NBA 2K27 Review: Familiar Basketball Simulation Hindered By Aggressive Microtransactions

Visual Concepts has launched NBA 2K27, bringing another annual refresh to the long-running basketball simulation franchise. The latest release introduces several notable additions, including MyCareer Eras, a co-ed City hub, and new shot types. Despite these updates, critics note that the game continues to face familiar hurdles regarding its aggressive live service elements and microtransactions.

MyCareer Eras stands out as a major highlight, offering a spin on the standard career mode that allows players to place superstars into different eras of basketball history. Users can face off against legends like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan, or form teams with figures like Shaq and Kobe. This mode omits the cinematic storytelling found in the traditional MyCareer campaign, titled Fire and Concrete, which follows a player from high school to the professional league alongside narrative drama and co-op support options.

The online social hub known as The City returns with a beginner-friendly playlist called Casual Corner, designed to offer a less intimidating environment for newcomers. Additionally, the hub introduces female MyPlayers for use within online social spaces. However, traversal and user interface design within The City continue to receive criticism for cluttered menus and dated visual presentation.

Virtual currency, or VC, remains heavily integrated across player progression, attribute upgrades, and cosmetic unlocks. Reviewers note that players must choose between dedicating countless hours to grinding or purchasing currency packages to accelerate their build development. On the court, moment-to-moment mechanics receive praise for tight gameplay, slick layups, new close-range shot maneuvers like step-throughs and up-and-unders, and defensive adjustments to blocking and contest mechanics.

NBA 2K27 is available now for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC, and Switch 2.