No doubt it’s a top-notch basketball game series NBA 2K. exits properly NBA 2KIt has become an instant threat to EA Sports. NBA Livewas at the top of the food chain at the time. Over the years, 2K routinely beat Live EA has canceled the games and restarted their series.
With over twenty years of entries, it’s interesting to look back when NBA 2K he was at his best. Using the ratings found on Metacritic, these installments received the highest rating in franchise history for being the best. NBA 2K games, sorted.
Updated September 11, 2022 by Kevin Pantoja: The new version of NBA 2K23 adds another chapter to the history of this iconic sports game franchise. It has become the best basketball game on the market ever since it debuted with the original intro. With the newest game on the market, it’s interesting to see how it ranks when you look at the ranked NBA 2K games. Metacritic scores are the best way to find the best of the bunch.
19 NBA 2K19 (2018) – 83
When a game series has been around for this long, it’s inevitable to fall into the traps of sameness on points and even staleness. something like this happened NBA 2K19 The reviews certainly weren’t bad, but it missed the mark compared to some of the other newer entries.
The game has mostly nailed everything it’s had in the past, but at this point, that’s most of what fans expected and knew. If not, he needed something to liven things up. With 2K20, 2K21, and 2K22 the ratings are down, so they need to fix the ship with 2K23.
18 NBA 2K9 (2008) – 84
At this point, it was all too clear that NBA 2K The franchise was light years ahead NBA Live. Although the 2009 version of the EA Sports game is solid, NBA 2K9 continued to add to an already impressive legacy. NBA Champion Kevin Garnett was on the cover of this episode.
The main reason for the positive reception was how realistic the experience was. Not only was the gameplay up to par, things like halftime shows and commentary were great too, while the HD visuals were easily the best up to that point. The only downside was that it didn’t add many new mods.
17 NBA 2K7 (2006) – 84
In the aforementioned charts NBA 2K9 it was a nice support because it’s one of the issues players are having NBA 2K7 player models and animations missed the target. While this is an obvious issue, the game has shone in just about every area.
The game was a hit again, but it also had aspects that were well received such as Association mode and Street mode. A great but small addition to PlayStation 3; here players can shoot free throws by imitating real-life shooting action. Shaquille O’Neal was the cover athlete for it.
16 NBA 2K6 (2005) – 84
NBA 2K7 it’s actually the second year Shaq has been on the cover, just like the first time NBA 2K6. He joined Allen Iverson as the only two players to receive multiple solo covers at the time. The praise for elements such as the soundtrack, presentation, and gameplay was overwhelming.
On the flip side, there were some issues with some of the controls and it felt like the previous entry as not much has been added to improve or build on. It may not seem like a big deal, but the menu style has been heavily criticized, with some even calling them downright ugly.
15 NBA 2K10 (2009) – 85
It can be argued that the biggest player to grace the cover of one of these games is Kobe Bryant. NBA 2K10. This was actually a very important entry in the series for one fundamental reason. This was the episode celebrating the release of MyPlayer mode, which has remained a favorite for over a decade.
Of course, the mod had some issues to be resolved but it was still a well-received addition to the series. Summer League and edge reporter Doris Burke was also welcomed. Unfortunately, the game suffered a handful of technical issues, especially after its release.
14 ESPN NBA 2K5 (2004) – 85
ESPN license greatly added to the series ESPN NBA Basketball before ESPN NBA 2K5 reached. This was a historic entry as it was the last NBA game released by SEGA before the company was sold. The ESPN presentation was arguably the show stealer, but it’s gone after this installment.
Ben Wallace was featured on the cover of the game, making him the first player other than Allen Iverson to do so. This included mods like 24/7 and Attribution, but both received a mixed response. Still, the game was great and only had a $20 price tag, making it a great value.
13 NBA 2K15 (2014) – 87
The mid-2010s were in many ways a golden age for the franchise. NBA 2K It kept adding new features to keep things fresh and add color to an already great game. With NBA 2K15They’ve made MyCareer better than ever and added a coaching advice feature.
There was also a big increase with the inclusion of a scanning system. This allowed players to scan their own faces and put them in the game, making the NBA player they created look just like them, and adding an extra sense of realism to career modes.
12 NBA 2K16 (2015) – 87
one year after success NBA 2K15Once again, 2K Sports raised the stakes and got it mostly right. Reviews were again very strong NBA 2K16, featuring the great Stephen Curry as the cover athlete.
The coolest new addition this time around was the ability to relocate a team while playing MyGM or MyLeague. This meant that gamers could bring back iconic series like the Seattle SuperSonics and get really creative with how they played the game.
11th NBA 2K14 (2013) – 87
NBA 2K14 from start to finish 2K16 they all got the same score, which helped show the consistency of the series. 2K14 Added LeBron James: Path to Greatness mode, Euroleague teams and a great soundtrack.
James did more than just pose for the cover. He also helped to make the game feel like a true NBA experience by helping to arrange the soundtrack and work as a kind of producer for the game. Reviews were strong on all these aspects and more.
10 NBA 2K18 (2017) – 87
Game four tied with 87 points NBA 2K18. It earns a place on its own as its lowest rating on a platform is 74 on the Nintendo Switch, which is higher than the worst rating of previous games. Kyrie Irving is on the cover of this episode.
Minor changes were made to the game because 2K was in a “fix if not broken” state. Still, they added interesting stuff like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett as guest commentators and more classic teams. The real hit was the addition of All-Time Teams, which brought together rosters of the best players from each franchise.
9 NBA 2K23 (2022) – 88
most recent login NBA 2K franchise, NBA 2K23, it’s still raining comments, so this score may change in the near future. For now, it looks like the series has smoothed out some of the recent entries with less scrutiny than it’s used to.
Praise has been given to The City, which is said to be a very immersive experience. The highlight is the MyNBA mode, which allows players to take on the league in different periods; This means you can rewrite history and see what would have happened had Michael Jordan been drafted by Portland or had the 2003 Draft gone differently.
8 NBA 2K3 (2002) – 89
There are three matches tied in 89. NBA 2K3, from the first days of the series. They got off to a good start and have retained many of the same gameplay elements that have earned them positive reviews up until this point. They also hired Allen Iverson as their cover athlete.
While many things have remained the same, there have been significant changes. Things like the franchise mode have been updated to be more in-depth than ever before, but the big change came with the rollout. NBA 2K3 It was the beginning of a partnership with ESPN and made the game feel more realistic than ever before.
7 ESPN NBA Basketball (2003) – 89
The only game in the entire series that didn’t have 2K in its title was: ESPN NBA Basketballwhich would basically be NBA 2K4. This included everything in the ESPN aspect of the presentation and saw Iverson make the cover for the last time.
This was the penultimate episode that aired prior to the formation of 2K Sports. ESPN NBA Basketball It featured unique face designs for each player, improved the passing system, focused on the 24/7 mode and included many street basketball aspects. It received high praise for gameplay, graphics, and presentation.
6 NBA 2K11 (2010) – 89
NBA 2K11 It was a turning point for the games. Although none of them had bad reviews, they paused a bit as the 2000s came to an end. This entry was a step up for several reasons. Most exciting was the addition of cover athlete Michael Jordan, who hadn’t played in several years.
The Jordan Challenge mode was highly praised as players got the chance to recreate his most iconic moments. This mod also meant the inclusion of many other teams and players from the past. Add things like a good soundtrack and D-League in association mode and it’s a winner.
5 NBA 2K12 (2011) – 90
How has 2K Sports tracked its size? NBA 2K11? They took what came to work and added to it. Joining Jordan as the cover athletes of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird showed that the series dived deep into classic teams and honored the stars of the past.
Many reviewers considered it the best basketball simulation in history because it felt more realistic than previous games. The MyPlayer mod has received a major upgrade which has helped make it one of the most popular mods in any sports game. The use of updated rosters was welcomed, as rookies were not initially included due to the NBA lockout that year.
4 NBA 2K13 (2012) – 90
There are more than three draws with 90 points. NBA 2K13 continued the momentum from the previous two installments. This time, the focus shifted from the past to the future with Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin sharing the cover.
Despite this, the game continued to elevate the classic teams, including the extraordinary idea of having both the 1992 and 2012 United States Olympic teams. Jay-Z served as producer and helped amplify the unique feel. The game also featured a Shoe Crafting mode with legitimate name brands and an All-Star Weekend mode.
3 NBA 2K17 (2016) – 90
As mentioned, NBA 2K16 It got a lot of praise for its MyLeague mode, which lets players do things like relocate franchises. NBA 2K17 took this to the next level. This time, all 30 existing teams can be relocated and expansion teams added.
To be realistic, one can create a completely unique league with their own teams, cities and more. They can also check and change the rules of the league, which is unheard of. The gameplay, presentation, and other usual aspects were also highly praised. All-Star Paul George was on the cover.
2 NBA 2K1 (2000) – 93
It’s kind of crazy to think that both of the highest-rated games in the franchise’s history were released so early. While these entries don’t have nearly as many customizable options or in-depth features that future games have, it does show that these games are helping to change things.
First NBA 2K There were strong criticisms but NBA 2K1 bumped things up a notch. The gameplay has been improved and it is the first game with online multiplayer. Also, iconic street basketball courts like Rucker Park have been added for you to enjoy if you want something different from traditional arenas.
one NBA 2K2 (2001) – 93
When this series first started, it was exclusive to the Dreamcast as it was made by Sega. changed with the release NBA 2K2, as it launches for PlayStation 2, Xbox and Gamecube, opens to a wider audience. This move was vital to the series.
This entry was important as it first introduced realistic player skills, so shooting in the right place on the court was important to certain players. It will help give birth to things like player personalities in later installments. This game also added mods, improved the defensive side of things, and added legends.