NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 Reviews
In the end, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is a fun game that may not excel from a gameplay standpoint, but its fun arcade action that has become rare in the genre. Basketball and sports fans would enjoy Playgrounds 2 if it weren't for the grindy implementation of card packs and in-game purchases.
NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is the perfect antidote to the realness of NBA 2K19. It’s fast, simple and easy to get into. You’ll have a great time playing alone or with friends and the game never stops being a fun time.
Despite the addition of four-player online games, improved matchmaking, head-to-head three-point contests, new Season and Playgrounds Championship modes, all-new playgrounds, plus a roster of over 400 past and present NBA players, it's difficult to recommend NBA 2K Playgrounds 2. The title sticks with last year's established formula too much, and doubles down on the microtransactions aspects whilst it's at it. Unfortunately, the actual gameplay just doesn't justify such an extravagant ecosystem wrapper, so only real NBA and collector fans will see the appeal in potentially putting more cash down for the best players. Overall, Playgrounds 2 is lacklustre and feels too much like a mobile game franchise. It takes advantage of its audience and never offers enough satisfaction in return for the money, or the grind sessions. Ultimately, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is a bad game, and certainly no spiritual successor. Stick with NBA 2K19 or NBA Jam itself.
NBA 2K Playgrounds is a simple, yet very enjoyable sports game, focused primarily on multiplayer. There's fun to be had in singleplayer, just don't expect it to measure up to the more serious basketball video games.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is a great game for anyone who loves over-the-top arcade basketball games. It is great fun even though it's a grind without using microtransactions.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
While the first title was a great start for a genre long forgotten, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 fell into the modern day trap of microtransaction schemes. A shame considering it's a solid game, accessible for all, and visually correct on all consoles with an upgrade to its multiplayer mode.
Next arcade basketball with crazy gameplay. Playgrounds 2 is more fun than first game and good choice for LAN party.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
This whole ordeal has left a very bad taste in my mouth – in fact, it has put me off NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 in a big way
NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is an extremely fun and competitive game at its core, and with the publisher's history of terrible microtransactions, it's good to see a basketball game that's easy to pick up and enjoy without having to spend money. The game is generous with its in game currency which makes playing the game very rewarding, especially if you invest time in the game's improved Season Mode. If you're looking for a slightly silly, competitive basketball game to play online, this is definitely for you.
I immediately wanted to invite some friends around so I had an excuse to bring out Playgrounds 2. It’s a lot of fun, but it’s also difficult to sustain lengthy sessions of play by yourself when there’s not much more than three different modes to cycle through. It’s a decent game that ultimately suffers from a lack of content, and for that, the game stumbles before the finish line, unfortunately. While I’d recommend giving it a look, especially if you loved NBA Jam back in the day, it’s also something you could sleep on for a while before giving it a shot.
NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 takes all the arcadey elements from the classic fireball that was NBA Jam and added in a couple of improvements that can really get you hooked on the high-flying, gravity-defying, slam dunking action!
Despite the action on the court being fun, it's the looming frustrations of microtransactions that hinder player development and the overall appeal of the game.
With NBA Jam On-Fire Edition being horribly outdated and the original Playgrounds recently delisted, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is the go-to-choice for arcade NBA basketball by default.
A fun game that you can play alone or with your friends. But high price and micro payments are surely annoying.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 feels like an evolution from the first game, providing a smoother gameplay experience and a deeper online offering. Anyone can jump into the game and perform a self alley-oop double front flip dunk with ease. It's as accessible as you would expect and demand of a traditional arcade game. However, the inclusion of microtransactions is disheartening. Sure, you can only purchase cosmetic packs, not actual player cards, but you can negate the entire grind in the game, by unlocking all players for a price. The Xbox One version of the game occasional hangs at least once a day, forcing a restart.
This is a game that does absolutely not need to exist but does for the sheer fact that the original game had no way of raking in the dough. I don't expect this game to become a yearly title, because NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is now set up to appropriately gouge the players for money for years to come. Unless maybe that doesn't work, in which case you can look forward to NBA 2K Playgrounds 3 brought to you by FanDuel to release in 11 months.
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Enjoy basketball for arcade lovers
Review in Turkish | Read full review
NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is an excellent arcade style Basketball game that is hauled down by soul crushing microtransactions that tip the gameplay.
If NBA2K and NBA Jam got mashed together... you'd get NBA2K Playgrounds 2.