NBA 2K19

Another awesome instalment of the sensational NBA 2K series

Starting at $13.95Buy now

NBA 2K celebrates 20 years of redefining what sports gaming can be, from best in class gameplay to ground breaking game modes and an immersive open-world "Neighborhood." NBA 2K19 continues to push limits as it brings gaming one step closer to real-life basketball excitement and culture.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

51%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,370 reviews

gameplay99 positive mentions

monetization108 negative mentions

gameplay
282 mentions
35 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of NBA 2K19 has received mixed reviews, with many praising its smooth mechanics, realistic animations, and engaging modes like MyCareer and MyLeague, often rating it around 8/10. However, players have also highlighted significant issues such as bugs, clunky controls, and a frustrating online experience marred by microtransactions and cheating. Overall, while the core gameplay is enjoyable for offline play, the online aspects and monetization practices detract from the experience for many users.
- “Overall, NBA 2K19 is a solid addition to the franchise, offering realistic and engaging gameplay for basketball fans.”
- “Gameplay feels pretty smooth and all animations feel fluent and responsive in my playthrough.”
- “The gameplay itself has become more and more frustrating with every new version 2K throws on the market.”
- “However, the game does have some drawbacks, such as lackluster graphics, clunky gameplay, and bugs, which can detract from the overall experience.”
- “It's like we're hostages to bad physics engines, gameplay mechanics, and never-ending crashes.”
- “The actual gameplay is pretty trash though with players getting stuck on other players, players settling for horrible midrange jumpers when they were clearly driving to the basket, and just an overall feeling of imbalance.”
story
230 mentions
28 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the engaging narrative in the MyCareer mode, particularly the prelude, which is seen as a significant improvement over previous installments. However, criticism arises from the lack of depth and continuity in the story after the prelude, as well as issues with server shutdowns that limit access to the single-player experience. Overall, while some players find the story enjoyable and immersive, others feel it is too short and marred by technical problems and microtransaction pressures.
- “The story is well-made, balanced well between gameplay and cutscenes, and feels meaningful.”
- “The new MyCareer story is top-notch and is vastly improved over the other past attempts, as it introduces an amazing story of a wanna-be NBA all-star fighting his way through the leagues and tough situations to fulfill his NBA dreams.”
- “MyCareer mode stepped up big time, cool story and new interaction scenes makes the experience more immersive compared to previous 2Ks.”
- “One day 2K suddenly decides to shut down the servers, taking away the story mode along with it.”
- “I don't understand why the servers are shut down within 3 years of its release, why the single-player story mode is disabled along with the server shutdown, and why Steam is still allowing this game to be sold at full price with half the features.”
- “The story is incredibly predictable and formulaic, underdog working his way up, gets a lover on the way, gets betrayed, gets a chance for his big break and revenge.”
monetization
217 mentions
4 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy in this game has drawn significant criticism, primarily due to the overwhelming presence of microtransactions and unskippable ads, which many players feel detract from the overall experience. While some users acknowledge that microtransactions can be avoided through grinding, the general sentiment is that the game feels like a cash grab, forcing players to either spend money or invest excessive time to progress. Overall, the monetization approach has left a negative impression, overshadowing the game's otherwise solid gameplay.
- “Despite the microtransactions, it's a fun game.”
- “While I hate microtransactions and think that premium paid games should have none of that, the game does allow you to earn enough VC to support yourself without paying for it.”
- “It's actually a good game aside from microtransactions; decent gameplay and you can still find people online with ease.”
- “The entire game is created to force players to spend money on microtransactions even though players had to pay $60.”
- “It's no secret that the online modes are a cash grab and are too grindy to be fun.”
- “Unskippable ads are now a part of the game, apparently.”
graphics
125 mentions
43 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising their quality and realism, often describing them as "top-notch" or "amazing." However, some users express disappointment over a perceived lack of significant improvement compared to previous installments, noting issues like graphical glitches and inconsistent performance. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, there are calls for further enhancements and optimization.
- “The graphics are excellent, the story and commentary are good, and it feels about as much fun as any game I've ever played when you get on a real roll.”
- “Great mechanics and graphics with interesting gameplay.”
- “The graphics are awesome and the gameplay is decent and realistic for the most part.”
- “However, the game does have some drawbacks, such as lackluster graphics, clunky gameplay, and bugs, which can detract from the overall experience.”
- “The graphics are grainy and blurry, the game lags, and the audio is out of sync.”
- “The animations still look robotic at times; they've had the same graphics since 2016, release a game every year, and yet here we are, it seems this is not something they care to improve.”
grinding
95 mentions
0 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players expressing frustration over the excessive time required to upgrade characters and the reliance on microtransactions to avoid tedious grinding. Many reviews highlight that progressing in modes like MyCareer demands an unreasonable amount of hours—often exceeding 100—just to achieve a competitive level, leading to a perception of the game as a "pay-to-win" model. Overall, while some players find enjoyment in the gameplay, the grind is seen as a major drawback that detracts from the overall experience.
- “The alternative is a horrendous number of grinding hours.”
- “Grinding points is so hard that you need to play 30-40 hours to increase a player's overall from 60 to 70.”
- “Either you accept this absurd grinding policy or pay some money for points.”
stability
77 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and frequent crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players express frustration over the game's unplayability due to these issues, particularly in modes like MyCareer and MyLeague, leading to a general consensus that the game is poorly optimized and lacks adequate support from the developers. Overall, the game's stability is deemed unacceptable, with many reviewers strongly advising against purchasing it.
- “Deadly glitches render the game unplayable, 100% wasted money.”
- “The game crashes often or just freezes. I had a 50-point triple-double in MyCareer and the game just closes in the last minute. Very poorly put together.”
- “This game is a complete and utter trash. You need to be online to access its core elements in MyCareer, the controls are buggy, and gameplay is so unbelievably bad.”
optimization
40 mentions
8 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
48 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe stuttering, lag, and crashes, particularly on PC. While some users noted that it runs better on lower-end systems, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, especially compared to its console counterparts, leading to a frustrating experience for many players. Despite occasional smooth performance, the frequent technical issues and lack of effective patches have left a significant portion of the player base dissatisfied.
- “Performance wise it runs smooth for the most part; there is the occasional lag post-game for some reason, but it always fixes itself.”
- “Final aspect to note: the game is optimized to run on lower-end gaming rigs, actually, so it looks great and plays well on a variety of older/budget setups.”
- “I haven't encountered the technical issues that some players are experiencing, and performance has been smooth on my rig on ultra settings.”
- “This game is poorly optimized.”
- “Horrible port, buggy, unoptimized, probably one of the worst games regarding how much it costs.”
- “This game has horrible optimization.. my laptop is overkill for running the game but I can't even get 20+ fps on the menus, and keep in mind I was using low settings.”
music
19 mentions
26 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the well-curated soundtrack and sound effects, while others criticize it for featuring low-quality, second-hand tracks and unskippable music during cutscenes. While certain players enjoy the inclusion of popular rap and meme songs, many express dissatisfaction with the overall music selection, deeming it subpar or not fitting for the game's atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a highlight by some, but a significant drawback by others.
- “Good soundtrack, smooth gameplay.”
- “The best thing about this game is that half the soundtrack is the better memes of 2018.”
- “There's again a 'music from the world' section, which is actually pretty nice, and some more rock/metal songs, although not that many, so don't get your hopes up.”
- “Some of them are even unskippable or still playing even with the music turned off because they are in pre-rendered cutscenes.”
- “Worst soundtrack for a video game; a collection of second-hand copyrighted music.”
- “The music is complete garbage.”
humor
11 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as light-hearted and engaging, particularly in the MyCareer story mode, which features amusing moments and quirky character interactions. However, some players find the humor overshadowed by frustrations related to game mechanics and monetization practices, leading to a mix of laughter and exasperation. Overall, while the game attempts to deliver a comedic experience, it sometimes falls short due to its technical issues and perceived exploitation of players.
- “Edit: the My Career story mode is hilarious.”
- “It's funny, it's light and it doesn't try to be a sports drama.”
- “- MyCareer storyline is engaging, fun, funny, dramatic (the good kind) and actually brings meaning to every single game you play!”
emotional
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the game's emotional impact, noting that excessive dialogue and automated gameplay mechanics detract from character interactions and overall immersion. The feeling of helplessness is amplified by frequent fouls and microtransactions, leading to a disconnection from the game's emotional experience. Overall, the combination of these issues results in a lack of genuine engagement and emotional investment in the game.
- “Too much dialogue detracts from the characters that don't have any voices, which sort of takes away from any emotional part of the interactions.”
- “The game plays your game for you; when you miss a shot, the game automatically thinks you're emotional, and when you attempt stealing, it automatically gets called for a reach-in.”
- “At the end, you wait tens of minutes to play, and then the game finishes without even touching the ball.”
replayability
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Users indicate that the game has very low replayability, with some expressing that it offers no replay value at all, significantly diminishing their interest in playing it again.
- “There is no replay value left.”
- “It kills the replayability for me.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is noted for its impressive graphics and gameplay, but many users feel it falls short in capturing the excitement of a real NBA experience, describing it as dull and lacking the vibrancy expected from a televised game.
- “It has great gameplay, graphics, and atmosphere.”
- “I'm not expecting a celebration for an open jumper in the second quarter of a tied game, but the atmosphere is incredibly dull and strips the user of the NBA experience of a televised game.”
character development
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game features well-rounded character development and engaging set pieces, elevating it beyond a mere gimmick and contributing to a more immersive experience.
- “It has well-rounded character development and good set pieces that make it feel like more than just a gimmick.”