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Need for Speed: The Run

201167/100
Racing
The Run throws you into a cross-country race where split-second decisions and aggressive driving are key to survival. It's a cinematic spectacle, constantly switching between high-speed chases and chaotic city sprints, punctuated by white-knuckle quick-time events. While the story is forgettable, the game's core thrill comes from its relentless pace and the satisfaction of edging out the competition by inches.

About Need for Speed: The Run

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Jack Rourke, an experienced street racer, is in serious trouble with the Mob due to a massive debt with them. After narrowly escaping being crushed within his car at a scrapyard in Oakland, due to his failure to repay what he owes, Rourke evades his captors by stealing one of their cars. Heading to San Francisco, he makes contact with his friend Sam Harper, a fixer who arranges his entries into street races, who offers to help him deal with the mob on one condition - Rourke must enter an illegal, large-scale street race from San Francisco to New York City, for which she will front the entry fee, and win the race's cash pot of $25 million for her. Rourke agrees to her condition, knowing he will be allowed to keep 10% of the prize money for himself, and receives a tablet device from the race's mysterious organizer detailing the race's route. 4 hours later, Rourke selects a car from his garage and begins the race by completing three stages covering the route from San Francisco to Las Vegas, learning he must be in the top 150 before reaching the end of the third stage to stay in the race. In addition to dealing with other racers, seeking to win the cash prize, and the local police, who seek to stop and arrest the racers involved, Rourke finds himself attempting to defeat Marcus Blackwell - a family member of the Mob, who wants to ensure his defeat after he escaped his execution. Rourke manages to win all three stages but is caught out by a police roadblock, forcing him to evade the cops and secure a new vehicle for the next four stages of the race from Las Vegas to Chicago, learning he must be in the top 50 to keep in the race. As Rourke holds out against the increasing efforts of his rivals and police to stop him, he soon finds the Mob entering the race to stop him. Despite reaching Chicago in the top 50, the Mob catches him out with a roadblock, forcing him to lose them initially in a police cruiser. Upon securing a new car for the remainder of the race to New York City, Rourke contends with both the police, the Mob, and an armed helicopter along the next stage of the route, but evades both sides and reaches a garage that can supply him a new vehicle, at Harper's request, to compete against the top drivers. As the police step up their efforts, Rourke evades capture, overcomes his rivals, and defeats Blackwell in New York to win the race. Afterward, Rourke meets with Harper in a streetside diner, who reveals his trouble with the Mob has been dealt with. Harper gives Rourke a key to a safety deposit box containing his cut of the prize money and suggests that he takes time to relax, but upon seeing him question this, she offers him an opportunity to double his money, stating she got a call to another high-stake race.

Top 4 Alternatives to Need for Speed: The Run

1
Rating
Critic & community
92
Match
Recommendation strength
89%

Forza Horizon 5

2021 · Racing

Like 'Need for Speed: The Run', this game offers high-octane racing across diverse landscapes, but with the added freedom of an open world and a huge roster of licensed vehicles to collect and customize.

Why recommended

  • Features intense, high-speed racing and driving challenges that align with the 'Action' criterion, providing a constant sense of adrenaline and skill-based gameplay.
  • Delivers both robust 'Multiplayer' options for competitive and cooperative play, and a comprehensive 'Singleplayer' campaign with hundreds of events and activities.
  • Offers a wide variety of licensed cars and extensive customization, appealing to players who enjoy collecting and tuning vehicles for different race types.
2
Rating
Critic & community
82
Match
Recommendation strength
85%

If you enjoyed the thrill of street racing and pushing cars to their limits in 'Need for Speed: The Run', 'Burnout Paradise' takes that to an extreme with its signature crash mechanics and open-world mayhem.

Why recommended

  • The core gameplay is centered around aggressive driving, takedowns, and high-speed events, perfectly matching the 'Action' criterion.
  • Provides both competitive 'Multiplayer' modes for online races and challenges, alongside a vast 'Singleplayer' open world to explore and dominate.
  • Features a dynamic open world where races and challenges are seamlessly integrated, encouraging exploration and spontaneous high-speed encounters.
3
Rating
Critic & community
69
Match
Recommendation strength
78%

While 'Need for Speed: The Run' focused on a cross-country race, 'The Crew 2' expands that concept to an entire scaled-down USA, allowing you to race cars, boats, and planes in a persistent online world.

Why recommended

  • Engages players with various high-speed disciplines including street racing, off-road, and aerobatics, fulfilling the 'Action' requirement through diverse vehicle combat and challenges.
  • Offers both extensive 'Multiplayer' options for co-op and competitive play, and a substantial 'Singleplayer' progression through different racing families and events.
  • Features a massive open world representing the entire United States, providing a sense of scale and adventure akin to 'The Run's' cross-country journey, but with more freedom.
4
Rating
Critic & community
75
Match
Recommendation strength
70%

For those who appreciated the cinematic story and varied race types in 'Need for Speed: The Run', 'GRID Legends' offers a narrative-driven racing experience with diverse vehicle classes and track types.

Why recommended

  • Delivers intense, wheel-to-wheel racing action across a variety of disciplines, emphasizing competitive driving and dynamic AI rivals.
  • Features a dedicated 'Strong Story' mode, 'Driven to Glory', which provides a narrative framework for the racing career, appealing to players who enjoyed 'The Run's' plot.
  • Supports both robust 'Multiplayer' options for online racing and a comprehensive 'Singleplayer' career mode with numerous events and challenges.

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