September 8, 2023
2K

NBA 2K24

NBA 2K24 features revamped gameplay through ProPLAY and small game mode tweaks that make it a worthwhile upgrade. Not everything is perfect, and there is still so much room for growth in future games, but NBA 2K24 is a promising step forward in a franchise that has been complacent in recent years without any real competition.

66%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

monetization, story

Critic Score 66%Based on 29 reviews

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About

NBA 2K24 is a single player and multiplayer sport game. It was developed by 2K and was released on September 8, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from critics.

Enjoy new ways to play at home and on the go with this installment of the world-renowned NBA 2K franchise, exclusively available on Apple Arcade.

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gameplay6 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

ProPLAY technology enhances realism with lifelike animations and gameplay.
On-court gameplay remains best in class, providing a fun and polished experience.
A wide variety of modes and content keeps players engaged and offers something for everyone.

The game is heavily reliant on microtransactions, making progression feel slow and grindy.
MyCareer mode has been watered down and lacks the depth and excitement of previous entries.
Despite improvements, the game feels like a minor update rather than a significant evolution from its predecessor.

monetization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
66%
17%
The monetization model in NBA 2K24 has drawn significant criticism for its heavy reliance on microtransactions, which many reviewers feel detracts from the overall experience and transforms the game into a pay-to-win scenario. Players report a slow and grindy progression in MyCareer mode, compounded by the pervasive presence of microtransactions that feel exploitative in a full-priced game. Despite the polished gameplay, the focus on monetization has left a sour taste, overshadowing the potential of the franchise.
- “Microtransactions have become the key to unlocking the game’s most promising features.”
- “NBA 2K24 offers an extremely polished experience, given its unrivaled on-court feel and a few welcome additions, but questionable decisions and an uncanny push toward microtransactions hurt what could otherwise be considered a natural step forward for the franchise.”
- “Unfortunately, having microtransactions at what feels like every corner is a real letdown for something that otherwise has real potential.”
- “However, it's disappointing that the otherwise fantastic simulation experience is marred by the game's microtransactions, transforming it into a pay-to-win model.”
- “Nba 2k24 may still look gorgeous and play amazing but everything else feels like a step back and is flat out exploitative at points, becoming a poster-child for microtransactions ruining games.”
- “Minor improvements around the edges don’t offset this slippage and the series’ continued descent into being nearly unplayable without spending a fortune on microtransactions.”
gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
NBA 2K24 features refined gameplay with a new proplay animation system that enhances realism and maintains its status as a best-in-class basketball simulation. While the on-court action remains solid and visually impressive, some players note that microtransactions and minor gameplay issues detract from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, the game offers a wealth of content and modes, appealing to both new and returning players.
- “On-court gameplay is still best in class, looks and feels great to play during the action, with an insane amount of content to play through and plenty of retro options.”
- “Proplay delivers real-life NBA footage to the matches and brings the most authentic basketball experience in an NBA game ever. Mamba Moments has a compelling list of memorable matches, and many gameplay enhancements and improvements were made to add to the authenticity.”
- “The gameplay continues to be refined with smart tweaks, and the visuals are among the best in the genre.”
- “NBA 2K24 is the most NBA 2K game you could imagine, rocking moderate improvements to gameplay without really providing anything exciting enough to entice lapsed fans back onto the court.”
- “In NBA 2K24, some thoughtful additions to gameplay visuals and mechanics get deeply overshadowed by some minute growing pains with Proplay, some major hurdles dodging gacha pop-ups, and plenty of presentation hindrances that keep you from playing the actual game.”
- “The series’ formerly rock-solid gameplay foundation feels like it’s slowly slipping away as well.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Overall, the graphics in NBA 2K24 are praised for their high quality and smooth animations, contributing to an immersive gameplay experience. However, some players feel that certain visual elements are starting to feel dated, and issues with microtransactions and presentation hinder the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the visuals remain a standout feature in the genre.
- “The gameplay continues to be refined with smart tweaks, and the visuals are among the best in the genre.”
- “Unmatched gameplay, great visuals.”
- “Graphics are solid with smooth animations; gameplay is solid, and my career location feels more like a community than a hub.”
- “In NBA 2K24, some thoughtful additions to gameplay visuals and mechanics get deeply overshadowed by some minute growing pains with ProPlay, some major hurdles dodging gacha pop-ups, and plenty of presentation hindrances that keep you from playing the actual game.”
- “Visuals are starting to feel dated, with not much added to MyNBA, MyTeam, and Mamba Moments. There's no Jordan Challenge, and the microtransaction dial has been turned up again.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is praised for its great soundtrack, which complements the realistic designs and immersive experience of the NBA matches. Additionally, the incorporation of real-life NBA footage and memorable moments enhances the overall authenticity of the gameplay.
- “The soundtrack list is great, adding to the overall experience of the game.”
- “The music enhances the authenticity of the basketball experience, making it feel more immersive.”
- “The game features a compelling soundtrack that complements the memorable matches and gameplay.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story in the game has been criticized for feeling incomplete and lacking depth, with some elements, like "Mamba Moments," perceived as overly cautious. Additionally, technical issues such as long load times and frustrating microtransactions detract from the overall narrative experience. Overall, players feel that the storytelling does not fully engage or innovate.
- “MyCareer's lost story feels like a cut too far.”
- “Mamba Moments plays things too safe.”
- “The story lacks depth and fails to engage the player.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and slow, particularly in the MyCareer mode, where progress feels hindered by microtransactions and a lack of engaging options like random drafting. The overall experience is marred by the perception that grinding for player upgrades becomes a slog, detracting from enjoyment.
- “Drenched in microtransactions off the court, the city is even more painful than before. Progress through MyCareer feels slow and grindy at times.”
- “More microtransactions for upgraded tiers of the season pass. Not having the option to be randomly drafted in MyCareer makes grinding to improve your player feel like a slog.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the carryover of features from the previous year, which enhances the game's replayability and encourages them to revisit the experience.
- “A bunch of features I liked from last year were carried over, adding to the replayability of the game.”