I went into NFS Unbound expecting to dislike it because of all the negativity online. After 70+ hours, I honestly think most of that hate is overblown.
Driving & Handling:
AWD, RWD, and even FWD actually feel different. Early on I kept oversteering and crashing, but that was on me—Unbound demands cleaner driving than Heat. Once it clicked, it felt great. The Grip vs Drift build system is a big win and lets me tune cars to my driving style instead of forcing a single meta.
Progression:
The early game is rough because starter cars are bad, and I lost a lot at first. Once my cars matched the AI ratings—even on Challenge difficulty—the game started feeling much easier. I actually enjoyed the grind.
Cars & Identity:
One thing I don’t see mentioned enough: the Mercedes-Benz in this game feels iconic to me. Since the BMW M3 GTR in Most Wanted, very few cars have had that “main character” energy in NFS. This Merc comes close and genuinely stood out during my playthrough.
Style:
I don’t get the hate for the tags effects. They’re optional, customizable, and make Unbound stand out. I enjoyed setting different effects for each car.
What I didn’t like:
Police chases aren’t as intense as Heat
The story is forgettable
Drift events are badly balanced and frustrating(probably I'm a noob)
Some PS5 issues (crashes + brief freezes on achievements)
Verdict:
Unbound isn’t perfect, but I really enjoyed it. With so few games left that have real street-racing DNA, it’s still one of the better modern options. And it is bad that we won't get any new NFS in near future.
I’ve just started playing online, and I’d be happy to add friends Shafik46 — especially for Lockdown mode runs. Ps ( I did purchase the game even before it is added to plus)

NFS Unbound – My Short Honest Take (70+ hrs, PS5)