NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 Reviews

Last year’s release of NBA Playgrounds harkened back to an era of zany sports game that delivered a radically different experience from their simulation counterparts. In a gaming culture that was focused on single-player adventures and couch co-op titles like NBA Ballers and NFL Street fit the mould and were rightfully praised for their over-the-top take on what some players saw as mundane cash-grabs in the way of yearly sports releases. Having played around with the first NBA Playgrounds on Nintendo Switch, I was curious to see whether the sequel would fall into the trappings of a quick yearly cash-grab or attempt to re-invent the formula and craft the next big party game.

A hard time trusting the process.

Last year’s NBA Playgrounds sought to re-capture the magic that made the likes of NBA Jam and FIFA Street so much fun. In regards to the over the top style, it was a slam dunk, but it was generally a pretty shallow experience. Now under the guidance of 2K, Playgrounds has returned for a second attempt.

A clear improvement over its predecessor. Looks better and plays better too.

Last year's debut arcade basketball game from Saber Interactive was definitely a big surprise for many gamers. This year, they're at it again with a sequel so let's see if it's a slam dunk.

This arcade basketball simulator steps onto the courts once more, but did it build on the formula, fall short, or become a blend of both? Find out in our NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 PS4 review.

NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 adds depth to both the solo and multiplayer modes. Season mode improves the card collecting loop and Playgrounds Championship introduces ranked play for competitive users. The 2v2 basketball gameplay perhaps feels a bit too familiar but it’s refined in welcome ways. Pick-up-and-play arcade basketball is, thankfully, still alive and well.