NBA 2K21

Feel, play, and win like the NBA superstar you always dreamed you were!

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"NBA 2K21" is a basketball simulation game with both single-player and multiplayer modes, including local co-op. The Mamba Forever Edition offers various digital items and boosts for a head start. Despite good graphics, great music, and humor, the game has issues like bugs, a lack of optimization, and excessive ads. Note: multiplayer servers will be shut down by 12/31/2022.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

59%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,018 reviews

story54 positive mentions

gameplay70 negative mentions

gameplay
315 mentions
17 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
22 % negative mentions
The gameplay of NBA 2K21 has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the shooting mechanics and overall game mechanics as repetitive and frustrating. While some appreciate the improvements in physicality and movement, others feel that the game lacks significant innovation compared to previous titles, often describing it as a reskin of NBA 2K20 with minor adjustments. Additionally, issues such as server problems, bugs, and a heavy reliance on microtransactions have detracted from the overall experience, leading to a consensus that the gameplay is not worth the investment.
- “The gameplay is good and the buildup to getting in the NBA in MyCareer is the best one I've played.”
- “I think in terms of gameplay, the physicality, movement, and the dribble moves have improved a lot.”
- “The gameplay is addictive.”
- “No progression vectors, no incentives, no motivation to continue playing this game as it despite graphics, features, and most importantly realistic gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is total garbage, pace is slower than a sloth, if you play against bots it's unplayable.”
- “The mechanics are broken, the gameplay is awful, and it is 2k.”
story
235 mentions
23 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of depth and progression in the "MyCareer" mode. While some appreciate the initial journey from high school to the NBA, they criticize the abrupt end of the storyline post-draft, with minimal cutscenes and character development thereafter. Overall, the narrative is often described as generic, shallow, and plagued by issues such as poor AI and excessive reliance on microtransactions, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction among players who expected a more engaging experience.
- “I love the story in MyCareer and the way that it takes you from high school to pro.”
- “The myCareer story is the best in many years, and while there are still a lot of things that could be better, the small improvements over last year make it worth it to me.”
- “I ended up buying the game after finding out that the MyCareer story mode would follow you from high school through college and the draft.”
- “The mycareer story mode has been stripped down to its barest form, and has no cutscenes after you've made it to the pros -- not even filler cutscenes for new endorsements.”
- “I had assumed that after the draft there would be continuation of events following your journey to become a great player, but they pretty much got rid of all the cutscenes after you enter the league and any 'story progression' is told through a few emails.”
- “Once you are drafted the story just ends.”
graphics
183 mentions
25 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics in NBA 2K21 receive mixed reviews, with many players praising their quality and realism, describing them as "great" or "phenomenal." However, several users express disappointment over the lack of significant improvements compared to previous installments, particularly on PC, where they feel the game does not utilize the platform's capabilities effectively. Overall, while the visuals are often highlighted as a strong point, many players are frustrated by performance issues and the absence of next-gen graphics.
- “The graphics are amazing, the details are very crisp and look alive.”
- “Graphics are phenomenal, but everyone knows by now mycareer is a complete mess so there's no need to comment on that.”
- “The graphics, customization options, and gameplay are second to none in the sports gaming world!”
- “Do not buy the game; it runs very poorly on PC, graphics look bad, and they don't have the next-gen version for PC.”
- “The graphics are literally the same as last game's, slight shooting mechanic change, and the worst of all, they haven't changed the miss input price on the VC store for months.”
- “The graphics haven't improved in years.”
stability
156 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and a plethora of glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players have expressed frustration over the inability to progress in modes like MyCareer due to these issues, while others noted that the game feels unoptimized, particularly on PC. Despite some positive experiences, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game is plagued by bugs, making it a frustrating experience for many users.
- “The game itself runs great on PC.”
- “Bug-free, glitch-free, perfectly smooth running. A lovely game; love to see it, lads.”
- “I bought it to play with friends in a connected league, and the game runs great, with no issues.”
- “Game constantly cannot handle the simulation function and often freezes when you even try to simulate to the next time you go in.”
- “Worst game I have ever played; it is so buggy and crashes all of the time. Don't waste your money on this game.”
- “The game consistently crashes randomly, you can't join a squad in the mypark because it freezes the game.”
monetization
110 mentions
4 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
48 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy in NBA 2K21 has drawn widespread criticism for its aggressive and pervasive microtransactions, which many players feel detract from the overall experience. Users express frustration over the game's reliance on in-game purchases to enhance character progression, often feeling pressured to spend additional money to remain competitive. Additionally, the inclusion of unskippable ads and a perceived lack of substantial content updates contribute to the sentiment that the game is primarily a cash grab rather than a fully realized product.
- “Overall, I understand people's views on them not doing a lot and it's 2k20.5, but at the same time, the game has definitely improved in some factors. The game gets hit with such negative reviews for being full of microtransactions, but every game nowadays is filled with them. You don't have to buy VC; I've never bought it, I just put in the effort.”
- “The in-game economy, which is heavily influenced by lucrative microtransactions, continues to be a sour spot – and it remains to be seen how much life this release will have with a next-gen successor right around the corner.”
- “Nba 2k21 is still a wonderful digital simulation of basketball, with a wealth of modes to enjoy, but the mycareer story has become stale and the microtransactions are far too prevalent.”
- “Just as last year, it suffers from a massive problem of microtransactions and shoving them down the player's throat.”
- “Greedy monetization that makes all you players useless against the busted AI unless you fork over cash for upgrades.”
- “The whole thing's a fucking advertisement for VC; fuck this game, I'd rather lose my penis than buy $10 of your shitty virtual currency.”
grinding
48 mentions
2 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized, with many players expressing frustration over the excessive time required to level up and earn virtual currency (VC) without resorting to microtransactions. Users report that the grind feels tedious and unfulfilling, often leading to a pay-to-win environment where significant investment is needed to enjoy the game fully. While some players appreciate the challenge of grinding, the overwhelming sentiment is that it detracts from the overall enjoyment and accessibility of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grind for MyCareer is so boring and grindy, and you only make about 500-600 VC each game. It takes forever to level up the overall of your player.”
- “Be warned, it is a very grindy experience, and you will need to put in a fair bit of time or spend actual money on VC before you have a player who isn't totally frustrating to watch crawl up and down the court, miss wide open shots, and jump barely high enough to touch the rim.”
- “The 'grind' for VC (in-game currency) is tedious and ridiculous because 2K wants you to spend more money on a game that you pay full price for. In other words, 2K only cares about money.”
optimization
48 mentions
19 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
46 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game, particularly on PC, has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users reporting severe performance issues, stuttering, and crashes even on high-spec machines. While a recent patch has improved stability for some, the overall sentiment remains that the game is poorly optimized, especially compared to its console counterparts, leading to frustration among players. Many reviewers advise against purchasing the PC version due to these persistent optimization problems.
- “The new patch now allows the game to run smoothly on PC.”
- “Thankfully, everything has been optimized in such an accessible and smooth way that as a yearly supporter, my main gripe with the game was finally fixed.”
- “But I see improvement in graphics and performance.”
- “Suffering performance stuttering on a PC way above spec.”
- “Terrible optimization on PC.”
- “The game is not optimized... do not buy.”
music
22 mentions
45 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as "fantastic" and filled with "bangers," while others express disappointment over the heavy reliance on rap music and a lack of variety. Some players noted that the soundtrack hasn't significantly changed from previous versions, leading to feelings of stagnation. Overall, while the music creates a good vibe for gameplay, it may not cater to all tastes, particularly those seeking genres beyond hip hop.
- “Music/sound: 5/5 NBA 2K has always done amazing soundtracks.”
- “The soundtrack in this game is great besides on the main menu :)”
- “I’m kind of over soundtracks in these kinds of games, but as it is, there are some definite bangers.”
- “I hate that they only have rap music. As you guessed, I'm a white guy and would love to see some rock or hard rock in the game. I'm 53 and love the game, just not the minority pop and rap that's in this game.”
- “Honestly, on top of the game crashing, bugs, MyCareer being buggy, and how the game is still $60... they didn't even change the soundtrack from 2K20.”
- “The only difference may be the music and the menu.”
humor
20 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it genuinely funny due to its absurdities, such as bizarre character appearances and unexpected gameplay moments. However, some critiques highlight that the game's numerous bugs and issues have crossed the line from amusing to frustrating, leading to a sense of irony in the developers' lack of support. Overall, while the game offers moments of humor, it also leaves players feeling exasperated by its persistent problems.
- “It's pathetically hilarious, such a huge bug that has never truly been fixed.”
- “I don't know how they could've changed them though, but still, seeing the same font in everything :) kinda funny.”
- “The other thing I find funny is just watching my players do these silly things.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its immersive journey from a high school player to a basketball legend, enhanced by detailed cutscenes and cinematics. However, recent iterations of the MyCareer mode have been criticized for lacking these atmospheric elements, resulting in a more stripped-down experience that detracts from the overall immersion.
- “There is a great atmosphere created by the game, as MyCareer lets my lanky, weak, and health-problem induced body go from a high school basketball player to the greatest to ever play the game in 2 hours.”
- “I do kind of miss the MyCareer atmosphere clips though.”
- “MyCareer has had all the little details, cutscenes, and cinematics that added atmosphere to the mode removed, and it itself has not been improved in any way; it is more barebones than we've seen in years.”
- “I do kind of miss the MyCareer atmosphere clips, though.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional response to the game is overwhelmingly negative, with users expressing intense frustration and anger, leading some to uninstall it permanently.
character development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being heavily influenced by a pay-to-win model and grind mechanics, making it challenging for casual players to progress. Additionally, the AI's effectiveness is tied to player ratings, and ongoing issues with cheating in the online community further detract from the experience.
- “The various issues in this game are extremely comprehensive, but to make a long story short, if you are just a normal casual player and not familiar with what is going on currently in the NBA, you are going to suffer. This game has become a pay-to-win game or grindfest, has ineffective AI unless their ratings are higher than the other position, and the online community still has cheaters despite all the major changes to the character development and point system.”
- “Character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with the players. The progression system is frustrating and doesn't reward effort, leaving many players feeling unfulfilled.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in character development makes the experience feel linear and unengaging. It seems like the developers prioritized monetization over creating a rich and immersive character journey.”