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racing video game
Need for Speed: Most Wanted
By Criterion Games, released 1 Jan 2012
- Microsoft Windows
- PlayStation 3
- Wii U
- PlayStation Vita
What it is
Need for Speed: Most Wanted is an open-world racing game from Criterion Games. It gives players room to drive through an open world, using jumps, shortcuts, car changes, and terrain suited to different vehicles. Police and rivals can be challenged with driving skill, car technology, and nitrous. The game emphasizes continuous activity rather than menus or lobbies, with racing, crashing, exploring, and collecting rewards available around the world. In online mode, players choose a car and join competitive event playlists, with votes helping shape which events are played. The racing also includes positioning on the starting line and the possibility of taking oncoming rivals after crossing the finish. Autolog shares scores, speeds, and times with friends, giving players a feed of results to chase. Steam lists single-player, multiplayer, PvP, online PvP, and trading cards. The listed platforms include Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii U, and PlayStation Vita; the Steam platform listing specifies Windows.
What players like, and what they don't
- Open-world driving includes jumps and shortcuts.
- Online playlists feature competitive events.
- Autolog shares scores, speeds, and times.
- Single-player and multiplayer are listed.
- Steam lists Windows as its platform.
- No Linux or macOS platform is listed.
Who it suits
It suits players who want open-world driving with races, exploration, police pursuits, and online events. Friends who like comparing scores and times can use its Autolog feed.
Most Wanted pairs open-world driving with competitive events and a feed for comparing results with friends. Players looking at the Steam listing should note that it specifies Windows.



