NBA 2K24

NBA 2K24 is another installment in the market's long-standing most successful basketball simulation, developed by Visual Concepts studio under publisher 2K. The game offers the full NBA and WNBA license, detailed gameplay mechanics built around precise timing in shooting and defense, and an extensive selection of game modes, from classic games and exhibition matches to the management-focused MyGM and MyNBA to the immensely popular MyCareer, in which the player builds their own basketball career from college league through the draft to becoming an NBA star and potentially a legend of the sport.

On PlayStation 5, the game benefits from the console's power especially in player animations, which are captured via motion capture directly from professional basketball players and connected through a sophisticated system of smooth transitions, making movement on the court feel natural and believable even during rapid changes of direction. DualSense haptic feedback complements the feel of dribbling and physical contact during battles under the basket, while the online social space The City lets players walk through a virtual city and play matches together with other players in a shared environment.

The NBA 2K series has long been regarded as the technical standard for sports simulations and a reference point for basketball presentation in video games, though it regularly faces criticism over the aggressive microtransaction model in MyCareer mode, built around the virtual currency VC. Despite these controversies, NBA 2K24 remains the most comprehensive basketball experience available on the console on PlayStation 5, with content that, thanks to regularly updated online seasons, can keep players entertained for tens to hundreds of hours. Besides basketball itself, the game also offers its own music soundtrack curated in collaboration with musicians across genres, which has long been one of the recognizable hallmarks of the whole series.

Why play it: Despite the controversial microtransactions in MyCareer mode, it remains the most comprehensive basketball experience on PS5, with content for hundreds of hours and its own music soundtrack.