NBA 2K24

44%
Game Brain Score Based on 11,417 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
NBA 2K24 Game Cover
NBA 2K24 may be a slam dunk in many respects, it is not a radical departure from its predecessor.
Starting at $24.08Buy now
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"NBA 2K24 Black Mamba Edition" offers an immersive basketball experience with various in-game bonuses, such as VC, MyTEAM points, and player cards. The game features MyCAREER mode, MyTEAM for building your ultimate roster, and PLAY NOW to enjoy matches with NBA and WNBA teams. The game also includes "Mamba Moments" to relive Kobe Bryant's iconic performances.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

44%
Audience ScoreBased on 11,417 reviews
graphics71 positive mentions
story239 negative mentions
  • story485 mentions

    The overwhelming consensus among users is that NBA 2K24 lacks a meaningful story mode, particularly in the MyCareer section, which has been stripped of its narrative elements. Players express disappointment over being thrown directly into gameplay without any character development, cutscenes, or engaging storylines, making the experience feel shallow and uninspired compared to previous iterations. Many reviews highlight this absence as a significant downgrade, especially for those who valued the storytelling aspect of the game.

    • “New features and storylines provide depth and replayability to the mode.”
    • “The MyCareer mode returns with a compelling story-driven experience where you create your own player and navigate their journey from rookie to NBA superstar.”
    • “As fans, we long for a MyCareer experience that truly captivates us, with rich storytelling and impactful decision-making.”
    • “MyCareer has no story, you are thrown into the NBA right away as a 60 overall player.”
    • “They literally took out the story mode in MyCareer... and had the audacity to raise the price to $70.”
    • “The absence of a storyline has also had a detrimental impact on the game's overall immersion.”
  • gameplay398 mentions

    The gameplay in NBA 2K24 has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it feels largely unchanged from previous iterations, leading to a sense of stagnation and repetition. While some improvements in mechanics, such as smoother dribbling and shooting controls, have been acknowledged, persistent bugs, unresponsive controls, and a reliance on microtransactions have marred the overall experience. Additionally, issues like crashes and server problems have further detracted from the enjoyment of the game, leaving many players frustrated with its execution.

    • “Building on its predecessors, the game introduces new features, refined mechanics, and updated rosters to bring the excitement of the NBA to players' screens.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics have been refined, offering smoother and more responsive controls, which enhance the overall gaming experience.”
    • “The mechanics feel smoother, and there's a certain level of realism in player movements and interactions that enhance the immersion.”
    • “The gameplay is the worst in any sports game ever.”
    • “Gameplay is so bad.”
    • “The gameplay didn’t live up to my expectations, and I found the overall experience lacking.”
  • graphics361 mentions

    The graphics in NBA 2K24 have received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of significant improvements compared to previous installments. While some praise the game's realistic visuals and attention to detail, a substantial number of users criticize it for outdated graphics that feel more akin to last-gen titles, particularly on PC. Overall, the consensus suggests that the graphics are not up to par with current gaming standards, leading to frustration among players who expected a more substantial upgrade.

    • “NBA 2K24 continues to build on the strengths of the series with realistic graphics, improved gameplay mechanics, and engaging content.”
    • “One of the highlights of NBA 2K24 is its stunning graphics and attention to detail.”
    • “The game boasts stunning graphics that bring every player and arena to life, creating a highly realistic atmosphere that mirrors the excitement of real NBA games.”
    • “The graphics are terrible and should be next gen instead of current.”
    • “The graphics haven't improved at all, and I had a game-breaking bug when I first launched it where I couldn't agree to the terms and conditions and required me to restart multiple times plugging my controller in to make it finally work.”
    • “This game should not be on the Steam store especially because of the limited features and the graphics do not recommend buying.”
  • stability237 mentions

    The stability of NBA 2K24 has been heavily criticized, with players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and a multitude of bugs that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users describe the game as "unplayable" due to persistent glitches, particularly in modes like MyCareer, and express frustration over the lack of effective patches or updates from the developers. Overall, the game's technical issues have led to a negative reception, with numerous players advising against purchasing it.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck!”
    • “If you have a nice computer, the game runs great.”
    • “The game itself runs great on Steam Deck, but it's still old gen.”
    • “The game is buggy, the store works but the game doesn't.”
    • “Game crashes after launching and if I'm lucky enough to load up a game on MyTeam, it either sits at 99% and never loads or it lets me play the game and then freezes once the game is over, completely unplayable trash game 0/10.”
    • “This game is by far the buggiest game I have ever played, and the only reason I haven't refunded it is because I spent all of the 2 hours troubleshooting.”
  • monetization130 mentions

    The monetization in NBA 2K24 has drawn widespread criticism for its aggressive and predatory microtransaction practices, which many players feel transform the game into a blatant cash grab. Users report that significant in-game purchases are necessary to progress and enjoy the game, particularly in modes like MyCareer and MyTeam, leading to frustration over the lack of value for the initial purchase price. Overall, the excessive focus on monetization has overshadowed gameplay quality and innovation, leaving many fans disappointed.

    • “Although it offers an enjoyable basketball experience, the presence of microtransactions and limited innovation may affect its overall value for some players.”
    • “While NBA 2K24 excels in almost every aspect, there's one area where many players, myself included, wish for improvement: in-game prices and microtransactions.”
    • “One of the primary grievances within the NBA 2K24 community revolves around the pervasive presence of microtransactions and the exploitation of virtual currency.”
    • “You pay 60 dollars for the old gen version of the game and you don't even get to make any progress without paying hundreds of dollars in microtransactions.”
    • “It's a blatant cash grab that preys on the addictive tendencies of its player base, turning what should be a fun and rewarding experience into a soul-sucking grindfest.”
    • “The game is littered with loot boxes, pay-to-win mechanics, and other predatory monetization schemes designed to squeeze every last penny out of unsuspecting players.”
  • grinding69 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively time-consuming and tedious, often requiring players to invest hundreds of hours or spend money on virtual currency (VC) to progress. Many reviewers express frustration over the lack of meaningful rewards for their efforts, labeling the game as a "pay-to-win" experience that detracts from enjoyment and fairness, especially in modes like MyCareer. Overall, the grinding is seen as a major barrier to fun, with players feeling trapped in a repetitive cycle that prioritizes financial investment over skill or dedication.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You make your character, pick the team you want to be on, and then bam, you're in the starting lineup with the same amount of playtime as your starters. There is zero story and no grinding to get minutes and make the starting 5.”
    • “I've spent 70 hours grinding just to get around a 70 overall.”
    • “Grinding for VC is just way too hard and time-consuming.”
    • “Unlocking basic features and progressing in the game becomes a tedious and expensive task, creating a sense of frustration and unfairness.”
  • optimization62 mentions

    The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting severe performance issues such as stuttering, freezing, and low CPU/GPU usage, particularly on PC. Many players feel that the game is poorly optimized for their hardware, leading to a frustrating experience that lacks the expected improvements seen in previous iterations. Overall, the consensus is that the game suffers from significant optimization flaws, making it nearly unplayable for many users.

    • “The graphics and overall performance of the game is lovely.”
    • “It's basically a smoother, more optimized version of 2k21, because we're still on old-gen 3 years later on PC of all things. So yeah, it's fun to play if you enjoy the 2k franchise.”
    • “I think the system that they created is very complex and should be optimized ASAP.”
    • “Optimization is too trash to be playable, fine for the first game but stuttering even playing offline after a few games and low CPU and GPU usage in task manager.”
    • “This game has some of the worst optimization I've ever encountered.”
    • “It's clear that the game was released without thorough testing and optimization, resulting in a frustrating and unpolished product.”
  • music25 mentions

    The game's music has received mixed reviews, with some praising its dynamic and diverse soundtrack that enhances the gaming experience, while others criticize it as repetitive and lacking quality. Many players appreciate specific tracks and artists, but there are significant complaints about the overall selection, with some describing it as "hot garbage" and poorly curated. Additionally, issues with the music player functionality and excessive censorship of lyrics have further detracted from the experience for some users.

    • “The game features a diverse soundtrack with tracks from various genres, enhancing the overall gaming experience.”
    • “The music selection adds energy and excitement to the gameplay.”
    • “Furthermore, the game features a rich soundtrack and commentary, enhancing the overall immersion and making each game feel like a live broadcast.”
    • “Soundtrack is horrible.”
    • “Almost all of the music is quite literal hot garbage made by artists with little to no real talent.”
    • “What cracks me up is not only the fact they have to censor the lyrics so much in so many of the songs that at times they almost become instrumental versions.”
  • humor22 mentions

    The humor in the game is often described as unintentional, with many players finding the game's bugs, poor support for the PC community, and outdated features to be amusingly frustrating. While some appreciate the comedic aspects of the gameplay and community interactions, others criticize the game as a "lazy cash grab," leading to a mix of genuine laughter and exasperation. Overall, the humor seems to stem from the game's shortcomings rather than intentional comedic elements.

    • “Taking one look at the My Player stuff, I was laughing.”
    • “You know, what's funny, the thing that had me cracking up all night long was the fact that I went through 20 years of everybody screaming to pass the ball, and on the last night, they're like, 'don't pass it.' This has been absolutely beautiful, you guys.”
    • “It's funny that people are dissing this game for being a lazy cash grab asset flip of old gen games that insults the PC players, as if that hasn't been the case with 2K on PC for the last 3 years.”
    • “Unfunny joke - an ugly, unplayable, old, reheated piece of garbage.”
  • emotional16 mentions

    Reviews highlight a significant emotional disconnect with the game, as long-time players express disappointment over its shift from meaningful gameplay to a focus on graphics and monetization. Many users report feelings of heartbreak and frustration, particularly regarding the lack of depth in the storyline and character development, which previously fostered emotional investment. Overall, the game's evolution has left some players feeling disillusioned and emotionally unfulfilled.

    • “I've never written a game review ever, but this game made me feel like I needed to.”
    • “This was heartbreaking.”
    • “The absence of a storyline robs the game of its depth, meaning, and emotional connection.”
    • “The emotional depth of the storyline is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I felt no emotional investment in the plot; it was predictable and uninspiring.”
    • “The game tries to evoke feelings but ultimately falls flat, leaving me feeling indifferent.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    Players highlight that the game offers significant replayability through new features, diverse modes, and the ability to start from different historical eras, particularly the 1980s. Additionally, online multiplayer modes enhance replay value by allowing players to compete against others globally, although some express frustration over additional costs for enhanced gameplay.

    • “New features and storylines provide depth and replayability to the mode.”
    • “The diverse modes provide plenty of content and opportunities for replayability.”
    • “Additionally, the online multiplayer modes provide endless replay value, enabling players to test their skills against others from around the world.”
    • “I can't speak on MyLeague, but no eras sucks. It adds so much replayability to be able to start from all the way back in the 1980s, so it's probably only worth it if you really like the gameplay this year (again, can't really comment on that because I barely got to play, lmfao).”
    • “Every time I think I'm stingy, I remember that 2K asks for an extra $200 to make this game slightly more playable.”
    • “Even that would be a little more playable.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly immersive, effectively capturing the essence of an actual NBA game through realistic court sounds, stunning graphics, and meticulous attention to detail in player animations and arena environments. This combination creates an engaging experience that mirrors the excitement of live basketball.

    • “Each venue captures the atmosphere of an actual NBA game, contributing to the immersive experience.”
    • “The audio design includes realistic court sounds such as ball dribbles, sneaker squeaks, and crowd reactions, contributing to the immersive atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The game boasts stunning graphics that bring every player and arena to life, creating a highly realistic atmosphere that mirrors the excitement of real NBA games.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The game is criticized for its lack of character development, offering minimal customization and failing to present engaging narratives such as rags-to-riches stories or rivalries.

    • “The game lacks customization and character development.”
    • “There's no rags-to-riches tale, no rivalries, and certainly no character development.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

Buy NBA 2K24

Play time

16hMedian play time
61hAverage play time
5-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 25 analyzed playthroughs

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