NBA 2K16

 PC
User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 80 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 80
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 80
  3. Negative: 29 out of 80

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  1. BudMeister
    Oct 4, 2019
    8
    "An almost perfect release"

    Technical analysis summary Graphics: 8.5 Sound: 8.5 Playability: 8.5 Longevity: 9.0 Impact: 8.0 Pro + All the charm of the NBA world, faithfully recreated + Several game modes to suit all tastes + Interesting story mode with a superb cast + Meeting other online players and see their styles in the park is funny... Cons - ...but meeting tons    "An almost perfect release"

    Technical analysis summary

    Graphics: 8.5
    Sound: 8.5
    Playability: 8.5
    Longevity: 9.0
    Impact: 8.0

    Pro
    + All the charm of the NBA world, faithfully recreated
    + Several game modes to suit all tastes
    + Interesting story mode with a superb cast
    + Meeting other online players and see their styles in the park is funny...

    Cons
    - ...but meeting tons of cheaters is absolutely not!
    - Still need some improvements when is about physical contact between players and animations
    - Needs better roster management: some historic teams don't have their key players and the Euroleague receives way delayed updates
    - Sometimes shots and passes look "predetermined" despite the timing of the player

    Overall Verdict

    8.5: Technically solid and with plenty of game modes, for both single and multi player, the 2016 version of NBA 2K is confirmed as the best basketball simulation game available on the market.
    An excellent title that basketball fans will fully appreciate, suitable for both veterans of the series, who will be amazed by the improvements, and newbies who want to approach the series, thanks to the satisfying learning curve that the game offers. Not totally optimized for competitive online games on PC.

    _______________

    PC Optimization as of 18/09/2016

    As usual when talking about NBA 2K games, the title faced technical issues throughout the year. Some issues were promptly repaired, others required a longer period to be fixed (remarkable was an online-breaking bug following the Windows 10 anniversary update which impeded almost all the players to connect to the servers for more than one week) while others were never totally resolved (such as the above mentioned online cheaters issue). All in all a well optimized and supported game which, however, didn't really favor the players who wanted to participate in competitive gaming.    … Expand
  2. 99dolar
    Mar 3, 2017
    0
    This game is a shame for basketball. Many players are so underrated they cant even finish easy layups. While CPU plays like they have all 99 steal ability . D. Favors shouldn't be stealing the ball from Erving so easily right?
  3. Pegula
    Aug 11, 2016
    10
    I'll try to be short even though this game deserves many words.

    Game is true Masterpiece. First of all, the unbelievable fact that the developers managed to capture a soul of something so complex as basketball and yet made it so simple. Don't get me wrong, simple is not same as easy. Game is really hard...and if you want to master it better be ready to sit down with your    I'll try to be short even though this game deserves many words.

    Game is true Masterpiece.

    First of all, the unbelievable fact that the developers managed to capture a soul of something so complex as basketball and yet made it so simple.

    Don't get me wrong, simple is not same as easy.

    Game is really hard...and if you want to master it better be ready to sit down with your gamepad and learn for a long time.

    But this is the second great aspect of the game, bang for the buck.

    This is probably the only game I have ever played that gives you so much that even if it had 100$ price tag it would be worth it.

    And you can get this game for 5$ or less. Some even got it for free.

    Developers like this should get our support and I really hope that in this time when gaming industry is going in one bad direction...there will be developers like this to go the opposite way.

    Toward the consumers and not just profit.

    Won't say any more.

    You have to see it to believe it - try the game, give yourself some time to learn basics, go watch few videos on youtube...and spend a lot, and I mean a lot if time in the gym and practicing.

    Then, one day...you will get the "feel" for the game and understand it's awesome mechanics.

    It's all about the flow.

    Keep up 2K and thank you!    … Expand
  4. mintlo
    Jul 16, 2016
    5
    This game is an improvement in some ways and a step back in others.
    Things I like:
    The idea of your play as a high school player influencing which tier schools will recruit you, and then again how your play as a college player affects your draft position. Online play has improved, specifically the AI defenders seem to be a little better at preventing drives. Things I do not like: This    This game is an improvement in some ways and a step back in others.
    Things I like:
    The idea of your play as a high school player influencing which tier schools will recruit you, and then again how your play as a college player affects your draft position.
    Online play has improved, specifically the AI defenders seem to be a little better at preventing drives.
    Things I do not like:
    This game is not integrated with Steam at all - when I play someone online I should be able to chat with them one way or another, I should be able to request a rematch immediately after the game. When I play someone online I want to see what our head to head record is with each team we've played with. I want to be able to easily add someone that I'm playing against to my friends list.
    1. Not integrated with steam at all
    -cannot request a rematch at the end of the game
    -cannot chat with opponent
    -cannot easily add opponent to friends list
    2. Opponent is able to change jersey color and may end up choosing jersey color very close to you your color and unless you are watching them closely as they choose jerseys you might start the game and then realize you both have white jerseys or dark jerseys which makes it tough to distinguish your teammates.
    3. Teammate AI is really bad. Tip off after tip off the center of the team that wins the tip cuts to the hoop and can easily dunk it or lay it in and unless you are on it from the get go you will not have a chance to defend it. It's very easy to score in the post on the AI or for others to score in the post. After you score sometimes your teammates with stand near the basket instead of immediately getting back down the court on defense allowing the opposing team to get a fast break dunk on an inbound - this happens often.
    4. So many missed layups when defenders are not near enough to challenge the shot. Also so many missed dunks by high fliers when there are defenders nearby without foul calls.
    5. In online play the timeout scripted scenes are so annoying.
    6. The cheerleader scripted scenes are doubly annoying.
    7. The inablity to adjust the gameplay at the end of quarters and halftime is frustrating.
    8. The directional passing is frustratingly awful.
    9. Waiting for the game to match you with someone in online play is lame. It can take forever - give us information - how many people are playing online right now - how long will the wait be, etc.
    10. The shooting feedback is lame. I don't like it, please work on something better.
    11. The Spike Lee mycareer story mode turned me off, it was immersion killing. Please do not bring it back.
    Suggestions:
    1. There should be a mini game while you are waiting for an online to match you up with an opponent, such as practicing shooting with your players, or getting into a queue to challenge a particular player,
    2 We should be able to see who the best NBA 2k16 players are and send a request to challenge them to a match
    3. Allow us to make defensive adjustments at the end of quarters and during halftime.
    4. Cut out the fat from online play - get rid of the scripted timeout players dancing back to bench and cheerleaders - I didn't buy this game to watch that stuff, its annoying.
    5. Force online players to have opposite dark/light jersey colors. Home team gets priority pick.
    6. Integrate the game with steam - allow up to easily request a rematch, add a friend, chat with opponent, and things like that.
    That is it for now.
    ----
    More annoying stuff.
    1. When grabbing a defensive rebound your player immediately whips a full court shot. This can happen several times a game. Unless there is 1 second left on the clock no player should throw a full court shot.
    2. Despite choosing "smother" defense for an opposing player, that player will repeatedly be left wide open by my teammate.
    3. After a stoppage in play it can take several seconds before the referee gives the ball to the inbounding player, this is another annoying delay of gameplay.
    4. There should be an indicator showing how many team fouls there are and how many fouls to give there are before being in the penalty.
    5. When playing online there don't need to be timeouts automatically taken - simply have the subs automatically switch out - the timeouts scripted sequences are frustratingly immersion killing - make online play as streamlined as possible. Get rid of the cuts to the cheerleaders, the timeout scripted sequences, etc...
    ***EDIT*** Online play is a broken piece of ****    … Expand
  5. voiders
    Jun 16, 2016
    0
    I can't play with my name Diogo? WTF? Ridicolous. The game is a lot worst than 2k15 and 2k14........................................................................
  6. MadMaxFuryRoad
    Jun 15, 2016
    1
    Terrible game on the phone. It's fun and all but there are so many flaws. There are just tons of lags and if you play my career, you'll almost never get in the team you want and win the finals. They make the opponent nearly impossible to defeat and the teammates on your team extremely bad. A lot of times, I tried to do an alley oop and it just went out of bounds. Also your teammates make aTerrible game on the phone. It's fun and all but there are so many flaws. There are just tons of lags and if you play my career, you'll almost never get in the team you want and win the finals. They make the opponent nearly impossible to defeat and the teammates on your team extremely bad. A lot of times, I tried to do an alley oop and it just went out of bounds. Also your teammates make a ton of turnovers and it gets really annoying after shooting like 10 threes and only making 1.… Expand
  7. martinex
    Jun 4, 2016
    5
    The controls are not intuitive. If you have to work four buttons to perform a simple drive to the hoop, then somethings wrong with the interface. The producers spend way too much time on Spike Lee's journey from high school to the pros (some of us just want to play a quick game fellas). The steam interface is almost a deal breaker as far as I'm concerned. I tried it for a couple ofThe controls are not intuitive. If you have to work four buttons to perform a simple drive to the hoop, then somethings wrong with the interface. The producers spend way too much time on Spike Lee's journey from high school to the pros (some of us just want to play a quick game fellas). The steam interface is almost a deal breaker as far as I'm concerned. I tried it for a couple of weeks and haven't touched it since.… Expand
  8. jackalsk
    Apr 12, 2016
    2
    I give 3pts for graphics improvement which is actually all they did. Everything else is annoying. Tones of annoying crap videos in My player, cheap story and NO improvement in basketball at all. AI still stupid and very prescripted. F.E. i never get pass automatically while open (either driving fastbreak or in position for jump shot) or PG dribling at the same place until 2 seconds left toI give 3pts for graphics improvement which is actually all they did. Everything else is annoying. Tones of annoying crap videos in My player, cheap story and NO improvement in basketball at all. AI still stupid and very prescripted. F.E. i never get pass automatically while open (either driving fastbreak or in position for jump shot) or PG dribling at the same place until 2 seconds left to shoot so it either take a bad shot or pass. While you driblle your teammate will not make you space, it will block you and your opponent can push you even out of bounds, you cant do it and so on.

    Once again only thing improved is visual. Everything else is no better than any series before, just different.    … Expand
  9. JCriterio
    Feb 9, 2016
    4
    Excellent on visuals, graphics, animations, etc... (after various updates that fixed crappy performance)
    Good solo modes (myleague, mygeneralmanager...)
    Horrible mycareer mode (story, customizations, player progression, all of it is utterly crap, I could not recommend purchase this game to belovers of the good old myplayers from past years... but still slighter better teammate I.A. than    Excellent on visuals, graphics, animations, etc... (after various updates that fixed crappy performance)
    Good solo modes (myleague, mygeneralmanager...)
    Horrible mycareer mode (story, customizations, player progression, all of it is utterly crap, I could not recommend purchase this game to belovers of the good old myplayers from past years... but still slighter better teammate I.A. than last year though)

    Gameplay is a very complicated matter... superb at times...at some things...incredibly infuriating at others...but not in the "good way" that characterize some of the best sport games. After major updates I'd say that the touchstone here is the defence...absolutely broken. Sadly there is no other way to say it (and, at this time of the year, I really, really doubt that somebody is working on it.

    But rejoice... is still better than nbalive... for the moment.... next year, with the continous decline of the gameplay balance and finesse... I don't know...    … Expand
  10. fritzesanmango
    Jan 6, 2016
    0
    This is easily one of the worst gaming experiences on the PC I have ever had. The whole game feels scripted with the opposing team gaining more momentum than you. Dwight Howard made 3 post-fades on the midrange while I was guarding him with Shaq and not to mention Dwight's post fade is a 53, yet I can't hit just 1 three pointer with Klay Thompson.
    The Teammate AI is terrible, Andre    This is easily one of the worst gaming experiences on the PC I have ever had. The whole game feels scripted with the opposing team gaining more momentum than you. Dwight Howard made 3 post-fades on the midrange while I was guarding him with Shaq and not to mention Dwight's post fade is a 53, yet I can't hit just 1 three pointer with Klay Thompson.
    The Teammate AI is terrible, Andre Iguodala grabbed a loose ball and I got a rebound but his bot warped out of bounds. Not to mention the amount of dunks you can miss is absurd you can't drive and dunk with Michael Jordan because he'll just fall flat on his face with the ball still in his hand.
    It's blatantly obvious that 2K wasn't trying this year and is begging you to pay more for this terrible game with it's virtual currency. I'm just going to wait and see if EA will drop NBA Live 17 for PC and I'll buy that instead of this piece of trash.    … Expand
  11. Crabzilla
    Dec 20, 2015
    0
    The community management and dynamic rating updaters/new card releasers doesn't give a **** about the community, especially on PC.
    In this game, you have a mode where you got to win 10 straight games to win one of the best players in the game.
    Because 2K didn't fix his game since 3 months, you can have your opponent dc, you'll lose the game and then you're done with this challenge. Nice    The community management and dynamic rating updaters/new card releasers doesn't give a **** about the community, especially on PC.
    In this game, you have a mode where you got to win 10 straight games to win one of the best players in the game.
    Because 2K didn't fix his game since 3 months, you can have your opponent dc, you'll lose the game and then you're done with this challenge. Nice job 2K.
    Actually they're adding trash and unknown Diamond players (highest rating in the game) that are better than some **** legends like Magic, Bird, Shaq or Jordan.
    WHAT THE **** ARE YOU THINKING???

    2K has no competition and their playerbase is just now a moneycow for them.
    The game is still pretty good, but i'll put them a 1 on metacritic because they have to LISTEN their community and stop the **** non sense bull***    … Expand
  12. Todbar
    Dec 7, 2015
    4
    As someone who has played the past few NBA 2K games I can safely say this is my least favourite. I'm not much of an online gamer when it comes to sports games so I mostly play offline myGM and myCareer. MyCareer is absolutely horrid. I appreciate that they tried to make a real story around it, but it completely takes you out of the game. You can't immerse yourself into the story when youAs someone who has played the past few NBA 2K games I can safely say this is my least favourite. I'm not much of an online gamer when it comes to sports games so I mostly play offline myGM and myCareer. MyCareer is absolutely horrid. I appreciate that they tried to make a real story around it, but it completely takes you out of the game. You can't immerse yourself into the story when you have no say in what goes on. Also the fact that even after the first season is done and the set story "finishes" you have to keep your given nickname and that ridiculous dance move celebration is disappointing. The actual game play is decent. Feels a little more fluent to me. However the absolute garbage story that you're forced into for myCareer is too much for me to handle.… Expand
  13. Luckithroe
    Nov 10, 2015
    8
    For those complaining that you have to play as a black man in the 'ghetto' give me a break!!! I'm a black man and compared to his guy seems like he is from the Cosby show. He's far from ghetto. Not to mention I grew up playing every game where I had to be a white guy, get over it. I hope non whites start complaining that other games make them be white. Why is Snake a Caucasian , GRR! Lol!!!
  14. nbaisapoo
    Oct 10, 2015
    6
    Literally the worst game that has ever given us the misfortune of being made. If they made a game that had you playing as Hitler and gassing Jews, that would be a better game then this pile of garbage. I'd rather pull off my cock with barbed wire than play this crap again. I feel like 2k sports needs to pay me for the time I wasted playing this **** 6/10, it's ok.
  15. pazmacats
    Oct 2, 2015
    10
    Better than 2k15. It's a basketball simulation game that actually simulates a TON of stuff determining the outcome of a basketball game.

    Currently learning some plays, re-learning how to dribble, re-learning how to pass, re-learning how to defend and everything seems improved. New motion offense works really well. AI defense strips and blocks the ball like a madman when I try to pull    Better than 2k15. It's a basketball simulation game that actually simulates a TON of stuff determining the outcome of a basketball game.

    Currently learning some plays, re-learning how to dribble, re-learning how to pass, re-learning how to defend and everything seems improved.

    New motion offense works really well. AI defense strips and blocks the ball like a madman when I try to pull of stupid layups or jumpshots. I feel I have to work hard on the offense and defense. If I hit all the right buttons AND if I make the right decisions to drive, shoot or pass, I will get the lead or mount a comeback.

    I have less rubberband feeling when playing vs AI. It's really interesting to try and find the best shot every possession. I like it.

    9.5/10 -0.5 for some minor nuisances like mycareer cheese and too many cutscenes.    … Expand
  16. Motoflou
    Oct 2, 2015
    4
    First off, I buy these games for the Career(story) mode. It's always been my favorite aspect, being able to make your own guy and take him through his career. Well, in this game, you can make your own guy in the physical aspects, but that's about as far as it goes. Because it all has to follow Spike Lee's story mode. Which is...awful. It's nothing but played-out, racial stereotypes,First off, I buy these games for the Career(story) mode. It's always been my favorite aspect, being able to make your own guy and take him through his career. Well, in this game, you can make your own guy in the physical aspects, but that's about as far as it goes. Because it all has to follow Spike Lee's story mode. Which is...awful. It's nothing but played-out, racial stereotypes, embarrassing dialogue, and an extremely predictable story.

    Who thought this type of a Story Mode was a good idea? We play these games because we like to have control of a character, and we like to play actual basketball simulation. Well, you don't get much character control in this one, except for raising your attributes (which takes forever). And between each game, you are expected to watch lengthy, boring cutscenes. You can skip them, but I mean...if you give the slightest bit of a care about the storyline, you'll be lost.

    I also don't understand why-- you start out as a star high school player. Then you go on to be a star college player. You can barely miss a shot. It feels like the previous NBA games, you have decent attributes and it's all based on your timing. Then you advance to become an NBA rookie, and...all of your stats basically reset themselves. Every game becomes a struggle, even on "Rookie" mode. And if you play a great game, you still only get enough points to level up a couple meager stats.

    If you aren't playing story mode, it's fine. The actual gameplay is great, no complaints there. But this whole story mode, even the idea to involve Spike Lee...it's all just a massive fumble.    … Expand
  17. kozzy420
    Sep 29, 2015
    10
    Best 2k basketball game ever. The gameplay, which is the most important aspect of any sports game, is top notch and the best it has ever been. You have to work as a team and play as a team and not just try to do everything with Lebron or Durant.

    My Career is also better now to with a story now and its great to play in High School and College now to in my Career. If you want a very    Best 2k basketball game ever. The gameplay, which is the most important aspect of any sports game, is top notch and the best it has ever been. You have to work as a team and play as a team and not just try to do everything with Lebron or Durant.

    My Career is also better now to with a story now and its great to play in High School and College now to in my Career. If you want a very realistic bball game, pick this up asap! I think some people might be overwhelmed with just how realistic the gameplay is, but for sim buffs like me this is perfect. No more cheesy play like previous years where you could just shoot 3s or dunk most the time.

    Great job 2k, I have played all the games in the series over the years and this is hands down the best one yet. Runs well, handles well, top notch gameplay, good controls and has even more features. Best sports game of 2015 and the best bball game ever.    … Expand
  18. Llaerrick
    Sep 29, 2015
    6
    Much was made about the Spike Lee directed Career/Story Mode but I found it really lacking and hugely disappointing. The biggest problem I have with this was the absolute heavy-ham-handed scripting which instead of adding to immersion actually kills it completely.

    Firstly, My Career has always been about creating a player that is you (or that you want) regardless of race. Spike Lee    Much was made about the Spike Lee directed Career/Story Mode but I found it really lacking and hugely disappointing. The biggest problem I have with this was the absolute heavy-ham-handed scripting which instead of adding to immersion actually kills it completely.

    Firstly, My Career has always been about creating a player that is you (or that you want) regardless of race. Spike Lee pigeon-holes and shoe-horns you into poor black kid growing up in the projects in Harlem. Cliched much?

    My Career tries to present two of the fundamental choices/problems that blue-chip college/young NBA players have: such as whether or not to go one-and-done; whether or not to stick with your homie who's had your back forever but is a bad influence or to ditch him for the good of your career.

    So much is made about these problems and how hard it is to choose. Your character literally agonizes over each choice. Then the game/story goes ahead and makes the choices for you. Well duh ... if you're going to belabour the point and make it such a big deal, and if it really is MY career, then I would like to have a say in it, wouldn't you? I honestly only started enjoying the game a bit more after the script ended.

    Also another pet peeve is the big deal they make of your created player: high school phenom, blue-chip prospect, once in a generation talent, etc, etc. And you come into the draft with a skill level of 55? This may not be a big deal (and actually fit with the last edition where your player went undrafted) but the disparity is so immersion-breaking. From having 'boosted' stats in High School/College where your 7 foot centre can literally hit 3-pointers from everywhere to missing 2 feet lay-ups in the NBA ... i should think that if I'm actually good enough to be drafted top-20 in the NBA draft i should be at least be able to make a jump-shot or two.

    Also, because of whatever reason, your rookie season is abridged into eight games so that Spike Lee can turn your rookie career into a blurb. Which means you only play 8 games (i.e. compared to the regular season 82 you would have played in previous editions - meaning you literally miss out one entire year of skill points and never have a chance to break into the starting line-up). It also means the whole Rookie of the Year target which most players set their sights on is pretty much impossible/redundent.

    Game-wise its generally more of the same with better animations. A more robust blocking/swatting system is much welcome. But generally the AI appears to be more tepid and less intelligent this edition. The point-guard hogs the ball way too much and makes really bad decisions/shots. The transition game appears better and fast breaks are a lot more viable but the PC-controlled teams appear to have a huge edge in the transition game (most of the time your team are not even back in their half-court set when the other team pushes the ball back up the court for an empty lane).

    tldr: Spike Lee's story kills the immersion and the real game/fun only starts when it ends. They should have made the story-mode a toggle on/off feature when starting a new career. I feel that 2k15 plays a little better and is more immersive.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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No score yet - based on 3 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Riot Pixels
    Jan 25, 2016
    87
    This NBA 2K is surely rife for nitpicking. Annoying update notifications, clunky menus, AI blunders, Spike Lee’s unnecessary meddling with the well-oiled machine of MyCareer, a rough Gauntlet mode, and traditional connectivity problems. But still, even with all that, NBA 2K16 is like a complex, mesmerizing painting.
    Read full review
  2. Ragequit.gr
    Oct 11, 2015
    87
    NBA 2k16 justifies the expectations that the series has built over recent years. The best basketball simulator can be even better.
    Read full review
  3. GameStar
    Oct 6, 2015
    85
    The PC version seems to have some technical problems on some machines, but if you don't mind that and the career mode full of cliché then this is a monster slam dunk.
    Read full review