NBA 2K25 (Switch) Review | Nintendo Life
There was a time when an annual NBA 2K Switch entry was something to look forward to. Each year was a step back from its next-gen counterpart, of course, but the Nintendo port offered a nearly full experience with the added bonus of portability. Those were the days, right?
Whoever picks it up NBA 2K24 will realize that the current situation is no longer the case and unfortunately, the same could happen this time too. NBA 2K25 It’s the same game we saw 12 months ago, but somehow it’s even less feature-rich than its predecessor. The gap between the Switch port and the next-gen has become a huge chasm, and with a £50 price tag attached, 2K25 is probably the worst example of a Switch ‘Legacy Edition’ to date.
The trimmed experience is noticeable right from the opening menu, with gameplay options limited to Play Now, MyCareer, MyTeam and MyLeague. The expanded MyNBA, The W, CrossPlay and ProPlay are once again tied to next-gen consoles (now including PC), but there’s no history lesson mode like last year’s ‘Mamba Moments’ or 2K23‘Jordan Challenge’ (both available on Switch) feels like a real downgrade.
For the second year in a row, MyCareer is the blandest of the bunch. The mode we loved still has no storyline, team cutscenes, or hub world The City to speak of, and what’s left in place of those missing features is all the more disappointing. A new version of The Neighborhood appears as the main hub, and while it’s easier to navigate thanks to the category system, it feels like a ghost town with no cross-play. We only ran into a handful of other players while exploring the area, making 2v2 or 3v3 street basketball matches feel like a hoop dream, and we never got past the “Waiting for Teammates” screen for a 5v5 Rec game.
MyTeam is still a lifesaver. The mode is still riddled with the usual microtransaction pitfalls, but at least the new single-player ‘Breakout’ option is a fun way to test out your team and get rewards against the CPU (for those who don’t want to stare at the “Searching for a match…” online animation).
The gameplay itself is still pretty tight, with some new accessibility options to make the shot times a little less frustrating. However, shooting and dribbling still feel slow and sluggish on Switch, with performance locked at 30fps—nothing new, but something that needs to be improved to really capture the flow of the game from start to finish. This isn’t helped by the same outdated visuals we’ve seen for years, complete with hair clipped through headbands, missing eyes, and mouths occasionally stuck in an open position. At least the game makes someone gasp— um, tshhh
Cutback gameplay options, outdated visuals and lengthy loading times are common features of 2K on Switch, but the fact that NBA 2K25 feels like a lesser experience than last year’s disappointing release is a real departure for the series. Ring the bell and demand a replacement, it’s time we brought ‘Switch 2’ on.
