We Love It's Guide to…
Race high-performance cars on real and fictional circuits, tuning their handling and earning stars through a cockpit-focused career.
Released 06 Oct 2009
Race Real-World Circuits
Feel Cockpit Crash Effects
Tune Car Performance
Need for Speed™ SHIFT is an award-winning authentic racing game that combines the true driver’s experience with real-world physics, pixel-perfect car models, and a wide range of authentic race tracks. Need for Speed SHIFT takes players in a different direction to create a simulation experience that replicates the true feeling of driving...
Developed by Slightly Mad Studios · Published by Electronic Arts









Compete as a driver in closed-circuit races, progressing through a career toward higher-level events. The focus is on track racing rather than street races or police pursuits.
Control performance cars with physics-based handling that responds to grip, track surfaces and impacts. Cockpit-focused visuals convey speed and G-forces, while crashes can briefly blur and disrupt your view.
Earn stars in different event types, including circuit races, lap-time challenges, drift events, duels and endurance races. Use progression to unlock further career tiers, build a driver profile, and upgrade or customize car performance and appearance.
Players often praise the cockpit perspective, sense of speed, car and track detail, and the more technical focus on circuit racing. Some enjoy its blend of simulation and accessibility, while others find the handling difficult—especially with a keyboard or without a steering wheel. Reviews also note inconsistent opponent behavior and repetition in the career events.

| Platforms | Windows |
|---|---|
| Age ratings |
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| Controller support | Xbox |
| Controller required | No |
| DRM / EULA |
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| Content notices |
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| Metacritic | 83/100 View on Metacritic |
| Website | Official website |