In Need for Speed Heat, a white-knuckle racer that put you against a city's renegade police force as you fight your way into street racing's elite, hustle by day, and risk it all by night. Take them on and put your life on the line for underground fame, or return to your safehouse and start another exciting day. In this street racer, the roads, the hazards, and the thrills never cease as your crew rolls deep, your garage is filled with hot vehicles, and the city is your constant playground. 

Need for Speed Heat, known as NFS Heat, is a racing video game released in 2019 by Ghost Games and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It is the twenty-fourth installment in the Need for Speed franchise, and it marks the 25th anniversary of the series.

Need for Speed Heat is a racing game set in Palm City, a fictitious version of Miami, Florida, and its surrounding. Mountainous landscapes and vast fields may be found on the in-game map. The game does not have a 24-hour day-night cycle like Need for Speed Payback, but it does allow you to alternate between the two. You may participate in authorized race events during the day, earning money to spend on new vehicles and upgrades. You may earn REP by participating in illegal street racing at night.

Racing late at night may attract the notice of a rogue police task group tasked with closing down street racing in Palm City, putting your earned reputation in danger or resulting in your money being taken.

Pursuits can take place at any time of day or night in Palm City, however, the PCPD's response varies depending on the time of day. Engaging in missions earns you rep, and there are more quests available at night than during the day. Each heat level also represents the amount of rep you may receive if you successfully reach a safehouse or garage during a current night session.

You'll be busted if the driver comes to a complete halt near a PCPD unit, is entirely immobilized during a chase, or has emptied their strength bar. If you're busted, you'll receive whatever reps you've earned during the ongoing night session, but they won't be increased by your heat level. You will also be required to pay a fine through bank transfer.

Players who are arrested by the PCPD will not have an impound strike or any other type of mark placed on their car that would cause them to lose their vehicle. They will only be penalized, and their present night session will be terminated as a result.

A storyline in which you deal with the city's police department, commanded by authority figure Lt. Frank Mercer, is also included in the game. You may crush neon flamingos located across the area, which will award you with money or prestige based on the period of the day. You may also locate graffiti, which is referred to in the game as Street Art, and send it to the logo editor to be used on their cars.

Finally, you may complete activities in the open world such as breaking billboards, beating scores on drift zones, passing through speed traps at the highest speeds, and executing long leaps over the longest distances. You may participate in "Crew Time Trials," which allow you to accomplish short-timed events in a controlled setting.