REVIEW: ‘NBA 2K25’ Delivers A Championship Contender (PS5)

Releasing a yearly sports game is no easy feat. Change too much, and you risk isolating your fanbase, but a lack of innovation will keep casual players from wanting to upgrade to the latest version. Visual Concepts started tweaking the formula with NBA 2K24, and that vision is realized in full with NBA 2K25.

Nothing showcases just how much the game has evolved more than the ProPLAY system. Introduced in NBA 2K24, ProPLAY is a new way to capture player animations and make the game feel as lifelike as possible. Instead of using motion capture, ProPLAY uses real in-game footage from NBA players to recreate their movements with incredible authenticity. NBA 2K25 boasts over 1,500 dribbling animations, 1,100 signature shot animations, and over 1,300 off-the-ball animations.

ProPLAY was a neat concept when it was introduced, but it did not feel like the giant leap Visual Concepts was hoping for. Its implementation in NBA 2K25 finally feels like that vision has come to life. Movements are incredibly lifelike and combined with next-gen visuals, the game looks more realistic than it ever has. If the aim is to simulate the sport as authentically as possible, ProPLAY delivers.

The revamped gameplay is also just fun to play. Even the more basic movements like passing and dribbling are exciting because they are virtually always different. Steph Curry moves differently than Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the line between real life and video games is blurred more than ever. Thanks to that authenticity, ProPLAY manages to take dribbling and turn it into something fun and interesting.

There are also some new tweaks to offensive gameplay. Chief among them is the new Pro Stick Rhythm Shooting. Instead of pushing and releasing the shoot button or thumbstick, Pro Stick Rhythm Shooting has players pull down on the stick and then push up to match the timing of the player’s movement. I didn’t want to change my shooting routine at first, but after just a few minutes with Pro Stick Rhythm Shooting, I noticed my shot accuracy increasing dramatically. It is a small tweak on the surface, but it can really give players a leg up on their competition once they get the hang of it.

It is not just offense that has seen some changes. A new defensive movement system makes stopping your opponent easier than ever. The defensive cutoff system increases control over player movement and can help trip up offensive players. It is another system that doesn’t seem game-changing at first, but the better I get at it, the more I notice the impact on the court.

What has not changed a ton are the types of gameplay available to players. The same Play Now, MyCAREER, MyNBA, The W, and MyTEAM modes return with some updates. The main The City hub also returns to tie it all together, with small tweaks to make it feel more intimate and easier to navigate. The one big change is the reintroduction of MyGM, the RPG-like mode that lets players run their own franchise

MyCAREER is the game mode with the most changes. There are 74 Pro-Tuned Builds that players can use to help create their ultimate player without being overwhelmed by options. This makes creating a player more approachable for new players. For experienced players, an unprecedented level of depth lets them dig into what their player will look and play like as they develop. The Takeover system also lets players specifically target how to boost their ratings during the games and is easy to understand.

That balance is greatly appreciated. There is enough to keep veteran players interested and give them even more control over how their player is built. It makes creating your MyPLAYER an enjoyable experience without ever being overwhelming. The balance between approachable and customizable is absolutely nailed here.

Having MyGM back is such a delight. Everyone thinks they can run an NBA franchise better than real-life GMs, so having the chance to try is great. A new perk system is used to upgrade your GM and turn your favorite franchise into a generational contender. Conversations with players and a customizable team-building approach make this a welcome return and a blast to play.

TheW also sees some improvements in NBA 2K25. With the WNBA exploding in popularity, it is nice to see the league get the attention it deserves in video game form. The Pursuit of Glory story is fun, even if it isn’t anything spectacular. It is still nice to play through a more fleshed-out story on the WNBA side of things. Press conferences have also been added to TheW, and options chosen during these help alter the shape of the story.

Thankfully, TheW is not as much of an afterthought as it had been previously. There is still some work to do to make it on par with the NBA experience, but the gap is much smaller in NBA 2K25. Playing as players like Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark is an absolute blast, and hopefully, 2K continues to build on TheW in future years.

MyTEAM, NBA 2K25’s answer to Ultimate Team in EA Sports games, also received some changes based on community feedback. The Auction House is back for players to buy and sell player cards. Four new modes have also been added to MyTEAM. The new rep system does not reset seasonally, helping avoid any FOMO. Microtransaction saturation is still pretty prevalent, but these changes make it somewhat less egregious.

NBA 2K25 radically improves gameplay and presents the most authentic NBA experience to date. It builds on systems introduced in last year’s version to give players a more complete package to enjoy.

NBA 2K25 is available now on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.