When does NBA 2K23 get good?

The first 3 hours are a test. In the first 2 hours most reviews are negative (77%); after 20h it's 1 in 3 (37%). The opening is criticised more than in 98% of games we track.

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SimulationSports

NBA 2K23

Sep 8, 2022 Steam: Mixed

The first 3 hours are a test

Gets good by 3h almost every game dips in hours 2–3

Started playing 66% of owners

Steam reviews 62% positive of 51,363

What the data shows

In the first 2 hours most reviews are negative (77%); after 20h it's 1 in 3 (37%).
The opening is criticised more than in 98% of games we track.
The game has no story achievements, so drop-off points can't be measured.
Only 66% of owners have even the first achievement — the rest barely played.

When it gets good

Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.

before it gets good opening up fully opened up

Based on all 51,595 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 291 reviews: 127.4h for positive, 84.2h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.

Where players quit

Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (65.8% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.

This game has no story achievements, so we can't tell where players quit.

All achievements (50)

story milestone ending side

Dirty Work Get more rebounds, blocks, and assists than your opponent 100%
Turning Point Outscore your opponent by 10 points in a single quarter 99%
Green Light Make 1 green release shot in a MyCAREER NBA game 75%
Not Too Shabby Score 10 points in a MyCAREER NBA game 71%
Best Friends Forever Get 3 assists in a MyCAREER NBA game 67%
No Contest Take a 20 point lead into halftime in a MyCAREER NBA game 62%
Clutch Score 30 points in a MyCAREER NBA game 56%
Five Finger Discount Get 3 steals in a MyCAREER NBA game 51%
Tre' Bomber Make 5 three-pointers in a MyCAREER NBA game 49%
Double Trouble Record a double-double in a MyCAREER NBA game 47%
Timing Is Everything Make 10 green release shots in a MyCAREER NBA game 47%
What's For Dinner Complete a full practice in the Team Practice Facility 46%
Board Man Gets Paid Get 5 defensive rebounds in a MyCAREER NBA game 46%
Superstar Win a QUICK PLAY game 39%
Squeaky Clean Turn the ball over 10 fewer times than your opponent in a MyCAREER game 38%
Wet From Three Make 10 three-pointers in a MyCAREER NBA game 38%
Finding Treasure Pick up the Daily Prize 38%
At The Buzzer! Win a Clutch Time game in MyTEAM 37%
In It To Win It Go to the playoffs in MyLEAGUE 32%
Social Distancer Equip a vehicle in MyCAREER 29%
It's Free Real Estate Make 10 free throws in a MyCAREER NBA game 25%
All-Star Win an NBA All-Star game 25%
Go Ahead And Jump Create a jump shot in MyCAREER 25%
All Rise Record a triple-double in a MyCAREER NBA game 24%
MyCHAMPION! Win a championship in MyLEAGUE 24%
Block Party Get 5 blocks in a MyCAREER NBA game 23%
Money Talks Talk to ship owner Tomas 21%
Let Doc Do His Thing Change your look in the Barber Shop 21%
Follow Me On... Get 1 million fans in MyCAREER 20%
Rival Pride Talk to rival Sam 20%
Badge Collector Earn a Leadership badge by participating in MyCAREER Flashback games 18%
Lottery Redux Draft a Diamond or better player in MyTEAM Draft 16%
Popping Off Play a game of Mini-Basketball 15%
Second Chance Get 5 offensive rebounds in a MyCAREER NBA game 13%
New With Tags In MyTEAM, apply a Diamond Shoe Card to any Player Card 11%
Bartering Up Make a trade in MyGM 11%
Top Of The World Win the college championship Flashback game in MyCAREER 10%
Slabbed Grade any MyTEAM Player Card 9.7%
4 For 4 In MyTEAM, make 4 4-point shots in a single game 9.4%
Legend In The Making Earn 15 stars in the JORDAN CHALLENGE 7.0%
Omnipotent Play a game in MyGM 4.9%
On My Way Win a PLAY NOW ONLINE game 4.6%
You're A Star Win an NBA TODAY game 3.6%
Locked In! In MyTEAM, complete a game in a player locked position (minimum 12 minutes) 3.2%
Play With Me In MyTEAM, play a game of Triple Threat Online: Co-Op 2.9%
Level Up Make it to Level 40 in a single MyTEAM Season 2.9%
She's Got Game Win a PLAY WNBA game 2.6%
Yes, Your Airness Earn 45 stars in the JORDAN CHALLENGE 1.7%
Threepio! In MyTEAM, win the League Grand Prize in Unlimited 0.9%
Déjà Vu In MyTEAM Unlimited, Prestige the maximum number of times and earn the Season Grand Prize 0.6%

Steam page Updated: 2026-10-18.