NBA 2K24

43%
Game Brain Score Based on 14,336 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
NBA 2K24 Game Cover
Significantly more playable, accessible, and appealing than NBA 2K23, this is a fantastic basketball title that finally tried to do something different and mainly succeeds.
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.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

43%
Audience ScoreBased on 14,336 reviews
graphics85 positive mentions
story307 negative mentions
  • story639 mentions

    The story aspect of NBA 2K24 has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, particularly regarding the MyCareer mode, which lacks any narrative or storyline. Players are disappointed that the game has removed the engaging story elements present in previous versions, leaving them to jump directly into NBA games without any character development or backstory. Many reviews express frustration over the absence of a meaningful single-player experience, with some labeling the game as a mere roster update rather than a new installment.

    • “MyCareer with expanded city & new storyline: the city has been expanded with more interactive elements, and the MyCareer storyline offers a fresh, cinematic journey that dives into the challenges of being a rising NBA star.”
    • “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.”
    • “Visually stunning, phenomenal story.”
    • “No story line, very buggy, mamba moments practically only new addition, not worth buying.”
    • “They literally took out the story mode in my career... and had the balls to raise the price to $70.”
    • “This game is a complete disaster. I bought this game to play my career and they couldn't do that well. It's full of bugs, there is no story line, and when you're on the bench you can't skip it.”
  • gameplay533 mentions

    The gameplay of NBA 2K24 has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it feels largely unchanged from its predecessor, NBA 2K23, leading to a sense of stagnation. While some improvements in mechanics, such as smoother dribbling and shooting, have been acknowledged, persistent issues like unresponsive controls, bugs, and a heavy reliance on microtransactions have marred the overall experience. Overall, players express frustration over the lack of innovation and the feeling that the game prioritizes profit over genuine gameplay enhancements.

    • “Dribbling, shooting, and defensive mechanics feel noticeably smoother and more realistic, adding depth to gameplay for both veterans and newcomers.”
    • “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.”
    • “Limited innovation beyond visuals: while the game shines in presentation, the core gameplay feels only slightly refined from NBA 2K23.”
    • “The gameplay is the worst in any sports game ever.”
    • “The gameplay feels to realistic and the VC and MT prices are crazy.”
  • graphics466 mentions

    The graphics in NBA 2K24 have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they feel outdated and similar to previous iterations, particularly 2K23. While some praise the improved player models and lighting, others criticize the lack of next-gen enhancements on the PC version, describing the visuals as "last-gen" and even comparing them unfavorably to older titles. Overall, the game is seen as visually appealing but lacking significant innovation, leading to disappointment among long-time fans.

    • “Next-gen graphics: NBA 2K24 takes graphics to a new level, with improved player models, enhanced lighting, and ultra-realistic court details.”
    • “The graphics are great, the music is awesome along with the commentators and the player movement is authentic!”
    • “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 completely the same as 2 years ago with no improvement.”
    • “Last gen graphics and just a blatant VC cash grab by 2K Sports.”
    • “The graphics are absolute dogshit.”
  • stability295 mentions

    The stability of NBA 2K24 has been heavily criticized, with players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and a plethora of bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users express frustration over the game's unresponsiveness, particularly in modes like MyCareer, where issues such as inability to skip to the next appearance and random game-breaking errors are common. Overall, the game is described as a buggy mess, leading to a consensus that it is largely unplayable, especially on PC.

    • “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.”
    • “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 a buggy mess and at times is simply unplayable; it's horrible.”
    • “The game is incredibly buggy and incredibly greedy.”
  • monetization195 mentions

    NBA 2K24 has faced significant backlash for its aggressive monetization strategies, particularly the pervasive use of microtransactions that many players feel are essential for progression. Critics describe the game as a blatant cash grab, with in-game purchases dominating the experience and making it difficult for players to enjoy the game without spending additional money. Overall, the heavy reliance on microtransactions, coupled with a lack of innovation and technical issues, has left many fans frustrated and disillusioned.

    • “The card-collecting mode has also been simplified, and several fan-favorite features, like the return of MT, make MyTeam more accessible for players who don’t want to spend on microtransactions.”
    • “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.”
    • “For die-hard basketball fans, the gameplay improvements may outweigh the monetization issues.”
    • “The most glaring flaw in NBA 2K24 is the overwhelming presence of 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.”
    • “With its overemphasis on microtransactions, lackluster gameplay, and frustrating AI, it feels like the game is more interested in your wallet than providing an enjoyable basketball experience.”
  • grinding99 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest hundreds of hours or spend real money to make meaningful progress. Many users feel that the game is designed to push microtransactions, making it feel pay-to-win, especially in modes like MyCareer, where the grind for virtual currency (VC) is particularly harsh and unfulfilling. Overall, the grinding experience is described as frustrating and unenjoyable, detracting from the overall gameplay.

    • “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.”
    • “Grinding for VC is just way too hard and time-consuming.”
    • “If you’re not willing to shell out real money, you’re stuck grinding for hours and hours just to make a tiny bit of progress.”
    • “The difference is that this time they push the microtransactions in a crazy way by offering the most artificial grinding that I've ever encountered.”
  • optimization84 mentions

    The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with many users reporting severe performance issues, including frequent crashes, stuttering, and low frame rates even on high-end PCs. Players express frustration over the lack of improvements compared to previous iterations, describing it as poorly optimized and feeling like a last-gen port. Overall, the game's performance is deemed unacceptable, leading to a consensus that significant optimization is urgently needed.

    • “I am very impressed with this game and how well optimized it is, and hopefully we will get the next-gen version for 25.”
    • “The issue with performance seems to have been fixed, runs fine for the most part now.”
    • “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.”
    • “This game is trash, poorly optimized.”
    • “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.”
    • “From its abysmal optimization and outdated graphics to its shameless microtransactions and game-breaking bugs, there's simply nothing redeeming about this sorry excuse for a basketball game.”
  • music34 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its diverse and dynamic soundtrack that enhances the gaming experience, while others criticize it as being filled with low-quality tracks and repetitive beats. Many players express disappointment with the selection, feeling it lacks depth and meaningful content, and some even describe it as "hot garbage." Overall, the soundtrack seems to polarize opinions, with a notable divide between those who enjoy it and those who find it unappealing.

    • “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.”
    • “MyCareer mode has never been so grindy and trash; it also has the worst soundtrack ever from all NBA 2K games...”
    • “Had to edit the sliders terribly hard to make it enjoyable and fair to play vs the CPU; music is also complete garbage, a bunch of songs by Bad Bunny, he sucks, worst music of all time.”
    • “Almost all of the music is quite literally hot garbage made by artists with little to no real talent.”
  • humor25 mentions

    The humor in the game is often described as unintentional, with many players finding the game's flaws and the developers' lack of care for the PC community to be amusing. Reviews highlight the absurdity of the game's bugs, predatory microtransactions, and the overall experience, leading to a mix of laughter and frustration. While some moments and memes are genuinely funny, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game's shortcomings provide more comedic value than enjoyment.

    • “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.”
    • “Truthfully, the storylines in 2K were always lame, and you would probably skip large portions of it, but sometimes there were some decent memes that came out of how ridiculous it was, and there was the (very) rare piece of dialogue that was actually funny or interesting.”
    • “Unfunny joke - an ugly, unplayable, old, reheated piece of garbage.”
  • emotional18 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mixed response from players, with some praising the "Mamba moments" mode as a touching tribute to Kobe Bryant, while others express deep disappointment over the game's lack of meaningful storytelling and emotional engagement. Many players feel that the franchise has strayed from its roots, leading to feelings of frustration and heartbreak, particularly regarding the absence of character depth in modes like MyCareer. Overall, the emotional connection that once defined the series appears to be diminishing, leaving some fans feeling disillusioned.

    • “Mamba moments: this new mode is a heartfelt tribute to Kobe Bryant, letting players relive iconic moments from his legendary career.”
    • “It offers a heartfelt tribute to Kobe, reminding fans why he was such an icon.”
    • “The MyCareer mode used to be a unique opportunity for players to become emotionally invested in their created character's story.”
    • “The emotional depth of the storyline is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I found the emotional moments to be forced and unconvincing, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
    • “Despite the game's attempts at emotional storytelling, it felt flat and uninspired.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game has been significantly enhanced, with improved crowd reactions and commentary that evoke the intensity of real NBA games. Players and arenas are brought to life through stunning graphics and realistic audio design, including court sounds and robust crowd noise, creating an immersive experience that captures the excitement of live basketball. Overall, the attention to detail in both player animations and arena environments contributes to a highly authentic and electrifying atmosphere.

    • “The stadium atmosphere is electric, and big plays seem to garner a huge reaction from the crowd this year.”
    • “Crowd noise is robust and gives you a true sense of a real NBA game atmosphere.”
    • “Each venue captures the atmosphere of an actual NBA game, contributing to the immersive experience.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    Players highlight that the game offers significant replayability through new features, diverse modes, and the ability to start from different historical eras. The online multiplayer aspect further enhances replay value by allowing players to compete globally. However, some users express frustration with additional costs that may impact overall enjoyment.

    • “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.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The game is criticized for its lack of character development, with reviewers noting the absence of customization options, compelling narratives, and meaningful character arcs 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

11hMedian play time
52hAverage play time
5-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 30 analyzed playthroughs

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