NBA 2K27 review: One of the better iterations of the beloved franchise

Charlie Wilson Thu, October 8, 2026 at 10:39 AM UTC

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NBA 2K27 is one of the better iterations of the game (Image: NBA 2K)

Having spent the last few weeks playing NBA 2k27, I can confidently say it is one of the better editions of the game they've ever released.

Whether it rivals the likes of 2K11, 2K13 and 2K15 is debatable, but what cannot be denied is how polished this version of the game is. The gameplay has taken another leap forward, with a number of meaningful improvements.

Playing defense is extremely enjoyable, while offense has become a little more difficult this year. Every movement feels purposeful, with mistakes very easily made - leaving the player engaged at all times. If you leave the likes of Luka Doncic unguarded - who Donald Trump recently stated he'd redo his Lakers trade - for a second, then he'll make you pay.

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As always, 2K has done a fantastic job in mastering each player's tendencies and their mechanics, making it really feel like you are in control of the actual player.

The game has long mastered the mechanics of players like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant, and now focuses even on players at the bottom of rosters, making everyone feel different and boosting its replayability.

A'ja Wilson in NBA 2K27 (Image: NBA 2K)

As a MyCareer and story-mode fanatic, I have spent the majority of my time in these modes. While there are the regular NBA 2K cheesy storylines, it has genuinely captivated me this time around.

I genuinely care for my character and want to see his story unfold, from the G-League to the NBA, even after spending over 10 hours playing.

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The player controls a character with the nickname 'MP', while seeing his G-League teammate Trace Miller join him in the NBA in the 'Fire & Concrete' campaign mode. This forces you to build a relationship, both off and on the court, with Miller, while being credited in VC for his improvements, while having the ability to improve his abilities through the 'Running Mate' objectives.

My colleague Rory's face scan is unbelievably accurate - much better than mine (Image: NBA 2K)

The MyCareer mode maintains active narrative beats throughout your player's rookie year, making it impossible to put the controller down and walk away until you see the year out.

A long-term issue I have had with those game modes has always been the pay-to-win aspect. This has been the case with NBA 2K for over a decade now, and unfortunately, it's just not going to change. Microtransactions are in almost every game nowadays, but it's not a stretch to say that 2K was one of the first to make it necessary to spend more money after already shelling out for the game.

I spent $30 to improve my player's abilities from the jump, even though I was limited to a player with poor overall statistics. It would take you a long time to get your player where they need to be, perhaps making the MyCareer less fun and much more difficult with the attribute boosts.

Having spent countless hours on MyCareer, I stepped into playing the MyNBA mode, which is still as fun as ever. It's a franchise and sandbox mode where you act as a general manager and head coach, controlling a single team or the entire league over multiple seasons.

I have also enjoyed playing WNBA games on 2K this year. The WNBA continues to grow in popularity, and I found joy in learning Caitlin Clark's techniques, movements, and shooting motions while mastering how to play as she does in the league - it was a brief grind with great rewards.

The online modes are as fun as ever, too. This has been a fantastic game mode for over a decade now, with 2K27 only adding to this in this year's edition. It isn't broken, and 2K hasn't fixed it, making it much more fun for basketball fans to hop into.

My score: 8.5/10

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”