2K Games
6.0NBA 2K, Civilization, BioShock, Borderlands
Best forStrategy and sports fans who can look past aggressive monetization in NBA 2K — Civilization VII and the BioShock catalog represent some of the most critically respected games in their genres.
Scores — click any row to see our rationale
Game Quality▼7.5/10
Player Respect▼3.5/10
Catalog Depth▼8/10
Value▼4.5/10
Innovation▼6.5/10
Known for
BioShock (2007)BioShock Infinite (2013)Borderlands 2 (2012)Civilization VI (2016)XCOM 2 (2016)
Pros
✓Civilization VII (February 2025) introduced an Age progression system that resets diplomacy and territory mid-game — a structural innovation in 4X strategy
✓Borderlands franchise pioneered the looter-shooter genre and maintains its identity across 4 mainline entries with minimal pay-to-win mechanics
Cons
✕NBA 2K's Virtual Currency system has appeared in every release since 2013; reaching a competitive rating in MyCareer still requires roughly $50–60 in VC on top of a $70 base game
✕NBA 2K25 launched at $70 for current-gen with cosmetic microtransactions still active — the highest base price in the franchise while VC grinding remained unchanged