NBA 2K18

 PC
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. PC Games
    Oct 6, 2017
    90
    Silly microtransactions, but fantastic gameplay - a must-have for every NBA-fan.
  2. Game Informer
    Sep 20, 2017
    90
    Not all the shots NBA 2K18 takes are swishes, but its shooting percentage is high enough to once again recommend you step on the hardcourt. The deep MyGM, MyCareer, and MyTeam modes offer hundreds of hours of compelling play, and the on-court action is once again stellar. Once the servers stabilize and Visual Concepts patches in some easily correctible fixes, NBA 2K18 should once again be in pole position for sports game of the year.
  3. Games Master UK
    Nov 2, 2017
    86
    Another annual masterclass in sports games, but the VC grind is edging close to breaking point. [Nov 2017, p.71]
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  5. GameStar
    Oct 8, 2017
    86
    NBA 2K18 is currently the best sports simulation. However, the weak technology and the omnipresent virtual currency are very disturbing.
  6. GameSpace
    Oct 1, 2017
    85
    If you don’t care about playing online, don’t care about optional microtransactions, and can stand the ups and downs of bugs that will be patched, NBA 2K18 is the best basketball game of the year and probably of the past decade. It’s a shame that some polish and poor business choices weigh it down.
  7. Ragequit.gr
    Sep 26, 2017
    85
    The very good did not get even better this year. The NBA 2K18 is a real jewel that was not wrapped so well as it should be.
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  1. Kotaku
    Sep 25, 2017
    2K’s MyCareer modes have always been far from perfect. My old reviews are testament to that: they’ve been things I’ve loved in spite of their glaring problems, as much for their effort as their execution. In 2K18, though, there’s so little to love that all we’re left with is the basketball (which you can enjoy in other modes), Brands™ and a mountain of problems. [MyCareer Mode Only]

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
1.6

Overwhelming dislike- based on 193 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 193
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 193
  3. Negative: 164 out of 193
  1. chootomy
    Sep 16, 2017
    1
    This game is even more greedy than 2k17, everything in mycareer needs VC. You literally start at 60 ovr with no chance of doing well unlessThis game is even more greedy than 2k17, everything in mycareer needs VC. You literally start at 60 ovr with no chance of doing well unless you use VC. It doesn't matter if you're wide-open or not, you miss 80% of any shot you take. Layups this year got even worse, you miss 90% of those(unless you have a wide-open aisle to the basket, which never happens). The same issue happens in myteam, wide-open or not does not matter, you miss the same amount of shots. Grinding schedules takes too long, and gives practically no rewards. Challenges requires a good team, which is impossible without VC or MT which cannot be acquired without having a decent team. The only thing worth doing is Domination, and even that takes 30 min each game, around 1000 MT each game(One league pack costs 3500 MT lol). Overall, all these implementations take away from the fun of the basketball SIM(it's not supposed to be completely realistic), and just bait people into paying to advance in the game.… Full Review »
  2. Vstyle
    Sep 15, 2017
    0
    Greedy cash-grab by 2K, avoid at all costs. They've instituted an absurd micro-transaction system into a fully priced game, where they've cutGreedy cash-grab by 2K, avoid at all costs. They've instituted an absurd micro-transaction system into a fully priced game, where they've cut the VC earnings in half and started charging for every little thing. Really shameless business model, should be free-to-play at this rate.… Full Review »
  3. The_Jerz77
    Sep 19, 2017
    0
    Take Two Interactive has pulled off quite possibly the greediest cash grab in the history of microtransactions. It's a fully priced $60 gameTake Two Interactive has pulled off quite possibly the greediest cash grab in the history of microtransactions. It's a fully priced $60 game (more if you bought one of those special editions) with greedy microtransactions everywhere. This series has been steadily going downhill since the inception of VC, the in game currency used to upgrade your player in MyCareer mode, and now the VC costs are EVERYWHERE in 2K18.

    You want to buy a haircut or article of clothing? VC. Not only that, but once purchased and equipped, that item or haircut you just bought is re-locked behind it's VC cost again. None of the game modes pay VC out nearly as much as they used to, making this game a boring grind unless you start hemorrhaging money at 2K to buy VC (don't do that by the way, you could just as easily lose it all the next time you play, the VC vanishing bug is back in full force). You also lose VC in MyCareer after your player meets and hires an agent. That agent will them start taking your hard earned VC for himself. Yup, 2K literally put a VC sink into the storyline and you have no control over it.

    MyCareer's storyline is nothing to write home about again, it's pretty awful and is filled with unskippable cutscenes. Yup, even if you've seen them before. Some of them are 10+ minutes in length. Enjoy.

    The gameplay itself is fine, but the whole experience feels marred by the fact that you're only playing to earn that VC. It makes the game turn into a chore VERY quickly. Servers are kinda stable, maybe slightly moreso than in recent years past, but they can still glitch easily.

    2K had built themselves up quite the series here, rivaling that of EA's NBA Live, and even surpassing it in recent history. NBA 2K18 though is a HUGE step backward and you have 2K's overlords at Take Two Interactive to thank for this. This game is nothing but a lousy cash grab and nothing more. This is clearly a result of the Shark Cards success in GTA V. It's pretty obvious we can only expect worse practices to come in all other Take Two published games. Yes, that means even Red Dead Redemption 2.

    I'm not a fan of Electronic Arts, but at least their game won't have microtransactions. If you crave basketball that badly, you might wanna consider NBA Live this year over 2K. NBA 2K18 is just awful.    … Full Review »
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