Take your pick over what sports video game is the best, whether it’s NBA 2K, Madden, FC, NHL, or anything else. There’s a decent argument to be made for all of them, but NBA 2K’s is the strongest. They routinely do well in developing and the games rarely feel like an updated roster with a $70 price tag. Each year, something is new or significantly improved. That’s the case once again with NBA 2K24.
If you’re interested in reading more about NBA 2K24, check out Season 1’s rewards, find out who’s featured on the soundtrack, and read about the best three-point shooters in the game.
If you want to do well in NBA 2K24, make sure to have the locker codes.
NBA 2K24 Gameplay
ProPlay is perhaps the best addition to a sports video game to come out in recent years. The new gaming engine has achieved what was once thought to be largely impossible. Dribble moves in previous NBA 2K iterations felt stiff, forced, and relatively ineffective. There are aspects of sports that just can’t be virtually recreated and dribbling was a prime example.
With new ProPlay, though, there is a major step up in the game’s physics department. It uses real NBA footage along with motion capture. Athletes feel athletic, and they feel unique. A crossover with LaMelo Ball feels and looks different than a crossover done with Trae Young. In the NBA, their dribble moves are different, so they need to be in the game as well.
Everything on the court feels smooth and realistic. Shooting is smooth, defense is realistically challenging to play, and every player is a unique person with different animations. It feels like you’re watching a real NBA squad play another.
There are a few kinks that will either be worked out or are inconsequential. In our playthrough, a Charlotte Hornets defender began covering Dejounte Murray near the sideline and the Atlanta Hawks guard just walked out of bounds. An in-bounds pass went to a player who stepped out of bounds to catch it. Those aren’t major issues, and they’ll likely be fixed pretty soon.
The gameplay can be fairly basic from time to time, too. While there are plenty of game modes to keep things fresh, it’s still just basketball. The presence of unique and creative mini-games would go a long way to adding some genuine variety.
NBA 2K24 MyNBA
MyNBA (2K’s version of franchise mode) is always a popular game mode, and it continues to show why. The eras that fans can enter, ranging all the way back to the 1980s, is such a fun aspect of the game. It’s not new, which is why it’s rather surprising that other sports games haven’t followed suit.
Whether you’re experiencing the LeBron James era, a new addition in 2K24, or heading back to play as the Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls, MyNBA gives you control over a large portion of the NBA’s history. Most other sports games are not doing that.
NBA 2K24 MyCAREER and MyPLAYER
MyCAREER mode is predictably good as well. Earning badges, progressing through the badge system, and embarking on a quest to become a generational talent is always a popular mode, and that won’t change this time around.
The City isn’t a new addition this time around, though it has been updated. The changes to it are great, and the white sand beaches are an excellent locale. The factions are fun, especially in the lead-up to joining one or the other, and the different basketball games you can play within it are enjoyable. 2K Sports has made the new City and MyCAREER more connected than ever before, and that’s proving to be the right decision.
Takeover being related to a player’s in-game play rather than a specific build is a good change, too. Getting hot on offense now has a lot more impact on the game since it can trigger a takeover perk. Even as a rookie, you can literally take over the game with them and it adds a layer of authenticity to the gameplay.
NBA 2K24 MyTEAM
MyTEAM is once again a dependable mode. There’s nothing really new here, but there was no need for 2K to reinvent the wheel. As long as they keep good sets ready to release throughout each season, and Season 1’s rewards suggest they will, MyTEAM will remain a good game mode to play.
There were pre-order bonuses for the WNBA Edition, Kobe Bryant Edition, 25th Anniversary Edition, and Black Mamba Edition, but it’s easy to earn good rewards if you didn’t do that. That keeps it somewhat balanced, which is a valuable aspect.
Games like this need to have both single player and multiplayer modes, and 2K does. Couch co-op, online play, and solo play are all possible, which means no gamer is left out here.
NBA 2K24 Mamba Moments
Mamba Moments, which replaces a similar mode that highlighted Michael Jordan, is a wonderful addition. Kobe Bryant is an icon that was lost far too soon, and this mode, albeit more than three years after his death, is a great mode. A lot of NBA 2K players weren’t alive for Michael Jordan, so revisiting his moments is less impactful. The current generation of basketball fans saw these things that Kobe did, so recreating them has a lot more meaning.
NBA 2K24 The W
The W, which is the WNBA mode, is a good mode. It’s a shame it wasn’t present in past iterations, but its addition in 2K20 was a smart choice and it holds up today. There are really good basketball players on WNBA teams, and they’re necessary to provide a well-rounded basketball experience.
NBA 2K24 graphics
As always, the visuals in 2K are pretty solid. They’re not mind-blowing in any way, but the players look a little more realistic than last time out and the courts look good. Graphics are only a small fraction of the game (that’s true in most scenarios), but they can make an impact. Good graphics often get overlooked, but bad graphics will take players out of the game. That’s not an issue with NBA 2K24.
