# NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition — Everything Is Game > Realistic NBA basketball simulation game with multiplayer and career modes. (iPhone/iPad app by 2K Sports.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nba-2k21-arcade-edition/id1555650987 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [2K Sports](https://appshunter.io/developer/324563547) - Category: Games, Sports - Price: Free - Rating: 4.66/5 from 54,869 App Store ratings · 50 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 13.0 · 3.5 GB - Languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese and 3 more - Released: 2021-04-02 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nba-2k21-arcade-edition/id1555650987/reviews.md ## What is NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition? Making its highly-anticipated debut on Apple Arcade, NBA 2K21 puts you on the court with today’s top NBA stars like Damian Lillard, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Zion Williamson, and Anthony Davis. Pickup a competitive Quick Match in one of 30 NBA arenas or on the Blacktop. Jump into a multiplayer game a friend, or start your journey to NBA legend status in MyCAREER mode. Sporting a new graphics engine that offers the highest possible resolution Apple devices allow, Everything Is Game in NBA 2K21. UPDATED 2021 ROSTER: Run with your favorite NBA superstars of the 2020-2021 season–Jayson Tatum, Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving, and more. NEW GRAPHICS ENGINE: Experience smoother gameplay and significantly improved visuals, AI, and animations on your iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac. AVAILABLE MODES: • Arena Quick Match • Online Multiplayer • Blacktop Quick Match • MyCAREER CROSS-PLATFORM GAME PLAY: Play on your own or against friends via iCloud–on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV. Learn more by logging into the Game Center. PHYSICAL CONTROLLER SUPPORT: Use your Xbox or PS DualShock controller to play NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition on your favorite Apple device. PLAYABLE IN 13 LANGUAGES: • Chinese (Simplified) • Chinese (Traditional) • Dutch • English • French • German • Italian • Japanese • Korean • Portuguese • Russian • Spanish • Turkish This game is compatible with the following Apple devices: • iPhone 6S and later • iPhone SE • iPad - 5th generation and later • iPad Air - 3rd generation and later • iPad mini - 5th generation • iPod touch • iPad Pro 9.7 inch and later • Apple TV HD and later • iMac - 2014 and later • iMac Pro - 2017 and later • Mac Mini - 2014 and later • Mac Pro - 2013 and later • MacBook - 2015 and later • MacBook Air - 2013 and later • MacBook Pro - late 2013 and later ## Key features - Updated 2021 NBA roster - New graphics engine - Arena Quick Match - Online Multiplayer - MyCAREER mode - Cross-platform gameplay - Physical controller support ## What do users think of NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 🚀 Smooth gameplay - 👍 Impressive graphics - 🎮 Intuitive controls (with controller) - 🔥 Great mobile basketball experience **Cons** - 🐛 Bugs and glitches - 🕹️ Difficult controls (without controller) - 🕰️ Slow progression and VC grind - 🔇 Lack of commentary and atmosphere - 🤖 Unresponsive AI teammates **Commonly reported bugs** - Crashes and save issues - Unresponsive controls - Defensive issues - Shooting inconsistencies **Most requested features** - Practice mode - Save and quit option - Season/association mode - More customization options - Roster updates - Online multiplayer - Stamina/fatigue improvements ## Recent user reviews (10 of 50) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nba-2k21-arcade-edition/id1555650987/reviews.md ### 3/5 — Mediocre game with stellar graphics *2021-10-06, version 1.20* First things first, graphics and player models are good, with fun animations. On the other hand , the game is very incomplete and underdeveloped. No announcers? You can’t be serious, all you hear is the same repetitious fan noise and player call outs with no variation. The lack of a replay cam takes the fun out of huge dunks. Gameplay is also very underwhelming. Controls are mediocre at best, player models have forced animations that look unnatural. Can’t guard well without being pushed into some imaginary wall, offensive rebounds are automatic put backs and shooting is a Hassle. Unless your completely wide open or getting a green, no shot is going in consistently. Post ups are nonexistent, for example a 7 foot player will not score against a defending point guard unless your giannis or Anthony Davis. Overall the game is only good for a few plays before it becomes a tedious headache. ### 2/5 — Needs to be better *2021-09-30, version 1.20* As much as i love to play this game there are some things you guys could add to it and fix. 1. You need to fix the passing options. There’s times where i want to pass the ball to someone who’s open and it’ll throw it across the court to someone else and it’s frustrating to say the least. 2. The defensive assignments get changed every two seconds and i get the penalty for someone i wasn’t even guarding if they make a shot. 3. I think you guys need to implement guidelines for the plays being made like in the actual console game. This would help people who have never played before realize what they should do when playing a position. 4. I think there needs to be team practices every once in a while for maybe badge upgrades but also to help your player get better and actually practice. I understand that this is just a mini game version of the actual game, but i still think these things will help and get a ton of more appreciation for the game. ### 1/5 — Unfinished game/waste of time *2021-09-27, version 1.20* Not like the other versions of NBA 2k on iPhone in the past. They have gotten rid of Vc’s, career mode doesn’t have a story line, playing multiplayer doesn’t keep track of w’s and l’s. In career mode it’s hard to get a good player and after 20 seasons you automatically retire…. Compared to the other versions since 2019 I’ve be playing it on mobile and I recently had it on PS5 but the difference is sad. This game is pretty much not even finished. The sound track is just instrumental instead of actual up beat songs. I purposely had gotten Apple Arcade just to play 2k but this was a waste.. hope next year for 2k 22 they do a better job.. i don’t know what they were doing with this.. they can keep this game… waste of time…. 2k you guys gotta do better…. ### 2/5 — Worst than 2k20 *2021-09-06, version 1.20* Honestly This Was A Letdown and in my opinion worst than the first one, there’s just wayy to much removed from 21 compared to 20, the only good thing I could give this are the graphics and even those aren’t the best, I know it’s a mobile version but that shouldn’t be an excuse bc 20 was wayy better than this, the controls trash, the gameplay trash the story mode trash, there wasn’t even really a story mode, and can we still with the narrated story modes it gets boring and annoying, I know this is just a $5-$10 game but still if it’s a new version I expect it to be better than the previous not worse. After this review I’m deleting this and redownloading 2k20 because at least I had more fun and more characters to play on black top with. ### 2/5 — just frustrating and v e r y time consuming *2021-08-22, version 1.20* After playing more there is NO VC SIM, not even half so it would take 5 full in game season to get to a 93 overall BEFORE badges. The controls are again bad, very bad. I find the defender is glued onto me or if I’m defending my player can’t follow him. They added a defensive assist button but it’s the equivalent of your guy putting his arms up. At least the graphics right? Nope. Jerseys are blurry, crowds are barren, player expression is non existent. The only good thing is the actual court. But hey, at least I can’t buy vc, I just have to put in hundreds of hours instead! This game was made to be monetized, but since it’s on arcade they just removed the buy vc option that’s it. So no balancing what so ever. Better off with any other arcade game on here really, spend your time somewhere else. ### 1/5 — Don’t play if you are looking for a fun Sports Game *2021-08-18, version 1.20* Let’s face it, EA does not have a good track record when it comes to customer service or being focused on the game aspect. While NBA 2k series has drifted down the dark path of simulation, it now moves from clawing at it’s fan base’s money to just clawing at the fan base’s time. The grind in this version is even more stifling than the pay to win console versions. VC was not modified to accommodate the move to mobile devices and therefore expect to play an ungodly amount of time to make any custom player feel like they even deserve to be on the court. With 10 hours in I’m about to can my own player just because, despite averaging 20 posts a game and B+/A- ranking the VC just doesn’t come in fast enough and the team mate AI is horrid. While all opposing teams are hitting greens on 9 out of 10 shots, your team mates will never fail at committing fouls, getting the ball poked from them, or missing wide open shots. Despite your own best efforts to carry the whatever team you play on, expect to lose a majority of your games. Don’t play if you are looking for a fun sports experience because this game was designed to push you to pay in order to compete and this version has no pay option, so you’re left with being unable to compete. Great job EA and Apple. ### 1/5 — Terrible. Just terrible. *2021-08-11, version 1.20* You don’t really have any control over what happens in the games. If you’re leading against the Lakers then the computer just takes over, Lebron scores 15 points in 2 minutes, all of your shots are suddenly being blocked and you end up losing the game. My other favorites are when I’m leading by 6 and my player gets taken out of the game, then I come back in after only 1 minute and I’m down by 14. Or how about passing the ball to a computer player and having them hold it for literally 20 seconds then hoist up some ridiculous shot even though there is still 3 minutes left on the game clock. Don’t even get me started on passing the ball to a teammate who is wide open under the basket only to have said computer-controlled player sit there and wait for a defender, then spend the next 10 seconds faking only to have some weak attempt at a layup blocked by a shorter player. On the other side of the ball, the “defense assist” button is a complete joke. When the opposing player starts to drive, your player follows them about halfway then just gives up. You get dinged on for a “defensive breakdown” when a player you’re not even supposed to be guarding scores. I could go on about the myriad shortcomings of this game, but it just isn’t worth it anymore. Suffice it to say that this is an absolutely awful game. ### 3/5 — Good Game But Needs More *2021-08-11, version 1.20* Well this game is fun to play it has mycareer blacktop play now and that’s it. No blacktop online, no mynba, no myteam, and no exhibition online. my career feels very basic and boring more or less if you want to play street ball with your favorite NBA players or just put the best on your favorite team (mine is the Bulls lol) and make dudes like Lebron or AD or Lonzo Ball on the magic or something like that than go ahead and download this game. That’s everything that you can do in the game. Overall fun to play but boring after 20 minutes or so. Just get a game like OceanHorn 2 or Sneaky Sasquatch on Apple Arcade this game really is not worth your time right now so just play it on console please. ### 2/5 — 2K21 Review *2021-08-10, version 1.20* Bruh the game and graphics is ok but when it comes down to playing it just like any other 2K21 game it’s a whole nother ball game. Your teammates is literally standing there the whole entire time. They always do and run into the same places everytime i run to a certain spot on the court. Whenever I’m trying to execute the paint with my boy Giannis. My teammates come all under me while I’m playin bringing they defense right my way. I hate how I can’t pass the ball exactly to the person I want to on the play. So for example, while on a fast break, I try to pass it to the person already down the court but instead they pass it to someone else or if someone cut to the basket open lane, it pass it to someone else. I hate how when the defense come to double team me most time it’s a center. My center do not cut to the basket at all, he just stand there looking at me get double teamed an wen I go to alley oop. Instead of a dunk, he tap the ball and miss. And I play with karl towns and Giannis together so Ik Karl towns would yam that ball while going against a double team. They need to fix that ASAP for it to be at least ok. I mean the players literally stand there all the time and do the same cuts everytime i move a certain direction. Something needs to be done about that. ### 4/5 — MyCareer needs some tweaks *2021-08-09, version 1.20* The game is so polished for a mobile game and I am amazed with how well it mimics the console versions. Although modes are limited it's very fun for a game on the go I like playing MyCareer. However, there are some things that are very very annoying that make it hard to progress. I would like for the devs to add stamina regeneration during timeouts because you gas very quickly in MyCareer. Also, if your build doesn't include the red pie, good luck trying to grab a board that directly goes towards you. My player will literally fumble a rebound because it's a playmaking slasher and has 30 ovr rebounding that can't improve. You could either make it so every build has at least a 50 ovr you can max to with height and position being able to affect it. ## Frequently asked questions about NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition ### What is NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition? NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition is a basketball simulation game that allows players to compete with current NBA stars. It features various game modes like Quick Match, Online Multiplayer, and MyCAREER, offering a comprehensive basketball experience. ### What are the key features of NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition? Key features include an updated 2021 NBA roster with top stars, a new graphics engine for improved visuals and smoother gameplay, multiple game modes such as Arena Quick Match, Online Multiplayer, and MyCAREER. It also supports cross-platform gameplay and physical controller input. ### Is NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition free to play? Yes, NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition is available for free as part of the Apple Arcade subscription. There are no in-app purchases or ads mentioned in the provided description. ### What devices is NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition compatible with? The game is compatible with a wide range of Apple devices including iPhone 6S and later, iPad 5th generation and later, Apple TV HD and later, and various Mac models from 2013/2014 onwards. It also supports cross-platform play across these devices. ### Can I play NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition with friends? Yes, you can play with friends through the Online Multiplayer mode. The game also supports cross-platform gameplay via iCloud, allowing you to compete against friends on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV. ## Version history (last 1 release) ### 1.20 — 2021-06-29 -PlayStation5 and Xbox Series X/S controller support -iCloud Backup now enabled by default -Other bug fixes ## Apps similar to NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [CHARRUA SOCCER](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charrua-soccer/id1462098662) | 4.5 (1,662) | Free | Games | | [Pro Snooker & Pool 2026+](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pro-snooker-and-pool-2026-plus/id1586517737) | 4.7 (1,553) | Free | Games | | [My Bowling 3D+](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-bowling-3d-plus/id1603983702) | 4.7 (3,753) | Free | Games | | [Super Stickman Golf 3+](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/super-stickman-golf-3-plus/id1554134947) | 4.8 (6,579) | Free | Games | | [ShockRods](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shockrods/id1463754132) | 4.0 (122) | Free | Games | | [Subway Surfers Tag](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subway-surfers-tag/id1526309639) | 4.8 (9,300) | Free | Games | ## More apps by 2K Sports - [WWE SuperCard - Wrestling Game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wwe-supercard-wrestling-game/id775402833) - [Civilization Revolution 2](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/civilization-revolution-2/id864880531) - [Sid Meier's Starships](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sid-meiers-starships/id880424461) - [XCOM®: Enemy Within](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xcom-enemy-within/id881270303) - [Battleborn® Tap](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/battleborn-tap/id1096938298) - [NBA 2K Mobile Basketball Game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nba-2k-mobile-basketball-game/id1252850847) All apps by 2K Sports: https://appshunter.io/developer/324563547 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*