NBA 2K23

The NBA 2K series has been popular for many years, but this year may be the one you decide to get back into it.

Starting at €59.99Buy now

Rise to the occasion and realize your full potential in NBA 2K23. Prove yourself against the best players in the world and showcase your talent in MyCAREER. Pair today’s All-Stars with timeless legends in MyTEAM. Build a dynasty of your own in MyGM or take the NBA in a new direction with MyLEAGUE. Take on NBA or WNBA teams in PLAY NOW and experience true-to-life gameplay. How will you Answer the C…

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Play Modes

Reviews

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 33,564 reviews

gameplay304 positive mentions

story137 negative mentions

gameplay
990 mentions
31 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of NBA 2K23 has received mixed reviews, with many praising its realism and fluidity, particularly in offline modes, while others criticize the clunky mechanics, input delays, and pervasive microtransactions that detract from the overall experience. Players have noted that while the core gameplay remains enjoyable, it feels stagnant and lacks significant innovation compared to previous iterations, leading to frustrations with AI behavior and online play. Overall, the game offers solid basketball simulation but is marred by issues that can hinder enjoyment, especially for those seeking a competitive online experience.
- “Great game with nice and realistic gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and addictive, allowing you to pull off jaw-dropping moves and dominate the competition.”
- “Refinements to core aspects of NBA 2K23’s gameplay make for some of the most fluid and enjoyable action seen in some years, and it’s all capped off with the excellent Jordan Challenge.”
- “The gameplay has become so sluggish and clumsy that it's almost unplayable.”
- “The input delay is the worst it's ever been in any 2K game, the stamina bar sucks and you can't dribble with it, horrible gameplay, still on current gen, and filled with hackers.”
- “The gameplay is worse than pulling teeth and the cutscenes/story is horribly annoying and unnecessary.”
graphics
718 mentions
29 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics in NBA 2K23 have received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of next-gen visuals, particularly on the PC version, which is criticized for using outdated graphics reminiscent of previous console generations. While some users appreciate the improved animations and certain visual details, others report significant graphical glitches, poor optimization, and a general feeling that the graphics have not evolved meaningfully over the years. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game can be enjoyable, its graphical shortcomings detract from the overall experience.
- “No words to describe regarding the gameplay and graphics; the detailing and all stuff are top notch.”
- “Amazing graphics and very enjoyable.”
- “The addition of new animations and improved graphics in NBA 2K23 make the game feel even more realistic, adding to the immersive experience of playing with friends.”
- “Idk why they gave us last gen graphics, even though they literally built this game using the PC platform.”
- “The graphics are terrible and I couldn't get them up to my computer's specs.”
- “This game looks like it came out of a PS2, got ripped onto Steam, and then went backwards in graphical quality back to the early 2000s.”
story
635 mentions
17 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
22 % negative mentions
The story aspect of NBA 2K24 has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing it as uninspired, repetitive, and poorly executed. Critics highlight the lack of meaningful progression in the MyCareer mode, with storylines that feel half-baked and dialogue that is often cringeworthy. Overall, the narrative fails to engage players, leading to a consensus that the story is a weak point in an otherwise enjoyable basketball game.
- “The game has a vibrant story mode for MyCareer, with the great ambiance of a city.”
- “Very fun, great storyline.”
- “The my player story is fun and enjoyable.”
- “A terrible story mode that has horrible dialogue that leaves you cringing and wishing the devs had just stayed away altogether. Decisions in story mode had little meaningful value in my opinion.”
- “The story in career mode just gets worse and worse; it is so cringy and unbearable that most people don't even play it anymore.”
- “The storyline of the game is seriously awful; it only wastes time.”
stability
537 mentions
1 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting a multitude of bugs, crashes, and performance issues that render it nearly unplayable. Many players express frustration over persistent glitches affecting gameplay, save data, and online interactions, leading to a consensus that the game feels unfinished and poorly optimized, particularly on PC. Overall, the reviews suggest that the game's technical problems overshadow its potential enjoyment, making it a poor investment for most players.
- “On PC, this game is fun to play against the AI - no bugs, no glitches and an overall satisfying experience playing completely alone.”
- “This game is so fun, no glitches.”
- “The recommendation is because it's still fun, even though VC prices are insane right now there are ways to get it fast (not glitches).”
- “The game crashes, it has lots of glitches, it just runs poorly.”
- “This game is a buggy mess that doesn't work properly and forces you to look up guides on how to fix said issues.”
- “Game is super buggy and I keep getting stuck in the middle of games when it says 'skip to next appearance' and just glitches out and makes everything go slow and games super boring.”
monetization
248 mentions
4 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy in NBA 2K23 has drawn significant criticism for its heavy reliance on microtransactions, particularly in modes like MyCareer and MyTeam, creating a pay-to-win environment that detracts from the overall gameplay experience. Many players feel that the game prioritizes profit over player enjoyment, with constant advertisements and high costs for in-game currency (VC) making progression feel grindy and frustrating. Overall, the aggressive monetization tactics have led to perceptions of the game as a "cash grab," overshadowing its otherwise solid basketball simulation.
- “Overall, while NBA 2K23 offers a solid basketball simulation with rich historical content and engaging gameplay, the lack of next-gen graphics and the pervasive microtransactions detract from the overall experience.”
- “While understanding the need for developers to generate revenue, the overwhelming prominence of these microtransactions can hinder the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “The game still has issues with its overemphasis on microtransactions in MyCareer and to a lesser extent MyTeam, but the new MyNBA Eras mode is a revelation – and the Jordan Challenge campaign is damn fun, too.”
- “First and foremost, its relentless focus on microtransactions has created a pay-to-win environment that undermines the competitive balance of the game.”
- “Despite the initial purchase price, NBA 2K23 heavily incorporates microtransactions, allowing players to gain an unfair advantage by purchasing in-game items and upgrades.”
- “This approach prioritizes monetization over fair gameplay and creates an environment where skill and dedication are overshadowed by the ability to spend real money.”
grinding
201 mentions
1 % positive mentions
7 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized, with many players noting that it requires an excessive amount of time—often upwards of 150 hours—to achieve competitive player ratings, making it feel tedious and frustrating. Additionally, the game is perceived as being designed to encourage microtransactions, as players can either spend significant time grinding or pay to expedite their progress, leading to a sense of imbalance and dissatisfaction among casual gamers. While some players find enjoyment in the grind, the overwhelming consensus is that it detracts from the overall experience, making it feel like a chore rather than a fun gameplay element.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Only if you care about leaderboards/ranks.”
- “Too much grind.”
- “Too grindy, I'm still at a 65 rating after many games.”
- “It's modern 2K; it's so microtransaction-heavy and tedious that the only reason to ever play is because it's the only real basketball game out there.”
- “Garbage game, have fun grinding to 99 overall.”
optimization
196 mentions
11 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
46 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues, including frequent crashes, stuttering, and lag, even on high-end PCs. Many users express frustration over the lack of proper optimization for PC, leading to a subpar gaming experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game. Despite some positive remarks about gameplay, the overwhelming consensus is that the game's technical performance is unacceptable and needs significant improvement.
- “This game is very well optimized for the Steam Deck while looking fantastic; I played it on my Steam Deck for 30 minutes and it went down 6 percent.”
- “For someone that mainly plays on the PS5 version, the PC version is alright—it runs smoothly and is closely similar to the next-gen counterpart.”
- “Nonetheless, the game has improved in some way, especially in performance.”
- “Server lag 100% of the time, performance issues for a 1200 dollar PC, 1/3rd of games never reach the end due to server issues, and they count these games as a loss on your win counter.”
- “Game crashes during mycareer all the time, genuinely garbage unoptimized trash.”
- “Poorly optimized, game is laggy even though I have a high-end PC, kicks players out spontaneously, input delay is atrocious, core gameplay is good but you can't even load into games half the time.”
music
84 mentions
19 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
31 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as one of the best in the series, featuring popular tracks that enhance the gaming experience. However, many players criticize the menu music, repetitive tracks, and censorship of lyrics, leading to frustration and disappointment. Overall, while there are standout songs, the general consensus leans towards dissatisfaction with the music selection and implementation.
- “The soundtrack is straight fire, featuring the hottest tracks that keep you hyped up while hitting the virtual hardwood.”
- “One of the best 2K soundtracks in a long time.”
- “Introduces me to some great songs I wouldn't have listened to otherwise.”
- “Was looking forward to playing an NBA game after 10+ years, but as soon as I heard censored music after launching the game, I don't even want to touch it. What's the point of adding music if you're going to censor 70% of the lyrics?”
- “If you've played 2K22 or 2K21, just pass and play those. This isn't next-gen so it doesn't add anything, and the music is probably the worst collection of songs I've heard from a major game company. 2K needs to go back to getting major artists and mainstream songs or amazing throwbacks like they used to; no more of this new era crap that is awful.”
- “The game has terrible music, worse menus, tons of cheaters, random disconnects during online play, and a hardcore grind unless you buy VC.”
humor
68 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in NBA 2K23 is a mixed bag, with players finding amusement in both the game's quirks and its shortcomings. Many reviews highlight the comedic aspects of the commentary, player animations, and the absurdity of gameplay glitches, while others express frustration over the game's mechanics, leading to a humorous take on its flaws. Overall, the game is seen as a source of laughter, especially when played with friends, despite its many issues.
- “Get ready to experience an entire spectrum of hilarious moments and uncontrollable laughter.”
- “In summary, NBA 2K23 is not just a basketball game; it's a hilarious collection of basketball bloopers and comedy sketches.”
- “I can't help but burst into laughter every time I see one of those hilarious monstrosities staring back at me from the screen.”
emotional
34 mentions
82 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of NBA 2K23 is largely criticized, with players expressing feelings of frustration and disappointment due to its repetitive gameplay, lackluster graphics, and a boring storyline. Many users report feeling suffocated by the game's mechanics and describe their experience as emotionally draining, with some even jokingly threatening legal action for "emotional damage." Overall, the game fails to evoke positive emotions, leaving players feeling unfulfilled and disconnected.
- “I will be suing 2K Sports for emotional damage and hospital fees.”
- “Makes me want to cry.”
- “22 felt like a chore and every possession I had made me feel suffocated.”
- “This MyCareer is lazy and boring story-wise, like your nickname is MP.”
- “I only bought this game for MyCareer and yet again it's another grindfest where they spent more time on the boring story I skip through anyways instead of the actual game.”
- “From its boring storyline, repetitive gameplay, and lackluster graphics, there's nothing redeemable about this game.”
replayability
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through various modes such as MyLeague, MyPlayer, the Jordan Challenge, GM mode, and franchise mode, providing players with diverse gameplay experiences. However, some users express concerns about the potential costs associated with maximizing this replay value. Overall, the replayability is considered very high.
- “The play now, MyPlayer, the Jordan Challenge, GM mode, and franchise mode, along with other ways to play, give this game a very, very high replay value!”
- “Offline MyLeague has a lot of replayability.”
- “I've found a lot of replayability... I'd just like to not have to spend hundreds to do it.”
- “Offline myleague has a lot of replayability.”
atmosphere
6 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its immersive qualities, with impressive lighting effects and well-recreated arenas that enhance the experience. However, some players express frustration with the gameplay, describing it as chaotic and unappealing, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the atmosphere.
- “The lighting effects and faithfully recreated arenas create an immersive atmosphere that rivals the grandest of real-life arenas.”
- “My last game was 2K21, which I found quite good in terms of graphics, audience sounds, and immersive atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is so chaotic and nonsensical that it feels like a bad dream I can't wake up from. It's frustrating and makes the game unbearable.”
- “The game creates an atmosphere that is overwhelmingly negative, making it hard to enjoy any aspect of it. It's like being trapped in a never-ending cycle of disappointment.”
- “I found the atmosphere to be incredibly off-putting, with a sense of confusion and frustration that overshadowed any potential enjoyment.”
character development
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being shallow and lacking depth, with player interactions and endorsements feeling repetitive and uninspired. Overall, the experience fails to engage players meaningfully.
- “The character development is shallow, and the interactions with other players and coaches feel repetitive and devoid of depth.”
- “The character development is shallow, and the interactions with other players and coaches feel repetitive and devoid of depth.”