Need for Speed: Most Wanted for Windows

Open world to race in

Need for Speed: Most Wanted is a single and multiplayer car racing game that is set in an open-world environment filled with places to explore. NFS: Most Wanted is the title of two Need for Speed games from 2005 and 2012 that both feature car customization features, police chases, and rivalries.

The Need for Speed: Most Wanted BMW became an iconic car, which was the first release. Need for Speed: Underground was another extremely popular video game in the NFS series with an open environment. NFS games like Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, Undercover, and Underground 2 combine arcade-style gameplay with street racing tactics.

How can I download Need for Speed: Most Wanted for free?

Need for Speed: Most Wanted is not free to play. Electronic Arts released a popular free-to-play NFS game called World for Microsoft Windows PCs that was eventually shut down, despite popularity.

EA did not venture from the decision to make their games pay to play with the Most Wanted title that was developed by Criterion Games. Most Wanted is a cross-platform video game that is available for consoles, desktops, and handheld devices, including tablets, mobile phones, and gaming systems.

Is NFS: Most Wanted open world?

NFS: Most Wanted is an open-world video game that encourages you to explore the expansive setting of Fairhaven City that is entirely open from the onset of the game. The gameplay mechanics let you break through billboards while you jump from ledges at high speeds. The city becomes more intriguing as you continue to find new locations like airplane yards.

Destinations that you find along the way can help you escape trouble during intense moments like how you outrun the police since you can swerve towards a tricky tunnel. You can purposely hit items alongside the road in an attempt to stop the cops from catching you. Police will do everything in their power to stop you whether from the ground or the sky.

Spike strips from officers can appear on the road to ruin your race that you will need driving skills to avoid. Helicopters can hover from above in addition to the multiple cop cars on the road that all have the same goal to catch you. Repair shops are available on the map to let you fix mechanical and aesthetical issues like paint and nitrous.

Risky behavior like jumping, escaping, and speeding is rewarded in NFS: Most Wanted with Speed Points (SP) that you collect. Billboards, cameras, and security gates mark whether you earn these points and determine whether you become the highly esteemed Most Wanted player. You can add new modifications to your vehicles like nitro boosts with SP.

While the 2012 release lacks the story that the 2005 addition sported, a rival list is still present in both titles. You will get SP in real-time that are available to view at the top of the screen for beating Autolog records from friends and finishing events. You can rise up the Speedwall ranks as you beat additional players during single and multiplayer modes.

Why NFS: Most Wanted is the best

Whether the first or second release of Most Wanted is better is a debatable topic, yet the general gameplay for each is filled with action and adventure like exploring and escaping. The Need for Speed: Most Wanted 2012 lets you switch your car on the road instead of the need to drive to a garage, like in the 2005 title.

While both single and multiplayer modes let you change cars at any time, the multiplayer accessibility is more convenient, since you can stay in the same spot as you access a different car. The single-player mode will transport you back to the location that you found the vehicle before. Jack Spots are located around the map to let you find new cars to use.

The one-sided police escapades in Most Wanted only let you flee, lack flair when compared to the dual-sided cop chases in Hot Pursuit that let you choose whether you want to be the escaper or officer. Around 60 events are available in Most Wanted to make sure you stay entertained with races and runs.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted is a mixture of realistic freedom and fantasy physics. The authentic dynamics of the starting lines in Most Wanted differ from arcade games that mechanically place you side by side with opponents, as you can immediately bump into racers and turn to whichever direction you wish to.

Gameplay in action

Specific challenges are listed on the screen to let you discover your environment with your teams like airspeed, rooftop parking, takedown to the bridge, and more. Scoreboards are presented often and sporadically around the streets to let you know where you stand in comparison to your competition. Your competitors will get wind of where you rank as well.

Billboards are an example of the rampant competition that Most Wanted promotes because you can see the leader's face on the board as you are coaxed to crash through. Your name will be placed on the signs once you beat the high score for jump length and speed.

A packed playground for racers

Need for Speed: Most Wanted is offline or online, depending on the specific content that you choose to play. A detailed arena is available for you to discover, whether you choose to outdrive traffic or burst into signs. NFS stays true to high-speed chases and races that present realistic effects like busted tires and collision sparks.

What’s new?

NFS: Most Wanted is available on Android, Amazon Fire tablet, iOS, Microsoft Windows PC, PlayStation 3, Wii U, and Xbox 360 operating systems. The Most Wanted 2012 edition was recently added to Steam. Aside from the addition to a new platform, Most Wanted does not receive regular updates from Criterion.