Need for Speed Most Wanted review

Need for Speed Most Wanted is the PS2 racer for players who want to be chased. EA's November 2005 shipping release describes a career where you build a Rap Sheet and street cred to climb the Black List, while evading more than half a dozen police cars at once in a dynamic open world. The car list is shorter than Gran Turismo's, at more than 36 cars, but it covers tuners, supercars and muscle cars, with the BMW M3, Porsche Cayman S, Lamborghini Gallardo, Mazda RX-8, Ford Mustang GT and Mitsubishi Eclipse named. EA Canada developed it, and the ESRB rated the PS2 version Teen for mild violence. A collector's Black Edition with extra cars and races also came out for the PS2. The problem in 2026 is price: DKOldies lists a used disc at $62.99 before sales, more than twice the cost of Gran Turismo 4 or Burnout 3.

Who it is for

Players who want police chases in an open city

Price

Used PS2 disc from $62.99 at DKOldies (regular price, before sales).

Original price: $62.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Climb the Black List by building your Rap Sheet and street cred
• Police pursuits with more than half a dozen cops chasing at once
• Open world with tuners, supercars, muscle and sports cars
• More than 36 cars, including the BMW M3, Porsche Cayman S and Lamborghini Gallardo
• Black Edition collector's version released for the PS2

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: The only game here built around evading police
• Strength: Open world rather than closed tracks
• Strength: Licensed cars from BMW, Porsche, Lamborghini, Mazda, Ford and Mitsubishi
• Weakness: $62.99 used, the third most expensive disc on this list
• Weakness: Smaller car list than Gran Turismo, at more than 36 cars
• Weakness: Rated Teen for mild violence

Key facts

• Developer: EA Canada
• Publisher: Electronic Arts
• ESRB: Teen (Mild Violence)
• Cars: More than 36
• Special edition: Black Edition on PS2

Where it ranks

Need for Speed Most Wanted is No. 5 in our Best PS2 Racing Games verdict.