Are you interested in racing games and want to know about the need for speed series? If so, this is the best article for you that will help you out. You will need to read this entire article to know the history and need for speed games list.
Table of Contents
Overview of Need for Speed Series
Need for Speed (NFS) is a series of racing games, first released on August 31, 1994. Electronic Arts launched this series, currently developed by Criterion Games and the developers of Burnout.
The main objective of the game is to play and win races in different modes. And during a race, you have to follow different rules in purpose to avoid police.
The latest version of the Need for Speed Series is Heat, launched on November 8, 2019. This series has sold over 150 million copies worldwide, which is why it is the most leading car racing game.
What is the Need for Speed Series History?

Let’s take a look at the Need for Speed history.
Initially, this game was developed by the Canadian video game studio named Distinctive Software. It is the predecessor to EA Canada. This company developed various racing games that are very popular in the gaming arena, like Test Drive II: The Duel and Stunts.
EA Canada runs the NFS franchise till 2002. In late 1992, the company capitalized on its experience by developing the need for speed games. Another Black Box Games Development company started its contract to continue this series with the need for speed: Hot Pursuit 2.
In the year 2009, Slightly Mad Studios developed the Need for Speed: Shift. It is a British company whose main offices are in England and London.
In 2010, the Criterion Games company released the Hot Pursuit video game. It is a UK company founded in January 1996.
In 2013, the new games development company named Ghost Games became the main studio. This branded company launched the Need for Speed Rivals in 2013, Need for Speed Reboot in 2015, Need for Speed Payback in 2017, and the latest need for speed series game is heat in 2017.
List of Need for Speed Series

Here is the complete need for speed games list according to their releasing dates and the platforms you can play.
NFS Games Series | Releasing Dates | Platforms |
---|---|---|
The Need for Speed 1994 | The First NFS was released on August 31, 1994 | First, this game is only runnable in 3DO and then came out a year later for PC, PlayStation (PS), and Sega Saturn |
Need for Speed II | It was released on April 30, 1997 | Need for Speed II game is feasible for PS1 and PC |
Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit | It was released on March 25, 1998 | Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit is available for PS1 and PC |
Need for Speed: High Stakes | The releasing time of NFS High Stakes was March 01, 1999 | It is runnable on PS1 and PC |
Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed | It was launched on February 29, 2000 | The NFS franchise with Porsche Unleashed is runnable in PC, Gameboy Advance (GBA), and PS1 |
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 | Hot Pursuit 2 was launched on September 30, 2002 | This version is feasible to run in GameCube, PS2, Xbox, and PC |
Need for Speed: Underground | It was released on November 17, 2003 | Underground Version is runnable in GameCube, Gameboy Advance (GBA), PS, PS2, Arcade, and Xbox |
Need for Speed: Underground 2 | On November 9, 2004, the Ghost Games presented NFS Underground 2 | This version is easily runnable in Phone, DS, GBA, GameCube, PS2, and also in Xbox |
Need for Speed: Underground Rivals | It was released on February 24, 2005 | It can only be played in PlayStation Portable (PSP) |
Need for Speed: Most Wanted | It was released on November 11, 2005 | This version is available on Xbox, PS2, 360, DS, GBA, PC, and Phone |
Need for Speed: Carbon | The Carbon version of the NFS Series was released on October 31, 2006 | Available on Arcade, PC, PS2, PS3, Phone, 360, Mac, Wii, GC, and Xbox |
Need for Speed: Pro Street | Ghost Games released this version on November 13, 2007 | Available on Phone, PS2, PS3, DS, PSP, 360, Wii, PC |
Need for Speed: Undercover | It was released on November 17, 2008 | Available on Phone, PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox, Wii,360, N-Gage, iOS, BB, DS |
Need for Speed: Shift | NFS Shift was released on September 15, 2009 | Available on iOS, Phone, PSP, PC, PS3, 360, And, BB |
Need for Speed: Nitro | It was launched on November 02, 2009 | It is applicable to run on Wii and DS. |
Need for Speed: World | NFS World was launched on July 27, 2010 | It can be runnable on the PC. |
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (2010) | This version was launched on November 16, 2010 | Hot Pursuit is available on Phone, 360, iOS, PC, Wii, PS3. |
Shift 2: Unleashed | Launched on March 29, 2011 | PC, iOS, PS3, and 360 are the devices on which this version can be played |
Need for Speed: The Run (2011) | Run was released on November 15, 2011 | It is available for 3DS, PS3, PC, 360, and Wii devices |
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012) | Most Wanted was released on October 30, 2012 | NFS Most Wanted is available to play on And, PS3, PC, 360, iOS, and Wii U devices |
Need for Speed: Rivals | Rivals was released on November 15, 2013 | Easily runnable on PC, X1, 360, PS3, and PS4 |
Need for Speed: No Limits | It was launched on September 30, 2015 | Easily runnable on iOS |
Need for Speed (2015) | It was launched on 03 November 2015 | Easily Played on X1, PC, and PS4 |
Need for Speed: Payback | NFS Payback was launched on 10 November 2017 | Feasible to Play on X1, PC, and PS4 |
Need for Speed: Heat | The latest version of the Series is Heat which was launched on November 08, 2019 | Feasible to Play on X1, PC, and PS4 |
Conclusion
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