39 Narrative games like Need for Speed™ Payback that you should try

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Need for Speed™ Payback down to the 39 that fit the “Narrative” category. Need for Speed: Rivals, Far Cry 6 and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Need for Speed™ Payback.

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GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

The best narrative games like Need for Speed™ Payback

39 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-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

Details →

Steam Epic Xbox

#3Avatar: 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

#4Saints 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

MultiplayerCo-opSoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 72%· 42KIGDB53· 12OC49· 65

Year 2019Dev Systemic ReactionOn PS4 · PC · PS5

✓ 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-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

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 75%· 34KIGDB72· 11OC73· 146

Year 2019Dev Ubisoft Montreal · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

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

≠ Its own twist: shooter, first-person shooting and survival mechanics, 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

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 63%· 3.9KIGDB58· 12

Year 2013Dev Spark Unlimited · CapcomOn PlayStation 3 · PC · Xbox

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

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

Details →

Steam

#10Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

iRank63

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opPvPOnlineMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 43%· 15KIGDB83· 8OC83· 155

Year 2024Dev Treyarch · ActivisionOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

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

≠ Stands apart with shooter, first-person shooting and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping racing gameplay

Details →

Steam Xbox

#11Far Cry 3

iRank89

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

#12Toy Story 3: The Video Game

iRank72

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 71%· 2.0KIGDB73· 6

Year 2010Dev Avalanche Software · Disney Interactive StudiosOn PlayStation 3 · PC · Mac

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

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

Details →

Steam Xbox

#13Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days

iRank68

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 67%· 9.4KIGDB69· 7

Year 2010Dev IO Interactive · Square EnixOn PlayStation 3 · PC

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

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

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

MultiplayerSoloMeleeNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldExploration

Steam👍 58%· 2.5KRAWG👍 19%· 107

Year 2008Dev RTL interactive · Meridian4Playtime ~1hOn PC

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

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

Details →

Steam

#15Far Cry 4

iRank85

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 85%· 69KIGDB86· 19OC84· 97

Year 2014Dev Ubisoft Montreal · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

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

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

Details →

Steam Epic Xbox

Complete list of narrative games like Need for Speed™ Payback

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.