Need for Speed Unbound review

Need for Speed Unbound is the street racing choice. Its Steam page sets it in Lakeshore, where you race for cash, outsmart police and enter weekly qualifiers for The Grand, the city's top street race. Criterion has kept adding to it through numbered volumes: Vol. 6 brought a dedicated PvP mode with weekly playlists, Vol. 7 brought back Drift and Drag with League progression, Vol. 8 restored Hot Pursuit with Cop Progression and Vol. 9 added the series' first motorbike. Cars are tuned and customized in your garage, and Steam lists cross-platform multiplayer and adjustable difficulty. Hardware needs are moderate at 8 GB of RAM. It scores below the open-world games above because its $69.99 list price matches Forza Horizon 6, Steam lists only partial controller support and a broadband connection is required.

Who it is for

street racing fans who like police chases and car customization

Price

$69.99 on Steam (US store), one-time purchase.

light up the streets with your style. $69.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Weekly qualifiers leading to The Grand street race
• Police chases, with Hot Pursuit mode back in Vol. 8
• Drift and Drag modes with League progression from Vol. 7
• Dedicated PvP mode with weekly playlists from Vol. 6
• Vol. 9 adds the series' first motorbike

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Nine content volumes have added modes, cars and a motorbike
• Strength: Cross-platform multiplayer on Steam
• Strength: Minimum spec is 8 GB of RAM
• Weakness: $69.99 list price ties with Forza Horizon 6, the most expensive here
• Weakness: Steam lists only partial controller support
• Weakness: Steam lists a broadband connection as a requirement

Key facts

• Developer: Criterion Games (publisher Electronic Arts)
• Price: $69.99 on Steam
• Released: December 1, 2022
• Content updates: 9 volumes
• Minimum RAM: 8 GB

Where it ranks

Need for Speed Unbound is No. 8 in our Best Car Games verdict.