Need for Speed Heat is 95% off on Steam until August 13.
If you're looking for something different after Forza Horizon 6, Need for Speed Heat is well worth a look. The 2020 racing game is currently available on Steam for 95% off, bringing the price down to just $3.50 instead of $70.
The excitement surrounding Forza Horizon 6, which launched on May 19, appears to be slowly fading, giving racing fans a chance to revisit other titles. If you're in the mood for another racer, Need for Speed Heat is currently a compelling option. While it's no longer the newest entry in the series, it's the last Need for Speed game that was genuinely well received by players. Steam currently offers the Steam Deck Playable racer for around $3.50 instead of $70, thanks to a 95% discount. According to SteamDB, this matches its lowest-ever price.
Need for Speed Heat takes players to the open world of Palm City, a neon-lit coastal metropolis heavily inspired by Miami. During the day, players compete in sanctioned races to earn cash for new cars and performance upgrades. At night, the focus shifts to illegal street racing, where reputation is on the line – and so is your ability to escape increasingly aggressive police forces. The higher your heat level, the greater the rewards, but getting caught means losing part of your earnings. Need for Speed Heat features more than 100 vehicles, extensive performance and visual customization, as well as sprint, circuit, drift and off-road events. In addition to the single-player campaign, the game also includes online multiplayer and cross-play support.
Pictured: A gameplay screenshot from Need for Speed Heat.
Reviews for Need for Speed Heat have generally been positive. German gaming magazine GameStar awarded the game 75/100, praising its strong atmosphere, extensive customization options and the varied gameplay loop that alternates between racing and police chases. However, the publication also criticized the slow opening hours and described the story as largely forgettable. On Steam, Heat has accumulated around 150,000 user reviews, with 84% positive ratings, making it significantly better received than the series' latest installment. While Need for Speed Unbound is also heavily discounted at 93% off, it currently holds only around 60% positive reviews. Players frequently criticize the mandatory EA app, the divisive handling model and dialogue that many consider awkward or cringeworthy. If you haven't played either game yet, Need for Speed Heat is likely the better choice.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
As a child in the 90s, my Gameboy was my steady companion. After school, the PlayStation was fired up. When I finally got my first PC, I was completely hooked. My passion for gaming has never waned since. For me, writing for Notebookcheck means reporting on topics that are really close to my heart - in addition to gaming, I also like to write about e-mobility, photovoltaics and innovative gadgets. When I'm not sitting at my computer, I'm probably on water rescue duty on the Baltic coast or trying to counteract the downsides of my geek life - namely sitting for long periods - at the local swimming pool.