The car customizability of the game was reduced slightly compared to previous NFS Underground games to enable developers to place their focus on various gameplay aspects. Beating them would unlock not only additional challenges and path toward next SP missions but also new cars, parts, and track challenges. The police chases were expanded to become much more varied, and they were infused into the central campaign of the game where players were tasked to challenge 15 Blacklist races in one-on-one competition. The gameplay focus of NFS: Most Wanted was shifted from challenging rival gangs like in Underground games to larger in scope and more in-depth races against the police force.

Streamlining the driving systems, car customization and mission progression and overhauling the gameplay systems of police chases, free-roam aspects of gameplay and introduction of multiplayer modes, Need for Speed: Most Wanted very quickly became one of the biggest critical hits of the entire franchise, and with time, the best-selling Need for Speed game with over 16 million copies sold.

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