Need for Speed Most Wanted
The open-world action in Need for Speed Most Wanted gives you the freedom to drive your way. Hit jumps and shortcuts, switch cars, lie low or head for terrain that plays to your vehicle’s unique strengths. Fight your way past cops and rivals using skill, high-end car tech and tons of nitrous.
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Need for Speed™ Rivals on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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Erase the line between single player and multiplayer in this street-racing rivalry between Cops and Racers. Seamlessly join a world where your friends are already racing and chasing
Need for Speed™ Rivals is a racing, driving and open world game
developed by Criterion Games
and published by Electronic Arts.
Released on June 04th 2020 is available only on Windows
in 11 languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Portuguese - Brazil, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Japanese and Traditional Chinese.
It has received 8,851 reviews of which 6,633 were positive and 2,218 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.3 out of 10. 😊
The game is currently priced at 19.99€ on Steam.
The Steam community has classified Need for Speed™ Rivals into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at Need for Speed™ Rivals through various videos and screenshots.
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- OS *: Windows 7 (Service Pack 2) 32-Bit
- Processor: Intel 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo or AMD 2.8 GHz Athlon X2
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: AMD Radeon 3870 512 MB or higher performance; NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT or higher performance; Intel HD 4000 Integrated 512 MB or higher performance
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 30 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible
Steam Price & Best Deals
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
The Fixes & Enhancements I am writing this review to rescue the unfortunate souls who would otherwise endure the unspeakable peasantry of playing this game at anything less than the finest quality. 1. Unlock DLC & Overwatch Content If you're having trouble accessing DLC or OverWatch exclusive content (Total : 34 Racer Cars & 103 Cop Cars) due to the server shutdown, use this https://steamcommunity.com/app/1262600/discussions/0/690872031640580139/ 2. 60fps & Above Without Physics Break Unlock high frame rates upto 200fps without breaking the physics, which other so-called fixes tend to do. https://github.com/Brawltendo/NFS-Rivals-Framerate-Unlocker 3. Increased Render Distance (Reduce Pop-ins) & Vegetation/Mesh/Terrain Quality Go to C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\Ghost Games\Need for Speed(TM) Rivals\settings\ Open PROFILEOPTIONS_profile. Then set these values and save: GstRender.MeshQuality 3 GstRender.UndergrowthQuality 3 GstRender.ShadowQuality 3 GstRender.TerrainQuality 3 GstRender.EffectsQuality 3 4. Increase Texture Quality, Better V-Sync & Low Latency Set everything in graphics settings to max and turn off in-game Vsync Go to Nvidia Control Panel and set these: (a) VSync: Full (b) Low Latency: Ultra (c) Smooth Motion: On (d) Anisotropic Filtering: 16x (e) Texture Filtering - Quality: High Quality (f) Texture Filtering - Negetive LOD Bias: Clamp (g) Texture Filtering - Trilinear Optimisation: Off (h) Antialiasing - Transperancy: 8x (supersample) (i) Multi-Frame Sampled AA (MFAA): On 5. Enhanced Audio For enhanced audio, use FxSound from Microsoft Store. Set it to Gaming. https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/xp8jk4tbq03lz4 6. Controller Support The game includes full native support for Xbox controllers. If you're using a different controller, simply install DS4Windows and configure it to emulate an Xbox controller. Once that's done, your controller should work without any issues. https://ds4-windows.com/ 7. Modding Support You can use Frosty Mod Manager to heavily customize the game. Add new content, improve visuals, tweak gameplay, and remove the stuff you don't like. It gives you a lot of control over how the game looks and plays. https://github.com/CadeEvs/FrostyToolsuite/releases 8. Quality of Life Mods (a) Enhanced Visual Car Damage : https://www.nexusmods.com/needforspeedrivals/mods/49 (b) Enhanced Draw Distance & LOD : https://www.nexusmods.com/needforspeedrivals/mods/38 (c) Increased Quantity of AI Racers & Cops During Freeroam : https://www.nexusmods.com/needforspeedrivals/mods/45 (d) Reduced Controller Steering Deadzone : https://www.nexusmods.com/needforspeedrivals/mods/37 (e) Better NOS Effects : https://nfsmods.xyz/mod/7545 9. New Game+ If you’ve already completed the game once and want to experience it again with improved graphics, enhanced gameplay, and a greater challenge, I highly recommend trying the NFS Rivals Plus mod. It gives the game a fresh feel while making the overall experience more challenging and enjoyable. https://www.nexusmods.com/needforspeedrivals/mods/1 10. Photo Mode (FreeCam with HUD Toggle & Time Freeze) You can use this tool to enable Free Cam, Time Freeze, and HUD Toggle, making it easy to capture beautiful, cinematic screenshots. https://www.reddit.com/r/needforspeed/comments/oi2nf1/nfs_rivals_cinematic_tools_i_mightve_found_it/ Instructions : (a) Set both the application and NFS Rivals to run as administrator in the compatibility option. (b) Start your game. It important to start your game first and then the application, otherwise the game will crash. Use Alt+Tab to switch to desktop. (c) Disable your internet connection before launching the application. The application checks for updates from a defunct website, which may cause issues during startup. Once the application has started successfully, you can re-enable your internet connection and leave the application running in the background. Finally, click ENABLE on the main screen to activate the tool. It should have a GUI pop up like a command prompt. This will indicate that the application is active. (c) Once in game, go to your location of choice for the screenshot and control the camera with hotkeys and controller as under: INSERT = Enable camera DELETE = Freeze time HOME = Toggle UI Right & Left Thumsticks : Camera Control Right & Left Bumpers : Camera Rotation Right & Left Triggers : Camera Height Screenshot : Company Logo Button (Xbox/PS/Generic) + Right Trigger (RT) (d) Explore the various settings available in the application. It offers a wide range of interesting and useful tools, so feel free to experiment and find the features that work best for you. What I Think Once one has undertaken the modest labour of rectifying the game's technical shortcomings, what emerges is, without hesitation, one of the most irresistibly addictive entries the Need for Speed franchise has ever bestowed upon its admirers. The interaction between the cop and the racer is the edgiest shii ever committed to a script. These two don't have a conversation so much as engage in competitive aura farming. Every sentence sounds forged in the fires of a 14-year-old's secret diary, and I mean that with the utmost affection. The delivery is so aggressively cool it loops right back around to being magnificent. The timeless contest between racer and law enforcement is elevated to remarkable new heights through the wager system, which transforms every excursion upon the open roads into an exercise in calculated audacity. The rewards earned through reckless driving aren't yours to claim the instant they're earned. As your Heat level rises, your earnings multiply, presenting an ever-growing temptation to press onward in pursuit of greater riches. Yet therein lies the dilemma: retreat to a safehouse and secure your fortune, surrendering your Heat and returning to level zero, or continue your perilous escapade in hopes of multiplying your winnings further, all while risking the complete forfeiture of your hard-earned spoils. Quite frankly, I find this system magnificent. It imbues every pursuit with an intoxicating suspense, not unlike an elaborate game of chance wherein wisdom lies not merely in knowing how to win, but in discerning the precise moment at which one ought to depart the table. The musical accompaniment is likewise exceptional, complemented by audio mixing of an equally commendable standard. Each composition arrives with a satisfyingly weighty emphasis upon the bass, ensuring every race is infused with an almost relentless surge of adrenaline. The soundtrack possesses an infectious energy perfectly suited to the breakneck pace of the experience. As for the original score, whilst it may not linger long in one's memory, it performs its appointed duty with quiet competence, enhancing the atmosphere without demanding undue attention. The police pursuits are, without exaggeration, among the game's greatest triumphs. They are ferocious, exhilarating affairs that escalate in intensity and peril as one's Heat level rises. Far from becoming a nuisance, these encounters are contests I eagerly seek out, for the officers display an aggression that makes every successful escape feel genuinely earned. Better still, the gradual acquisition of more advanced countermeasures ensures these confrontations only become more entertaining as the campaign progresses. Of the various gadgets at the player's disposal, the Shockwave has swiftly secured its place as my undisputed favourite, possessing immense practicality and a deeply satisfying flair that never fails to transform an already thrilling chase into an unforgettable spectacle.
No, it's NOT underrated! Rating: 7.5/10 Good: - Phenomenal faceless-story presentation, amazing style overall - 2 Campaigns - Play as Cop & Racer - Fantastic credit song - "Love Songs Drug Songs" Bad: - Game is technically very rough. 30 FPS lock. Shimmering visuals. Few minor bugs - No DLC access anymore because servers are down!! MF EA - Open world game but not immersive. Constant switch between menus & loading forced due to 1 roguelike element - Speed Points. Gained by playing, required to buy cars/upgrade - Can't even pause this single-player game! - Only 2 banger radio song "Lootin in London", "Pompeii" but barely audible. Sound mixing issue. Also cops involved most of the time so radio turns off. We need bangers for thrill! - AI balancing felt off.. game on hardcore side but experience is inconsistent with AI enemies.. luck matters - Didn't really enjoy Tech Gadgets like stun, EMP, etc as a Racer - To progress story, you have to finish few choosen objectives like raming vehicles, stunning enemies, etc. I did not really like doing that FPS/Graphics fix: - Use Lossless Scaling Frame Gen x3 to get 90 FPS. Other method breaks game engine - Set game's Launch option as follows in steam: -Render.ResolutionScale 2.0 -noborder - Apply LSFG after toggling Borderless fullscreen with Alt+Enter Note: Render Scale 2.0 apparently affects GUI elements in game-world, hence hides Turn-markings in road. Makes it a lot harder to race while monitoring direction in mini-map like I did! Game has a style I really love, but wish it was better.
The game is really nice and fun to play. If you want to play it at 60 fps do this: Go to game --> Properties --> General --> And in the "Launch Options" type this: -GameTime.MaxSimFps 60 -GameTime.ForceSimRate 60.0 Close the window and now the game runs at 60 FPS. I recommend playing, the chases are good. (At first I was skeptic, but the game is really nice, glad I didn’t refund it before giving it the chance that it deserves - also a steal for 7€ at discount; just make sure to change the settings to suit your PC and the FPS to 60)
Post Shutdown Review, 10/24/2025 I have been playing Need for Speed Rivals on and off since 2013, starting on the Xbox 360 and later moving to PC. I have completed and replayed it more times than I can count, and every time I return, it still amazes me how special this game is. For a game from 2013, Rivals still looks stunning. The graphics were far ahead of their time, with beautiful lighting, reflections, and weather effects that made Redview County feel alive. Driving through rainstorms, sunsets, and long stretches of highway still feels cinematic even today. The art direction and sense of speed have aged incredibly well. The gameplay was equally ambitious. Rivals perfectly captured that mix of chaos, tension, and adrenaline that defines Need for Speed. The rivalry between cops and racers never got old, and every pursuit felt personal. One of the best features was the Pursuit Tech system, which made every encounter unpredictable. Launching EMPs, shockwaves, and spike strips turned every chase into a high-tech duel. It was creative, satisfying, and added a layer of strategy that made each side feel powerful. It is unfortunate that the game was locked to 30 FPS because it clearly deserved better. The Frostbite engine at the time simply could not handle higher frame rates without breaking the physics and AI. Many players tried to push it beyond that limit, but the game just was not built for it. It is a shame, because if Rivals could run at 60 FPS or more, it would still rival many modern racers in smoothness and feel. Even so, the experience remains incredible despite that limitation. Although Rivals was never a fan favorite, it has always felt like a diamond in the rough. It took risks with its always-online world and bold ideas that were ahead of its time. When everything worked, it delivered pure, chaotic fun that few games have ever matched. Now that the servers are gone, Redview County feels empty, but the game’s spirit still holds up. Even without the online chaos, it remains one of the most unique and enjoyable racers ever made. Thank you, Rivals, for being ambitious, beautiful, and unforgettable. 10/10 — A diamond in the rough that still shines bright, even at 30 frames per second.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Need for Speed™ Rivals is currently priced at 19.99€ on Steam.
No, Need for Speed™ Rivals is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 19.99€ on Steam.
Yes, Need for Speed™ Rivals received 6,633 positive votes out of a total of 8,851 achieving a rating of 7.33.
😊
Need for Speed™ Rivals was developed by Criterion Games and published by Electronic Arts.
Yes, Need for Speed™ Rivals is playable and fully supported on Windows.
No, Need for Speed™ Rivals is not playable on MacOS.
No, Need for Speed™ Rivals is not playable on Linux.
This information about Need for Speed™ Rivals is not available yet.
This information about Need for Speed™ Rivals is not available yet.
No, Need for Speed™ Rivals does not support VR.
Need for Speed™ Rivals offers both single-player and multi-player modes.
Need for Speed™ Rivals offers both Co-op and PvP modes.
Yes, there is a DLC available for Need for Speed™ Rivals. Explore additional content available for Need for Speed™ Rivals on Steam.
No, Need for Speed™ Rivals does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
No, Need for Speed™ Rivals does not support Steam Remote Play.
No, Need for Speed™ Rivals does not currently support Steam Family Sharing.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Need for Speed™ Rivals.
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Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 30 August 2026 14:29 UTC |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 31 August 2026 09:45 UTC |
| Steam price | 11 September 2026 18:24 UTC |
| Steam reviews | 09 September 2026 13:58 UTC |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Need for Speed™ Rivals, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Need for Speed™ Rivals
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Need for Speed™ Rivals concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Need for Speed™ Rivals compatibility
Game modes
Multiplayer
Online players
42
Developer
Criterion Games
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Release
04 Jun 2020
Platforms