NBA 2K18 Reviews

NBA 2K18 is ranked in the 79th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
IGN
Top Critic
8.4 / 10.0
Sep 20, 2017

NBA 2K18 is another step forward on the court, improving on the series' already great gameplay. You're rewarded for smart, controlled basketball when dribbling, driving, and playing defense in ways that make sense for the players you're controlling. In the side modes, results are mixed: the new fusion of Career mode elements into The Neighborhood gives it some new life, but the same can't be said for the meaningless story elements within MyGM, and microtransactions now have too much of an impact on gameplay. There's far more good than bad, though, and NBA 2K18 deserves credit for taking chances.

Read full review

Sep 20, 2017

Its generation-long strengths hold true, and just about prevail over an increasingly cynical microtransaction creep. My Career's jump to an open-world setting throws a new gauntlet down to the rest of sports gaming.

Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Oct 6, 2017

The franchise, single-player, multiplayer, and collectible card modes deliver hundreds of hours of fun, but expect a fair share of glitches to pervade the experience

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Sep 20, 2017

With a robust offering in the franchise, single-player, multiplayer, and collectible card modes, NBA 2K18 delivers hundreds of hours of fun

Read full review

8 / 10
Sep 28, 2017

NBA 2K18 is the gold standard for sports simulations, but this year's entry is overloaded with microtransactions.

Read full review

7 / 10.0
Sep 24, 2017

Of course, it's no surprise that NBA 2K18 looks good; the series has looked the part since its advent on the Dreamcast, staying relevant visually and staking out its own part of basketball culture. NBA 2K18 continues the trend, capturing the feel of basketball's urban centers in The Neighborhood.

Read full review

Luke Plunkett
Top Critic
Unscored
Oct 3, 2017

There's so little to love [in 2K18 MyCareer modes] that all we're left with is the basketball (which you can enjoy in other modes), Brands™ and a mountain of problems.

Read full review

4.5 / 5.0
Sep 21, 2017

NBA 2K18 is once again king of the court, proving why the series has managed to remain so superior in recent years.

Read full review

Unscored
Sep 19, 2017

If it gets patched soon we'll happily declare this one a highly recommended game, but in its current state we simply can't recommend it at all. Fingers are firmly crossed 2K will issue a patch quickly to solve the problem, but there is of course no assurance of that at present.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Sep 24, 2017

If you're looking for not only the greatest basketball game but the greatest sports game in existence, this is definitely it. A huge improvement on last year, let down only by its weak attempt at a story mode.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Sep 26, 2017

An excellent basketball game that still has to be polished to achieve the greatnes of PS4, Xbox One & PC versions.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Sep 21, 2017

NBA 2K18 is the biggest departure that the series has had in recent years, which is both good and bad. Elements such as MyPlayer feel like they have the potential to be fantastic, but are still too mired by microtransactions and bugs in its current form to truly be the experience that I was hoping for. Gameplay continues to be the reason to pick up any NBA 2K game however, and NBA 2K18 doesn't miss the mark when it comes to putting forth the most realistic basketball sim on the market. With a few patches over the course of the next year, I'm hoping NBA 2K18 can continue to improve and fix many of the issues that I have with it out of the gate this season.

Read full review

8.7 / 10.0
Sep 16, 2017

NBA 2K18 has come close to become the best complete sports game, offering different styles of play to satisfy all tastes. If you wish to live like a basketball player, you can play MyCareer. If you wish to build your dream team you can play MyTeam and if you want to live like a General Manager you can try the MyGM, but that does not mean it's a full-fledged game. Despite the great players scans and the addition of a face scanner to put yourself in the game and I think it's the best, but facial expressions are one of the worst expressions I have ever seen.

Review in Arabic | Read full review

9.4 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2017

Simply one of the best sport games that we've seen. An excellent work from 2K Sports and Visual Concepts.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Forbes
Top Critic
9.1 / 10.0
Sep 17, 2017

Just like LeBron James, NBA 2K18 isn't perfect, but with its ambitious new additions, refined gameplay, and a truckload of options, there's no question, it's still the best in the world.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Sep 19, 2017

Probably the best sports game of the year and a great achievement for 2K and Visual Concepts. Brilliant!

Review in Italian | Read full review

3 / 10
Sep 21, 2017

You absolutely cannot ignore how NBA 2K18 is a full price game that also integrates the business model of a free to play/pay to win title and the way that the enjoyment you get from it suffers because of it.

Read full review

Sep 19, 2017

NBA 2K18's dedication to the finest of details make it a living, breathing adaptation of the NBA experience.

Read full review

92 / 100
Sep 19, 2017

NBA 2K18 is unstoppable on the court. The new AI, graphics and improved gameplay are unmatched. My Team is better than ever with the salary cap, My GM feels fresh with his cinematic approach and we will be on the neighborhood for months. All of that, of course, if we have enough VC (money) to expend, cause it feels like a pay-to-win too many times.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Sep 20, 2017

Rarely have I had as many conflicting feelings about a game as much as I do with NBA 2K18. So much about the basketball sim is top-notch, but there are also so many elements that make me want to put it down and never touch it again. From gross business decisions that get in the way of enjoying modes to adding so many elements that get in the way of simply enjoying the on-court action, it winds up being its own worst enemy. Those who just want a solid basketball game to play exhibition matches won't find anything better, but the rest of the package winds up stepping on its own feet all too often.

Read full review