What is the best game similar to Need for Speed™ Payback?

The closest game to Need for Speed™ Payback is Need for Speed: Rivals, scoring 94/100 on our similarity scale. They share 14 gameplay attributes, including racing gameplay, adventure storytelling and sports simulation. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.

What are the top games like Need for Speed™ Payback?

The three closest games to Need for Speed™ Payback are: 1. Need for Speed: Rivals (94/100, 14 shared attributes) 2. Trailmakers (94/100, 12 shared attributes) 3. Far Cry 6 (93/100, 12 shared attributes). All share Need for Speed™ Payback's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 17 dimensions.

Is Trailmakers similar to Need for Speed™ Payback?

Yes, very much so — Trailmakers scores 94/100 similarity to Need for Speed™ Payback. They share 12 attributes, including adventure storytelling and deep simulation. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.

What Racing games are similar to Need for Speed™ Payback?

The best Racing games similar to Need for Speed™ Payback are Need for Speed: Rivals, Trailmakers, Saints Row: The Third and Saints Row 2. All share the Racing genre alongside other key Need for Speed™ Payback attributes like racing gameplay, adventure storytelling and sports simulation.

How is similarity to Need for Speed™ Payback calculated?

We compare Need for Speed™ Payback against every game in our catalog using 17 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™ Payback experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.

Are there free games similar to Need for Speed™ Payback?

Yes — Halo Infinite is free and scores well on similarity to Need for Speed™ Payback. It's a great way to test whether the play style clicks before investing in other paid titles.

50 Games like Need for Speed™ Payback that you should try

Games like Need for Speed™ Payback · Find similar →

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Few titles capture what makes Need for Speed™ Payback unique: racing gameplay, strong narrative focus and open world exploration. After measuring 17 attributes across over 6,700 games, these are the 50 most faithful alternatives. Need for Speed: Rivals, Trailmakers and Far Cry 6 top the ranking, with Need for Speed: Rivals at number one (94/100).

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GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

Top games similar to Need for Speed™ Payback

50 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Need for Speed™ Payback. Each one has been evaluated across 17 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Need for Speed: Rivals

iRank78

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

MultiplayerSoloCo-opPvPOnlineMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst PersonThird Person

Steam👍 76%· 10.0KIGDB80· 13OC80· 58

Year 2013Dev Ghost Games · Electronic ArtsOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the open-world action games cluster, with racing gameplay, adventure storytelling and sports simulation

≠ Its own twist: offline, while skipping sandbox freedom

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

Co-opSoloOnlineMultiplayerMeleeSandbox WorldOpen WorldExploration

Steam👍 92%· 36KRAWG👍 59%· 70OC69· 5

Year 2020Dev FlashbulbPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of open-world action games: adventure storytelling, deep simulation and racing gameplay

≠ Its own twist: survival mechanics, setting space and crafting mechanics, while skipping sports simulation

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

Co-opMultiplayerSoloOnlineMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 71%· 34KIGDB82· 11OC77· 185

Year 2021Dev Ubisoft Toronto · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Both are open-world action games — sharing adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: shooter, first-person shooting and survival mechanics, while skipping racing gameplay

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 88%· 77KIGDB84· 14

Year 2013Dev High Voltage Software · Deep SilverOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

✓ Both are open-world action games — sharing adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and open world exploration

≠ Its own twist: shooter, third-person shooting and ranged combat, while skipping racing gameplay

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 84%· 127KIGDB77· 19OC75· 109

Year 2015Dev Avalanche Studios · Square EnixOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Same family of open-world action games: adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with shooter, third-person shooting and first-person shooting, while skipping racing gameplay

Details →

Steam Xbox PS

#6Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

iRank75

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 77%· 14KIGDB73· 6OC72· 147

Year 2023Dev Massive Entertainment · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn Xbox · PC · PS5

✓ Same family of open-world action games: adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and open world exploration

≠ Its own twist: shooter, first-person shooting and setting scifi, while skipping racing gameplay

Details →

Steam Epic Xbox

#7Saints Row: The Third

iRank92

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 96%· 69KIGDB85· 10

Year 2011Dev Volition · Square EnixOn PlayStation 3 · Linux · PC

✓ Same family of open-world action games: adventure storytelling, racing gameplay and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with shooter, third-person shooting and first-person shooting, while skipping sports simulation

Details →

Steam Xbox

#8Disney Infinity 2.0: Gold Edition

iRank91

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerMeleeSandbox WorldOpen WorldExploration

Steam👍 91%· 474

Year 2016Dev Avalanche Software · Disney InteractivePlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS

✓ Nearly identical: adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and sandbox world.

≠ Missing: racing gameplay.

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 88%· 129KIGDB90· 15

Year 2012Dev Ubisoft Montreal · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Both are open-world action games — sharing adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: shooter, first-person shooting and survival mechanics, while skipping racing gameplay

Details →

Steam Epic Xbox

#10Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell

iRank70

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 75%· 9.7KIGDB64· 11OC67· 69

Year 2015Dev High Voltage Software · Deep SilverOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

✓ Same family of open-world action games: adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: shooter, third-person shooting and first-person shooting, while skipping racing gameplay

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

Co-opSoloMultiplayerOnlineMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 84%· 11KIGDB73· 12OC74· 93

Year 2018Dev Rebellion DevelopmentsOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Both are open-world action games — sharing adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and open world exploration

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, shooter and first-person shooting, while skipping racing gameplay

Details →

Steam PS Nintendo

#12Bang-On Balls: Chronicles

iRank92

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

Co-opSoloMultiplayerOnlineMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExploration

Steam👍 96%· 5.1KOC84· 20

Year 2021Dev Exit Plan Games · Untold TalesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the open-world action games cluster, with adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and open world exploration

≠ Stands apart with vibe casual, offline and visual 3d, while skipping racing gameplay

Details →

Steam GOG Xbox

#13LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

iRank87

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

MultiplayerCo-opSoloMeleeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 95%· 9.1KIGDB70· 3

Year 2011Dev Traveller's Tales · Feral InteractiveOn PlayStation 3 · PC · Mac

✓ Fits the open-world action games cluster, with adventure storytelling, open world exploration and melee combat

≠ Stands apart with precision platforming, setting scifi and fantasy world, while skipping racing gameplay

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 76%· 21KRAWG👍 64%· 897MC78IGDB81· 6

Year 2008Dev Volition · Deep SilverPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of open-world action games: adventure storytelling, racing gameplay and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: third-person shooting, shooter and ranged combat, while skipping sports simulation

Details →

Steam GOG Xbox

#15Grand Theft Auto IV

iRank90

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

MultiplayerSoloCo-opMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 83%· 195KRAWG👍 96%· 103MC95

Year 2010Dev Rockstar Toronto · Rockstar GamesOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the open-world action games cluster, with adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings third-person shooting, shooter and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping racing gameplay

Details →

Steam

Complete list of Need for Speed™ Payback alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Need for Speed™ Payback, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game

Adventure · Puzzle

Far Cry New Dawn

Shooter · FPS

Far Cry 4

Shooter · Adventure

The Darkness II

Shooter · FPS

LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham

Adventure · Puzzle

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag

Adventure · Sandbox

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Adventure · Racing

Generation Zero

Shooter · FPS

Watch Dogs

Adventure · Shooter

LEGO® DC Super-Villains

Adventure

Crash Time 3

Racing · Simulation

Gears 5

Adventure · Shooter

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Third-person shooter · Adventure

Saints Row

Shooter · Third-person shooter

Sunset Overdrive

Shooter · Third-person shooter

Toy Story 3: The Video Game

Adventure · Platformer

Watch Dogs 2

Adventure · Shooter

Rise of the Tomb Raider

Adventure · Shooter

Battlefield 1

Shooter · FPS

SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated

Adventure · Platformer

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Shooter · FPS

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days

Shooter · Third-person shooter

Red Faction Guerrilla Steam Edition

Third-person shooter · Shooter

Lost Planet 3

Shooter · Third-person shooter

Need for Speed™

Racing · Simulation

Just Cause 2

Third-person shooter · Adventure

Bully: Scholarship Edition

Adventure · Sandbox

HELLDIVERS™ 2

Third-person shooter · Shooter

Hunt: Showdown 1896

FPS · Shooter

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes

Adventure · Survival

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Adventure · Puzzle

Sonic Frontiers

Adventure · Platformer

Halo Infinite

FPS · Shooter

Just Cause 4

Adventure · Shooter

Serious Sam 4

Shooter · FPS

Explore games similar to Need for Speed™ Payback by category

Rankings in the same genre

Best Open-World Action Games Best Action Games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Need for Speed™ Payback?: The closest game to Need for Speed™ Payback is Need for Speed: Rivals, scoring 94/100 on our similarity scale. They share 14 gameplay attributes, including racing gameplay, adventure storytelling and sports simulation. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Need for Speed™ Payback?: The three closest games to Need for Speed™ Payback are: 1. Need for Speed: Rivals (94/100, 14 shared attributes) 2. Trailmakers (94/100, 12 shared attributes) 3. Far Cry 6 (93/100, 12 shared attributes). All share Need for Speed™ Payback's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 17 dimensions.
Is Trailmakers similar to Need for Speed™ Payback?: Yes, very much so — Trailmakers scores 94/100 similarity to Need for Speed™ Payback. They share 12 attributes, including adventure storytelling and deep simulation. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Racing games are similar to Need for Speed™ Payback?: The best Racing games similar to Need for Speed™ Payback are Need for Speed: Rivals, Trailmakers, Saints Row: The Third and Saints Row 2. All share the Racing genre alongside other key Need for Speed™ Payback attributes like racing gameplay, adventure storytelling and sports simulation.
How is similarity to Need for Speed™ Payback calculated?: We compare Need for Speed™ Payback against every game in our catalog using 17 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™ Payback experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.
Are there free games similar to Need for Speed™ Payback?: Yes — Halo Infinite is free and scores well on similarity to Need for Speed™ Payback. It's a great way to test whether the play style clicks before investing in other paid titles.