Need for Speed: Unbound uses cel-shaded character animations. The 2022 racing game combines conventional realistic vehicles and environments with illustrated character models, animated effects, and graffiti-inspired visual flourishes.
Cel shading is a rendering technique designed to make 3D graphics resemble hand-drawn cartoons or comic illustrations. Instead of smoothly blending light across a surface, it uses flatter areas of color and strong outlines or tonal bands. In Unbound, this approach is most noticeable on people and certain driving effects, while the cars and city remain comparatively realistic.
The visual style helped Unbound distinguish itself from recent Need for Speed games, which generally pursued a more photorealistic presentation. The game was developed by Criterion Games and released by Electronic Arts on December 2, 2022, for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.
A common mix-up is calling the entire game “anime” or “comic-book styled.” Those descriptions capture part of the presentation, but cel shading is the specific animation and rendering technique associated with the character visuals.