NBA NOW 23 Game Cover

"NBA NOW 23" is an officially licensed NBA basketball game that offers fans an immersive and authentic experience with awesome game mechanics and stunning graphics. However, players should be aware of the occasional bugs that may impact gameplay. Get ready to lead your favorite team to victory in this latest addition to the NBA NOW series.

  • Phone
  • Android
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,121 reviews
graphics124 positive mentions
stability46 negative mentions
  • Definitely not pay to win; players can be trained and acquired over time.
  • The game offers a variety of modes, including dunk contests and player drafts, making it engaging.
  • The graphics and gameplay are enjoyable, providing a fun experience for basketball fans.
  • The game frequently crashes and has issues with lag, especially during gameplay.
  • The interface can be unresponsive, leading to frustrating experiences when trying to control players.
  • The automatic player condition recovery system is inconsistent, making it difficult to maintain a competitive team.
  • graphics186 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising their realism and quality, often comparing them favorably to console standards. However, several users report issues with lag and performance, particularly on lower-end devices, and express a desire for a landscape mode to enhance gameplay comfort. Overall, while the graphics are generally well-received, there are calls for improvements to address performance issues and control layouts.

    • “The graphics are amazing and I think this game is the best in the future.”
    • “Amazing graphics, the players have almost similar face scans to the actual players, which is great for a mobile game; gameplay is smooth.”
    • “Great graphics, realistic gameplay, except it needs to be in landscape mode.”
    • “Seems like a fun game but on Chromebook, it lags, graphics suck, and it's so pixelated.”
    • “The game was good before this latest update, the graphics are so bad and many other things, it got more lag now and just degraded.”
    • “The game is pretty bad, graphics suck and the controls are worse.”
  • gameplay82 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is generally praised for its realistic graphics and smooth controls, making it enjoyable for casual players. However, many users express concerns about issues such as lag, difficulty in player switching, and the need for improvements in animations and camera angles. While some find the gameplay fun and engaging, others criticize it for being too easy or suffering from performance problems, indicating a mixed reception overall.

    • “Amazing graphics, the players have almost similar face scans to the actual players which is great for a mobile game, gameplay is smooth.”
    • “Great game, amazing gameplay, I've even invited friends to join and play!”
    • “Amazing gameplay, awesome graphics and easy to play.”
    • “The gameplay sucks.”
    • “Gameplay is laggy for no reason.”
    • “Extremely bad gameplay experience.”
  • stability46 mentions

    The stability of the game is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent freezing, lagging, and glitches that disrupt gameplay. Despite some players enjoying the overall experience, the persistent technical issues, especially after updates, have led to frustration and negative feedback. Overall, while the game has potential, it requires urgent fixes to improve its stability and user experience.

    • “I wouldn't even be allowed to play a game after the tutorial; it just freezes and you can do nothing about it. I tried refreshing but it still did not work. Do not download this game.”
    • “Game always freezes or kicks me out after the load screen.”
    • “This game is a living hell; it freezes every time I load into a game.”
  • monetization14 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the lack of intrusive ads and the option for in-app purchases, while others criticize the reliance on these purchases for competitive advantage, labeling it as "pay to win." Many users express frustration over the high costs of in-game purchases and the obstructive nature of forced ads for additional content, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, while the game is fun and visually impressive, the monetization strategy has left some players feeling that it hampers the casual gaming experience.

    • “This game is pretty fun, and I would honestly be willing to spend money on in-app purchases; however, the condition mechanic needs to be removed as it makes the game borderline unplayable.”
    • “No ads add the cherry on top.”
    • “Good game, but the in-game purchases are really expensive.”
    • “The forced ads for in-game purchases are super annoying and obstructive.”
    • “Team strength also relies on in-app purchases.”
    • “The game has so many ads and is so laggy.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    Overall, players express significant concerns regarding the game's optimization, citing issues such as poor performance, input lag, and stuttering, which detract from the experience. Many feel that the game is not well-suited for mobile devices, especially given its large file size relative to its content. While some acknowledge the game's fun elements, the consensus is that substantial optimization is necessary for smoother gameplay.

    • “Good game but is kind of slow in performance.”
    • “Poorly optimized but fun.”
    • “Game needs more optimization; it's not smooth on my Android and I've got 4GB RAM.”
    • “The level-up system is annoying, and the game is large for its file size compared to the contents, so optimization is needed. It's not worth having on my phone.”
    • “Poor performance, input lag, unexplained stutter, and the gameplay feels like I'm playing a beta version.”
    • “The game needs more optimization; it's not smooth on my Android, and I've got 4GB of RAM.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding in NBA Now 23 to be manageable, with some noting it is less tedious than in other games. However, frustrations arise from technical issues, such as losing progress after crashes, which undermines the effort put into grinding. While the game offers free-to-play opportunities to earn valuable player cards, the repetitive nature of league mode can become tiresome.

    • “I was really in love with the game until it crashed in the middle of opening my two diamond cards. Here I am thinking, 'Well, I've seen the cards, they'll still be there as soon as the game loads back up,' but nope, zip, zilch, zero, nada, nothing. All that hard work grinding and actual money spent to have absolutely nothing waiting for me. It's messed up because I know plenty of other games that will keep your stuff for you until you reopen it, but not NBA Now 23. If it messes up my flight...”
    • “Getting a bit more tedious and repetitive, especially in the league mode.”
    • “It's alright, not as grindy as some other games.”
  • story4 mentions

    The reviews highlight a desire for a story mode in the game, indicating that while the gameplay is enjoyable and visually impressive, the lack of narrative depth is a notable shortcoming. Players appreciate the mechanics and animations but feel that the game could benefit from more engaging content, particularly in terms of storytelling.

    • “I like this game; it needs a little bit of work but is really fun. It should have a story mode.”
    • “The visuals are amazing and the animations are outstanding, making the gameplay feel immersive.”
    • “Great game so far, only complaint is that there's a very limited chance of getting mission booster cards and the combination of players is just out of hand, which kills the experience.”
    • “I enjoy the game, but you should let us have the option of resetting our missions on guide and prime because of the new update.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its quality and presentation. However, some users express a desire for the return of soundtracks from previous installments and note limitations, such as the inability to play their own music simultaneously. Overall, while the game’s music is solid, there are areas for improvement.

    • “Great presentation, good game music.”
    • “It's a great game for a mobile port; nothing to complain about, but please bring back the soundtrack from the last game.”
    • “It's a great game for a mobile port, nothing to complain about, but please bring back the soundtrack from the last game.”
    • “Pretty decent, except I can't play my music at the same time.”
    • “Why only music?”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game is praised for its immersive basketball atmosphere, earning a perfect score of 10/10 from users.

    • “The game creates an incredible basketball atmosphere that immerses you completely. 10/10!”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is so vibrant and engaging, it truly captures the essence of basketball.”
    • “Every match feels alive with an authentic basketball atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy NBA NOW 23

Similar Games