NBA 2K25 Standard Edition (Xbox One/Xbox Series X|S)

Game description:

NBA 2K25 is a 2024 sports game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K, based on the National Basketball Association (NBA). It is the 26th installment in the NBA 2K series and is the successor to NBA 2K24 (2023). The game was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on September 6, 2024.

Gameplay:

The NBA 2K25 Next Gen City is split into two affiliations, Rise and Elite. Each affiliation offers five 3v3 courts and three 2v2 courts. The Elite courts are located on the bottom right of the map and are pirate-themed. The Rise courts are located on the top right of the map and are robot factory-themed. This 2K offers 72 different takeovers and 14 takeover abilities.
Takeovers have five levels, which gradually boost with strong performances on the court. NBA 2K25 introduces Legend Badges and additional attributes beyond your builds cap. In MyCareer, stamina has been removed from the builder and is now earned through working out at a Gatorade facility. Also, the acceleration rating has been replaced with agility. The badge regression introduced in NBA 2K24 has been removed.

Game review:

The more things change, the more they stay the same, and that’s never been more true than with NBA 2K25. Although the core gameplay feels familiar (and it most likely always will), a handful of improvements such as Go-To Moves, Rhythm Shooting, and Shot Timing Profiles also make it more novel and challenging. MyCareer remains the most important mode in the series, and I love that the Heart of a Dynasty storyline and the return of Streetball bring a sense of nostalgia and highlight a renewed focus on single-player experiences that I’ve finally been given reason to hope will be even better next year. Don’t get me wrong: microtransactions are still as pervasive and frustrating as ever, particularly when progressing your player online. But at least it doesn’t always feel necessary, especially in MyTeam, thanks to the much-needed restoration of the Auction House to allow you to earn cards without buying VC. To put it plainly, NBA 2K25 isn’t quite on the level of the splashy return of Michael Jordan in 1995. Instead, it feels more like his late-career stint with the Washington Wizards; you know what you’re getting at this point, but it still has a few tricks up its sleeves that longtime fans like me can be pleasantly surprised by even as we gripe about long-term issues.