Review: NBA 2K27 - A Fine Time To Return To The Court

First Released September 4, 2026 Systems Leave a Review Overview Score Published Sep 7, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT The NBA 2K series has been putting out games since the Dreamcast era, and although there are starts and stops, this time it's a win. Unlike many other sports franchises that have come and gone, the NBA 2K series has been a constant in people's lives since 1999. I remember playing the first iteration of the game around the launch of the Dreamcast and being blown away by the potential of the future of sports games. Well, for a lot of franchises, that future ended in mixed-result experimentation and microtransactions. Those are the franchises that lived, too. We've seen countless sports series die off or lose licensing rights, and all the while NBA 2K has been alive, delivering annual releases for NBA fans. Now we're pretty deep into the franchise with NBA 2K27, and some of the same positives and negatives are present decades later. It Feels Good To Be Back Mechanically, NBA 2K27 plays a lot like past games, which is mostly a good thing for gameplay. Learning the fundamentals is as easy as jumping into the tutorial for a few minutes, which covers shooting, passing, and defense. Shooting jumpshots is as simple as pressing down the shot button and letting go when the shot hits the green marker. If you're too early or too late, you'll likely miss, while layups and dunks are easier to hit (as long as you have no trouble getting that close to the net). You can also hit roaming threes while moving, and sprint for good measure. Passing is just as simple (there are buttons for chest, overhead, and bounce passes), and at this point, the 2K team has nailed how in control you feel while on offense. The moment-to-moment gameplay is really fun, especially when you're in the groove. Dynamic Layups are a plus visually, as they help keep player animations interesting and literally dynamic as you play game after game. Dunks are the same way, as they require more thought now that they're governed by a meter and the defender's current strategy. There's A Lot To Love, And Some To Look Out For Modes can make or break any sports game, and while franchise/player career options have typically been available for many years, there are other things to consider with NBA 2K27, including the addition of WNBA modes. Here are all the modes on offer: MyCareer (build a player and play in the current NBA, other eras, or play in The City) MyTeam (fantasy league) MyNBA (build a dynasty) Play Now (quick play) WNBA (become a legend, or manage a team) Learn 2K (tutorial) Rookie, Semi-Pro, Pro, All-Star, Superstar, and Hall of Fame difficulty levels are available across all modes, allowing for a ton of different playstyles to pick up the game and play. MyCareer now has a co-op mode via Fire and Concrete, where the second player controls the fake ball player "Trace Miller," who is part of the mode whether you like it or not. In my experience, this has been one of the most polarizing aspects of the game: some people want to play their completely unique player in co-op, while others don't mind playing as a created construct. That construct, mind, cannot be altered nearly as much as your created player, shoehorning certain playstyles into Trace. It also stings that the story really feels like it's going through the motions, especially with its low-energy cutscenes. If this is the mode you cling to every year with NBA 2K, you'll want to come in prepared to tackle other modes. The key thing to recognize is that MyCareer really is a huge part of NBA 2K27's on-court playable content, and it needs to work well to give the game longevity long after all your friends have quit and the player base moves on to the next sports game (whether that's NBA 2K28 or something else). Era mode returns, though, and you can use it to create a dynasty in classic eras of the NBA. MyCareer is an issue this time around because it feels so limiting. While I've played countless pro sports fantasy stories from start to finish, and I don't expect to be a superstar out of the gate, the sluggish progression system of MyCareer in NBA 2K27 is a problem. Microtransactions Strike Again In fact, MyCareer is mostly concerned with pushing players toward microtransactions. Let's break this down in simple terms if you're looking to get into NBA 2K27 for the first time or are a lapsed player aiming to jump back onto the court. Progression is slow, aiming to get players either hooked on grinding or looking toward microtransactions to boost your abilities quickly. To add insult to injury, the virtual currency from some modes doesn't translate to others. It's like paying for cheat codes, and beyond the cosmetic shop already available in the game. Of course, some of these additions won't be available in future iterations, forcing players to stick with the current version. I had a blast playing NBA 2K27 when it wasn't working against itself. While it's likely that the microtransaction hits will keep coming in future years, if you're looking for a solid basketball game, you'll find a lot to love here.