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How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 78 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 26 | 638 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 55 | 750 |
| Xbox store ratings | – | 74 | 27 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (41)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 75
“NBA 2K20 includes fewer innovations than a "copy/paste club", yet manages to still play and feel pretty great. Gambling and microtransactions involved are becoming more and more toxic with each year tho.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“2K has made changes that improved the franchise in general. NBA 2K20 is, without a doubt, the best game in the series to date. Although no new mode has been added, those that are present in this edition have small changes that improve, and much, the playable experience within them. Microtransactions aside, which are quite annoying, is a game that can be enjoyed perfectly without spending more money than has already been spent to buy the game.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“NBA 2K20’s absurd production values put it alongside MLB The Show 19 as the most convincing sports game on the market, and its under-the-hood gameplay improvements mean it’s the best-playing basketball simulation ever made. With a dizzying array of modes and options, including a reasonably well-written single player campaign featuring a Hollywood cast, this is a bulky package that will keep you on-court for potentially hundreds of hours. The title’s tone-deaf approach to microtransactions is the only real downside, then, and while they have been dialled back a touch, it’s still difficult to ignore their ugly presence in practically every facet of the package.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“NBA 2K20 is the equivalent to the 15-16 season of the Warriors. The game was able to reach the highest level, but failed in the end.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Overall, NBA 2K20 is still one of the best basketball games out there, but future iterations should either ease up greatly on the VC spend or drop the price significantly, so players won't have to spend extra money.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Splendid recreation of basketball with game-changing, innovative evolution cards, but it can’t escape the bad taste the microtransactions leave.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“NBA 2K20 continues to deliver excellent on-court action with unmatched presentation and mode variety. However, the series' continued reliance on microtransactions is still a glaring issue. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“From presentation to gameplay, NBA 2K20 does an amazing job at faithfully recreating an authentic basketball experience. If you can look past the microtransactions, you’ll find a really great basketball simulation.”
read full review ↗ - 78
“If you like NBA 2K games you like NBA 2K20. If you look something new, no sir! This year features no big change in the game.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“NBA 2K20 takes a step forward with its story, but is hindered by its uninspired gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 78
“NBA 2K20 would have been better off by focusing on its complex modes like MyLeague and cleaning up MyTeam to be less dependent on microtransactions. In spite of that, NBA 2K20 remains the best at what it does. It just might be time to ask for better.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“NBA 2K20 isn't the most groundbreaking opus in the IP, but it's still a must-have for all the basketball fans out there.”
read full review ↗
PLAY Zine
Push Square
LevelUp
Worth Playing
Metro GameCentral
We Got This Covered
Digital Trends
IGN…and 29 more tracked reviews.