Parents' Guide to

NBA 2K24

Game Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , Nintendo Switch , Windows , Xbox One , PlayStation 4 2023
Basketball player Kobe Bryant wears an LA Lakers jersey as he appears mid dunk.

Common Sense Media Review

Marc Saltzman By Marc Saltzman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 10+

Fun but flawed new edition of NBA game; in-game purchases.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 10+?

Any Positive Content?

  • A 3-D model of Kobe Bryant, on the court, is seen here in this screen grab from the game NBA 2K24.
  • An NBA game is in action in his screen shot from NBA 2K24. Denver Nuggets player Nikola Jokic is about to shoot the ball.
  • A ref is about to make a call during a NBA 2K24 game between Orlando and Miami.

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 7 parent reviews

Daquarius W.
Daquarius W. Adult
April 2, 2024
age 18+

Why so much gang-affiliation?

Boy oh boy where do I begin; the abundant use of curse words and explicit music mixed with the uncanny consumption of illicit substances (cigarettes, vapes, alcohol) make this game COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE for anyone under the age of 18. I was DISGUSTED when I sat down to watch my son (17F) to play on the family TV. We've played our fair share of games in this household, but never have I seen a game so unnecessarily shoe in inappropriate content. The only redeeming factor for this game is the (although infrequent) use of strong role models: Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Tyler Herro, Josh Giddey, Alex Caruso, Austin Reeves, etc. Overall, the inappropriate setting and poor gameplay lead me to my final conclusion of a two-star review, which is only saved by the positive message spread by a small number of players. Not recommended to buy, especially for those with children under 18.
Shaman K.
Shaman K. Adult
September 17, 2023
age 18+

NBA 2k24 uses Predatory Marketing Tactics on your children

If you played NBA 2k23 on the switch and are looking for fresh new content, DO NOT BUY THIS GAME. I created an account on this website right now just to write this review. Feels like 90% of the new content is only available on the new PlayStation and Xbox (next gen) versions of this game. However, NBA2k24 is being sold to PC and switch (current gen) consumers as if it’s the same thing. Current gen is so so disappointing. To me, it feels like a blatant money grab after being so hype for 2k24 and getting the same game as 2k23 with updated rosters. Save yourself the $70 you’d spend on this game (and $50 for each build because in career mode they instantly make you a starter with no backstory and you’re a 60 overall). It’s funny how over the years they’ve slowly transitioned the most played game modes onto online servers with heavy marketing on their currencies to incentivize micro transactions. Also, how many games do you know that have a battle pass and also cost over $60 to buy initially. This is setting a bad precedence for the future. If you look at the company that owns 2k and Rockstar Games, Take Two Interactive, they recently acquired the mobile game developer Zynga (which has many games that rely on micro transactions as their main source of revenue) for 12.4 billon USD. And in an GameSpot interview the CEO of Take Two mentioned “ "We are fielding a game for 100% of the audience and monetising 10% or so, perhaps a bit more, often a bit less. And it's our view that we ought to be monetising 100% of the audience.” This company values the gamers who spend money on micro transactions over the ones that only spend 69.99 or a one time cost. This has been shown by how heavily the game has transitioned to micro transactions since 2k17/18. It’s clear to me that Take Two values monetization tactics and pay2win over the creation of a better gaming experience. I feel bad for the developers who are creatively stifled and forced into creating content that serves the pockets of their bosses’ shareholders. If you want your kids to be playing a casino basketball game that incentivizes them to gamble your hard earned money, then buy this game. I can’t believe it’s rated E for everyone with such predatory marketing tactics. Sorry for the long read and I hope my review helps others make better decisions than I did by purchasing this casino-esque basketball game. Edit- I refunded the game. Remember that you vote with your wallet. I will not support Take Two Interactive as long as they continue churning out predatory games directed at children and young adults.
See all 7 parent reviews

What's It About?

Celebrating 25 years of the best-selling NBA 2K game series, 2K Sports is back with NBA 2K24, a multiplatform pro basketball simulation that celebrates past and present players, the league (both NBA and WNBA), the fans and basketball culture as a whole. Along with an updated roster, new this year is ProPLAY technology for Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5, which adds more realism to the presentation as it converts real NBA video footage into in-game animation. NBA 2K24 also supports online cross-play between different consoles. A MAMBA MOMENTS mode lets players recreate some of Kobe Bryant's biggest moves throughout his illustrious career in the league. A new beachfront city can be explored (for Xbox Series S/X and PS5 owners) along with the MyPLAYER and MyCAREER mode updates -- including an optional Season Pass, which unlocks more content. The developer has also added more features to the MyTEAM card-collecting mode and extra management options to the MyNBA mode (including the LeBron era starting in 2011). While most of the solo and online modes are available to all platforms, NBA 2K24 offers the best graphics and added modes and features exclusively for Xbox Series S/X and PS5.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7 ):
Kids say (5 ):

While there are some issues with NBA 2K24, the game builds upon the success of its predecessors, and delivers a comprehensive simulation for fans of the sport. Between its multiple modes, enhanced visuals (with ProPLAY technology on some of the consoles) and accessible controls, it's fun to play solo, with a friend, or online with players from around the world. The first thing you'll notice after installing the game is the slick Kobe Bryant video that plays in the game engine, which shows off the 4K graphics with High Dynamic Range (HDR), animation and smooth 60 frames-per-second visuals. Speaking of tributes to Kobe, besides the cover art of the game, the new MAMBA MOMENTS feature is perfect for Kobe fans since you can play as the legendary player during his early days and all through his rise up the ranks to be one of the game's top names. An added bonus is the announcers who really amp up the drama, as well as broadcast-like replays and slow-motion close-up shots from iconic moves and big wins.

The game's not without its flaws. Micro-transactions as a way to win can be annoying and seem unfair, and not all features and graphics upgrades are available for every platforms. Cross-platform support is a great idea but the multiplayer lobby gets stuck on a matchmaking screen from time to time, so you need to leave and come back. This may not be related to connecting PlayStation gamers with Xbox players, but definitely needs to be ironed out just the same. NBA 2K24 is the best basketball game out there, but between some stability issues, microtransactions with some modes, and many of the features and visual upgrades (like ProPLAY) only for Xbox Series S/X or PS5, it's not a slam dunk. Warts and all, NBA fans shouldn't be disappointed with this new iteration of the 25-year-old series -- especially for those on next-gen consoles.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about annual sports games. Do you think there's a reason to put out a new version of the game each year? Are there enough changes to justify this or does it seem like this is just another way to get fans to spend money?

  • The game allows in-game voice chat and let's you play with other people, both those you know and don't know. Parents can talk to kids about how to stay safe on games like this by only playing with friends they know and setting boundaries around appropriate behavior.

  • While NBA 2K24 doesn't contain any controversial content, parents of gamers should bookmark Common Sense Media to help guide them through various media their kids are consuming, to help make and manage good decisions as a family.

  • Parents and kids can explore this game together so parents have a piece of mind about how the game functions and it's settings, and so kids feel adults understand the game they're playing.

Game Details

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