NBA 2K23 Reviews

NBA 2K23 is ranked in the 75th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
5 / 10.0
Sep 21, 2022

NBA 2K23 on PC is a paradoxical game that purports to be channelling the spirit of Michael Jordan’s Bulls, only to end up more accurately mirroring the discordant energy of Scottie Pippen’s tenure with the Houston Rockets.

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AusGamers
Joaby
Top Critic
5 / 10.0
Oct 10, 2022

I think the best thing they've done this year is they've made the stickiness of players feel less oppressive.

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3 / 5.0
Dec 22, 2022

Perhaps it’s time I stopped rewarding 2K every year for simply putting out another game. While I still have fun with the same modes I’ve been playing for twenty years, I don’t need a new version of this game to do so, and neither do you. The core gameplay is still very good, albeit stuck several years in the past, but everything around it is awful. The modes I still enjoy feel like they’re buried further in the menus every year. It feels like the only way to enjoy NBA 2K23 in a nonexploitive way is to avoid all the parts of it that its creators want you to play. I don’t see this strange dynamic ending soon, so players will continue to have to decide if being the only basketball game around is enough reason to pick it up each year.

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Sep 22, 2022

NBA 2K23 is bogged down in a lot of problems courtesy of predatory monetization and an overzealous RPG game taking priority over the actual basketball-ing, but it does have great qualities as well. There is plenty of content ensuring there's something for everyone to play and the game leans into its simulation aspects in a risky, but effective way. If the series can hone these good qualities and leave behind its outdated monetization schemes, 2K could garner another level of respect and become something that rises above the other sports games.

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VGC
Top Critic
Sep 27, 2022

This game should go down as one of the best sports games ever, instead it's a chilling reminder of the chokehold microtransactions have over the genre.

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6 / 10.0
Sep 10, 2022

Overall, if you are a fan of 2K’s work and the NBA 2K series, there are plenty of reasons to pick up NBA 2K23. The soundtrack, “Jordan Challenge” mode and new storyline all help offer a generally playable experience. However, anyone that thinks that 2K23 will offer a new or highly improved experience may need to reexamine their expectations. The bottom line is that NBA 2K23 is aimed at fans of the franchise and basketball fans alike, delivering the exact experience that most people would expect.

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IGN
Top Critic
6 / 10.0
Sep 14, 2022

NBA 2K23's on-court improvements should've led it to an easy layup, but the ever-present nuisance of pay-to-win microtransactions make it much harder to enjoy.

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6.5 / 10.0
Oct 10, 2022

If you’re willing to bypass the constant nagging from ads to buy currency, you will find a great selection of modes with depth and hours of enjoyment. But it is hard to ignore the glaring and bleak future the microtransactions paint for the future of the series.

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6.5 / 10.0
Sep 29, 2022

The same game as every year with the addition of the Jordan Challenge, a 10 mode in a game that drags very serious problems of micropayments and monetization year after year.

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70%
Sep 26, 2022

NBA 2K23 screams to be a LifeisXbox recommended game if you look at graphics, sound, and even gameplay but there are two negatives that drastically lower the enjoyment of players. The online performance and the constant pushing of buying virtual currency with real money give the game a very sour aftertaste.

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Cubed3
Athanasios
Top Critic
7 / 10
Apr 9, 2023

If you have the patience to wait for a discount, what you'll find here is a great NBA game, with some cool modes that transport you to the past of the organization, with chief among them a meaty tribute to Michael Jordan.

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7 / 10 stars
Sep 23, 2022

NBA 2K23 delivers a somewhat complete package that starts to feel more like an expansion rather than a major upgrade the further you get into the season.

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TrueGaming
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Sep 20, 2022

NBA 2K23 accurately captures great highlights of basketball history with the Jordan Challenge mode and an immersive career mode. However, it has some performance issues with the A.I and uneven PvP modes

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7 / 10.0
Sep 16, 2022

NBA 2K23 does a good job with introducing some cool ideas into its stubbornly lackluster larger format.

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3.5 / 5.0
Sep 19, 2022

Still, for those seeking an authentic simulation, NBA 2K23 delivers. For those who couldn’t be bothered to invest into either MyTeam or MyCareer, you will find plenty else to occupy your time. At the end of the day, it’s all about what you’re willing to check at the door. There will always be things players take or leave. On the whole, it very much feels like a big step in the right direction. Underneath, I continue to let myself imagine ‘What if…’ which is why personally, it’s difficult to look past the ever-present elephant in the room.

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7 / 10
Sep 16, 2022

NBA 2K23 makes the inevitable downgrades and cuts that we see every year with this franchise on Nintendo's console and, just like other last-gen versions of the game, it's also missing both The City and the brand new MyNBA Eras. Loading times can be frustrating, and 30fps basketball feels noticeably stodgier than the 60fps found in other versions. However, if you can put up with these necessary downgrades and slight technical shortcomings, this is still a solid port of a superb basketball sim that's stuffed full of enough content to see fans through another season.

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7 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2022

NBA 2K23 makes some worthy adjustments to gameplay, making this more entertaining without losing the game's fundamental presentation and feel. At the same time, even the map shrink in The City isn't enough of an addition to make 2K23 worth a must-buy status. Not enough of the game changes to merit a purchase this year, unless you maxed out everything in last year's release and want a fresh start. NBA 2K23 is more for die-hard fans than every before.

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Sep 12, 2022

NBA 2K23 is a step up for the NBA 2K series as far as gameplay and in-game elements go, and the new additions to modes like MyNBA and MyTeam help the game modes feel less stale as a whole. However, the game's incredibly heavy reliance on microtransactions continues to hold back what is otherwise an incredible sports game.

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7 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2022

There's no denying it: NBA 2K23 is once again a sports game of the highest level, and I thoroughly enjoyed the Jordan Challenge and the retro options. However, it's getting harder and harder to perceive the visual and gameplay improvements, along with the most aggressive micropayment system in the entire industry.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Sep 22, 2022

At first glance, NBA 2K23 appears to be more of the same, but the gameplay adjustments made by Visual Concepts are more than enough for this year’s game to be accepted with open arms. The changes in the shot mechanics and making it more difficult to create godly players in MyCareer might make some players upset but will be beneficial for the game in the long run. MyTeam is still a fun team-building mode, and with the removal of contract cards, should be a more viable option as opposed to a normal Franchise. The player ratings will be a hot topic, as I’m not sure how we can rate the Los Angeles Lakers among the top teams when their third-best player is a 78 overall, but that’s an issue that might never be solved. Ultimately, NBA 2K23 isn’t simply a carbon copy of previous iterations and should be viewed as a step in the right direction for 2K’s continued evolution.

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