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NBA 2K23 Reviews: Is It Worth Playing Now?

NBA 2K23 still offers offline basketball, but its online services have ended. Reviews were generally favorable, and the PS5/Xbox Series X|S editions differ from older-generation and PC versions.
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NBA 2K23 is worth considering if you want an offline basketball game and choose the version that matches your platform—but its online modes are gone. 2K retired the game’s online services on December 31, 2024, including MyCAREER, MyTEAM, online multiplayer, and online leagues. Offline modes remain. The other key caveat is the generation split: PS5 and Xbox Series X|S get the City and MyNBA Eras, while PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC use the G.O.A.T. Boat experience.

Is NBA 2K23 worth it?

For a player who wants basketball simulation, historical content, and offline modes, NBA 2K23 can still be a reasonable choice. It is a poor fit if you are buying it for MyCAREER, MyTEAM, multiplayer, or online leagues: those server-dependent features ended when 2K retired online services on December 31, 2024. 2K’s shutdown notice says already-owned copies can still be downloaded and used for offline modes.

Critics generally liked the game, but review scores should be treated as a snapshot rather than a permanent verdict. Metacritic’s page accessed in 2026 lists a 78/100 all-platform Metascore from 59 critic reviews, while its user score is 4.6/10 from 243 ratings. Neither figure tells you whether the version on your platform has the modes you want—or whether its now-offline feature set suits you.

Are NBA 2K23 servers still up?

No. 2K’s service-status page, updated September 14, 2026, says NBA 2K23 online services were retired on December 31, 2024. Its retirement notice states that MyCAREER and MyTEAM are no longer available, and online multiplayer and online leagues have ended.

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#1 Best Overall
Sale
NBA 2K26 - PlayStation 5
  • POWERED BY ProPLAY: Dominate every possession with immersive technology that directly translates NBA footage into realistic gameplay. Feel more connected to every dribble and crossover with revamped size-ups and experience fast-paced, dynamic movement with all-new ProPLAY features.
  • SQUAD UP IN THE CITY: Build a transcendent MyPLAYER and climb the competitive ranks to reach the pinnacle of NBA stardom in an all-new MyCAREER journey. Team up with friends in a stunning, streamlined City, earn recognition and increase your REP, and battle rival squads for Park supremacy.
  • UNITE STARS IN MyTEAM: Collect and compete with past and present legends of the game in MyTEAM. Assemble a star-studded roster, put your dream team to the test in new single-player and multiplayer modes, and acquire new cards to make your MyTEAM fantasy a reality.
  • YOUR TEAM, YOUR STORY: Lead an NBA franchise as a General Manager in MyNBA. Choose from all 30 teams, experience 30 unique MyGM storylines with real-world inspiration, and chase the ultimate goal: to win a championship. Influence the future of the sport and leave an indelible mark on the league.

2K lists these modes as playable offline: Play Now, MyNBA/MyLeague, 2KU/Learn 2K, MyWNBA, and The W. An offline mode listing does not mean server-dependent features within or alongside a mode are still available. For the current service-status details, see 2K Support.

What is the difference between NBA 2K23 on PS5 and PS4?

The editions differ in their feature sets, not just the console label. 2K’s launch and gameplay announcements specify the City and MyNBA Eras for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC use the G.O.A.T. Boat experience. The publisher also describes select AI, badge, and related gameplay changes specifically for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S; its materials do not establish a complete performance comparison for every platform.

Rank #2
NBA 2K23 - PlayStation 5
  • The next evolution of ultra-real gameplay has arrived on New Gen with NBA 2K23
  • The City is yours for the taking in the most immersive MyCAREER journey to date.
  • Step back in time with era-specific visuals that captured Michael Jordan’s ascent from collegiate sensation to global icon with immersive Jordan Challenges chronicling his career-defining dominance.
  • Ball without limits as you collect and assemble a bevy of legendary talent from any era in MyTEAM.
Platform Publisher-described experience
PS5, Xbox Series X|S The City and MyNBA Eras; selected next-generation gameplay changes
PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC G.O.A.T. Boat experience

These platform distinctions come from 2K’s launch announcement and gameplay announcement. In particular, do not assume the PC release has the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S feature set: 2K groups PC with the G.O.A.T. Boat versions and identifies new-generation MyNBA as a PS5/Xbox Series X|S feature.

What do reviews say about NBA 2K23?

Metacritic’s accessed 2026 page gives the game a 78/100 Metascore from 59 critic reviews across platforms, labeled “Generally Favorable.” Its displayed distribution is 44 positive reviews (75%), 15 mixed (25%), and no negative reviews. The Xbox Series X page shows 80/100 from 29 critic reviews. Metacritic’s user score is 4.6/10 from 243 ratings, labeled “Generally Unfavorable,” with a displayed distribution of 25% positive, 28% mixed, and 48% negative. These counts and scores can change, and user ratings are a self-selected sample rather than the same kind of assessment as critic reviews. See Metacritic’s NBA 2K23 page.

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Visible critic reviews praise the amount of content, presentation and animation, basketball simulation, historical teams, and the Eras feature. The same set of excerpts includes criticism of microtransactions, technical shortcomings, stagnation, and unbalanced multiplayer. Those are examples from individual reviews, not proof that every critic agreed. GameSpot’s Mark Delaney rated the game 8/10 in a review titled “Like Mike,” another individual review rather than an aggregate score; see GameSpot’s NBA 2K23 listing.

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Which NBA 2K23 version should you choose?

  • Choose PS5 or Xbox Series X|S if you specifically want the City and MyNBA Eras, as described by 2K.
  • Choose the edition for your existing platform if your priority is offline basketball. PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC have the G.O.A.T. Boat experience, rather than the new-generation feature set.
  • Do not buy any edition for online modes. MyCAREER, MyTEAM, multiplayer, and online leagues are no longer available.
  • Check a physical copy’s exact platform and condition before buying. A physical edition can still be a match for offline play, but availability, seller, and price depend on the current listing.

2K announced a physical retail release and confirms that offline modes remain after the shutdown. Its launch announcement lists PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC; GameSpot’s listing also includes iOS. The publisher identifies the new-generation MyNBA features as requiring PS5 or Xbox Series X|S. See 2K’s launch announcement for its platform and edition details.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2
NBA 2K23 - PlayStation 5
NBA 2K23 - PlayStation 5
The next evolution of ultra-real gameplay has arrived on New Gen with NBA 2K23; The City is yours for the taking in the most immersive MyCAREER journey to date.
$9.99
Bestseller No. 3
Bestseller No. 4
Take 2 NBA 2K23
Take 2 NBA 2K23
NBA 2K23
$25.82
SaleBestseller No. 5
Best Value
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NBA 2K27 - PlayStation 5
  • THE CITY: Put The City on your back and lead a new era of MyPLAYERs fueled by basketball. Let your passion power your unique style on and off the court, team up with friends to form a Crew, and dominate the courts at The REC, Park, and beyond.
  • MyCAREER: Create a MyPLAYER and experience a legacy-defining story in MyCAREER, where you’ll be tested on your path to becoming the greatest player of all time. Shatter expectations, compete against legends of the sport, and leave your mark on NBA history.
  • POWERED BY ProPLAY: Master your skills with lifelike gameplay animations directly translated from real NBA action. Use an array of ProPLAY features to cook defenders with ankle-breaking crossovers, show off your range with enhanced shooting mechanics, and become a matchup nightmare every time you step on the court.
  • MyTEAM: Collect your favorite NBA and WNBA stars with ease and build a fantasy squad for the ages. Grow your collection and assemble endless lineup combinations; take control of your MyTEAM and put it to the test in single-player and multiplayer modes.
Rank #4

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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