NBA 2K25

NBA 2K25 radically improves gameplay and presents the most authentic NBA experience to date. It builds on systems introduced in last year’s version to give a more complete package for players to enjoy.

63%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

optimization, monetization

63% User Score Based on 18,018 reviews

Critic Score 74%Based on 27 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $23.09

Buy NowGet on Steam$23.09

Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store

Buy NowGet on PS Store$27.99

About

NBA 2K25 Standard Edition invites you to immerse in the world of basketball, celebrating its past, present, and future. Experience authentic gameplay, featuring updated rosters, improved graphics, and innovative game modes. Dive into the rich hoops culture, with a variety of soundtracks, commentaries, and cinematic storylines, making NBA 2K25 a must-play for basketball fans.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

63%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,677 reviews

gameplay181 positive mentions

optimization162 negative mentions

gameplay
510 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
57%
7%
The gameplay in NBA 2K25 has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its smooth mechanics and improved animations, making it feel more realistic than previous iterations. However, criticisms focus on unbalanced gameplay, frustrating shooting mechanics, and persistent technical issues, including crashes and long loading times, which detract from the overall experience. While some players enjoy the refined gameplay and new features, others feel that the reliance on microtransactions and lack of significant innovation hinder the game's potential.
- “The gameplay feels smoother and more responsive than its predecessor, and the new-gen enhancements are definitely noticeable.”
- “The gameplay is the best it’s ever been which should be the most important thing to 2k players.”
- “Gameplay has seen notable improvements in both offensive and defensive mechanics, offering a smoother and more responsive experience.”
- “The developers' focus on making the game more accessible to casual players has resulted in an oversimplification of the mechanics.”
- “Players have reported experiencing frequent crashes, long loading times, and glitches that disrupt the flow of gameplay.”
- “The gameplay feels like a rehash of previous entries in the series, with only minor tweaks to gameplay mechanics and features.”
graphics
357 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
58%
8%
The graphics in NBA 2K25 have received mixed reviews, with some praising the next-gen visuals and realistic player models, while others criticize poor optimization and graphical glitches. Many players note that while the game looks impressive on high-end systems, it struggles to perform well on lower-end hardware, leading to lag and stuttering. Overall, the graphical enhancements are seen as a step forward for the franchise, but significant issues remain that detract from the experience.
- “The graphics are stunning, capturing every detail of the players and arenas, which really brings the game to life.”
- “With next gen on PC, this game's graphics are insane and the gameplay feels smooth in comparison with other 2K games.”
- “The gameplay is smooth, the graphics are sharp, and there's a lot of risk/reward with your decisions on the court.”
- “Graphics, once a standout feature of the NBA 2K series, are another disappointment in 2K25.”
- “The graphics are horrible.”
- “This game has a number of graphical problems and low optimization.”
optimization
333 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
38%
49%
The optimization of NBA 2K25 has received overwhelmingly negative feedback from users, with many reporting severe lag, stuttering, and crashes even on high-end PCs. Players express frustration over the game's poor performance, which often requires extensive tweaking of settings to achieve playable frame rates. While some users have experienced satisfactory performance, the general consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, particularly in online modes and the city environment, leading to a frustrating gaming experience.
- “The gameplay itself is quite revolutionary, but the performance issues make me want to refund this game so bad.”
- “The graphics and performance are obviously much better when running it off a proper gaming PC, but being able to take the game with you on the go and still get a passable experience is a really nice touch.”
- “Taking all this into consideration, this is the best 2K game in a long time on PC; last time I had this much fun was on NBA 2K17... I don't have any performance issues whatsoever.”
- “The game isn’t optimized for the PC and it’s always lagging and stuttering with a high-end PC.”
- “Randomly starts lagging and stuttering in online play every other game to where it is unplayable; do not waste your money.”
- “This game is poorly optimized for PC; do not waste your money.”
monetization
155 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
60%
35%
The monetization strategy in NBA 2K25 has been widely criticized for its aggressive and predatory nature, heavily relying on microtransactions that detract from the overall gameplay experience. Many players feel that the game prioritizes profit over player enjoyment, with constant ads and a grindy progression system that pushes users towards spending money to compete effectively. While some appreciate the gameplay improvements, the overwhelming focus on monetization continues to overshadow the game's potential, leading to a perception of it as a cash grab.
- “The game's microtransactions remain a controversial topic, but they do not detract from the core gameplay experience.”
- “First and foremost, one of the most glaring issues with NBA 2K25 is its overwhelming reliance on microtransactions.”
- “This monetization strategy makes the game feel more like a money grab than an enjoyable experience.”
- “The developers have clearly prioritized monetization and maintaining the status quo over introducing fresh ideas or addressing long-standing fan complaints.”
story
147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
69%
10%
The story mode in NBA 2K25 has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over its lack of depth and engaging narrative compared to previous iterations. While some appreciate the integration of quests and customization options, others criticize the mode for feeling tedious, linear, and overly reliant on microtransactions, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the consensus suggests that the story mode is underwhelming and fails to capture the immersive basketball journey that fans have come to expect.
- “The revamped story is grounded and feels like a glimpse behind the scenes unlike every experience before.”
- “I’ve been particularly impressed with the MyCareer mode, which offers an engaging storyline and a variety of customization options.”
- “Nba 2k25 stands out as one of the best installments in the series, featuring a compelling storyline that differentiates it from previous versions.”
- “The story mode in NBA 2K25, which was once a highlight of the series, also falls short of expectations.”
- “The storyline includes deeper branching narratives and more impactful choices, adding a nice RPG element.”
- “The mycareer storyline has little changes and it gets boring how repetitive the matches in-game are.”
stability
135 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with players reporting frequent crashes, long loading times, and numerous technical glitches that severely disrupt gameplay. Many users describe the game as "buggy" and "unplayable," particularly in online modes, while a few have noted improvements in performance on higher-end systems. Overall, the consensus is that the game suffers from significant stability issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “Everything seems good to me and I've had no glitches, bugs, freezes, or anything of the sort like people complaining about.”
- “The game runs great online and off....most negativity in the reviews will be about monetization.”
- “Runs great, plays great, and looks great!”
- “Players have reported experiencing frequent crashes, long loading times, and glitches that disrupt the flow of gameplay.”
- “This game is overall buggy, and sometimes the bug would not be there.”
- “Horrible optimization, frequent crashes and freezes with tons of technical issues, how do you guys manage to make the same game every year, but it gets worse every year?”
grinding
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
1%
98%
The grinding aspect of NBA 2K25 has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players expressing frustration over the excessive time required to progress without spending real money on virtual currency (VC). Many reviews highlight that the game feels designed to encourage microtransactions, making it tedious and time-consuming to achieve competitive player levels, often requiring hundreds of hours of grinding. While some players appreciate the longevity this grind provides, the overall sentiment is that the experience is marred by a lack of rewarding progression and an overwhelming emphasis on monetization.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Unlike previous iterations, where players could immerse themselves in a compelling story about rising to basketball stardom, 2K25's story mode feels like a tedious grind.”
- “The feeling of pay-to-win is strong in this game; if you plan on grinding out 300+ hours to try to get to 99 overall, I wouldn't because the starting point you're given in this game is ridiculous compared to previous 2Ks.”
- “Imagine paying seventy dollars (where I am) and then having to spend extra real-life money in order to level up your offline story mode character unless you want to go through hours upon hours of insanely slow grinding made specifically to deter you and make you spend money like a gacha mobile game would.”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
50%
13%
The music in NBA 2K25 receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the soundtrack and its ability to enhance the gaming experience, while others find it lacking and repetitive. Many users express disappointment with the overall music library, noting that while there are a few standout tracks, much of it is forgettable or not to their taste. The option to customize the playlist and mute the music is appreciated, but overall, the soundtrack does not meet the high expectations set by previous installments.
- “The sound is equally impressive, with a great soundtrack and lively commentary, though some lines from the announcers can get repetitive.”
- “The competition is fierce, the controls are responsive, and the soundtrack keeps you hyped throughout.”
- “Career mode is fun and just the overall presentation is great from the music to the announcers.”
- “The music is pretty bad.”
- “I also did not much care for the music library as a whole.”
- “I only have selected like 15-20 songs that I am willing to listen to and after hearing them 3-4 times in a play session, I am done with all of them.”
humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
14%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players finding amusement in both the game's quirks and the community's interactions. Many highlight the absurdities of gameplay mechanics, such as illogical player movements and the exaggerated nature of certain modes, while others find humor in the competitive banter and chaotic multiplayer experiences. However, some reviews also express frustration, suggesting that the game's shortcomings can be so extreme that they become unintentionally funny.
- “The fact that they have the audacity to call this game 'next gen' is hilarious.”
- “Your physical attributes matter too; I've seen a 5'9 guard with 70 strength body a 6'5 guard that clearly had no strength while dribbling, and it was hilarious.”
- “Let's be real, having the voice chat enabled in this game is funny as hell.”
- “This game tries to be funny, but the jokes fall flat.”
- “The humor in this game is forced and cringeworthy.”
- “I expected a lot of laughs, but instead, I just rolled my eyes.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the emotional aspect of the game lacking due to stilted dialogue and one-dimensional characters, which hinder investment in the narrative. While some appreciate the personal involvement in career mode, the absence of meaningful storytelling and emotional depth leaves many feeling disappointed and disconnected from the experience.
- “It made me feel personally involved.”
- “Maybe if I write them a heartfelt poem about my love for the game... nah, who am I kidding?”
- “There will be no rookie showcase, no extending the contracts for multiple years scenario/cutscene, there will be no heartwarming or heart-wrenching stories, it's basically just you and your NBA career.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
Replayability is considered strong due to diverse modes, regular updates, and events that enhance the gaming experience. However, concerns about the quality of generated draft classes may limit long-term replay value in offline modes.
- “Replayability is still solid due to the variety of modes, frequent updates, and events.”
- “These additions add depth and replayability to the game.”
- “They really need to fix generated draft classes if half of the offline modes rely on them to have any replay value beyond season 1.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere in the game is described as electric, enhanced by slick graphics and the sounds of a lively courtside environment. However, a significant drawback is the lack of crowd presence, with arenas appearing mostly empty for most of the game, which detracts from the overall immersive experience.
- “The gameplay is tight, the graphics are slick, and the atmosphere is electric.”
- “The courtside atmosphere is electric, with roaring crowds and the familiar sounds of sneakers squeaking on the hardwood.”
- “All that said though, coming from 22 is a massive leap in gameplay and atmosphere.”
- “Major thing that messes up atmosphere is that for some reason all the arenas are pretty much empty for 3 quarters and not filled with viewers even in clutch; it's weird as heck, hope we will get a fix for this...”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development is criticized for being shallow and predictable, with limited player choice and minimal depth in the narrative.
- “The narrative is shallow and predictable, offering little in the way of player choice or meaningful character development.”
- “Character arcs feel rushed and underdeveloped, leaving players disconnected from their journeys.”
- “The lack of depth in character backstories makes it hard to invest emotionally in their outcomes.”