It’s that time of year once again to grab your controller and head to the virtual court to dunk some hoops. 2K has released NBA 2K27, the latest instalment in what feels like the never-ending basketball series.
I often ask myself, how long have I been doing this now? Long enough to have seen plenty of “biggest NBA 2K yet” claims come and go. So, the big question is whether Visual Concepts has managed to make 2K27 feel like more than another roster update. Thankfully, NBA 2K27 does make some meaningful changes on its previous number, with the biggest improvements coming where they really should: on the court.
In Defence
Defence has received some, let’s be fair, much-needed attention this year. Improved on-ball movement, physical interactions, and contests make it feel like you’re actually defending rather than simply hoping the game decides to let you stay in front of your opponent as you button-mash.
Shooting and dribbling have also been tweaked, making the overall experience feel more physical, weighted, and responsive.
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All these meaningful tweaks and refinements, when added together, make this probably the best NBA 2K has felt in years. That is quite the achievement considering how difficult it is to reinvent the core, solid foundation the series is built on.
As for modes, MyCAREER is back with Fire & Concrete, an 11-chapter story that takes your created player, MP, from the early stages of their journey through to the NBA. It’s not exactly Oscar material, but it’s an enjoyable campaign. Also, a shout-out to rapper Vince Staples, who voices Cam and puts in a solid shift.
YourCAREER
The biggest addition here, however, is MyCAREER Eras, allowing you to drop your created player into different time periods of NBA history. Fancy playing alongside Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or Steph Curry? You can now build a career around some of basketball’s most iconic eras. It’s easily one of the most interesting additions this year.
Then there’s MyNBA, which continues to be one of the deepest franchise modes in any sports title I have played. The sheer amount of control you have over your league is honestly ridiculous. MyTEAM has also been streamlined with a new unified Auction House and improvements to how you manage your overall collection.
HSBC 2K27
But, of course, we have to talk about microtransactions, as they have been a huge shadow over the series for what feels like far too long. Well, once again, that dark cloud returns… sigh.
Though you can absolutely earn the currency you need through playing, progression can feel painfully slow, particularly when you’re trying to develop a MyPLAYER. This once again makes the temptation to spend real money to skip the grind far too attractive, and it remains my biggest issue with the series as a whole.
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NBA 2K27 is a very good instalment, but again, it’s not perfect. However, it feels as if Visual Concepts has really concentrated on making the actual basketball side of the game better rather than simply adding more bells and whistles.
It’s a fantastic basketball game surrounded by a business model that continues to frustrate, if I’m being honest.
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