The game Need for Speed Most Wanted combines elements from the Underground and Hot Pursuit spin-offs. To gain notoriety, players must engage in street racing and attract police attention to rise through the Black List of illegal racers.
The ultimate goal is to face off against number one on the list, Razor, who tricked the player into losing their own car. The game features various racing modes, including Milestones, where drivers must evade capture or disable police cars by destroying Pursuit Breakers. To take down each of the 15 Blacklisted opponents, players must win specific events and accumulate notoriety.
Players can invest in new cars or upgrade their existing ones to stay competitive, using the in-game currency to fund these upgrades. The game also features a new female protagonist, Josie Maran, replacing Brooke Burke from previous installments. The plot is told through the use of FMV video with live actors and digital sets, creating an immersive experience.