NBA 2K21 Reviews

NBA 2K21 is ranked in the 37th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Unscored
Sep 20, 2020

Had the 2K team decided to pull an eFootball PES move and patch NBA 2K20 to NBA 2K21, I think I'd have felt a little better about the product we currently have. Instead, we were given a slightly improved but underwhelming current-gen game. If you were on the fence about getting NBA 2K21 for current gen and are getting yourself a PS5 or Xbox Series X, wait it out for the extra month and a half and see what the game looks like then.

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91 / 100
Sep 20, 2020

A goodbye to a good generation, where the final auction is missing in the "El Barrio" mode

Review in Spanish | Read full review

80 / 100
Sep 20, 2020

NBA 2K21 is a comprehensive simulation that brings the closest accuracy to actual real-world basketball.

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4.3 / 5.0
Sep 20, 2020

Providing a complete NBA experience, NBA2K21 accurately captures and then places you center stage of everything that makes NBA basketball great. The music, the sounds, the energy, the hype, and most importantly the gameplay, this sports sim provides fans of the game the complete experience. With detailed controls and dynamic gameplay which mimics the game's best players, you, the player, can play out your hoop dreams on the world's biggest stage. Just mind your step on the microtransactions on your path to glory.

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Sep 19, 2020

Overall, NBA 2K21 is a good game with potential that isn’t quite fulfilled. It feels fantastic to play, the A.I. teammates are the best they’ve been and the pushing of VC seems slightly less aggressive. However, while the game is a mixed bag visually, while the story is doesn’t delve as deeply into the struggles with dealing with another’s legendary shadow as it could.

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6.5 / 10.0
Sep 18, 2020

While still a solid basketball game, NBA 2K21 doesn’t bring enough new to the table this year and instead focuses more on constant grind for VC.

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6.2 / 10.0
Sep 18, 2020

This feels more like an update patch to the last year's outing and unfortunately it's not that significant of an update. With new season having been postponed and no new kits and rosters added to the game, it just makes you wonder if this year's version is worth a buy.

Review in Persian | Read full review

Sep 17, 2020

One more year, the king of basketball returns to claim his throne. NBA 2K21, the new instalment of the Visual Concepts and 2KGames saga, continues to dominate the basketball simulator market by not having any clear and powerful rivals in front of it. And, although the saga always presents juicy novelties, it begins to suffer from a certain continuity in many aspects.

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8.2 / 10.0
Sep 17, 2020

Since the renovations have been very small, it is a title that we feel strongly to recommend only to those who are really fans of the NBA. Those who have the 2K20 and are not a great basketball fan, but an occasional player, could also opt not to buy it.

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7 / 10.0
Sep 17, 2020

NBA 2K21 still delivers the thrill of being on the court and producing spectacular plays, but it lacks innovation and fresh ideas

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Expansive
Jay Jones
Liked-a-lot
Sep 16, 2020

NBA games have always been standard-bearers in terms of visual quality and performance and this is a well-produced, content-heavy swansong for one of the most impressive gaming generations of all time, even if it’s not the best of entry points for series newcomers.

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7.7 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2020

As it was predictable, the news of NBA 2K21 in the current gen version are not so many with the team who preferred to keep much of the base of the predecessor by focusing on the refinement of some mechanics and other aspects of the game. To see a step forward we’ll have to wait until the end of the year when it’ll be possible to admire the title in its next gen version, which will be accessible free of charge only for owners of the Kobe Edition, which, in addition to a renewed graphics sector, will contain a new story.

Review in Italian | Read full review

6.3 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2020

NBA 2K21 is a sports title that ticks all the boxes in simulation gameplay but falters tremendously in its plastic progression systems. Virtual Currency puts a stranglehold on your enjoyment, and it plays a big part in upgrading and purchasing in-game stuff. Sure, it might have a decent (albeit short and cliched) story mode, but the ball is in your court as to whether you want to fork out your hard-earned money on microscopic differences. Although, at the end of the day, it seemed like hoop dreams to think anything of substance would be changed. Stick with previous entries or wait for the next-generation version.

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8 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2020

NBA 2K21 is a fantastic basketball simulation, but it is a shame that most of the game feels more like an update than an entirely new entry.

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7.5 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2020

The series has not taken significant steps lately and each new title manages to bring small improvements to the gameplay compared to last year.

Review in Greek | Read full review

GameCrate
Top Critic
6.8 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2020

Longtime players won't find much to enjoy in this barely changed version of last year's entry.

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80 / 100
Sep 15, 2020

While its gameplay is still one of the best in the market and the game mode options are incredibly varied, NBA 2K21 follows the series tradition of sinning by its intrusive microtransactions that limit how much casual players can take from the complete package.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2020

This yearly sequel added and tweaked many gameplay elements to keep it fresh, yet those pesky microtransactions are bit too aggressive in some modes than its predecessor

Review in Arabic | Read full review

Unscored
Sep 15, 2020

Visual Concepts once again brings the NBA into our hands with a totally round game that, despite having gotten out of the fold with the new shooting system, is still a title that represents the NBA like no other, with a gigantic quality at the graphic level and playable level. It's a great farewell for this generation and it leaves us wanting to see what the next one will bring us.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8.3 / 10.0
Sep 14, 2020

The best basketball returns with NBA 2K21, a new release that comes with several new features in its most played modes and a totally renewed shooting system.

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