NBA 2K21

Impulse GamerLyla Saudi

Complete with all the style, appeal, and glamour that it is famous for in the real world, NBA2K21 continues the tradition of this iconic franchise which

Pure NintendoHeath Shusterman-Zimmerman

7.5/10

If you're looking for a realistic basketball experience on the Nintendo Switch, you pretty much only have one choice. That choice being the NBA 2K series, which

DualShockersGrant Huff

7/10

Have we hit the ultimate ceiling for basketball simulation in terms of gameplay? Over the past five or so years, 2K has not evolved very much in how it controls. And to be fair, why should they? The current control scheme still works well and I am not sure what more innovation can be done using a modern controller. The problem that these games keep running into is that they just feel too repetitive and convoluted. Every year we get a similar MyCareer mode with an underwhelming storyline, a convoluted MyTeam mode, and an online experience that rewards those who fork over real cash. Until 2K and...

Worth PlayingRedmond Carolipio

7/10

NBA 2K21 continues the franchise's tradition as the gold standard of basketball simulation across all platforms with unrivaled realism and true NBA gameplay.

Game InformerKimberley Wallace

7/10

Just like the star athletes that adorn its cover every year, NBA 2K has created a strong legacy, launching it to the top of this generation’s sports games. The series has maintained solid gameplay while never forgetting about innovation, and I appreciate the risks Visual Concepts takes even when they don’t completely pay off. NBA 2K has advanced sports storytelling, character customization, and the level of detail we expect from overall presentation. However, once you’re on top, you have to fight to stay there, and a bad season or two can haunt you. The current-gen version of NBA 2K21 is not a...

Capsule ComputersTravis Bruno

6.5/10

While still a solid basketball game, NBA 2K21 doesn’t bring enough new to the table this year and instead focuses more on constant grind for VC.

PSExtremeB McCarthy

6.3/10

Will you enable the new Skill Shot feature? Should you spend $60 on this & a story that lasts a couple hours? PSXE reviews NBA 2K21 for PS4.

Jump Dash RollPete Taylor

6/10

When you’re shooting hoops and playing basketball, NBA 2K21 is rather fun to play. However, it suffers from obtrusive microtransactions and game modes that are made in such a way that they try to nudge you to buy more virtual currency. NBA 2K21’s appeal dives even more when you realise very little has changed from NBA 2K20. Hopefully Visual Concepts will come back strong on next-generation consoles with something that feels more than just about making money.

GameSpotMichael Higham

6/10

NBA 2K21 still manages to capture the art of basketball, but it's largely the same dance as years past.

Game RantJonathan Ammerman

6/10

NBA 2K21 has a plethora of things to do. Some will gravitate to MyLeague for grand-scale teambuilding in online competition. Some will play solo through MyCareer, slowly building up an NBA legend. Others will head to The Beach and spend tons of time breaking ankles and taking it to the rim in ProAms. In a year in which it would have been easy to copy and paste the last NBA 2K game, 2K21 has a lot of "new" going for it. However, once players dig deeper, additions like The Beach don't really feel any different than the old Neighborhood from previous years. And other changes, such as the shooting...

Hardcore Gamer Cory Wells

NBA 2K20 was a fun and serious game of basketball to play. On the surface, I'm partial to the difficulty involved in shooting and the Advanced Pro Stick for NBA 2K21, as they can no doubt separate the great players from the average ones with endless combo possibilities. I like the idea of having to get better with shooting and while I've improved, the results are still too inconsistent no matter the player you have. What made last year's version great with the new MyPLAYER designs are all here, but roughly not updated. The narrative in MyCAREER is enjoyable, but leaves a gaping hole at the end...

ShackNewsDonovan Erskine

6/10

NBA 2K21 suffers from the same issues that have held the series down for years. A poor MyCareer story, reused assets, shoddy servers, and an over-importance of VC/microtransactions. The one redeeming quality that NBA 2K21 can boast is its high-level gameplay. Luckily, that’s what you want most from a basketball sim.