We Love It's Guide to…
Race as a cop or fugitive across Seacrest County, using pursuit gear, escapes, and high-speed events to unlock new cars.
Released 14 Dec 2010
Play Both Sides
Escape Police Pursuits
Deploy Spike Strips
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit launches you into a new open-world landscape behind the wheel of the world's fastest and most beautiful cars. From Criterion, the award-winning studio behind the Burnout series, Hot Pursuit will redefine racing games for a whole new generation.
Developed by Criterion Games · Published by Electronic Arts









Set in Seacrest County, the game lets you take on full careers on either side of the law. As a racer, evade pursuing police; as a cop, chase down and stop illegal racers.
Compete in event-based races and pursuits across coastal, desert, forest, and mountain roads, driving high-performance cars. The events bring different objectives and assigned vehicles, with speed and rival encounters at the center of play.
Use equipment to turn chases in your favor: police can deploy spike strips and call in support, while racers can use jammers to disrupt police gear. Earn bounty through careers and challenges to level up and unlock cars and equipment; Autolog also compares friends’ results and suggests challenges.
Players who enjoy the game often point to the contrast between racing as a fugitive and pursuing racers as a cop, and the fast, arcade-style chases that make both roles exciting. Reviews also praise the car selection, sense of speed, scenery, and soundtrack. Some players prefer its direct, pick-up-and-race approach, while others find events repetitive or dislike the handling and unskippable introductions.
| Platforms | Windows |
|---|---|
| Age ratings |
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| Players | 1–8 |
| Play modes |
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| Other modes |
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| Multiplayer | The store page lists Single-player and Online PvP. Reviews and descriptions consistently mention online play with friends, Autolog social competition, and online events. One review states online multiplayer has three modes playable with up to eight players. No local multiplayer, LAN play, or splitscreen support is stated. The game also supports single-player careers as cops and racers. |
| Multiplayer & mods | One review mentions mods that add more cars or events, but no provided information confirms multiplayer compatibility or effects on multiplayer. |
| Controller support | Xbox |
| Controller required | No |
| DRM / EULA |
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| Content notices |
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| Metacritic | 85/100 View on Metacritic |
| Website | Official website |