NBA 2K25

While we felt a real leap forward between the 2022 and 2023 installments, the progression is much less dazzling this season with NBA 2K25. Only the most regular players of the license will be able to see certain new animations and the fine new features of a gameplay that is not revolutionary. The fact remains that the title is largely at the level of its generation, and is finally progressing on its usually shaky matchmaking with a few parades (the online Proving Ground mode). For those discovering the game, NBA 2K25 is a real gold mine, with single-player content further expanded with the Curry era for the My NBA mode and other immersive additions. The shadow on the board remains the micro-transaction system (VC) in individual marking of the wallet, essential to progress properly.

NBA 2K25 is a big step in the right direction for a franchise that was fast losing its appeal.

NBA 2K25 is - still today - the best basketball experience on the entire market, with the right optimizations regarding the shooting system. Unfortunately, problems related to microtransactions remain.

The gameplay is much more fluid and the visuals are much closer to reality. Visual Concepts has done a great job in terms of presentation and once again declared that NBA 2K25 is the only address for a satisfying and long-lasting basketball experience.

With NBA 2K25, the Steam Deck now delivers a fantastic portable basketball experience at feature parity with PS5 and Xbox Series X. With a bit of tweaking, it looks and runs great, and I’m glad to see 2K finally bring all the features to PC after many years. If you own a Steam Deck and were hoping for a good experience with NBA 2K25, 2K and Visual Concepts have delivered. Just be aware of the microtransactions in some of the game modes though.

If you can get past the frustrating crashing issues and performance drops, there is a great basketball sim with plenty to discover for all kinds of NBA fans.

With revamped animations, smooth gameplay and in-depth modes, it looks like a simulation that satisfies basketball fans, but there is still a long way to go.

NBA 2K25 loves the history, and game, of basketball almost as much as it loves money. That much is clear. Just about every mode is dripping in reverence for one or the other, and it serves to enhance the experience. Despite its flaws, the gameplay is the best it has ever been, and the somewhat basic RPG additions to several modes make them feel more alive, even if they're still set in mostly barren buildings and cities. It also looks the part. The players look like themselves, in stills and in motion, and simply watching the game breaks the realism barrier at times. It's a looker, even on a modest PC, and I appreciated the inclusion of a dedicated Steam Deck graphics present too, which would make the grind a little more manageable, I guess. The day NBA 2K loses its microtransactions is the day it loses its identity, but it's also the day we have a chance at a near-perfect basketball sim. Until then, we're stuck with a game filled with increasingly promising modes bogged down by an insistence that you pay or treat it like another job. Depending on your desired way to play, that can break the deal.

NBA 2K25 delivers an exceptional experience for seasoned players and franchise newcomers. With its updated engines, animations, graphics, sounds, and presentation, the game offers an incredibly realistic experience. However, I recommend that PC players hold onto their consoles for now due to prevalent cheating and poor optimization, which can lead to frustration. Moreover, the absence of crossplay with other platforms significantly limits the player base. Unfortunately, the microtransactions are more aggressive than last year, potentially providing an unfair advantage to those who spend money on online game modes. Despite these challenges, the game's visuals, gameplay realism, and overall enjoyment are truly impressive if you can overlook the downsides.