NBA 2K25 Review

is largely what players have come to expect from the franchise, though there are some welcome updates that make the game feel a bit more fresh. Updates to player movement and an expanded sampling from 2K’s ProPLAY system do add some noticeable differences to how players get around the court. This brings as close to revolutionary as an annual sports release can get, but that is still a big gap to close.

That isn’t to say isn’t fun. The game has a lot to offer, especially thanks to its wide range of game modes. Unfortunately, several of the game’s main features do have one major downside that stops this game from being perfect, even if it is an admirable attempt that's well worth a look from even the most seasoned veterans of this series.

Driving to the basket has never felt as good as it does in. The game provides ample opportunity to exploit openings in the defense and put the ball down hard in the basket. This is thanks to new dribble engine.

For about the past decade, games have all been using the same dribble engine. is the first game in a while to make major changes to the way players move the ball, and it has paid off. Though the controls are still familiar, the actual feel of controlling the ball feels more precise. The new dribble engine works in tandem with some of the other best features introduced in.

Several other mechanical innovations help make stand out from previous years. One of the most fun is the variety of offensive moves players have access to while handling the ball. Players can utilize spin moves to get around defenders, or use some fancy footwork to create distance and open themselves up to shoot from outside unguarded. These moves are easily accessed using the right stick, but it still takes skill to employ them at the right moment. This makes the feature easy to use, but it doesn’t feel like an unfair advantage.

The variety of options for shooting is another major win for. With a large selection of shot timing profiles, and the ability