Platforms
- PlayStation 4Sep 29, 20156.9playscore6.020 Critics8.24.54K Players
- Xbox OneSep 29, 20156.6playscore6.114 Critics7.0170 Players
27 critic reviews · 0 community reviews across all platforms
Critic Reviews
- Even with improved on-court control and an online Pro-Am mode that can lead to pockets of outlandish fun, NBA Live 16 still fails to justify its existence. Its Rising Star and Dynasty modes are too underdeveloped and unvaried to remain interesting beyond the first few hours of play, and the basic dribbling, passing, and shooting tend to trip over themselves during offensive rebounds or fast breaks. NBA Live 16 is heading in the right direction, but at this pace, the series will never be able to challenge--let alone surpass--its only real contemporary.
Josiah Renaudin · Oct 13, 2015 Reviewed on PS4Read full review - New modes and features make NBA Live 16 a bit better than its predecessor, but the clumsy controls and unbalanced gameplay keeps greatness out of reach yet again. Simply put, if the gameplay doesn’t feel right in one mode, it doesn’t feel right in any of them, regardless of how clever they are or how good it looks. NBA Live still has a long way to go.
Mike Mitchell · Oct 06, 2015 Reviewed on PS4, XB1Read full review - Live 16 was developed by a company with a pretty penny to spend on graphics: in short, it looks pretty damn nice. Human movement both on and off the court looks smoother than it ever has, and it’s quite a thrill to see famous courts so painstakingly replicated (this humble writer was quite moved by Live’s version of his Celtics’ TD Garden).
Jowi Meli · Oct 02, 2015 Reviewed on PS4Read full review - While serviceable, NBA Live 16 never answers its existential dilemma – why is it here? Being a basketball game that works most of the time isn’t enough. Not being up to par with its stellar rival is forgivable, but Live also lacks a point of distinction that justifies its existence to basketball fans. Without that, it ultimately may not earn a contract extension.
Matt Bertz · Oct 02, 2015 Reviewed on PS4 - NBA Live '16 is an assortment of fun ideas adequately executed and mixed together with the unexciting status quo. The gameplay provides something a little different and is certainly a step forward, and given the disaster this series was a couple of years ago, EA deserves a lot of credit for righting the ship. In fact, in more ways than one, this year's iteration seems like a callback to the NBA Live of old. It does not quite get there, but it would be of no surprise if it does soon.
Ben Vollmer · Oct 02, 2015 Reviewed on PS4, XB1Read full review - NBA Live 16 is the best game in the series since Live 10, but that’s not saying much. It’s a technically-proficient game of hoops, but it’s lacking the luster and flair that the 2K series and even other EA Sports titles are known for. Although it doesn’t feature the pretentious abomination that was Spike Jonze’s Livin’ Da Dream, Rising Star & Dynasty are shallow career modes that don’t add much to the overall experience.
Steve Hannley · Sep 29, 2015 Reviewed on PS4Read full review - NBA Live 16 is made to feel accessible and simple. At least that’s what the structure caters to. From in-game learning help to player development, it’s all mostly basic. With this pause in progress, it will be interesting to see if Live will be able to rebound from a supposed “beating” it’s looking to take once NBA 2K is released the same day.
Devin Charles · Sep 29, 2015 Reviewed on XB1Read full review - Needless to say, NBA Live 16 has a lot of promise but only comes in a little bit above average at its current state. Hopefully EA Sports provides gamers with an October patch or else the game will fall well below the ranks of its highly touted.
Patrick Tretina · Sep 29, 2015 Reviewed on PS4, XB1Read full review - The addition of the seamless mobile scanning app, shooting feedback system, Pro-Am modes, new animations and new gameplay mechanics all lends itself to about the best NBA Live experience we have seen in years. The franchise is still on the comeback trail and may not overtake 2K’s juggernaut for a couple more years but the gains this year are significant and the franchise is clearly trending upwards.
Trevor Houston · Sep 28, 2015 Reviewed on XB1Read full review - New modes along with additional bells and whistles for existing ones are perfectly fine, but there is still a roughness to the core gameplay that keeps it from being great. The reason why Pro-Am mode was so good when I played it was because it was humans versus humans, reacting and playing basketball the way you’d expect people should and would. Until that level of gameplay quality translates better into the offline modes, NBA Live 16 is a D-league title at best.
Ray Carsillo · Sep 28, 2015 Reviewed on PS4Read full review
Loading reviews
Community Reviews
Be the first to review this game! Help others discover if this is the right game for them.
About the game
Trailers & Screenshots:
Rooted in self-expression, NBA LIVE 16 takes player customization to another level. Whether it’s how you look or play, your entire journey is all about you. Put yourself in the action with an all-new, easy-to-use HD face scanning app, GameFaceHD and outfit your player with the freshest gear before you even hit the court.
Developer: EA Tiburon