NBA 2K21

 Xbox Series X
NBA 2K21 Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
4.4

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 50 Ratings

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  • Summary: NBA 2K21 is the latest title in the world-renowned, best-selling NBA 2K series, delivering an industry-leading sports video game experience. With extensive improvements upon its best-in-class graphics and gameplay, competitive and community online features, and deep, varied game modes, NBANBA 2K21 is the latest title in the world-renowned, best-selling NBA 2K series, delivering an industry-leading sports video game experience. With extensive improvements upon its best-in-class graphics and gameplay, competitive and community online features, and deep, varied game modes, NBA 2K21 offers one-of-a-kind immersion into all facets of NBA basketball and culture - where Everything is Game.… Expand
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NBA 2K21 Next Gen vs. Current Gen Gameplay Comparison

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. New York Daily News
    Nov 30, 2020
    100
    It’s an overall terrific revamp for NBA 2K21, and a game that has something for everyone, especially when you consider that MyTeam and MyCareer also have plenty of other fun to offer. And the WNBA game has also never been quite this satisfying, delivering grounded, strategic basketball...It all adds up to the top sports gaming hit of 2020. Need a sports game on your next-gen console? This is it.
  2. TheSixthAxis
    Nov 16, 2020
    90
    NBA 2K21 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S is a big step forward for the franchise and easily the best version of this year’s basketball franchise. There might be the feeling that features were shorn from the current gen release to give it more impact, but from the inclusivity of featuring the WNBA in MyPlayer, to the sprawling The City online hub and the stunning graphics and gameplay improvements, this will keep you and your new console happy well into 2022.
  3. MondoXbox
    Nov 22, 2020
    87
    NBA 2K21 Next Generation takes full advantage of next-gen hardware, improving graphics and physics but also adding more content and welcome new modes; playing at 4K 60fps with great graphics and truly alive arenas is a real joy. We just wish 2K would pull back a bit on their microtransactions push.
  4. Pure Xbox
    Nov 16, 2020
    80
    It should be no great shock that next-gen NBA 2K21 is the best-looking basketball game ever made. What's perhaps more surprising is that 2K has added two substantial modes (in the new WNBA career mode The W and the massively multiplayer The City) to make it the most feature-packed one ever too. Much of its content still has the weight of microtransactions hanging over it, but as long as you don't mind ignoring that and putting in the grind instead, this is a great purchase for NBA fans: especially if you held fire and haven't played 2K21 on Xbox One yet.
  5. GameSpew
    Nov 24, 2020
    80
    There’s no doubting that NBA 2K21 on next-gen consoles is the most authentic representation of the sport yet. And even better, it’s got the most expansive and engrossing selection of modes and features. If you’re a basketball fan who’s lucky enough to own a next-gen console, you ought to consider NBA 2K21 a must-buy. The only drawback is that if you’ve already played it on your current-gen console, you won’t be able to carry forward any progress other than that made in MyTeam.
  6. Game Informer
    Nov 20, 2020
    80
    The full-team on-court action plays the best it ever has, and the graphical leap is impressive to boot, but it still comes up short in some key areas.
  7. IGN
    Nov 16, 2020
    70
    NBA 2K21 for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 is more than just a gorgeous graphical upgrade and it includes some fixes that've plagued the series for years. On the downside, it introduces some new problems and still includes ugly microtransactions.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 21
  3. Negative: 11 out of 21
  1. uncharted4
    Nov 12, 2020
    10
    wow graphic is amazing, gameplay feel smooth, players movement is realistic with footplanting.. My Career is fun with the city to tourwow graphic is amazing, gameplay feel smooth, players movement is realistic with footplanting.. My Career is fun with the city to tour around.. WNBA is fun to play my league… Expand
  2. Kobe0824
    Dec 22, 2020
    9
    Lighting and graphics look great. 2k doesn’t a great job trying to add a few new things each year. Franchise and other modes could use someLighting and graphics look great. 2k doesn’t a great job trying to add a few new things each year. Franchise and other modes could use some more depth to them. Fun game to play.… Expand
  4. Kobe8-24
    Nov 17, 2020
    9
    The graphics are AMAZING, this FEELS like the Next-Generation, The Association is back, 2ktv is better too, Mycareer is solid aside fromThe graphics are AMAZING, this FEELS like the Next-Generation, The Association is back, 2ktv is better too, Mycareer is solid aside from boring story, The city, while it has some lag, is FIRE … Expand
  5. BluFlame
    Dec 20, 2020
    4
    A lot of potential but again they ruined it with the Microtransactions. The gameplay isn't bad but not good, with some tweaks here and thereA lot of potential but again they ruined it with the Microtransactions. The gameplay isn't bad but not good, with some tweaks here and there can give a very realistic immersion to the player. The city is just a lifeless, bad created and with very bad performance world. The servers are outdated from the Xbox 360 era and still no improvement. The AI still very bad. Defence and body contacts under the paint non exist at all. Passes for one more year incredible bad… Expand
  6. S01idB1itzKR
    Sep 4, 2021
    2
    A lot of potentials, had features that felt great in theory but it did not execute to the real game.
    The game feels messy. The city is way    A lot of potentials, had features that felt great in theory but it did not execute to the real game.
    The game feels messy. The city is way too big, the gameplay feels really slow and sloppy. The dribbling is not ideal at all. It's just repeating the same dribble moves again until you get open. Defense is non-existent in this game. The defender that is playing perimeter defense keeps sliding no matter what attributes, shot-blocking is absolutely impossible, and Interceptor is too overpowered. The badges are very unbalanced. For example, like the "Hot Shot" badge, this badge allows you to get the takeover (A huge bonus for the player's attributes and abilities for a limited time when you play well). Blinders, which absolutely gives no contest to defenders when they are contesting from the side. The game always comes out uncompleted. The lag and sloppy movements were extreme, it was really unplayable. They "say" they fix those in the patches later on, but the problem still exists. When the game came out, the moving fade 3s were too overpowered and they took a long time to fix the problem. They always fix it too late. The game just feels bad. The player builder is very unbalanced, (Like giving way more badges to a certain position) and everyone has exactly the same builds, heights, weights, attributes, and everything. The game is really bad.    … Expand
  7. CmPat
    Mar 9, 2021
    2
    Can’t play most modes without logging into the 2k servers and the 2k servers have constant issues. Having to try logging in for a half hourCan’t play most modes without logging into the 2k servers and the 2k servers have constant issues. Having to try logging in for a half hour just to play a basketball game is pathetic and whoever is in charge of the 2k servers need to all be fired. Fun game when it can actually be played but too many issues. Don’t spend a dime on this game only download if you have the game pass and a ton of time on your hands to wait for loading issues.… Expand
  8. kingnick365
    Mar 5, 2021
    0
    Was playing myCareer, finished a game and it froze. Tried to reboot the game and it said my myplayer file was corrupted. Tried to put in aWas playing myCareer, finished a game and it froze. Tried to reboot the game and it said my myplayer file was corrupted. Tried to put in a help ticket and got no response.… Expand

See all 21 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best Xbox Series X Game of 2020
9
#9 Most Discussed Xbox Series X Game of 2020

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