Tools for this page
Print

Need for Speed Most Wanted

(2006, Video Games - Racing, Rated T, Play it on: PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows, PSP, Xbox 360)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

    (Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Exciting racer on wrong side of the law, teens up.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–15

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The game celebrates illegal street racing. Races speed through city streets and over sidewalks. Players are rewarded for running from and smashing through police cars, and demolishing some structures.
  • Violence:

    Lots of cars crash into buildings and other cars, but very little damage is depicted. Some crashes involve innocent traffic, but the streets are free of pedestrians.
  • Sex:

    Some car-related sexual innuendo equating cars and women, like "She's mine now and I'm going to ride her like you never could."
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    The cars in the game are all branded. In-game advertising in the form of billboards and stores dots the landscape. Licensed songs on the soundtrack are announced with a pop-up on-screen display.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Need for Speed Most Wanted was written by Chris Jozefowicz

Parents need to know that this game is about illegal street racing. This installment includes a new major game dynamic: smashing police pursuers and outrunning them. Other new feature: The game now has an online component, which Common Sense Media does not recommend for anyone under 12. In offline gameplay, players will encounter some light sexual innuendo as well as a fair amount of commercialism in the form of real-life cars and in-game ads.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about the dangers of street racing and irresponsible driving. When a high speed car crash left a Canadian man dead, a police officer made the game partially to blame. Do you agree? Does playing a game like this make illegal actions seem more attractive in real life? Should game makers stop glamorizing destructive and illegal activities?
Did this review help you decide?
Do you play it? Review It!

More on Need for Speed Most Wanted

What’s the Story?

NEED FOR SPEED: MOST WANTED turns freeways and neighborhood streets into racetracks. The single-player game is dominated by a Career Mode, in which players challenge a collection of street racers known as the Blacklist 15. Players must complete a series of driving challenges before they can compete with each member of the Blacklist.

Players roam freely, selecting challenges as they encounter them, and they have the option to simply jump to a challenge from a safe-house garage. The challenges include an impressive variety of races, such as head-to-head contests against other drivers and beat-the-clock timed runs along highways. Tangling with the cops adds "heat" to a player's car, making future chases more difficult but also winning bounty points and improving the player's reputation.

Close

Is It Any Good?

Need For Speed provides a nice variety of customizable cars that look and sound great. Many have noticeably different driving characteristics. The sense of speed ramps up accordingly, and the controls are generally responsive within the absurd allowances of arcade racing (due to very noticeable "rubber banding," challengers are usually never too far away, no matter how well players drive).

The Career Mode is quite lengthy and should provide at least 15 hours of gameplay. But if players tire of it, they can compete in Challenge Modes (things like creating the costliest damage possible) or take the racing online. Flying through back alleys and across sidewalks produces plenty of vicarious thrills in this excellent arcade racer, but the game does celebrate illegal and dangerous behavior. Parents may want to think carefully before giving this one the green light.

Close

Publisher’s Details

Released on 2/17/2006, price $39.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: T

Want more? Get Common Sense recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Our Members Say

Do you play it? Review It!

  • What did you think about Need for Speed Most Wanted?
  •  I think this game is

    for ages

  •  I also give it

  •  Any concerns?

  •  Any highlights?

  •  Love it? Hate it?

  • or to post a review
See all 38 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Utah
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Easy to play

    perfect for all ages over 10+

    this game doesn't have anything bad in it, how could you rate it T! it should be rated E just because of its good graphics. It was only rated T because of the cops! Whats wrong with that

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Negative role models

    Good for ages 11 up.

    It is a little to iffy for kids under the age of 11.

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    • My highlights are:
    • Easy to play

    ONly racing game I have enjoyed, still slightly older-themed than the rest.

    Regardless of my concerns, this game is very fun. Excellent controls, beautiful graphics (on the xbox 360) and white knuckle police chases make this game one of the most tensest moments in racing cause this game to be a must-have for fans of the series, and even people like me who can't tell the difference between a GT and a Ford. Of course, this is a more "street" game with you being on the bad side of the law.

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in South Carolina
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 3.0

    okay

    its okay i guess its about you going into rockport and challging the blacklist racer named razer .you lose your car to him because he screwed up your car so you have to start over the game.then you have to take out the 15 blacklist racers.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 5.0

    Wow 13+? should be 10+

    The only thing bad about this game is getting into high speed chases, smashing into police cars, and pulling off stunts, usually crashing into objects like gas stations and cars and jumps

More Great Stuff For Your Kids

  • Now Playing

    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

    Age-apropriate 3-D food adventure doesn't fully satisfy.

  • Tech Tip

    How to help them think more ... and want less.Making the Sale

    How to help them think more ... and want less.

  • Book of the Week

    Million-Dollar Throw

    Million-Dollar Throw

    Another Lupica sensitive dad/son sports story.

  • Pick of the Week

    Bestselling Books

    Bestselling Books

    Popular new reads kids are buying today.

  • Download This

    The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack

    The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack

    Dark, cool tunes OK for kids too young for the movie.

Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
  • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
  • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
  • Post your own reviews and share them with friends

This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
A screen name protects your privacy
To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
A screen name protects your privacy

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
(optional)
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
A screen name protects your privacy
Register to add this school to your profile. You'll be able to see and share reviews from parents, teachers, and kids at your child's school.
I'm already a Common Sense member.
Kids under 13 must use a screen name