NBA 2K20

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The NBA 2K franchise returns with NBA 2K20

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
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,331 reviews

gameplay169 positive mentions

monetization155 negative mentions

gameplay
522 mentions
32 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of NBA 2K20 has received mixed reviews, with many praising its smooth mechanics and realistic basketball simulation, while others criticize it for being plagued by bugs, poor optimization, and a lack of significant improvements over previous iterations. Players appreciate the depth of gameplay and graphics but express frustration over unresponsive controls, microtransactions, and issues in online modes. Overall, while the core gameplay is enjoyable for many, the persistent technical problems and balance issues detract from the overall experience.
- “The gameplay is great, the graphics are fabulous, and the attention to detail is impeccable.”
- “Nba 2k continues its tradition of upping already tremendous gameplay, emulating the real-life sport in ways that didn’t seem possible just years ago.”
- “The gameplay is fun and deep, but also suffers from glitches and bugs like people teleporting through each other, stats getting misrecorded, and some stutters.”
- “The gameplay is horrendous.”
- “Gameplay is just horrible.”
- “The gameplay is extremely slow and defense is straight up horrible, seriously, the gameplay is so boring it's almost unplayable.”
monetization
295 mentions
6 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
53 % negative mentions
The monetization in NBA 2K is heavily criticized for its excessive microtransactions and unskippable advertisements, which many players feel detract from the overall gaming experience. Users describe the game as a "cash grab," with a focus on pay-to-win mechanics that force players to spend real money to progress or enhance their characters. Despite some positive gameplay elements, the overwhelming presence of monetization practices has led to widespread dissatisfaction among the community.
- “Without the monetization, easy recommend 10/10.”
- “Yes, there are many microtransactions, but this is the best basketball on the market, myteam and mycareer are very fun to play and can give you a bunch of hours of fun.”
- “I have thoroughly enjoyed this game without any in-game purchases, use the auction house.”
- “The grind is real and focused on milking you for microtransactions.”
- “This game is a huge disappointment to me, not because of microtransactions or the core gameplay, but because of 2K.”
- “Unskippable ads in a $60 game are completely unacceptable.”
story
282 mentions
34 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The story aspect of NBA 2K21 has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the MyCareer mode's narrative engaging yet repetitive and lacking depth compared to previous iterations. While some appreciate the cinematic elements and character progression, others criticize the excessive cutscenes and linear storytelling that detracts from gameplay. Overall, the story is seen as an improvement over past versions, but still falls short of expectations, often feeling like a vehicle for monetization rather than a fully realized narrative experience.
- “The my career story is amazing, the gameplay is great, it has everything you need in a basketball game to have fun both playing solo and with friends.”
- “Mycareer is super immersive with its robust character creator, well-written story, and dialogue options that affect how your career moves along, such as which endorsements you take.”
- “The story was pretty cool but short, and has lots of cameos from players, stars, etc. myteam is fun if not stressful at times, and while apparently they haven't changed the neighborhood in a few games, the events are really fun.”
- “The MyCareer story is laughable hot garbage; it's a tiny poorly written movie where you're geared up to be this big college name.”
- “The story is non-existent, with all your cutscenes being about your endorsements, which are actually just product placements in disguise.”
- “The story mode was too quick, and I was disappointed that the story doesn't remotely cross over once you are drafted by a team.”
graphics
267 mentions
37 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising their realism and detail, particularly in player animations and face scans. However, several users report significant issues, including graphical glitches, performance problems, and a lack of substantial improvement over previous titles. Overall, while the visuals are often described as impressive, they are marred by technical difficulties and a sense of stagnation in the franchise's evolution.
- “Graphics are superb and life-like.”
- “The graphics are awesome and actual on-court gameplay is fun.”
- “The gameplay is great, the graphics are fabulous and the attention to detail is impeccable.”
- “The graphics are worse than a 2010 game from PS2, and it's much worse on the gameplay part as the movements of players are very limited and there are so many bugs.”
- “The 'higher quality visuals' that they constantly promote as an upgrade from the previous title is a lie; some of the characters in the game look nothing like their real-life counterparts.”
- “It's extremely buggy with the graphics settings on PC; when you turn down some settings, there is a bug where the entire neighborhood has the same pitch-black texture except for signs and players.”
stability
234 mentions
1 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and frequent crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players have experienced game freezes, especially during critical moments like loading screens and in MyCareer mode, leading to frustration and a recommendation to avoid purchasing unless at a steep discount. While some users report fewer issues, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by stability problems that detract from the experience.
- “Very fun and no glitches; it is a solid game.”
- “Just make sure to use big picture mode when plugging in controllers, and there are no glitches beyond that.”
- “Runs great on PC with no bugs or glitches; pure amazing.”
- “Game freezes during half of the games, causing the whole game to need to be rebooted.”
- “I can't even play a normal MyCareer game without crashing; when I attempt to sim when I get on the court, it literally freezes and crashes.”
- “This game is so buggy, it won't let me exit the game to go back to my desktop.”
grinding
132 mentions
1 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively time-consuming and tedious, particularly in modes like MyCareer and MyTeam. Many players feel that the grind is designed to push them towards microtransactions, making it difficult to progress without spending additional money. While some enjoy the challenge of grinding, the overwhelming sentiment is that it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game, with many players expressing frustration over the lack of meaningful rewards for their efforts.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “MyCareer is way too grindy, especially in the rookie season.”
- “The game has significantly regressed since 2K18, AI defense is non-existent and the game is riddled with milestone barriers which require extensive grinding or pay-to-win microtransactions.”
- “This game gives you ample amounts of opportunities to spend more money than should be necessary thanks to its unfair, time-consuming, and tedious grind.”
optimization
87 mentions
14 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
46 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, particularly regarding its performance on PC, where users report frequent crashes, lag, and low frame rates even on high-end systems. Many players express frustration over the lack of improvements from previous versions, describing the game as poorly optimized and riddled with bugs that significantly hinder gameplay. While some users have managed to achieve decent performance through personal tweaks, the general consensus is that the game is not worth purchasing until substantial optimization updates are made.
- “First NBA 2K game I bought since NBA 2K14, 92% off is too good to not even consider. Overall good for MyGM mode; too complicated at times though. Performance-wise, so far I didn't notice any glitches; runs on high-ultra settings at a smooth 60fps on my GTX 1060 card and i7 8750H processor.”
- “But this game is easily a solid 10/10, especially on NVIDIA optimized ultra settings. This game is smooth and looks gorgeous.”
- “Performance is solid on my GTX 1060 laptop; however, I have noticed slight stuttering at times for brief moments, but nothing that ruins the experience.”
- “Horrible optimization, they took the worst stuff from 2k19 that every player complained about and made them worse.”
- “Game runs like trash, 10 minutes into a game of my career and starts going into slow motion and then just stops responding... then crash... all my drivers are up to date, this game is not optimized at all and runs like total shit.. 100 bucks for this terrible game of slow mo... save your money and buy something else.. until devs optimize this game it will not be worth buying.”
- “This game is terribly optimized for PC.”
music
43 mentions
26 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as "amazing" and adrenaline-pumping during gameplay, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety compared to previous years. Many players express frustration over the inability to customize or mute the music, and some find the overall selection disappointing, describing it as "meh" or "trash." Despite these criticisms, a few users still appreciate certain tracks and the overall audio presentation.
- “The first thing I have to say is that the soundtrack is just 'amazing' (goat talk).”
- “The game ran smoothly on my 1080ti, Mick Gordon's soundtrack was absolutely phenomenal, gave me an adrenaline rush during intense firefights.”
- “The soundtrack is great as always, like it's really good, voice acting is spot on simply because the same commentators in real life talk in the game as well.”
- “One of the worst things about the game is the music.”
- “Soundtrack stinks; if you have to censor every third word, maybe just don't put the song in the game?”
- “The music is the same as the last few years; though I swear the variety in music genre is less and less as years go by.”
humor
37 mentions
97 % positive mentions
-5 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as unintentional, stemming from its numerous glitches, absurd gameplay mechanics, and the presence of hackers, which players find amusing despite their frustrations. Many reviews highlight moments of hilarity, such as exaggerated player performances and comical AI behavior, making it a fun experience, especially when played with friends who share a similar sense of humor. However, the overall consensus suggests that while the game can be funny, it is also plagued by issues that detract from the enjoyment.
- “Having Maravich score 101 points was funny as hell.”
- “This game is just so goofy and I find it funny xd.”
- “The MyCareer story mode made me laugh a bunch.”
- “This game is so broken it's not funny; I have asked for a refund because it is so bad.”
- “The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced, making it more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
- “I expected a lot of laughs, but the jokes are stale and the comedic timing is off.”
atmosphere
7 mentions
57 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its realistic recreation of an NBA environment, featuring impressive visuals, engaging fan interactions, and authentic commentary that enhance the overall experience for basketball fans. However, some players feel that the core gameplay mechanics and server issues detract from the immersive atmosphere, suggesting that monetization strategies may negatively impact the enjoyment of the game.
- “The amount of work put in here to recreate the atmosphere and feel of the court is astounding.”
- “The cheering of fans, commentators, and mid-match TV interludes accurately represent the atmosphere of a real NBA game.”
- “Maybe this game is not different from the previous parts, but the atmosphere is impressive.”
- “But the game seems designed to pressure players into pumping extra money so they don’t have to spend an ungodly amount of time grinding, and that dampens the arena atmosphere.”
emotional
7 mentions
86 % positive mentions
-29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of depth, with users finding the storyline boring and unengaging. The portrayal of personal struggles, such as a rookie's challenges and relationship issues, fails to resonate, leaving players feeling confused and disconnected from the characters' experiences.
- “I've never made a review before, however this game has made me feel the need to post one.”
- “Some heartfelt moments where you're a 'pro' rookie, but stayed behind in college for reasons.”
- “This kind of behavior made me feel bad and I couldn't understand it.”
- “The story in career mode is extremely boring and fails to evoke any emotional connection.”
- “I felt no emotional investment in the characters or their journeys.”
- “The lack of depth in the narrative left me feeling disconnected and uninterested.”
replayability
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Players highlight significant replayability in the game, particularly through modes like MyLeague and MyTeam, which offer various challenges and engaging gameplay. The smooth controls and quality presentation further enhance the overall experience, encouraging repeated play.
- “There's tons of replayability in MyLeague.”
- “Gameplay and controls are smooth, presentation and commentators do a great job, and there are lots of challenges in MyTeam, providing plenty of replay value.”
- “Game play and controls are smooth, presentation and commentators do a great job, lots of challenges in MyTeam - lots of replay value.”