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Need for Speed™ Payback similar games & best alternatives

Need for Speed™ Payback

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, PlayStation 4 • 2020

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Quick resume

Set in the underworld of Fortune Valley, you and your crew were divided by betrayal and reunited by revenge to take down The House, a nefarious cartel that rules the city’s casinos, criminals and cops. In this corrupt gambler’s paradise, the stakes are high and The House always wins.

Global score

85/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Racing, Sport, Strategy

Similar games

    Pros

    • Engaging arcade-style driving and drifting
    • Extensive car customization and wrap editor
    • Varied race types and open world exploration
    • Long playtime and habitual engagement
    • Decent story with cinematic moments

    Cons

    • Cringey story and dialogue
    • Grindy and rng-based upgrade system
    • Limited and mostly dead multiplayer
    • Some frustrating mission design
    • Lack of free-roam cops and realistic police chases

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Leadership, Survival.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      3

      "Players can choose from multiple characters and switch between different racing disciplines, with some freedom in car selection and customization."

    • Competence
      2

      "The game offers a moderate challenge with skill-based driving and drifting mechanics, but some tasks and upgrades rely on RNG and grinding, reducing predictability."

    • Competition
      -2

      "Focus is mainly on single-player progression and personal achievement; multiplayer is present but reportedly dead or limited."

    • Continuation
      4

      "Many players report long play sessions, habitual engagement, and a desire to keep playing due to enjoyable driving and story."

    • Cooperation
      1

      "Some multiplayer modes exist and players can join friends, but the experience is mostly single-player focused."

    • Creativity
      4

      "Extensive car customization and wrap editor allow for significant player expression and modification."

    • Domination
      -3

      "Interactions emphasize balanced competition and story-driven rivalries rather than exerting control or superiority over others."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game as a fun distraction with immersive driving and story, often to relieve stress or enjoy an arcade racing experience."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and personal interest rather than obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Varied race types and car classes encourage trying different driving styles and strategies."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Open world with collectibles, side activities, and diverse environments invites discovery."

    • Expression
      4

      "Strong emphasis on visual customization and personal car design."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "Arcade-style driving and over-the-top story elements provide an imaginative, cinematic experience."

    • Fellowship
      1

      "Some social interaction through multiplayer and community content, but mostly single-player focused."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players develop driving skills and progress through story and upgrades, though some progression is gated by RNG."

    • Health
      -5

      "Standard sedentary gaming experience with no physical activity elements."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention during races and missions; not designed for passive or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -4

      "Minimal close social relationships; interactions are mostly surface-level or competitive."

    • Leadership
      -4

      "No significant leadership or group management roles; gameplay is individual or cooperative without hierarchy."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong focus on accumulating cars, upgrades, and completing missions to advance."

    • Relaxation
      2

      "Generally enjoyable and flow-inducing driving experience, though some missions and grinding can cause frustration."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Good audiovisual presentation with satisfying driving feedback and exciting moments."

    • Status
      -2

      "Limited social recognition; achievements and leaderboards exist but are not central."

    • Story
      2

      "Story is present and somewhat engaging for a racing game, though often cheesy and secondary to gameplay."

    • Strategy
      1

      "Some planning involved in car upgrades and race approaches, but mostly straightforward arcade racing."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Exciting races, police chases, and cinematic moments provide suspense and adrenaline."

    • Value
      4

      "Many players find the game offers good entertainment value, especially when purchased on sale."

    • Violence
      1

      "Includes car crashes and police takedowns but focused on racing action rather than destructive violence."

    • Survival
      -1

      "Some challenge in avoiding failure during races and missions, but low-risk overall."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026