The number of players that can be online at the same time, in the same open world, also influenced the decision to lower the frame rate of the game.
5. Need for Speed: Shift and Shift 2: Unleashed
In 2009 the Slightly Mad Studios took over the development of the NFS franchise together with EA Bright Light, and their first title was Shift. With the new developers came a new focus on the game. Shift is no longer an arcade racing game. Instead, it’s a simulation. But Need for Speed Shift is no longer available for purchase, so consider yourself lucky if you still have the disk.
Luckily, in 2011, Shift 2: Unleashed was released as a simcade racing video game. It wasn’t just a sequel to the previous title, but also an improvement. The simulation feels real enough due to the dynamic and very authentic crash physics. EA’s goal was to take over the fame of the Forza Motorsport series with Shift 2: Unleashed. However, while the gameplay delivered what EA promised, the number of available cars and tracks wasn’t anywhere near what Forza had to offer.
6. Need for Speed ProStreet
Unlike many of the NFS games that focus on illegal and underground car races, ProStreet is all about closed tracks and legal circuit races. This is also the first title where the developers tried to blend the sim and arcade racing gameplay. It’s also the first Need for Speed developed with high-definition consoles in mind, such as the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
As for gameplay, you’ll have to tune your car for each race track you intend to take. There are four race modes: Grip, Drag, Drift, and Speed. Although they are all arcade races, your car will behave more realistically. All the crash damage will impact your driving abilities, and the aerodynamics of your vehicle plays a significant role.
7. Need for Speed Carbon
Need for Speed Carbon is the tenth title in the franchise, published by Electronic Arts in 2006. This game tried to ride on the fame of NFS Most Wanted as it was its direct successor, but it fell short due to many gameplay reductions. The number of police chases was cut, and the player could only drive during the night. It seems that the developers thought that darkness was a challenge enough for racing fans.
Although not the best Need for Speed game, it’s still a very fun racing game, especially with the return to the drift races which were lacking in Most Wanted. In Carbon, you can play in three modes: Career, Quick Race, and Challenge Series. Multiplayer was available, but since 2021 the online servers are down, and the game is no longer available for online purchase. If you want to play it, you’ll need to disconnect your Xbox 360 from the internet and play locally.
8. Need for Speed: The Run
If you ever wanted to race across the whole USA, give Need for Speed: The Run a chance. Although many consider this game to be the worst in the franchise, it has lots of fun to offer. You’ll be not only racing on the well-known routes and through cities such as New York, San Francisco, or Las Vegas, but you’ll also have to escape the police and gang pursuits.
With over 190 miles of roads, this is the biggest Need for Speed game. And although it had a heavy marketing campaign, it failed to deliver. The audience was disappointed with the developer’s choices such as Quick Time Events where players had to abandon their vehicle and run on foot. Need for Speed: The Run servers were also shut down in 2021, and now you can enjoy it only as an offline experience.
Playing Need for Speed Games on Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 has been home to some thrilling and adrenaline-pumping Need for Speed experiences over the years. From high-speed pursuits to intense races through breathtaking landscapes, the franchise has consistently delivered heart-pounding action to racing enthusiasts. As the gaming world moves forward with new consoles and technologies, it’s essential to appreciate memorable experiences. So, fire up your Xbox 360, pick one of these fantastic titles from our list, and prepare for an exhilarating ride through the world of high-speed racing.