Need for Speed: Most Wanted

Nintendo World ReportTyler Ohlew

9.5/10

Fairhaven is a city of opportunity because it allows players to explore its streets and its secrets how they choose. You can succeed in areas you want to, largely without following a prescribed path. It rewards every possibility, not just the most elite of accomplishments. It’s packed with content, and even in the later hours I was thrown into areas I had yet to discover. Whether you choose to explore, race, or compete with friends, there’s a home for you in Fairhaven.

Digital TrendsAnthony John Agnello

“For Wii U owners starved for something to play, this is one of the best games out there.”

Capsule ComputersJoe Morgan

9/10

No summary available

IGNDaniel Krupa

9/10

As with all sandbox games the narrative is of your own making but this is even more true of Most Wanted. The side-effect is that it can feel aimless at times. If you desire structure, if you wanted a game to be meted out to you, you might find its instant freedom somewhat overwhelming. But Most Wanted is all about deviation and deviance. It’s the racing game for people who don’t tend to like racing games. You’re not punished for missing that apex or abandoning that nagging racing line. It’s undoubtedly one of the year’s most exhilarating experiences.

Push SquareNathan Michalik

9/10

Need for Speed: Most Wanted takes place in the beautiful city of Fairhaven where the most notorious street racers call home. As you attempt to make a name for yourself, you’ll have to climb your way up the list of most wanted drivers by earning speed points. To do this, you’ll have to prove that you have some serious chops behind the wheel by outpacing your opponents, shutting down the location's most skilled drivers, and evading intense police chases.

All these words of course just boil down to what I said at the start: Need for Speed Most Wanted is cool. It’s slick, hugely entertaining, and yes, Criterion still knows how to make crashes simultaneously painful to watch and a feast for the eyes.

Playstation UniverseAdam Dolge

8.5/10

Need for Speed: Most Wanted begs you to play it, to explore Fairhaven, to take your skills online, and to become the best racer in this open-world setting. It's a perfect addition to the franchise and keeps you strictly focused on driving and competing.

VideogamerTom Orry

8/10

Need For Speed: Most Wanted is not only the best Need For Speed title in some time, but also one of the best racers period.

Gamers HeroesCasey Scheld

80/100

At the end of the day though, it’s all about the races, and in that regard, Most Wanted delivers. Driving dangerously is as fun as ever, and Fairhaven is a nice place to go about re-enacting our wildest, most illegal driving fantasies.

Attack of the FanboyAOTF Staff

Criterion does arcade racing better than anyone, and this is an example of some of their best work to date.

Press StartShannon Grixti

Unscored

In my eyes you can’t go wrong buying this game. You gain a host of new features on top of what was an already great game. This is easily not only the best racer, but the best third party release on the WiiU. Pair these things with the fact that the WiiU isn’t actually getting many releases and you’d be crazy to not at least try this game and put your WiiU to good use. I really praise Criterion for looking at ways to improve the game and it shows all over.

Xbox AchievementsRichard Walker

Unscored

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit was a fantastic game. Tearing across the winding desert roads of Seacrest County was always an adrenaline-fuelled treat, and having races laid out for you at your fingertips made the whole thing straightforward, intuitive and low on frustration. Hot Pursuit is a tough act to follow then, and although Need for Speed: Most Wanted is on paper a more ambitious game than its forebear, the reality is something that simply fails to scratch the same racing itch that Hot Pu...