Games Like Need for Speed™ Payback

Hustle by day and risk it all at night in Need for Speed™ Heat Deluxe Edition, a white-knuckle street racer, where the lines of the law fade as the sun starts to set.

Why similar: Racing 28.6%, Combat Racing 14.7% ★, Open World 12.9%, Multiplayer 9.1%, Co-op 6%

Why You'll Like It: Its day-and-night structure, illegal street-racing atmosphere, police chases, visual tuning, and open-world progression make it the closest modern alternative.

Race to the top, definitely don’t flop. Outsmart the cops, and enter weekly qualifiers for The Grand: the ultimate street race. Pack your garage with precision-tuned, custom rides, and light up the streets with your style.

Why similar: Racing 39.2%, Combat Racing 18.6% ★, Open World 14.7%, Multiplayer 10.8%, Online Co-Op 4.1%

Why You'll Like It: This is another open-world Need for Speed centered on street-racing events, collectible cars, customization, cops, and competitive multiplayer.

Ready to own the streets? Get behind the wheel of iconic cars and floor it through Ventura Bay, a sprawling urban playground. Explore overlapping stories as you build your reputation – and your dream car – and become the ultimate racing icon.

Why similar: Racing 33.4%, Combat Racing 15.8% ★, Open World 13.9%, Multiplayer 10.2%, Third Person 5.7%

Why You'll Like It: The 2015 reboot shares Payback’s nocturnal urban setting, crew-based street-racing culture, deep visual modifications, and arcade driving feel.

The open-world action in Need for Speed Most Wanted gives you the freedom to drive your way. Hit jumps and shortcuts, switch cars, lie low or head for terrain that plays to your vehicle’s unique strengths. Fight your way past cops and rivals using skill, high-end car tech and tons of nitrous.

Why similar: Racing 27.4%, Combat Racing 19% ★, Open World 13.5%, Vehicular Combat 13.4%, Multiplayer 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: It delivers fast open-city races, a most-wanted progression ladder, intense cop pursuits, and easy-to-pick-up arcade handling.

Erase the line between single player and multiplayer in this street-racing rivalry between Cops and Racers. Seamlessly join a world where your friends are already racing and chasing

Why similar: Combat Racing 22.2% ★, Racing 17.9%, Open World 9.7%, Sports 8.9%, PvP 7%

Why You'll Like It: Its open-road racer-versus-cop format captures Payback’s high-speed pursuits and destructive police-pressure moments particularly well.

Welcome to Motorfest, the ultimate open-world driving experience. Explore the Hawaiian islands of O'ahu and Maui. Celebrate the best of car culture through 20+ themed campaigns (street racing, offroad, drift...) and collect hundreds of iconic vehicles. Enjoy the game free for five hours!

Why similar: Racing 27.4%, Open World 14.9%, Sports 10.3%, Multiplayer 9.1%, Sandbox 9.1%

Why You'll Like It: Motorfest offers a huge open-world car playground, frequent event progression, collectible vehicles, and a polished arcade driving model.

Take on the American motorsports scene as you explore and dominate the land, air, and sea across the entire USA. New: play The Crew 2 offline or online with the new Hybrid mode, available now!

Why similar: Racing 39.4%, Open World 19.1%, Multiplayer 11.5%, Co-op 5.5%, Sports 4.7%

Why You'll Like It: Its massive map, freely explorable roads, online racing activities, loot-style vehicle upgrades, and broad vehicle collection suit Payback fans well.

Conquer mountain roads, highways, and city streets. Build your dream car with detailed tuning that unleashes the potential of “CarX Technology”© physics. Take part in thrilling races, enjoying realistic gameplay and dynamic driving.

Why similar: Racing 22.4%, Open World 12.9%, Sports 12.1%, Sandbox 9.8%, PvP 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: This open-world street racer focuses heavily on nighttime cruising, performance tuning, drifting, racing crews, and building customized cars.

Explore the vibrant open world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in the world’s greatest cars.

Why similar: Racing 33.6%, Open World 16.9%, Multiplayer 9.8%, Sports 7.9%, Online Co-Op 5.6%

Why You'll Like It: While brighter and less crime-driven, it provides exceptional open-world arcade driving, extensive car collecting and tuning, and plentiful multiplayer events.

Feel the thrill of the chase and the rush of escape behind the wheels of the world’s hottest high-performance cars in Need for Speed™ Hot Pursuit Remastered– a heart-pumping, socially competitive racing experience.

Why similar: Combat Racing 29% ★, Racing 22.3%, Vehicular Combat 18.5%, Open World 11.7%, Multiplayer 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: It trades customization for spectacular supercar racing and some of the strongest high-speed cop chases in arcade racing.

TDUSC is a lifestyle and social experience that redefines what an open-world racing game can be. Explore a fully recreated Hong Kong Island. Take to the road behind the wheel of exceptional cars and live the ultimate life of luxury.

Why similar: Racing 47.6%, Open World 22.9%, Multiplayer 10.9%, Third Person 7%, First-Person 4.9%

Why You'll Like It: Its luxury-car lifestyle framing, open island exploration, social racing, dealerships, and car customization echo Payback’s aspirational automotive progression.

Discover Japan’s legendary car culture in JDM! Take on challenging mountain roads, visit Japanese legendary drifting spots in licensed JDM cars and immerse in the story about second chances told through manga pages. Explore an open world where every turn invites you to master the art of drift.

Why similar: Racing 27.7%, Offroad 15.8% ★, Sports 15.3%, Open World 13.7%, Arcade 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: It emphasizes Japanese street-car culture, open roads, story-driven driving, visual customization, and drift-focused racing progression.

Burnout Paradise Remastered provides the ultimate driving playground for you and your friends to play online. This remaster includes all add-ons from the Year of Paradise, including the Big Surf Island update, meticulously recreated and ready to wreck in 4K.

Why similar: Racing 41.9%, Multiplayer 10.5%, Open World 10%, Arcade 9.3%, Combat Racing 7.9% ★

Why You'll Like It: Its freely explorable city, instant event starts, aggressive takedowns, and crash-heavy arcade handling deliver a more destructive version of Payback’s freedom.

Descend into the underworld of Japanese street racing. Set between 1990-2009, join the local street racing crews in their battle for territory control. Explore the real location open world(s), compete in wager races, battle other crews and upgrade your vehicles with detailed car customization.

Why similar: Racing 39.4%, Sports 20.8%, Arcade 10.5%, Open World 9.5%, Third Person 8%

Why You'll Like It: This stylish night-racing prologue strongly evokes underground street-racing culture through highway battles, tuner cars, customization, and neon city driving.

The title of “fastest” never fades. Race through the sealed future Tokyo night highways in your customized car. Defeat rivals in “SP Battle,” where drivers clash by draining Spirit Points. A unique racing game where only the rules for victory matter.

Why similar: Racing 54.3%, Vehicular Combat 14.8%, Combat Racing 14.2% ★, Open World 6.9%, Arcade 5.7%

Why You'll Like It: Its one-on-one highway duels, rival progression, performance upgrades, and Japanese urban-night atmosphere make it a great street-racing counterpart.

GRID Legends delivers thrilling wheel-to-wheel motorsport action. Create dream race events, hop into live races, experience a dramatic virtual production story, and embrace the sensation of spectacular racing.

Why similar: Racing 22.5%, Vehicular Combat 15.6%, Sports 15%, Combat Racing 14.5% ★, PvP 9.1%

Why You'll Like It: GRID Legends combines accessible circuit racing with a substantial live-action story mode, rivalries, and a similarly cinematic action-racing tone.

Spark your competitive soul with Asphalt Legends and feel the collective heartbeat of the road! Join forces with other players to speed through intense arcade races, perform jaw-dropping stunts, and charge towards victory while driving the finest hypercars!

Why similar: Racing 43.1%, Multiplayer 15%, Open World 8.4%, Sports 8%, Third Person 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: This free-to-play racer delivers highly accessible arcade speed, nitro boosts, flashy multiplayer competition, and a large collection of licensed cars.

Experience entertainment blockbusters Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online — now upgraded for a new generation with stunning visuals, faster loading, 3D audio, and more, plus exclusive content for GTA Online players.

Why similar: Open World 26%, Racing 16.8%, Multiplayer 12.7%, Sandbox 9.5%, Third Person 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: Its criminal open world, cinematic heists, police escapes, vehicle collection, and street races match the broader outlaw fantasy around Payback.

You were the fastest wheelman on the street. You were a legend. You were money. Until they set you up and sent you down. Twenty-eight years inside for someone else's crime. Now you're getting out. Guess what? You got a new job, it's called getting revenge.

Why similar: Racing 57.3%, Open World 30.2%, Third Person 6%, Action 5%, Singleplayer 1.5%

Why You'll Like It: Its story of revenge in a crime-filled city, driving-heavy missions, police attention, and period-specific cars parallels Payback’s narrative premise.

The raw, high-stakes world of illegal street racing comes to life in Street Racing Syndicate. Trick out over 40 authentic licensed cars with parts from over 15 real-world manufacturers, then turn your customized ride loose on the streets of 3 cities across the USA.

Why similar: Racing 68.9%, Open World 19%, Multiplayer 5.8%, Arcade 5.2%, Singleplayer 1.1%

Why You'll Like It: This older street-racing game remains a fitting choice for its illegal races, urban exploration, tuner-car upgrades, and underground-car-culture focus.

Welcome to the festival of explosive races, TRAIL OUT! Reckless racing around the world! Crashes, explosions, destruction, and screaming drivers!

Why similar: Combat Racing 26.6% ★, Vehicular Combat 20.6%, Racing 18.3%, Sports 12%, Third Person 6.4%

Why You'll Like It: This chaotic open-road racer mixes demolition-derby destruction, stunt-filled events, upgrades, and a deliberately over-the-top arcade attitude.

The Hokuta City streets await your engine rev. Can you beat everyone in this race for first place? Upgrade your car, take care of its appearance and defeat everyone on the streets of the Hokuta City.

Why similar: Combat Racing 30.2% ★, Racing 24%, Open World 13.9%, PvP 10.9%, Multiplayer 9.6%

Why You'll Like It: Its cyberpunk open-world driving, online races, customizable vehicles, and street-racing setting make it a direct if rougher alternative.

Play as Mad Max, a reluctant hero and survivor who wants nothing more than to leave the madness behind and find solace.

Why similar: Vehicular Combat 38.9%, Open World 23.6%, Racing 12.4%, Third Person 7.9%, Sandbox 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: Although it is an action adventure rather than a pure racer, its open wasteland driving, vehicular combat, car-building, and revenge story are strong thematic matches.

Gas Guzzlers Extreme is a fast, furious, armed-to-the-teeth, trigger-happy shooter, shifted into top gear! Take a white knuckle ride in this crazily addictive combat racing game.

Why similar: Combat Racing 39.5% ★, Vehicular Combat 26%, Racing 20.8%, Sports 4.7%, Multiplayer 4.1%

Why You'll Like It: It combines weaponized-car combat, upgrades, racing championships, and cartoonishly destructive arcade action.

Wreckfest is a demolition derby themed racing game with soft-body damage modeling, sophisticated driving dynamics and in-depth vehicle upgrading, featuring both demolition derbies and more traditional track races. It’s all about fun, breakneck racing and over-the-top crashes.

Why similar: Racing 54.6%, Multiplayer 12.1%, Sports 10.2%, Simulation 6.5%, Sandbox 3.7%

Why You'll Like It: Its rough-and-ready racing, vehicle upgrades, demolition events, and aggressive contact-based competition suit players who enjoy Payback’s action-heavy races.

A dynamic soft-body physics vehicle simulator capable of doing just about anything.

Why similar: Racing 27.3%, Open World 19.4%, Sandbox 18.8%, Multiplayer 11.9%, Simulation 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: It offers an open-ended driving sandbox with extensive vehicle customization, free-roam maps, chases, and uniquely detailed crash physics.

Road Redemption lets you lead a biker gang on an epic journey across the country in this driving combat road rage adventure. Huge campaign, dozens of weapons, full 4-player co-op splitscreen.

Why similar: Vehicular Combat 29.5%, Racing 22.1%, Combat Racing 18.2% ★, PvP 6.5%, Co-op 5.9%

Why You'll Like It: This roguelite motorcycle racer brings high-speed road combat, rival takedowns, upgrades, and outlaw-road-trip energy.

Discover the breathtaking landscapes of Japan in over 550 real-world cars and become a racing Legend in Forza Horizon's biggest open world driving adventure yet.

Why similar: Racing 27.3%, Open World 14.3%, Sports 11.3%, Multiplayer 8.5%, Online Co-Op 5.9%

Strategy. Speed. Story. These are the core pillars of Battlefield™ Hardline, a cops vs. criminals experience unlike any other.

Why similar: Multiplayer 39.5%, PvP 21.2%, First-Person 16.1%, Action 10.1%, Atmospheric 7.4%

Collect the best vehicles in the Hot Wheels™ universe, build spectacular tracks and dive into breathtaking races.

Why similar: Racing 49.4%, Multiplayer 13.4%, Arcade 13%, PvP 10.8%, Third Person 10.3%

DIRT 5 is a fun, amplified, off-road arcade racing experience created by Codemasters. Blaze a trail on routes across the world, covering gravel, ice, snow and sand, with a roster of cars ranging from rally icons to trucks, to GT heroes.

Why similar: Offroad 32.7% ★, Racing 20.9%, Sports 11.9%, Multiplayer 7.6%, Arcade 6.4%

Ram through pile-ups and smash through your windshield as you push racing to the edge! FlatOut™ delivers more heart-stopping thrills than any sane driver can handle!

Why similar: Combat Racing 33.8% ★, Racing 21%, Offroad 17.3% ★, Vehicular Combat 11.4%, Multiplayer 4.4%

Welcome to Disney Speedstorm! Drift into the ultimate hero-based combat racing game, set on high-speed circuits inspired by Disney and Pixar worlds. Master each character’s unique skills and claim victory in this thrilling arcade racing experience from the creators of the Asphalt series!

Why similar: Combat Racing 25.5% ★, Racing 21.1%, Vehicular Combat 12.7%, Sports 9%, Multiplayer 8.8%

With the pedal to the metal, race along more than 3,000 kilometers of tracks that await you! On the mountainside, through a nature park, in the middle of the desert or along the coast, defend your position in more than 250 races, with championships, exhibition races and Grand Prix.

Why similar: Racing 33.9%, Combat Racing 29.3% ★, Vehicular Combat 13.6%, Third Person 8.6%, PvP 7.6%

Take on all the challenges of the 2017 World Rally Championship: the official cars and drivers, 13 countries, 52 Special Stages, every surface, more powerful cars, more demanding physics, longer races, and an eSports mode to keep you on the edge of your seat all year round.

Why similar: Racing 31.4%, Offroad 29.7% ★, Sports 9.4%, Multiplayer 8.3%, Open World 7.7%

Build your car, earn sponsors, and compete in online multiplayer drift battles!

Why similar: Racing 39%, Open World 15.5%, Sports 14.7%, Multiplayer 14.3%, PvP 9.7%

You inherit your dad’s beaten up car and rebuild it piece by piece, swapping engine parts, upgrading the suspension, fitting new wheels and more until it becomes a high performance race car. Beat your opponents and earn revenge for your dad.

Why similar: Racing 40.3%, Combat Racing 24.8% ★, Sandbox 14.9%, Open World 11.9%, Multiplayer 3.7%

The latest title in the RIDGE RACER franchise, RIDGE RACER Unbounded gears up to carve its own destructive path with a new breed of arcade racing.

Why similar: Racing 79.3%, Arcade 8.7%, Open World 6.9%, Multiplayer 2.9%, Action 1.4%

Race at the speed of sound and beyond in the great XF Extreme Formula championship! Taking place in the year 3000, you will tour trough the solar system proving you’re worthy of the title of champion.

Why similar: Combat Racing 31% ★, Racing 20.4%, Vehicular Combat 19.9%, PvP 8%, Third Person 7.7%

Master realistic drift physics, tune 120+ cars and drift online with up to 16 players across platforms. Compete in TOP-32, build unique setups and explore hundreds of community-made Workshop maps.

Why similar: Racing 22.4%, Sandbox 13.5%, Multiplayer 9.9%, Sports 9.4%, PvP 9.3%

Arcade drifting with 50+ dream cars, from JDM icons to American Muscle. Master the art of the drift in a huge career, then dominate the competition in cross-platform online battles. Your legend begins now—no high-end PC required.

Why similar: Racing 23.5%, Sports 15.1%, Vehicular Combat 12.6%, Online Co-Op 8.8%, PvP 8.4%

Split/Second is an intense action racing game set within a reality TV show. Competitors vie to be the first to the finish line in a set rigged to blow. Players don’t just collide with other vehicles to knock them from the track, but can also trigger devastating events that alter the race dynamics.

Why similar: Racing 68.2%, Multiplayer 15.6%, Arcade 9.8%, Action 5.1%, Singleplayer 1.3%

High-octane action and anime aesthetics collide in this arcade racing game, featuring fighting mechanics and a storyline that hits hard. In this world, some race for glory while others seek power or revenge. Every race is a fight and every battle is personal.

Why similar: Combat Racing 30.1% ★, Racing 23.9%, Vehicular Combat 19.7%, Arcade 7.7%, Third Person 5.3%

The mayor of Rockhaven threw you down a hole into the Undercity. Why? Net worth too low. In this open-world simulation, you and up to 3 pals will steal, fight, and scheme to reclaim the city. Customise your rides, buy businesses, and take on the Mayor’s forces. Rockhaven is yours for the taking!

Why similar: Open World 23.1%, Sandbox 18.5%, Co-op 14.8%, Third Person 13.4%, Multiplayer 13.2%

Build a resistance as you fight to take back a near-future London facing its downfall. Welcome to the Resistance.

Why similar: Open World 25.3%, Co-op 17.8%, Online Co-Op 17.5%, Multiplayer 17.2%, Third Person 15.4%

Gravel is the ultimate off-road experience. The most extreme racing game that will let you try out amazing stunts in the wildest places on the planet!

Why similar: Racing 37.5%, Offroad 29.2% ★, Sports 22.8%, Multiplayer 4.3%, Open World 3.2%

It’s the year 2030, the era of flying vehicles. A one-off championship for wheel based vehicles has been organised, with cutting-edge electric cars boosted by Xenon gas. Drift through cities like Tokyo and Dubai as fast as you can and claim eternal glory!

Why similar: Racing 27.6%, Sports 18.3%, Co-op 9.6%, Multiplayer 9.3%, Online Co-Op 9.2%

Embrace unrivaled destruction in Battlefield 4™. Revel in the glorious chaos of all-out war packed with rewarding, tactical challenges in an interactive environment.

Why similar: Multiplayer 32.2%, PvP 17.8%, Co-op 12.9%, First-Person 12%, Open World 7.6%