NBA 2K25 Review

The cycle of NBA 2K continues to run as it has been in recent years. Improved entries followed by disappointing step backs, which are then followed by another improved release. For a series as massively successful as this one, it feels almost like a victim of its own success. The series can't just release the same game with updated rosters, so changes need to be made. If those changes don't hit, though, then it gets reworked into something that is hopefully more palatable. It really feels like self-improvement was a theme for NBA 2K25 since it focuses on building off what was introduced last year, as well as bringing back some key features that were inexplicably cut.

Introduced in last year's effort, ProPLAY gameplay systems continue to be fleshed out for NBA 2K25. The team at Visual Concepts has further refined player animation and movement. The system does an excellent job of not only replicating the shooting strokes of modern stars such as cover boy Jayson Tatum and female phenom Caitlin Clark, but also for the classic players you can use as well. Not only do these new or improved animations help make the action look more realistic, but their closeness to the real thing helps with the gameplay as well. By familiarizing yourself with someone's dribbling or ball release, you can lock down the timing needed to succeed. ProPLAY was one of the major highlights of 2K24, and I'm glad to see that it has been improved for this season.

The improvements to ProPLAY factor into a revamped dribbling engine. The tech has allowed the game to let you stutter, stop and break ankles with a grace that the franchise has struggled with in the past. Furthermore, you can use your fancy dribbling maneuvers to transition into the new Go-To moves. These are signature shots that the superstars of the league have become known for. They can be triggered by just pushing up on the analog stick, and while they cannot necessarily be spammed to success, they are a powerful tool in your arsenal. It should be noted that success still relies on timing when it comes to shooting. Even an athlete's signature move can flop if you're not putting in the reps to get your timing down.

While I'm still a traditionalist when it comes to shooting, the newly introduced Pro Stick Rhythm Shooting isn't a bad option either. The way it works is that you push the analog stick down to start, and then push it up in sync with your player's shot animation. The closer you match the timing, the better your shot will be. I'll admit that I struggled with this at times, especially on the harder difficulties that require perfect timing. Putting the time into training though got me acclimated enough with it to not feel entirely lost on the court. It helps that Visual Concepts has added a bevy of options, such as Low Risk-Reward that emphasize player ratings and shot selections more than timing, and High Risk-Reward that relies almost exclusively on perfect timing. You can also switch up visual cues that can help improve your shot or add some fun flair to it.

As it has always been, the gameplay of NBA 2K25 remains a high point for the genre. The improvements afforded using ProPLAY help make the on-court action feel closer to the real thing, while still making sure the game is actually fun to play. Playing on offense feels as smooth and sleek as it has ever been. Additional improvements to the defensive side of the ball, specifically tweaks to cutoffs and contesting, are nice to have as well. The game feels fun to play whether you are shooting or stopping, which hasn't always been the case for the series.

The usual slate of modes return in NBA 2K25, albeit with one notable inclusion. After having been bundled into MyNBA a few years back, MyGM is back as its own separate mode. The mode has you becoming the GM of your chosen team, and has you deal with all the minutiae that comes with it. Upon jumping into the mode, you'll be given options to shape your general managers backstory. You could be a former player making the jump to front office, or just a rich capitalist getting into this as a hobby. Each backstory comes with different attributes and perks that affect in-office interactions as well as team performance. You'll be in frequent contact with your staff, players and team Governor as you try to reach yearly goals. Are you trying to win a championship now? Or do you recognize that your team would benefit from a full rebuild? These are just two of the directions you can take your franchise. It could still use some additional work in the future, but I think there's a solid foundation here. The RPG mechanics are just deep enough to have it stand out from other management modes, and while the dialogue system sometimes leads to frustrating moments, that's just a part of the difficulty of being a good GM. Sometimes you need to go with your gut, and not what someone is telling you.

As for the mode it split from, MyNBA doesn't shake things up that much. The fantastic Eras option sees one addition in the form of the Steph Era. This covers the period where Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors dominated the league. Considering how recent it was, it doesn't carry the same nostalgia, but it's a nice addition regardless. Besides that, it's mostly just smaller tweaks to the mode this year. More options for you to play around with the NBA Cup and the option to add more expansion teams if need be. This has been my favorite mode of the series for some time now, and that remains the case here. I love the attention to detail to the Eras, and guiding your team through different periods is still a great time.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is MyCareer, which was an absolute drag last year. The good news is that it is nowhere near as dire in NBA 2K25. After struggling with the story in recent years, this year's Heart of a Dynasty is low-key and enjoyable. Your player's career is already underway when you first begin, and these story games are entirely optional. However, with only four games to play, it's worth checking out to see your hopeful star blossom from high school star to NBA-ready rookie.

Visual Concepts made the smart decision to overhaul The City for NBA 2K25 as well. In recent years, the open-world metropolis had gotten too bloated for its own good. You spent more time getting from one place to another than you would like from your basketball game. This year's social hub brings all the courts, shops and arenas closer together for easier and speedier exploration. They also rectified my biggest issue with the mode last year, which was the degradation of your Badge skills. Forcing you to focus only on specific attributes with the threat of losing those skills was such a terrible idea that I couldn't believe it was even included. Not only did they remove that, but they also added in ways to quickly raise the level of your equipped badges. The community took the studio to task on this, and it's good to see they responded in an effective and appreciated way.

While the improvements are there, all is still not ideal in the world of MyCareer. As has been the case for several years, it's still heavily microtransaction focused. For clarity's sake, I will say that the version we received for review came with 100,000 VC, but you'll be surprised at how far you can go with that. Even if you pump all that VC into boosting your attributes, you're only rising from the 60s to the 70s, which is mid-tier player level. With VC also used to purchase gear for your player, as well as its use in other modes, you may not want to dump all of it here. Choosing to not go that route means you'll spend plenty of time slowly grinding to reach acceptable NBA player level. I said this last year, but it's hard for me to get super invested in this mode because the time could be better spent elsewhere. Why struggle with a sub-average player when I could just use the more enjoyable pros? I know it has its fans, but the grind of this mode just doesn't appeal to me.

Speaking of microtransactions, MyTeam is still here for the card collectors out there. As always, players can build dream teams by acquiring them either on their own or through the purchase of packs. After experimenting with fixed pricing, the Auction House has returned in 2K25. Before you can access this feature, though, you'll need to raise your in-game rep to Gold level. This is done through completing games or knocking off different challenges. I found the system to be easy to use and was able to earn different ranks by just playing as I usually did.

There are also a handful of new modes included in both single and multiplayer form. Breakout places you on a game board with completion of a spot contingent on passing specific objectives. This could mean you need to score a set number of points with a player, or grab a set number of rebounds. Nothing too complicated, but goals that still require you to focus to complete them. Completing a game rewards you with Prize Points, which can then be used to acquire different rewards located on the outer rim of the board.

The main new multiplayer mode is Showdown. In it, you'll be working to rise from Tier 15 to Tier 1 by beating players in 4-minute quarter games. At the end of each week, you'll be given a reward dependent on which Tier you happen to reach. All of this is fun enough when you're playing, but it still feels suffocated by the focus on microtransactions. We're talking about a game that splashes an advertisement to purchase the Pro Pass every time you boot the game up. Suffice to say, it can get exhausting.

As we get further into this current console generation, Visual Concepts continues to refine the visuals of the series. The ProPLAY tech has done wonders for the animation system. All the on-court action has a fluidity to it that seems true to life, and the game does a great job of giving individual players personality. You get their signature taunts and looks, and that all adds up to a dynamic looking experience. The main commentary team of Kevin Harlan and Clark Kellogg remains solid, and new additions like Shams Charania and Stan Van Gundy fit in well. I will say that the created players look "off" compared to the real ones. There's a noticeable dip in facial animations in comparison, which can lead to some weird moments when the two are on the court together.

NBA 2K25 is largely par for the course for the series. When you're on the court, it's easy to get swept up in the mechanically dense, but fun, action. With continued tweaks thanks to ProPLAY, fantastic visuals and a bevy of modes available, there's more than enough to keep players entertained. Which is why it's still frustrating to see just how much the series leans on microtransactions. Two of the biggest modes of the game, MyTeam and MyCareer, are rotten with them, and while you can grind out VC, the juice isn't always worth the squeeze. I've given up on expecting this aspect of the franchise to change though. At this point, it is what it is, and you're either willing to deal with it to get the solid fundamentals or it's a bridge too far. I fall into the former, but I wouldn't blame you for thinking the latter.