NBA 2K23

Take NBA 2K23 to a bike ride or an easy treadmill session, not the workout where you’re trying to set a personal record and also time a jump shot. Play Now is where I’d start, because you can get to the basketball without spending half your session in a menu.

Gameplay

The actual basketball is what makes this work for me. There’s always another possession coming, so even when the action slows down for a reset, you’re not stuck watching a long stretch of story before you can play again. You’re moving between offense and defense, trying to get a good look or stop the other team, and that gives your hands enough to do without needing to stare at a map or read a wall of text.

I’d start with Play Now and choose an NBA or WNBA team, then just let the match be the match. The game gives you a lot to learn if you want to get serious about player builds, card teams, or managing a whole franchise, but you don’t need to understand all of that to enjoy a basketball game. That’s a useful difference. Some sports games make you feel like you need a second job before the first match.

MyCAREER sounds appealing if you like making a player and following their path, but it also brings along more story and setup than I’d want during a workout. MyTEAM has the same menu problem in a different outfit, since building a squad and sorting through cards can take attention away from the game itself. MyGM and MyLEAGUE are there if you want to manage a franchise or make changes to the NBA, and I can see that being fun when you’re sitting down with time to think. On a treadmill, I’d rather play first and get to the decisions later.

The shooting and defense ask you to pay attention to timing and positioning, which is good when you want the game to occupy your brain, but it can get fussy if you’re bouncing around. I’d lower the difficulty if I started missing everything while trying to keep my pace steady. There’s no prize for making a workout feel like a bad tryout.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

Full controller support means you can keep your hands on a gamepad, and that’s a very good place to start. The issue is that basketball doesn’t wait for your thumb to find the right button, and a shot that needs careful timing can feel different when your body is moving. I think a bike would make it easier to stay settled, but a treadmill can work if you keep the pace comfortable and don’t expect your best shooting.

I’d use Play Now, lower the difficulty, and skip online competition while exercising. The slower and more deliberate stretches of a match are manageable, but a quick change of possession can ask for a fast reaction right when your feet are doing their own thing. You can pause when you need to, which helps, though I wouldn’t want to stop every few minutes just to make the game playable. That gets old.

The MyCAREER story and the deeper team building modes are what I’d save for when I’m not trying to exercise. You can spend a lot of attention on those menus, and MyTEAM in particular seems like the sort of place where I’d look down to check something and forget I was supposed to be moving. I don’t know how much of that you’d enjoy during a workout, but I’d keep the session simple and play a regular game.

If you already know the controls, this should feel more natural than learning basketball and walking at the same time. If you’re new to it, I’d keep your first session easy and let a few missed shots happen. The treadmill doesn’t need to know you were aiming for the corner.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Computer Requirements

The minimum graphics card is old enough that you probably don’t need a recent gaming computer just to meet the listed requirements. I’d check the processor support and the large storage requirement first, since the game needs specific processor features and a lot of room to install. The graphics requirement looks pretty modest by current standards.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

NBA 2K23 is worth trying if you want basketball that keeps your hands and attention busy, and Play Now is the sensible place to begin. I’d pass if you want a workout game that lets you zone out, because shooting and defense still ask you to pay attention.

Overall Score: 2.33 out of 3