I remember a long time I go I played Need for Speed: Underground, and then Need for Speed: Most Wanted and those games were just really fun to me. They are both very dated now, and I want something new but similar to those games.

I don't like racing games that have you go around tracks like Nascar or anything like that, but a game that has a very open world to it like Most Wanted and you can drive around, ride nice cars and trick them out with decals and fascias and kits, stuff like that.

Most Wanted was really really good, but it was quite short. I'm looking for an "updated" version of the same thing with better graphics and really nice newer cars (Most Wanted came out in like 2006) but I really want to stay away from a game that is just "racing" like drag racing or nascar track racing, not really into that.

Are there any new car games out akin to Most Wanted for the Xbox 360?

Burnout Paradise is exactly what you are looking for. It probably only costs around $20 now (it's been 3 or so years since it came out), is open world, and millions of people still play it. Also, there are none of them pesky coppers that follow you around.

I just checked out Need for Speed: The Run review and it says the total clock time to get to New York from San Fran (which is the whole point of the game) is like...2 hours 20 minutes not including cutscenes lol. That's a bit short for my taste. =/ I'd beat that in a day. Not worth the cash, sadly. Check that one off the list i guess. It's also very linear and not free roaming at all, it's a race from a destination to a destination and that's the whole premise of the main story, and that's all there is besides online play with other people.

Burnout Paradise looks REALLY good. I just watched a review, and it looked phenominal. One question though, that the reviewer didn't mention, what about the cars? Upgrading them? Can you trick out the cars?

Mario Kart 64 is a must, so is Diddy Kong Racing.

Otherwise, try Burnout Paradise or Burnout 3: Takedown. Those are guaranteed to give you a lot of fun.

Paradise differs from the original Most Wanted in that there is no manual shifting. The physics is not as realistic.

There is a new Most Wanted coming out soon.

Driver: San Francisco

It has to be tried to be believed, a driving/racing game with above average voice acting, story and a huge amount of extra stuff you wouldn't believe.

It's 'shift' thing is the best thing about the game, sounds like a gimmick on paper but actually makes the game very unique and, importantly, fun in every sense of the word.

seriously, go and buy it. It's incredibly good and the multiplayer is surprisingly a blast (once you actually find a game, which can be rare at times)