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Game entry
Need for Speed: High Stakes
1999 · Racing, Simulation · PlayStation · Electronic Arts
Need for Speed: High Stakes is ranked no. 4,371 among the best video games of all time by GameForever voters, with an ELO score of 1,382 and 29% of duels won. Against Grand Theft Auto V, the opponent it meets most often, the tally stands at 1 wins to 3 losses in 4 duels. Measured against its own family, it climbs to no. 106 out of 116 (1999).
World rank
no. 4,371
ELO score
1,382
Wins
29%
Duels played
100
About Need for Speed: High Stakes
Just like its predecessors Need for Speed: High Stakes is an action racing game with a wide selection of exotic sports cars and many different types of tracks. The trademark Hot Pursuit mode game mode from the first game in the series is still present, where players race opponents on tracks filled with regular traffic and police cars that chase the racers. The classic pursuit mode is extended with two additional modes: Getaway and Time Trap. In Getaway the player needs to shake off the police in a set amount of time, or playing as the police trap a speeder before time runs out. In Time Trap an entire race needs to be completed before time runs out, or as the police all speeders need to be arrested. There are minor differences between the two platforms for this game mode, regarding spike strips, road blocks, and back-up. The latter for instance is unique to the PlayStation version. The Pursuit mode is available in multiplayer as well and players can take different sides or race together.
It is the first game in the series to introduce a Career mode with a set of challenges. Beating these is rewarded with trophies for unlocks, and money to spend on new cars, repairs and upgrades. In the PlayStation version the Career mode is split up into two different sets of challenges: Tournament (required races) and Special Event (optional races). High Stakes in the title refers to races where players bet their cars. In the PC version these are a part of the Career mode when the player owns more than two cars. In the PlayStation version two players can insert their memory cards and race against each other. The winner immediately receives the opponent's car and it is deleted from the loser's memory card right away.
In addition to the new game modes it is also the first game in the series to have a detailed physics models. Damage now affects both the appearance and the performance of the car for the first time.
ELO progression
Score moved from 1,500 to 1,382 ELO points over the last 170 days.
Head-to-head
Direct record on the most played match-ups.
- against Grand Theft Auto V 25% 4 duels played · 494 points behind
- against Sonic R 100% 2 duels played · 19 points ahead
- against F-Zero GX 0% 2 duels played · 104 points behind
- against Just Cause 2 50% 2 duels played · 260 points behind
- against Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas 0% 2 duels played · 341 points behind
In the same genre
All Racing games →
Keep exploring
Around this spot
The games Need for Speed: High Stakes sits between in the world ranking.
- 4,368 Daylight 1,383
- 4,369 Hexcells Plus 1,383
- 4,370 Breath of Fire IV 1,382
- 4,371 Need for Speed: High Stakes 1,382
- 4,372 Metal Slug 6 1,382
- 4,373 Tails of Iron 1,382
- 4,374 Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad 1,382
More games from Electronic Arts
The standing
Where Need for Speed: High Stakes ranks
The world rank mixes every family of games. Here is where Need for Speed: High Stakes stands in each of the ones it belongs to. Its best standing, all families considered: 106 out of 116 (1999).
| Ranking | Position | Games competing |
|---|---|---|
| World ranking | 4,371 | 5,046 |
| Racing | 224 | 259 |
| 1990s | 586 | 659 |
| 1999 | 106 | 116 |
The community
The debate
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