NBA 2K25: A Review

Beyond the controversies surrounding its online component and the trend of pushing these modes toward real-money transactions (something that happens with every sports game nowadays), NBA 2K remains, by far, the best sports title out there. It's not just the control or realism but also the sheer volume of content it offers. NBA 2K25 is here, and it is finally an actual next-generation experience, overflowing with novelties and quality in some areas while leaving unfinished business in others. Welcome to the new NBA season!

Enough with the tributes; it's time to step toward the highest possible realism on the court. The tributes of NBA 2K23 and NBA 2K24 are behind us; the Visual Concepts and 2K Sports franchise has paid homage to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, but now it's time to move forward and address the present of the sport in a way we've been waiting for in recent years. Unlike the editions we've enjoyed since the current generation (PS5 and Xbox Series X|S), there is finally a more significant gap, and NBA 2K25 is indeed the Next-Gen title we wanted to see.

If your kid has difficulty controlling their game time, check out our guide to parental controls on your PS5 and PS5 Pro!

Visual Concepts of NBA 2K25

As with any sports game, what matters is on the court, and this time, Visual Concepts took ProPLAY technology to the next level with more than 9,000 new animations. While AI has sparked fires in other gaming areas, sports games embraced it immediately, leaving behind the era of motion capture. Nowadays, you can tune into an NBA game, and the tools will turn that game into data that can be converted into a video game.

NBA 2K25 looks spectacular. From the first moment, NBA 2K25 displays an exceptionally high level of realism that you don't just see; you feel. If you're an NBA fan, you'll immediately recognize the players' movements: Kevin Durant's high shot, Steph Curry's quick, calm release, Anthony Edwards' brash but spectacular drive to the basket, and so on with every player. No joke—NBA 2K25 is hefty (over 150 GB); you might first question it, but you'll understand when you realize that at least 95% of current and past players are faithfully represented. They aren't just generic characters with standard moves and a skin bearing the player's likeness—no, they move exactly as they do (or did) on the actual court.

ProPLAY is in development, and a revamped dribbling system makes NBA 2K25 shine. The first iteration of ProPLAY doesn't stop at the visuals; it immediately impacts gameplay and intertwines with a new dribbling system built from scratch. The result is impressive, especially in how you feel the combination of weight and speed, responding precisely to your control inputs. Basketball is a game of cuts, so knowing when to accelerate and when to stop with the proper footwork makes the difference between getting the space you need for a shot or tripping and losing the ball embarrassingly.

The Controls

This is well-represented in NBA 2K25, and you can't just go around holding R2 all the time for speed and then cut and shoot. If your player's angle isn't right, even if it's Curry with his innate talent, you won't achieve the desired position; you'll feel the player's weight take over, and the animation will confirm you're leaning more toward simulation than video game.

NBA 2K25 plays wonderfully, thanks to ProPLAY technology. NBA 2K has always been a complex game—mastering it is challenging but deeply satisfying, and NBA 2K25 is no exception. However, this time, Visual Concepts showed some mercy (expected after the franchise's growing success, which now transcends even into Europe) by providing options for all types of players. The improvements and revamps to the gameplay systems and the animations have resulted in a new shot meter—more discreet and focused on rhythm than ever before. So far, this decision has been divisive (I liked it more than the traditional meter), but if you have any issues with it, you can adjust it in the settings to revert to the previous setup.

But that's not all; this edition includes adjustments related to the risk-reward interaction, which can turn the experience into brutal realism or straight-up arcade fun, depending on your preference. As if that weren't enough, the studio experimented with a new shot system: rhythmic shooting with a pro stick. This variation departs from the mechanic of pressing and releasing a button at the right moment; here, you press down on the right stick to start the shot animation and release it when you feel it's the perfect time to shoot.

No Advantages This Time

The studio assures that those who master this shot style will have an advantage over those who prefer the traditional style—a reward for daring to engage with the complexity of controls, physics, and NBA 2K. Strangely, this system seeks to reproduce the natural and intuitive movement of the wrist and hand to shoot. At first, it seems wild, but the more you try it, the more familiar it becomes, and I wouldn't be surprised if you prefer it because it's the most realistic mechanic the game has. The studio assures that those who master this type of shot will have an advantage over those who prefer the traditional style—a reward for venturing into the complexity of control, physics, and NBA 2K.

NBA 2K25 is rich in customization options and gameplay adjustments. That being said, I must admit the gameplay experience has been satisfying—the best compared to recent editions, as it takes you to that point where hand and controller become one. Anything to criticize? There are a few bugs here and there, something expected in sports video games (they'll be fixed over time). I also had a bittersweet experience with the defensive system. The good: the implementation of cut and profile movements with the right stick, which, when done correctly and timely, offer opportunities to disrupt and steal the ball. The bad: the operation of defensive schemes based on each player's stats, whether perimeter or inside players. This is noticeable in approaches to the basket, where instead of closing in on the attacking player, nearby defenders remain in their position and don't collapse to prevent the shot. It's a matter of adjusting via a patch, but until that happens, the AI might perceive this as a weakness in your team.

How is Learn 2K in NBA 2K25?

After years of the repetitive training mode, Visual Concepts has impressed with the revamped Learn 2K, an interactive, fun, and intuitive space where you'll learn every move and play. As mentioned, NBA 2K is not an easy game to control, and there's a lot to learn—you might even compare it to Souls games in that regard because the satisfaction of mastering each command is indescribable.

Learn 2K is an excellent training mode. The Eras in MyNBA continue to gain momentum, and this edition introduces the Era of Stephen Curry, starting in the 2016-2017 season. In a Solomonic decision, the 2010s are split into two, including LeBron James and the Golden State Warriors star who changed the game forever.

The proposal is attractive. The Golden State Warriors came into the 2015-2016 season wounded and humiliated, one of the sport's great tragedies. This team broke the Jordan-era Bulls' 72-10 record, finishing at 73-9. They reached the NBA Finals, had the series 3-1, and LeBron James' Cavaliers were on the ropes. 

No team had ever come back from 3-1 in the Finals. The result? The Cavs won the series 3-4, and Golden State discovered that breaking records means nothing without a championship ring. This sparked revenge and terror as Curry's Warriors acquired superstar Kevin Durant, initiating two seasons in which they crushed everyone. Picking any team from those years to avoid that is exhilarating, so having another era of the NBA to relive or rewrite is a great success.

The Progression System of NBA 2K25

Steph Curry's era: a reign of terror that resulted in back-to-back championships. NBA 2K25 marks the return of MyGM mode, an authentic RPG where you take control of a general manager with any team you choose. After years of the mode becoming diluted and silent, it has a revamped progression system. It can select your GM's backstory and new classes that define their style and path, including decision-making. 

Alongside this, new ways exist to interact with the team owner, players, and the media, including offices where you can freely move around. In essence, MyGM is a well-executed, exciting experience that gives you absolute control over the team, allowing you to enjoy (or suffer) the pros and cons of your decisions. So far, so good. However, even though it's touted as a next-gen mode that leaves behind its past versions, some elements still feel like filler.

The team offices are empty, and the owners often make crazy requests throughout the season, like asking you to get rid of your star player just because the boss "has a hunch"—that's nonsense. Similarly, the conversations with players throughout the year are generic and lack immersion, and you'll likely skip through them to focus on other matters. Aside from this fluff, MyGM has made a solid return and is worth it.

The WNBA Continues to Grow

The WNBA continues to grow within the franchise, and The W is a well-executed experience in terms of player creation, following her story, and what happens around her in each game. As a career mode, it's a compact, straightforward, emotional, and fun proposition. The WNBA has its own space and modes, all at the level of quality you'd expect, and it's more interesting than ever because, if you didn't know, the WNBA is in turmoil with the arrival of Caitlin Clark, who's set to be a legendary player but has faced attacks both on the court and in the media from established stars.

The W: Compact, straightforward, emotional, and fun. On the other hand, MyCAREER is in this hybrid version, which has been built over the last few years. The grand productions and pretentious narratives are gone; today, there's a barely emotional storyline that's practically just an excuse to connect the male career mode with an online proposition that, as you can imagine, seeks to extract money from you.

In MyCAREER for NBA 2K25, we have two new elements. The concept of creating a dynasty and a new city full of things to do. The former offers fresh ideas with archetype selections inspired by real NBA stars, meaning you can create your character and equip them with the shooting, dribbling, and defensive styles of the best players, even some from the past. You can make a Frankenstein using Chris Paul's dribble and ball control as the foundation, Kobe Bryant's elevation, and Luka Doncic's shot. The main objective is to guide your players, develop them, and make them dynasty leaders over the years.

Experience The City

In case you didn't know, this experience is complemented by a virtual life in The City, where your player interacts in various ways. It's every basketball fan's dream, with references to the NBA, its history, and its players in every corner. This city has been improved and is more stylish than ever, with glamorous spots and others that capture the essence of neighbourhood courts. There's only a place here with something to do, so it's an NBA fan's amusement park.

The City in NBA 2K25 is full of details and activities. As you might imagine, this is primarily an online mode, though the missions and challenges to develop your player don't require a connection. This involves playing with NBA 2K enthusiasts and, therefore, with players who spend real money to level up quickly. If you see it as a space for casual matches, exploring, and enjoying the content, that's fine. But if you want to dive deeper, reaching the top on your own merits will be more challenging, as we know that online experiences in sports games are designed for repeated spending.

The Endless Online Element of MyTEAM

Lastly, we have MyTEAM, the online card-based component with endless weekly activities, which this time features the return of auctions to trade exciting cards. There's little novelty here, and it's the same situation as with MyCAREER: If you treat it as a casual pastime to try something different and see how far you can go with your dream team, you'll have fun. There are offline options if you don't have a PS Plus or Game Pass subscription. But going further means entering murky waters where only real money matters. 

My gripe with this mode isn't the mode itself but the constant barrage of ads. It's become standard practice in sports games, and it's annoying that when you leave a mode or menu, the first thing that pops up is a promotion to buy cards. Unfortunately, that's the world we live in—even at self-checkout counters in the supermarket. You'll see ads you must close before scanning your item, and it's a shame.

What a welcome MyTEAM gave me—Jordan doesn't appear every day. However you look at it, this is the best sports game around. NBA 2K25 shows that Visual Concepts hasn't become complacent in its comfort zone, and the goal remains to grow, test new technologies, and offer the most content in a sports game. Regarding gameplay, the latest systems and customisation options put this year's release on another level, making looking down on other franchises easily. The gaming experience is rewarding, and playing match after match becomes addictive as we deal with one of the best control systems ever created.

NBA 2K25 In Conclusion

The variety of game modes has its highs and lows, as does the unavoidable presence of online components. However, NBA 2K25 still offers a lot for traditional and enthusiast players. Now that the generational gap has widened, we can genuinely say that NBA 2K25 is the first Next-Gen game we've been waiting for, and that's enough to get lost in the court, no matter what's happening around you.

Rating: 8.7/10

Recommendation: Despite its E for Everyone ESRB rating, this is best for basketball-loving kids aged 12 and up who can handle the game's complexity and the temptation of microtransactions.