Need for Speed Rivals – Best Racing Game 2013
Platform(s): PC, PS3, Xbox 360, PS4, Xbox One
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Ghost Games
In racing, speed is everything and Electronic Arts brought new developer Ghost Games up to speed for the latest in its arcade racing franchise, Need for Speed. Despite fears that Criterion’s move to a new project would hurt the franchise, Ghost Games took the most recent NFS titles for a test drive and brought all the best elements from 2010’s Hot Pursuit and 2012’s Most Wanted to a new location and a new online environment.
Need For Speed: Rivals introduced new “always-online” All Drive lobbies for up to six players and swaths of AI cops and racers to duel it out. While other racing games this year focused on delivering hardcore behind-the-wheel experiences, they’re also choked with microtransactions. Besides, we’re smitten with the Rivals' emergent gameplay that hits the road in Connected Rivalries.
Runners Up:
