NBA 2K21 Reviews

NBA 2K21 is ranked in the 37th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
7.6 / 10.0
Oct 12, 2020

But if you're like me, playing every year, then know this: NBA 2K21 is the best basketball game around, but it's also the only one. And as any high-level competitor will tell you, that's never a good thing for long.

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7.5 / 10.0
Sep 14, 2020

In a generation where NBA 2K had border on excellence as the norm, a last-minute change in gameplay due to a new shooting mechanic makes its farewell bittersweet. Hopefully in the face of a new generation they'll return to what worked in the past.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Oct 5, 2020

Overall, one does not have to be a massive fan of basketball to appreciate this game. Being a fan of basketball only adds to the enjoyment. If you enjoy playing sports games and are looking for a good basketball game NBA 2K 21 is undoubtedly that game to add to your collection.

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7.5 / 10.0
Sep 9, 2020

While the demo lowered my expectations, admittedly because of the copy and paste presentation, 2K21 is enough of a change from 2K20 to stand on it’s own.

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BaziCenter
Amin BalaZadeh
Top Critic
8 / 10
Sep 12, 2020

There aren't much changes in the latest entry in 2K's NBA series, and it seems that the developers are finally out of ideas, at least for this generation. If you already own the 2020 version, there is not much sense in paying the full price to get your hands on the new game, and maybe it's best to wait and see how the series will go forward when next gen arrives.

Review in Persian | Read full review

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

Hynerd.it
Alice Rondoni
7.5 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2020

NBA 2K21 despite the criticisms is an enjoyable game for those who love the world of basketball. With a convincing career and a new shooting system, difficult but rewarding, he manages to entertain well even for several hours. Too bad for the presence of microtransactions that, at times, wink a little too much at Pay-to-win.

Review in Italian | Read full review

74 / 100
Sep 14, 2020

If you want to transfer it to the next generation NBA 2K21, it may be the right choice to buy NBA 2K21 now. However, if you are not interested in the new generation, it would be better to continue playing NBA 2K20.

Review in Turkish | Read full review

Forbes
Top Critic
7.3 / 10.0
Sep 6, 2020

As it is, there are some strong components, but it doesn’t feel like a completely new game in as many aspects as usual.

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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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7 / 10.0
Sep 14, 2020

NBA 2K21 is a solid update of NBA 2K20... but with a strange and unpredictable twist. The new shooting meter is made for online competition and, in the end, follows the metagame rather the basketball flow. Maybe it's good for the pro gamers, but it feels unbalanced and frustrating for the bastketball lovers.

Review in Italian | Read full review

7 / 10
Sep 10, 2020

In pursuing pro players, NBA 2K21 may be a little too intimidating for more casual players. Nevertheless, this is an obscenely detailed simulation that captures the ebb-and-flow of real-world basketball with unrivalled authenticity. It's also enormous, and while some aspects have been left untouched, the likeable story and revamped MyTeam modes mean that it's worth the upgrade. The in-game economy, which is heavily influenced by lucrative microtransactions, continues to be a sour spot – and it remains to be seen how much life this release will have with a next-gen successor right around the corner. Still, even with all of these drawbacks, it's comfortably one of the best sports games available on the PS4.

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ZTGD
Ryan
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Sep 24, 2020

NBA 2K21 is a tough game to review. On the court, the game is mostly very good. The passing and dribbling feels excellent and the My Career mode is certainly well-acted. It could easily be a high 8 or 9 if the whole progression system didn’t feel so broken.

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7 / 10.0
Mar 1, 2017

NBA 2K21's current-gen version isn't necessarily the biggest step forward the series has taken, nor should it be expected to be. But what's there is still fun, even if it is more of the same. 2K's reliance on microtransactions still feels incredibly out of place, and the game still doesn't necessarily respect the player's time. If you're a fan of the series, chances are you're already playing the game. If you're on the fence, it may be worth waiting to see what the next-gen version offers.

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3.5 / 5.0
Sep 10, 2020

While there are issues, which are worst in MyCareer, it still is enjoyable.

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Heavy
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Sep 9, 2020

NBA 2K21 does the bare minimum in most areas, but it still offers the best (and only) basketball gaming experience on the market today.

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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

7 / 10.0
Sep 11, 2020

NBA 2K21 is an enjoyable Basketball experience but unfortunately, its enjoyment is negatively affected by microtransaction. And to make it even more worse, NBA 2K21 has inherited old bugs and technical issues from its predecessors. In fact, i must say NBA 2K21 is almost the same as Its predecessors.

Review in Persian | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Sep 28, 2020

Beyond the controversy, NBA 2K21 manages to save itself only because of the special attention that the development team puts on its playability since the game does not offer anything at the moment other than its already known modes, which are beginning to being flagged by the community as old and outdated, as well as an online component that got eaten up by microtransactions

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Sep 29, 2020

Competitive mode, microtransactions and high price point are still among the things to criticize; but NBA 2K21 is still the only alternative if you want to play a basketball game. 2K is taking small steps when it comes to bringing new features, but it's still better than nothing.

Review in Turkish | Read full review