Need for Speed: Which NFS games had the best customisation?

Need for Speed and Fast & Furious are two series that have borrowed ideas from each other over the decades. One of those inspirations has definitely been regarding the customisation available in more recent games. Which games have had the best customisation options though? We've got our top five right here!

#5 - Most Wanted

Whether you ask the fans or the critics, Most Wanted is one of the best NFS titles ever. If there is one thing that lets it down slightly though, it's the customisation. However, the modifications you can use in 2005's Most Wanted are still up there with the best in the series.

You can improve the handling, top speed, and acceleration performance as well as a number of visual changes. Spoilers, body kits, wheels and a great livery editor all allow you to personalise the car you're using. Compared to what came before and after though, Most Wanted's garage options aren't on the same level.

#4 - Heat

In a polar opposite to Most Wanted, Heat is an average Need for Speed game that has great customisation. You can take it a step further than most NFS titles as well, both cosmetically and performance-wise. You can change the colours of your flames, sport neon underglow lights and choose your exhaust noise..

Arguably the best thing about the customisation though is that it's so easy to do. The new mechanic where you hover the cursor over a part of the car to select it is so intuitive and really helps new players. We definitely want to see more of this when NFS 2022 launches.

#3 - Underground

The first Underground game is an absolute classic. So much so, that we think it's about time that EA gives this title a remaster. This was the first game that had the level of customisation that we've come to expect from an NFS title. In hindsight, it may look a little basic, but it more than got the job done.

Body kits, performance upgrades, skirts, wheels, tinted windows and of course, those famous neon underglow lights were all available to utilise in Underground. We'd go as far as to say that these were the best customisation options in a racing game ever to that point. It wouldn't stay that way for long, though...

#2 - Carbon

While Carbon wasn't as good as Most Wanted nor the Underground games, it did have some redeeming qualities. One of which was its customisation, as its livery editor was top-notch. The vinyls you could select and apply were extremely varied and added a new layer (literally) to what had come before.

The performance customisation was also great too, as this was again the best the series had seen. There were still the three categories that you had before, but you could affect them with more mods than ever before.

#1 - Underground 2

Over 15 years later, and Underground 2 is still the king of customisation in Need for Speed. It probably took until the PlayStation 4 era for a racing game to have a better customisation model, that's how impressive it was at the time and still is today.

Underground 2 went full Pimp my Ride by allowing the player to install stereo systems in the boot of the car. Oh, and we can't forget the air shock suspension you could rep as well. Why? Well, it's purely in the name of looking cool and upping that Visual Rating.

Underground 2 was not purely about racing, it was also about having the best-looking set of wheels in Olympic City. The strength in depth for customisation options is also massive here. If EA could do this in 2004, then it makes you wonder why they can't do it in 2022. For that, though, we'll have to wait and see. For now though, Underground 2 remains the best customisation we've seen in NFS.