Expectations for annual releases are often low, so NBA 2K25 is a pleasant surprise in that regard. The game feels like a notable improvement on NBA 2K24. It’s hard to say players absolutely have to buy it if they already have last year’s game, but players who buy the NBA 2K games annually regardless will be pleased with this year’s offering.
That said, anyone looking for a solid narrative will likely be disappointed with The Casting of Frank Stone. It lacks the type of meaning that could make the story compelling, and also the type of over-the-top action that could make it pulpy fun. Instead, players are treated to a middling experience exploring largely homogenous areas of two stale environments with little to care about.
Madden NFL 25 truly does make some improvements over Madden NFL 24. That said, it is hard to give the game a glowing review when it isn’t even the best football game EA Sports has released this Summer. Anyone loyal enough to the Madden franchise to pick up the new version each year will definitely be pleased with Madden NFL 25, but the game isn’t a must-have by any metric.
Being the first college football game in a decade also works heavily in favor of College Football 25. Were this an annual franchise, elements like its clunky UI may be more of a sticking point. However, as it stands now, College Football 25 will bea must-play for any hardcore college football fans, and the excitement of the new release helps players ignore some of its flaws.