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

The closest game to Need for Speed™ is Jet Island, scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. They share 9 gameplay attributes, including adventure storytelling, deep simulation and racing gameplay. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.

What are the top games like Need for Speed™?

The three closest games to Need for Speed™ are: 1. Jet Island (97/100, 9 shared attributes) 2. The Darkness II (97/100, 8 shared attributes) 3. Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now (95/100, 8 shared attributes). All share Need for Speed™'s most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 12 dimensions.

Is The Darkness II similar to Need for Speed™?

Yes, very much so — The Darkness II scores 97/100 similarity to Need for Speed™. They share 8 attributes, including adventure storytelling and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.

What Racing games are similar to Need for Speed™?

The best Racing games similar to Need for Speed™ are Jet Island, Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now, Grand Theft Auto 2 and Crash Time 3. All share the Racing genre alongside other key Need for Speed™ attributes like adventure storytelling, deep simulation and racing gameplay.

How is similarity to Need for Speed™ calculated?

We compare Need for Speed™ against every game in our catalog using 12 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™ experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.

50 Games like Need for Speed™ that you should try

Games like Need for Speed™ · Find similar →

More about this game →

Need for Speed™ is hard to replace: few games combine racing gameplay, open world exploration and melee combat in quite the same way. We compared Need for Speed™ against over 6,700 titles across 12 gameplay attributes and found 50 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Jet Island, The Darkness II and Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now lead the list, with Jet Island reaching a 97/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Need for Speed™ special.

iRank63/ 100

Did you find what you were looking for?

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

Top games similar to Need for Speed™

50 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Need for Speed™. Each one has been evaluated across 12 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.

#1Jet Island

iRank96

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeOpen WorldExploration

Steam👍 96%· 1.7K

Dev Master IndiePlaytime ~2hOn PC

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

≠ Where it differs: brings sports simulation and vibe casual, while skipping visual third person

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 92%· 21KIGDB77· 11

Year 2012Dev Digital Extremes · 2K GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PC

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

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

Details →

Steam Xbox

#3Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now

iRank88

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerMeleeOpen WorldExplorationFirst PersonThird Person

Steam👍 88%· 954

Year 1998Dev Stainless Games Ltd. · Interplay EntertainmentOn PC · Mac

✓ Both are open-world action games — sharing racing gameplay, open world exploration and melee combat

≠ Where it differs: brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping deep simulation

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 90%· 14KIGDB82· 16OC83· 89

Year 2014Dev Insomniac Games · Microsoft StudiosOn PC · Xbox

✓ Both are open-world action games — sharing adventure storytelling, open world exploration and melee combat

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

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 83%· 17KIGDB72· 9OC68· 105

Year 2020Dev Croteam · Devolver DigitalOn Xbox · Linux · PC

✓ Both are open-world action games — sharing adventure storytelling, open world exploration and melee combat

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

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerMeleeOpen WorldExplorationTop-Down

Steam👍 92%· 491IGDB70· 1

Year 1999Dev DMA Design · Take-Two InteractiveOn PC

✓ Both are open-world action games — sharing racing gameplay, adventure storytelling and open world exploration

≠ Where it differs: brings shooter, first-person shooting and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam

#7Disney Infinity 2.0: Gold Edition

iRank91

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerMeleeOpen WorldExploration

Steam👍 91%· 474

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

✓ Both are open-world action games — sharing adventure storytelling, open world exploration and melee combat

≠ Stands apart with sandbox freedom and sandbox world, while skipping racing gameplay

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeOpen 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, open world exploration and melee combat

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

Details →

Steam Xbox PS

#9Gears 5

iRank79

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 71%· 24KIGDB88· 12OC85· 150

Year 2019Dev The Coalition · Xbox Game StudiosOn Xbox · PC

✓ Both are open-world action games — sharing adventure storytelling, open world exploration and melee combat

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

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

MultiplayerSoloMeleeOpen WorldExploration

Steam👍 85%· 652

Year 2009Dev Synetic · Kalypso MediaPlaytime ~1hOn PC

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

≠ Its own twist: offline, while skipping adventure storytelling

Details →

Steam

#11Grand Theft Auto IV

iRank90

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

MultiplayerSoloCo-opMeleeOpen 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, open world exploration and melee combat

≠ Where it differs: brings third-person shooting, shooter and sandbox freedom, while skipping racing gameplay

Details →

Steam

#12Saints Row: The Third

iRank92

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeOpen 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 open world exploration

≠ Stands apart with shooter, third-person shooting and sandbox freedom, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam Xbox

#13Red Faction: Armageddon

iRank74

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 73%· 5.0KIGDB75· 5

Year 2011Dev Volition · THQOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Same family of open-world action games: adventure storytelling, open world exploration and melee combat

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

Details →

Steam GOG Xbox

#14Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days

iRank68

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeOpen 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, open world exploration and melee combat

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

Details →

Steam

#15LEGO 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

Details →

Steam GOG Xbox

Complete list of Need for Speed™ alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Need for Speed™, 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.

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

Adventure

Descenders

Sports · Racing

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game

Adventure · Puzzle

Grand Theft Auto

Adventure · Racing

SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated

Adventure · Platformer

Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter

Adventure · Puzzle

LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham

Adventure · Puzzle

Strange Brigade

Adventure · Puzzle

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes

Adventure · Survival

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Adventure · Racing

Lost Planet 3

Shooter · Third-person shooter

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Third-person shooter · Adventure

LEGO® DC Super-Villains

Adventure

Rise of the Tomb Raider

Adventure · Shooter

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Adventure · Puzzle

Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell

Shooter · Third-person shooter

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Adventure · Shooter

Call of Juarez: Bound In Blood

Shooter · Adventure

Sniper Elite 4

Shooter · Adventure

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag

Adventure · Sandbox

Saints Row IV

Adventure · Shooter

Red Faction Guerrilla Steam Edition

Third-person shooter · Shooter

Metro Exodus

Shooter · FPS

Crysis

Shooter · FPS

Watch Dogs 2

Adventure · Shooter

Just Cause 2

Third-person shooter · Adventure

Crysis Warhead

Shooter · FPS

Watch Dogs

Adventure · Shooter

Far Cry New Dawn

Shooter · FPS

Generation Zero

Shooter · FPS

Need for Speed: Rivals

Racing · Adventure

Saints Row

Shooter · Third-person shooter

RAGE

FPS · Shooter

Crysis 3

Shooter · FPS

Assassin's Creed: Freedom Cry

Adventure

Explore games similar to Need for Speed™ 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™?: The closest game to Need for Speed™ is Jet Island, scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. They share 9 gameplay attributes, including adventure storytelling, deep simulation and racing gameplay. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Need for Speed™?: The three closest games to Need for Speed™ are: 1. Jet Island (97/100, 9 shared attributes) 2. The Darkness II (97/100, 8 shared attributes) 3. Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now (95/100, 8 shared attributes). All share Need for Speed™'s most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 12 dimensions.
Is The Darkness II similar to Need for Speed™?: Yes, very much so — The Darkness II scores 97/100 similarity to Need for Speed™. They share 8 attributes, including adventure storytelling and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Racing games are similar to Need for Speed™?: The best Racing games similar to Need for Speed™ are Jet Island, Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now, Grand Theft Auto 2 and Crash Time 3. All share the Racing genre alongside other key Need for Speed™ attributes like adventure storytelling, deep simulation and racing gameplay.
How is similarity to Need for Speed™ calculated?: We compare Need for Speed™ against every game in our catalog using 12 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™ experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.