Need for Speed™

59 Games like Need for Speed™ that you should try

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Need for Speed™ is hard to replace: few games combine racing gameplay, open world exploration and melee combat in quite the same way. We analyzed over 2,000 titles across 12 gameplay attributes and found 59 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

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GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

Tags

MultiplayerSolo

Year 2015Dev Ghost Games

Stores

Steam ↗Xbox ↗PS ↗

Quick answer

The closest game to Need for Speed™ is Jet Island — scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. The Darkness II and Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now follow close behind.

#1Jet Island97 #2The Darkness II97 #3Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now95 #4Sunset Overdrive95 #5Serious Sam 497

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Games like Need for Speed™

59 similar games found

97

iRank96

Jet Island

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

#2The Darkness II

97

iRank87

The Darkness II

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

#3Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now

95

iRank88

Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now

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

#4Sunset Overdrive

95

iRank86

Sunset Overdrive

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

#5Serious Sam 4

97

iRank77

Serious Sam 4

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

#6Grand Theft Auto 2

94

iRank85

Grand Theft Auto 2

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

#7Disney Infinity 2.0: Gold Edition

93

iRank91

Disney Infinity 2.0: Gold Edition

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

95

iRank80

Just Cause 3

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

95

iRank79

Gears 5

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

#10Crash Time 3

93

iRank85

Crash Time 3

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

#11Grand Theft Auto IV

92

iRank90

Grand Theft Auto IV

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

#12Saints Row: The Third

91

iRank92

Saints Row: The Third

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

#13Red Faction: Armageddon

96

iRank74

Red Faction: Armageddon

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

#14Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days

97

iRank68

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days

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

#15LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

92

iRank87

LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

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

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Rankings in the same genre

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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 59 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.