A strong sports simulation with RPG elements

This entry in 2K’s successful basketball franchise maintains the classic game elements fans like, while revising and improving the MyCareer option. NBA 2K17 offers several ways to get in on the action, including the career mode, MyGM, MyLeague and MyTeam. These different modes require you to take on different levels of career management, from playing through the progress of an individual player to managing an entire league.

The next best thing to basketball stardom

If you’ve played an NBA 2K game before, the core gameplay here will feel familiar, although there are a few improvements to the mechanics. Shooting is more predictable now, dribbling is simpler and more intuitive and the AI has been somewhat improved. Outside of the game itself, the various management modes provide a huge range of options. MyCareer presents a lot of player choice compared to 2K16, although the calendar management isn’t terribly exciting. Similarly, MyGM allows you to create and customize teams, arenas and other league features. 

A solid entry in the series

NBA 2K17 is a refined version of its predecessor, with refinements to the mechanics and an improved single-player narrative mode. If you’re a fan of the previous games in the series, or just a fan of basketball in general, this is a worthwhile purchase.