Discussing the best NBA 2K games of all time can be a touchy subject for basketball gamers. Every person has their respective opinions on the franchise’s best and worst entries. 2K games have done their best to stay relevant and modern. For example, including popular rappers as part of the game’s player career mode. However, sometimes this isn’t enough to wipe the bad taste of gameplay out of the player’s mouth.
This ranking will not take my opinion into account. Instead, I will breakdown the 5 most well received editions based on their Metacritic scores. This way the best games can be identified solely on how well rated they were. In addition, the amount of copies sold will also be included. Without further adieu, here are the top 5 NBA 2K games of all time.
5. NBA 2K12
Releasing in 2011, NBA 2K12 takes the 5th spot on the list. This game serves as a staple in the 2K community. Seemingly, the older games in the franchise tend to be the favorites. The current versions do not appear to hold up to how well received older versions are. This installment sold an incredible 4 million copies in total. Many other games have never even reached that high.
2K strived to build off of the last game and improve the immersion of the experience. Previously, they failed to properly capture the energy of the crowd. The atmosphere lacked in several ways. That finally changed in 2K12. Crowd attendance would be significantly different depending on record. If you were a team with more losses than wins, you typically would see less fans attending. As someone who plays a lot of sports games, atmosphere is important. It pulls you into the game, and adds a sense of realness.
Available on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, this game scored a 90 overall on Metacritic.
4. NBA 2K13
Following up NBA 2K12 is the game that come out the next year. NBA 2K13. Starting off, this game was executively produced by the legendary rapper, Jay-Z. A major name to be involved on a franchise like this. In it’s first 24 hours, it seemingly sold 9.5 million copies. A massive step up from the year prior. Rightfully so. This game proved to be even better than the last. Many players still go back and play this classic as it is still one of the very best.
A metascore of 90 as well, this installment improved on a lot from before. Career mode become more immersive than ever before. New ways to dress your player and make an impact on how people feel about you. It was a standard set for all career modes across sports games. In addition, the game added an All-Star Weekend mode. The mode allowed you to play through all of the different events during the All-Star break.
3. NBA 2K17
The most current 2K game to appear on this list, this version once again changed plenty to continue improving and growing. Career mode followed through with being a story-driven, immersive experience. Only this time, they pulled in promising young actor, Michael B. Jordan. A massive edition for a sports video game at this time period. This version in the franchise sold 8.5 million copies.
Scoring yet another 90 on Metacritic, 2K17 may be the last basketball game that fans truly enjoyed of recent years. The game made steps towards making the MyLeague mode better. They added the ability to add expansion teams along with relocating any team. The mode also introduced the ability to manipulate the rules of your league. Graphics were also truly starting to become quite impressive. It is disappointing that NBA 2K games since this one have gone downhill. We can only hope they try to build off of feedback from the community.
2. NBA 2K1
While coming in second, this title is actually tied for 1st with the final edition to this list. Nothing beats a classic. At least, that’s how reviewers feel towards the franchise. This isn’t completely unheard of either. Other major sports franchise fans have similar feelings. FIFA and Madden fans alike tend to prefer older versions. Some of it is nostalgia, while the other part is just simple, but solid gameplay.
Scoring a remarkable 93, this entry still holds up today. Of course, the modern editions have incredible features. On the other hand, sometimes simplicity is preferred. NBA 2K1 had great gameplay for it’s time and online multiplayer. It also allowed the ability to play street basketball, to change up from the traditional league style.
1. NBA 2K2
Yes, the follow up to 2K1 takes first place. Another classic title on the list to give players love and nostalgia for the long running franchise. This was the first to release on Playstation 2, Xbox, and GameCube. Originally, it only ever appeared on the Sega Dreamcast. This version served as a nice upgrade to it’s predecessor. Introducing smarter AI, more street courts, and better gameplay.
Tied with the past title, it also scored a solid 93 overall. A game that makes those remember the joys of childhood. A game that reminds you of the time period and makes you love the game of basketball. NBA 2K2 added legends and an improved defensive system. While I struggled to find sales for this edition, it is no doubt this game was popular among it’s newly developed community. To this day, it is clearly still one of the most beloved of the franchise’s entire history.
In retrospect, the newer games do not seem to receive the same love as older versions. Understandably, the fans feel they are not always heard when talking about the problems. As is the case with many other major franchises. Opinion or not, the modern editions are still good in their own ways. They bring a lot of content as compared to the past. I think there will always be a large amount of love for the originals though. Sometimes, you just can’t beat classic.