Need for Speed™ Heat

56 Games like Need for Speed™ Heat that you should try

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Need for Speed™ Heat is hard to replace: few games combine sports simulation, strong narrative focus and open world exploration in quite the same way. We analyzed over 2,000 titles across 16 gameplay attributes and found 56 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Forza Horizon 3, Split/Second and BallisticNG lead the list, with Forza Horizon 3 reaching a 95/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Need for Speed™ Heat special.

iRank70/ 100

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GenreSportsSubgenreRacingSub-subgenreArcade Racing

Tags

NarrativeMultiplayerSolo

Year 2019Dev Ghost Games

Stores

Steam ↗Xbox ↗PS ↗

Quick answer

The closest game to Need for Speed™ Heat is Forza Horizon 3 — scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. Split/Second and BallisticNG follow close behind.

#1Forza Horizon 395 #2Split/Second96 #3BallisticNG95 #4FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage95 #5Mario Kart World94

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Games like Need for Speed™ Heat

56 similar games found

#1Forza Horizon 3

95

iRank90

Forza Horizon 3

GenreSportsSubgenreRacingSub-subgenreArcade Racing

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOpen WorldExplorationFirst PersonThird Person

IGDB89· 26OC91· 130

Year 2016Dev Playground Games · Microsoft StudiosOn PC · Xbox

✓ Nearly identical: racing gameplay, open world exploration and single-player focus.

≠ Missing: sports simulation.

96

iRank81

Split/Second

GenreSportsSubgenreRacingSub-subgenreArcade Racing

OfflineSoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeThird Person

Steam👍 81%· 2.5KIGDB82· 5

Year 2010Dev Black Rock Studios · Disney Interactive StudiosOn PlayStation 3 · PC · iOS

✓ Nearly identical: racing gameplay, melee combat and offline.

≠ Missing: sports simulation.

95

iRank86

BallisticNG

GenreSportsSubgenreRacingSub-subgenreArcade Racing

OfflineSoloMultiplayerMeleeNarrativeThird PersonFirst Person

Steam👍 94%· 3.7KRAWG👍 73%· 26

Year 2016Dev NeognosisPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Both are arcade racing games — sharing racing gameplay, strong narrative focus and melee combat

≠ Stands apart with setting scifi, while skipping sports simulation

#4FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage

95

iRank87

FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage

GenreSportsSubgenreRacingSub-subgenreArcade Racing

MultiplayerOfflineSoloMeleeFirst PersonThird Person

Steam👍 90%· 7.5KIGDB80· 3

Year 2007Dev Bugbear Entertainment · Empire InteractiveOn PC

✓ Nearly identical: racing gameplay, melee combat and multiplayer gameplay.

≠ Missing: sports simulation.

#5Mario Kart World

94

iRank89

Mario Kart World

GenreSportsSubgenreRacingSub-subgenreArcade Racing

OfflineSoloMultiplayerOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

IGDB92· 4OC87· 146

Year 2025Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 9 · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Same family of arcade racing games: racing gameplay, adventure storytelling and open world exploration

≠ Its own twist: fantasy world, while skipping sports simulation

#6Team Sonic Racing

97

iRank73

Team Sonic Racing

GenreSportsSubgenreRacingSub-subgenreArcade Racing

OfflineSoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeThird Person

Steam👍 73%· 3.5KIGDB71· 9OC74· 122

Year 2019Dev Sumo Digital · SegaOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Fits the arcade racing games cluster, with racing gameplay, melee combat and offline

≠ Where it differs: brings setting scifi, while skipping sports simulation

#7Star Wars: Episode I - Racer

95

iRank78

Star Wars: Episode I - Racer

GenreSportsSubgenreRacingSub-subgenreArcade Racing

SoloMultiplayerOfflineMeleeFirst PersonThird Person

Steam👍 87%· 2.3KIGDB70· 2OC69· 28

Year 1999Dev LucasArts · Aspyr MediaOn PS4 · PC · Mac

✓ Same family of arcade racing games: racing gameplay, melee combat and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings setting scifi, while skipping sports simulation

#8Midnight Club: Los Angeles

94

iRank80

Midnight Club: Los Angeles

GenreSportsSubgenreRacingSub-subgenreArcade Racing

OfflineSoloMultiplayerOpen WorldExplorationFirst PersonThird Person

IGDB80· 6

Year 2008Dev Rockstar London · Rockstar GamesOn PlayStation 3

✓ Nearly identical: racing gameplay, open world exploration and offline.

≠ Missing: sports simulation.

#9Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing

95

iRank77

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing

GenreSportsSubgenreRacingSub-subgenreArcade Racing

OfflineSoloMultiplayerMeleeThird Person

Steam👍 87%· 3.4KRAWG👍 73%· 144MC65IGDB76· 3

Year 2010Dev Sumo Digital · SEGAPlaytime ~1hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the arcade racing games cluster, with racing gameplay, melee combat and offline

≠ Where it differs: brings visual 3d, while skipping sports simulation

Steam PS Nintendo

91

iRank91

Re-Volt

GenreSportsSubgenreRacingSub-subgenreArcade Racing

SoloMultiplayerOfflinePvPThird Person

Steam👍 91%· 1.4K

Year 1999Dev Acclaim Studios London · Acclaim EntertainmentOn Android · PC · iOS

✓ Fits the arcade racing games cluster, with sports simulation, racing gameplay and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: visual 3d, while skipping adventure storytelling

#11Rocket League®

92

iRank86

Rocket League®

GenreSportsSubgenreRacingSub-subgenreArcade Racing

MultiplayerOfflineSoloCo-opPvPOnlineMeleeThird Person

Steam👍 88%· 579KRAWG👍 79%· 2.9KMC86IGDB89· 17OC87· 111

Year 2015Dev PsyonixPlaytime ~21hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the arcade racing games cluster, with sports simulation, racing gameplay and melee combat

≠ Where it differs: brings competitive edge, vibe casual and setting scifi, while skipping adventure storytelling

Steam Epic Xbox

#12Dirt Showdown

94

iRank78

Dirt Showdown

GenreSportsSubgenreRacingSub-subgenreArcade Racing

MultiplayerSoloOfflineMeleeFirst PersonThird Person

Steam👍 80%· 3.8KIGDB75· 10

Year 2012Dev Codemasters Southam · Virtual ProgrammingOn PlayStation 3 · Linux · PC

✓ Nearly identical: sports simulation, racing gameplay and melee combat.

≠ Missing: adventure storytelling.

#13Test Drive Unlimited

93

iRank81

Test Drive Unlimited

GenreSportsSubgenreRacingSub-subgenreArcade Racing

SoloMultiplayerOnlineOpen WorldExploration

IGDB81· 6

Year 2006Dev Eden Games · Atari, Inc.On PC

✓ Both are arcade racing games — sharing racing gameplay, open world exploration and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: sandbox freedom and sandbox world, while skipping sports simulation

#14Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition

94

iRank75

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition

GenreSportsSubgenreRacingSub-subgenreArcade Racing

OfflineSoloMultiplayerOpen WorldExploration

IGDB75· 5

Year 2005Dev Rockstar San Diego · Rockstar Games

✓ Nearly identical: racing gameplay, open world exploration and offline.

≠ Missing: sports simulation.

#15Need for Speed™ Unbound

97

iRank63

Need for Speed™ Unbound

GenreSportsSubgenreRacingSub-subgenreArcade Racing

MultiplayerSoloCo-opOnlineMeleeOpen WorldExplorationSkill Tree

Steam👍 60%· 58KRAWG👍 57%· 145OC75· 116

Year 2022Dev Criterion Games · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Nearly identical: racing gameplay, open world exploration and melee combat.

≠ Missing: sports simulation.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Need for Speed™ Heat?: The closest game to Need for Speed™ Heat is Forza Horizon 3, scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. They share 8 gameplay attributes, including racing gameplay, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Need for Speed™ Heat?: The three closest games to Need for Speed™ Heat are: 1. Forza Horizon 3 (95/100, 8 shared attributes) 2. Split/Second (96/100, 7 shared attributes) 3. BallisticNG (95/100, 8 shared attributes). All share Need for Speed™ Heat's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 56 candidates across 16 dimensions.
Is Split/Second similar to Need for Speed™ Heat?: Yes, very much so — Split/Second scores 96/100 similarity to Need for Speed™ Heat. They share 7 attributes, including racing gameplay and offline. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Sports games are similar to Need for Speed™ Heat?: The best Sports games similar to Need for Speed™ Heat are Re-Volt, Rocket League®, Dirt Showdown and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Collection. All share the Sports genre alongside other key Need for Speed™ Heat attributes like racing gameplay, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay.
How is similarity to Need for Speed™ Heat calculated?: We compare Need for Speed™ Heat against every game in our catalog using 16 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Need for Speed™ Heat experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.