NBA Live 19 earned a 73/100 Metascore from 26 critic reviews, a Mixed or Average result. The excerpts point to a game critics often enjoyed on the court, especially for its animation and street-focused modes, but faulted for uneven presentation and shortcomings in parts of its mode lineup. The scores are a snapshot of reviews published around the game’s 2018 launch, not a comparison with later basketball games.
What score did NBA Live 19 receive?
Metacritic’s overall listing gives NBA Live 19 a 73/100 from 26 critic reviews, categorized as Mixed or Average. Its displayed review breakdown is 14 positive, 12 mixed, and zero negative. Those figures describe the reviews included in the overall listing, not a unanimous critical verdict. Metacritic’s NBA Live 19 reviews
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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NBA 2K14 - PlayStation 4 | $26.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Nba 2K18 Standard Edition - PlayStation 4 | $8.31 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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NBA 2K15 - PlayStation 4 | $34.01 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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NBA 2K19 (PS4) | $59.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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NBA BOUNCE - PlayStation 5 | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Platform pages show different results, so keep the platform and review count attached to each score rather than treating them as interchangeable:
| Listing | Metascore | Review count |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 73/100 | 26 critic reviews |
| PlayStation 4 | 73/100 | 27 listed reviews on the PS4 page |
| Xbox One | 75/100 | 12 critic reviews |
The platform-page counts differ from the overall listing’s count. They should be read as separate Metacritic listings, not added together or used to infer a single combined total. Metacritic’s PS4 critic reviews
#1 Best Overall
- MyGM - A re-imagined franchise mode that takes grabbing the reins of team management to the next level. Create a GM, craft your management style through attributes, manage relationships with players and staff, meet goals set by owners and more in an attempt to earn a championship under your watch.
- THE PARK - An all-new, massive-multiplayer playground mode where up to 100 MyPLAYERs in a single Park can play street ball, socialize, watch games in progress, and more.
- MyCAREER - Experience the NBA life like never before both on and off the court as you develop and hone your MyPLAYER through an epic and immersive branching story mode
- ECO-MOTION ENGINE - Ground-breaking, dynamic gameplay engine marries real life physics, player emotion and deep controls to deliver a seemingly endless variation of actions and reactions that can only be achieved with next-generation technology.
What did critics like about NBA Live 19?
Basketball feel, animation, and training
IGN’s displayed review excerpt praised the core basketball experience, modes, animation system, and training. The outlet summed up its reaction: “I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked playing NBA Live 19.” That is an outlet-attributed excerpt, not a statement from a named individual reviewer. Metacritic’s NBA Live 19 reviews
Streetball, WNBA, and distinctive modes
PlayStation LifeStyle highlighted mixed-gender rosters, female-created players, Court Battles, and changes to commentary as additions that helped the game keep pace. It called the game “a solid alternative to 2K’s offering,” while stopping short of presenting it as a new quality benchmark.
Rank #2
- The #1 rated NBA video game simulation series for the last 16 years (Metacritic)
- The #1 selling NBA video game simulation series for the last 10 years (NPD)
- Over 95 awards and nominations since the launch of PlayStation 4 & Xbox One
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Crude humor, mild language
USgamer welcomed real streetball and pro-am courts, named leagues, and WNBA presence. Its excerpt said NBA Live 19 was “currently chasing NBA 2K19 as far as relevance is concerned, but it’s also paving a path all its own.” These comments capture critics’ launch-era framing; they are not a current comparison with later releases. Metacritic’s NBA Live 19 reviews
What were the main criticisms?
Presentation and commentary
IGN praised the basketball foundation but criticized canned commentary and a weaker sense of basketball culture. PlayStation LifeStyle also mentioned commentary changes among the game’s additions, showing that presentation was not a uniformly praised part of the package.
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- Gameplay: NBA 2K15 features a number of significant gameplay improvements, including approximately 5,000 new animations, all-new defensive AI, shooting systems, new team-specific play sets, and more control over rebounding, steals, and blocks making players feel engaged in every basketball decision and action. Upgraded broadcast-style presentation hosted by Ernie Johnson and Shaq delivers authentic commentary and analysis to the action.
- MyCAREER: Experience the life of an NBA player in an all-new storyline.
- MyPARK: Take your MyPLAYER online in this massive-multiplayer playground mode.
- MyTEAM: Build your fantasy dream team with cards from every era by earning and buying MyTEAM packs.
- PlayStation Exclusive Content: Dominate on The Stage for higher stakes, exclusive on the PS4 through 11/7/14. 10,000 Virtual Currency Bonus and an Exclusive MyTEAM Card Pack for PlayStationPlus Members
Franchise mode and ball physics
Other displayed critic excerpts identified Franchise mode and ball physics as areas needing work. The excerpts are representative examples from Metacritic’s listing, not a full re-score of every review; they establish that these concerns appeared in the record, not how frequently every critic raised them.
Competition with NBA 2K
Several excerpts situated the game against NBA 2K, describing NBA Live 19 as an alternative while also saying the series was still chasing its competitor. That context helps explain why a 73 score can coexist with praise for its own modes and on-court strengths: critics could value its distinctive content without viewing it as the category leader.
Rank #4
- NBA 2K celebrates 20 years of redefining what sports gaming can be
- Best in class gameplay, ground breaking game modes and an immersive open-world "Neighborhood."
- Pre-order NBA 2K19 now to receive: 5, 000 Virtual Currency, 10 MyTEAM packs (delivered one a week), and more!
How should you read EA’s feature claims?
EA marketed NBA Live 19 around The One, The League, and The Streets, and described “1v1 Everywhere” and Real Player Motion as features. Those terms explain what the publisher emphasized; they are not independent evidence that the features worked well or that critics agreed on their quality. EA’s NBA Live 19 product page
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When did NBA Live 19 come out?
Electronic Arts announced and released NBA Live 19 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on September 7, 2018. EA Tiburon developed the game, and Electronic Arts published it. EA’s release announcement
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Best Value
- FUN & EASY HOOP PLAY: Players of any age and level can learn the basics and play in style as they shoot, dunk, and block.
- CO-OP ON THE COURTS: Shoot hoops with family and friends and amp up the challenge with up to 4 players.
- PRACTICE YOUR MOVES: Choose your game mode and work on your lay-ups in Training, compete in a Full Season or Party playing Ball Pop and more.
- MASCOT MAYHEM: Jump into the shenanigans with your favorite team mascot in Party Mode.
- BUILD YOUR PERFECT LINEUP: Choose an Eastern or Western Conference team and design your players from the hair to the sneakers and funky trails.
What the reviews mean for players
The critic record is most useful if you are weighing the game’s launch-era strengths and trade-offs: reviews recognized an enjoyable basketball base and content that gave it a distinct identity, while noting rough edges in presentation, Franchise mode, and competition with NBA 2K. The figures and excerpts above reflect reviews shown by Metacritic and published in September 2018; they do not establish current price, availability, online-service status, or how the game performs on current hardware.
Quick Recap
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.
