#4. NEED FOR SPEED: MOST WANTED (2005)
Need for Speed has tried its hand at the open world formula a fair few times, and it’s done so quite successfully on a number of occasions, including with the aforementioned Hot Pursuit in 2010. But its best ever open world is without a doubt also one of its earliest. 2005’s Most Wanted is an absolute gem of a game that shines bright even today. Sixteen years on from its launch, the game is as good as it ever was, which should tell you something about its enduring and timeless quality. Excellent arcade mechanics, a solid structure serving as the skeleton of the entire experience, thrilling races scattered throughout the entire maps, and brimming with exciting police chases, the original Most Wanted is probably the best Need for Speed game ever made, and a shining example of what this franchise is capable of when it’s at its best.
