List of Need for Speed video games

The Need for Speed video game series is published by Electronic Arts. Games in the series were primarily developed by Canadian developer EA Canada from 1992 to 2001.[1] They were later primarily developed by Canadian developer EA Black Box for a period of the series' history from 2002 to 2011. After a stint with several game developers (including British developer Criterion Games) from 2009 through 2012, the series is currently being handled by Swedish-British developer Ghost Games, whose debut title Need for Speed Rivals was released in 2013.

The series debuted with The Need for Speed in North America, Japan (under the Over Drivin' title through High Stakes), and Europe in 1997. Need for Speed is a series of racing video games where the main objective is to win races in a variety of game modes, in the process eluding traffic and police. Aftermarket customization of video game vehicles was an aspect first introduced by the Need for Speed series after the release of the film, The Fast and the Furious; the feature was included in every Need for Speed title developed by EA Black Box from Need for Speed: Underground through Need for Speed: Undercover.[2]

The NFS series is among the best-selling video game franchises with 100 million copies sold.[3] Electronic Arts considers one of the reasons the series has remained so popular is because "the series has long been an ever-evolving franchise, one that changes up its focus, mechanics and style every couple of years."[4]

Main series

Title Details
The Need for Speed

Original release date(s):[5]
  • NA: August 31, 1994
  • JP: December 9, 1994
  • EU: March 20, 1996
 Release years by system:
Notes:
  • Developed by Pioneer Studios and EA Canada.
  • A special edition of the game was released later in North America in 1996 for PC.[10]
  • The game was released in Japan as Over Drivin' DX.[11]
Need for Speed II

Original release date(s):[12]
  • NA: March 31, 1997
  • EU: May 1997
  • JP: July 3, 1997
 Release years by system:
1997 – Windows,[13] PlayStation[14]
Notes:
  • Developed by EA Canada and EA Seattle.
  • A special edition of the game was released on November 6, 1997 in North America for PC.[15]
  • The game was produced in Japan as Over Drivin' II.[16]
Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit

Original release date(s):[17][18]
  • NA: March 25, 1998
  • EU: April 1998
  • JP: September 23, 1998
 Release years by system:
1998 – Windows,[19] PlayStation[20]
Notes:
  • Developed by EA Canada and EA Seattle.
  • The game was released in Japan as Over Drivin' III: Hot Pursuit.[21]
Need for Speed: High Stakes

Original release date(s):[22]
  • NA: March 1, 1999
  • JP: June 17, 1999
  • EU: March 30, 1999
 Release years by system:
1999 – Windows,[23] PlayStation[24]
Notes:
  • Developed by EA Canada and EA Seattle.
  • The game was released in Japan as Over Drivin' IV.[25]
  • The game was released in Europe and Brazil as Road Challenge.
  • First game to feature a damage model.
Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed

Original release date(s):[26]
  • NA: February 29, 2000
  • EU: June 29, 2000
 Release years by system:
Notes:
  • Developed by Eden Games, EA Canada, and Pocketeers.
  • Also known as Need for Speed: Porsche 2000 in Europe, and Need for Speed: Porsche in Germany and Latin America.
  • Last game in the saga to be released for a fifth-generation console.
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2

Original release date(s):[30]
  • NA: October 2, 2002
  • EU: October 25, 2002
 Release years by system:
2002 – GameCube,[31] PlayStation 2,[32] Windows,[33] Xbox[34]
Notes:
  • Developed by EA Black Box and EA Seattle.
  • First game in the series to be released for the major sixth generation consoles.
Need for Speed: Underground

Original release date(s):[35]
  • NA: November 17, 2003
  • EU: November 21, 2003
  • JP: December 25, 2003
 Release years by system:
Notes:
  • Developed by EA Black Box.
  • First game to take place in a generic city.
Need for Speed: Underground 2

Original release date(s):[42]
  • NA: November 15, 2004
  • EU: November 19, 2004
  • JP: December 22, 2004
  • AUS: July 27, 2005
 Release years by system:
2004 – Game Boy Advance,[43] GameCube,[44] Mobile,[45] Nintendo DS,[46] Windows,[47] PlayStation 2,[48] Xbox[49]
Notes:
  • Developed by EA Canada.
Need for Speed: Underground Rivals

Original release date(s):[50]
  • NA: March 14, 2005
  • EU: September 1, 2005
  • JP: February 24, 2005
 Release years by system:
2005 – PlayStation Portable
Notes:
  • Developed by EA Black Box.
  • First Need for Speed released on PlayStation Portable, only available on PlayStation Portable.
Need for Speed: Most Wanted

Original release date(s):[51]
  • NA: November 15, 2005
  • EU: November 24, 2005
  • AUS: November 25, 2005
  • JP: December 22, 2005
 Release years by system:
2005 – Game Boy Advance,[52] GameCube,[53] Mobile[54] Nintendo DS,[55] Windows,[56] PlayStation 2,[57] PlayStation Portable,[58] Xbox,[59] Xbox 360[60]
Notes:
  • Developed by EA Black Box.
  • First game in the series to be released for the Xbox 360.
Need for Speed: Carbon

Original release date(s):[61]
  • NA: October 31, 2006
  • EU: November 3, 2006
  • JP: December 21, 2006
  • AUS: December 26, 2006
 Release years by system:
2006 – GameCube,[62] Mobile[63] Windows[64] / Mac OS X,[65] PlayStation 2,[66] PlayStation 3,[67] PlayStation Portable, Wii,[68] Xbox 360[69]
Notes:
  • Developed by EA Canada and EA Black Box.
  • Last game in the series to be released for the GameCube, Xbox, and Game Boy Advance; first game to be released for the Wii and PlayStation 3.
  • To date, the only one released for Mac OS X
Need for Speed: ProStreet

Original release date(s):[70]
  • NA: November 14, 2007
  • AUS: November 22, 2007
  • EU: November 23, 2007
  • JP: January 31, 2008
 Release years by system:
2007 – Mobile,[71] Windows,[72] Nintendo DS,[73] PlayStation 2,[74] PlayStation 3,[75] PlayStation Portable,[76] Wii,[77] Xbox 360[78]
Notes:
  • Developed by EA Black Box.
Need for Speed: Undercover

Original release date(s):[79]
  • NA: November 18, 2008
  • EU: November 21, 2008
  • JP: December 18, 2008
 Release years by system:
2008 – Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, Windows, Mobile
Notes:
  • Developed by EA Black Box, Exient Entertainment, and Firebrand Games.
  • Last game in the series to be released for a sixth generation console.
  • First to be released for iOS.
Need for Speed: Shift

Original release date(s):[80]
  • NA: September 15, 2009
  • AUS: September 15, 2009
  • EU: September 17, 2009
  • UK: September 18, 2009
  • JP: November 12, 2009
 Release years by system:
2009 – Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Windows, Mobile
Notes:
  • Developed by Slightly Mad Studios and EA Bright Light.
  • Last game in the series to be released for the PlayStation Portable.
Need for Speed: Nitro

Original release date(s):[81]
  • NA: November 3, 2009
  • EU: November 6, 2009
 Release years by system:
2009 – Wii, Nintendo DS
Notes:
  • Developed by Firebrand Games and EA Montreal.
  • Nintendo platform exclusive.
Need for Speed: World

Original release date(s):[82]
  • NA: July 27, 2010
  • EU: July 27, 2010
      		 Release years by system:
      2010 – Windows
      Notes:
      • Developed by EA Singapore.
      • The only PC exclusive Need for Speed to date.
      Need for Speed: Nitro-X

      Original release date(s):[83]
      • NA: November 15, 2010
      • EU: November 26, 2010
      • AUS: November 26, 2010
      		 Release years by system:
      2010 – Nintendo DSi
      Notes:
      • Developed by Firebrand Games and EA Montreal.
      • First downloadable, portable Need for Speed title.
      • The game is also available for the Nintendo 3DS by extension, via Nintendo eShop.
      Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (2010)

      Original release date(s):[84]
      • NA: November 16, 2010
      • EU: November 19, 2010
      		 Release years by system:
      2010 – Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows, Wii
      Notes:
      • Developed by Criterion Games.
      • Unlike HD versions, which were ground-up developments, Wii version used recycled tracks from Need for Speed: Nitro.
      Shift 2: Unleashed

      Original release date(s):[85]
      • NA: March 29, 2011
      • EU: March 31, 2011
      		 Release years by system:
      2011 – Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows
      Notes:
      • Developed by Slightly Mad Studios.
      Need for Speed: The Run

      Original release date(s):
      • NA: November 15, 2011
      • EU: November 18, 2011
      		 Release years by system:
      2011 – Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows, Wii, Nintendo 3DS
      Notes:
      • Developed by EA Black Box.
      • Last Need for Speed made by Black Box Studios
      Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012)

      Original release date(s):
      • NA: October 30, 2012
      • EU: November 1, 2012
      		 Release years by system:
      Notes:
      • Developed by Criterion Games.
      • First game in the series set to be released for an eighth generation console. First in the series on the PlayStation Vita and Wii U.
      Need for Speed Rivals

      Original release date(s):
      • NA: November 15, 2013
      • EU: November 21, 2013
      		 Release years by system:
      2013 – Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
      Notes:
      • Developed by Ghost Games and Criterion Games.
      Need for Speed: No Limits

      Original release date(s):
      • WW: September 30, 2015
      		 Release years by system:
      2015 – iOS, Android
      Notes:
      • Developed by Firemonkey Studios.
      Need for Speed (2015)

      Original release date(s):
      • NA: November 3, 2015
      • EU: November 5, 2015
      		 Release years by system:
      2015 – Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
      Notes:
      • Developed by Ghost Games.
      • Reboot of the series.

      Other games

      Title Details
      Need for Speed: V-Rally

      Original release date(s):[86]
      • NA: September 30, 1997
      		 Release years by system:
      1997—PlayStation,[87]
      1999—Game Boy Color,[88] Nintendo 64,[89] PC (Windows)[90]
      Notes:
      • The game was originally produced by European based company Eden Studios, however, Electronic Arts bought the rights to the title of the game and produced it in North America under the NFS banner.[91]
      Need for Speed: V-Rally 2

      Original release date(s):[92]
      • NA: October 31, 1999
      • JP: January 27, 2000
      		 Release years by system:
      1999—PlayStation,[93]
      2000—Dreamcast,[94] PC (Windows)[95]
      Notes:
      • The game was released as V-Rally Championship Edition 2 in Europe and Japan.[96][97]
      Need for Speed: Motor City Online

      Original release date(s):[98]
      • NA: October 29, 2001
      		 Release years by system:
      2001—PC (Windows)[99]
      Notes:

      This game was originally produced by Electronic Arts as a spin-off to the Need for Speed series, though, it was later confirmed that the game was a part of the series. Shut down on October 29, 2003.[100]

      There were also two Japanese only titles: Over Drivin' Skyline Memorial for the PlayStation and Nissan Presents Over Drivin' GT-R for the Sega Saturn. They are different versions of the first Need for Speed.

      See also

      References

      1. ↑ "Electronic Arts completes acquisition of Bullfrog Productions Ltd". Findarticles.com. 1995-01-24. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      2. ↑ "Need for Speed: Underground Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      3. ↑ Fahey, Mike. "100 Million Need For Speed Games Sold". Kotaku. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
      4. ↑ "Need for Speed: Pro Street Review". IGN. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      5. ↑ "The Need for Speed release Dates on PlayStation". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      6. ↑ "The Need for Speed for 3DO". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      7. ↑ "The Need for Speed for DOS". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      8. ↑ "The Need for Speed for PlayStation". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      9. ↑ "The Need for Speed for SEGA Saturn". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      10. ↑ "The Need for Speed SE for PC". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      11. ↑ "Over Drivin' DX (Japan based The Need for Speed)". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      12. ↑ "Need for Speed II Release Dates". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      13. ↑ "Need for Speed II for PC". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      14. ↑ "Need for Speed II for PlayStation". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      15. ↑ "Need for Speed II: SE for PC". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      16. ↑ "Over Drivin' II (Japan based Need for Speed II)". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      17. ↑ "Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit (NA) at IGN.com". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      18. ↑ "Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit release dates". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      19. ↑ "Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit for PC". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      20. ↑ "Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit for PlayStation". MetaCritic. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      21. ↑ "Over Drivin' III: Hot Pursuit (Japan based Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit)". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      22. ↑ "Need for Speed: High Stakes". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      23. ↑ "Need for Speed: High Stakes for Windows". GameRankings. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      24. ↑ "Need for Speed: High Stakes for PlayStation". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      25. ↑ {{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps/driving/needforspeedhighstakes/index.html|title=Over Drivin' IV (Japan based Need for Speed: High Stakes)|publisher=GameSpot|accessdate=2008-07-30}}
      26. ↑ "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed release dates". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      27. ↑ "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed for Windows". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      28. ↑ "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed for PlayStation". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      29. ↑ "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleased for Game Boy Advance". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      30. ↑ "Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 release dates". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      31. ↑ "Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 for GameCube". GameRankings. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      32. ↑ "Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      33. ↑ "Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 for Windows". MetaCritic. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      34. ↑ "Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 for PlayStation 2". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      35. ↑ "Need for Speed: Underground release dates". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      36. ↑ "Need for Speed: Underground for Game Boy Advance". Electronic Arts. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      37. ↑ "Need for Speed: Underground for GameCube". GameRankings. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      38. ↑ "Need for Speed for PC/Windows". Electronic Arts. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      39. ↑ "Need for Speed: Underground for PlayStation 2". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      40. ↑ "Need for Speed: Underground for Xbox". GameRankings. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      41. ↑ "Need for Speed: Underground for Arcade". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      42. ↑ "Need for Speed Underground 2 release dates". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      43. ↑ "IGN: Need for Speed Underground 2". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      44. ↑ "Need for Speed Underground 2 for GameCube". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      45. ↑ "Need for Speed Underground for Cell Phones". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      46. ↑ Harris, Craig (2005-01-25). "IGN: Need for Speed Underground 2 Preview". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      47. ↑ "Need for Speed Underground 2". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      48. ↑ "EA - Need for Speed Underground 2". Electronic Arts. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      49. ↑ "Need for Speed Underground 2". Xbox.com. Archived from the original on 2008-07-07. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
      50. ↑ "need for speed underground versions". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
      51. ↑ "Need for Speed Most Wanted release dates". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      52. ↑ "IGN: Needs for Speed Most Wanted". IGN. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      53. ↑ "IGN: Need for Speed Most Wanted". IGN. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      54. ↑ "Need for Speed Most Wanted". Electronic Arts. Archived from the original on 2008-07-30. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      55. ↑ "Need for Speed Most Wanted". MetaCritic. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      56. ↑ Osborne, Scott. "Need for Speed: Most Wanted". GameSpy. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      57. ↑ Ferris, Duke. "Need for Speed: Most Wanted". Game Revolution. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      58. ↑ "Need for Speed Most Wanted for PSP". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      59. ↑ "Need for Speed Most Wanted". Xbox.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
      60. ↑ "Need for Speed Most Wanted". Xbox.com. Archived from the original on 2008-07-31. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      61. ↑ "EA Games Need for Speed: Carbon Home Page". Electronic Arts. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      62. ↑ "Need for Speed: Carbon". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      63. ↑ "Need for Speed Carbon". Electronic Arts. Archived from the original on 2008-07-31. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      64. ↑ "Need for Speed Carbon". MetaCritic. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      65. ↑ "Need for Speed: Carbon". Apple. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      66. ↑ "IGN: Need for Speed Carbon". IGN. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      67. ↑ "IGN: Need for Speed Carbon". IGN. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      68. ↑ "Need for Speed: Carbon". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      69. ↑ "Need for Speed: Carbon". Xbox.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-18. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      70. ↑ "New website". Electronic Arts. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      71. ↑ "Need for Speed: ProStreet Mobile". Electronic Arts. Archived from the original on 2008-07-30. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      72. ↑ "EA Need for Speed ProStreet". Electronic Arts. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      73. ↑ "Need for Speed: ProStreet for DS". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      74. ↑ "EA Shifts Gears with Need for Speed ProStreet". Electronic Arts. 2007-05-31. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      75. ↑ "Need for Speed: ProStreet for PS3". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      76. ↑ "Need for Speed ProStreet for PSP". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      77. ↑ "IGN: Need for Speed ProStreet". IGN. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      78. ↑ "IGN: Need for Speed: ProStreet". IGN. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
      79. ↑ Fahey, Mike (August 15, 2008). "Maggie Q Spices Up Need For Speed Undercover". Kotaku. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
      80. ↑ "Need For Speed: shift Product details @ shift.needforspeed.com".
      81. ↑ Kirk Pedersen (19 October 2009). "NFS Nitro in stores November 3!". Need for Speed. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
      82. ↑ "Need for Speed: World". Electronic Arts. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
      83. ↑ Crites, Jacob (2010-11-22). "Need for Speed: Nitro-X (DSiWare)". NintendoLife. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
      84. ↑ "Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit". Electronic Arts. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
      85. ↑ "EA's Engine Roar with Shift 2 Unleashed". Electronic Arts. 2010-11-16. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
      86. ↑ "Need for Speed: V-Rally". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      87. ↑ "Need for Speed: V-Rally for PlayStation". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      88. ↑ "Need for Speed: V-Rally for Game Boy Color". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      89. ↑ "Need for Speed: V-Rally for Nintendo 64". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      90. ↑ "Need for Speed: V-Rally for PC". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      91. ↑ "Need for Speed: V-Rally Review for PlayStation". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
      92. ↑ "Need for Speed: V-Rally 2 release dates". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      93. ↑ "Need for Speed: V-Rally 2 for PlayStation". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      94. ↑ "Need for Speed: V-Rally 2 for Dreamcast". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      95. ↑ "Need for Speed: V-Rally 2 for PC (Windows)". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      96. ↑ "V-Rally Championship Edition 2 (Japan based Need for Speed: V-Rally 2)". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      97. ↑ "V-Rally Championship Edition 2 (Europe based Need for Speed: V-Rally 2)". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      98. ↑ "Need for Speed: Motor City Online release dates". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      99. ↑ "Need for Speed: Motor City Online for Windows". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
      100. ↑ "Need for Speed: Motor City Online Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
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