NBA 2K25's Breakout mode puts a board game in basketball

I love board games every bit as much as I love video games. I love the obvious places where they fit together. One of my other gigs is a Magic: The Gathering podcast. But I'd have never considered putting a board game in NBA 2K25. After hearing more about it, I'm excited that they have.

Breakout is a new single-player game mode that places the player on a game board. Players can choose from Triple Threat, Clutch Time, or shortened full lineup games to move around the board.

Each board has opponents including current NBA squads, historic teams, and other theme teams. At the outer edge of the board, players will face a final team in a boss battle for a reward they select. Every year when sports games reveal their new features, we ask what's in for people who just want to play single-player. This is one of the best answers to that question I've seen in a while.

Among my many adventures in life was being part of an improv troupe. We were always encouraged to take big swings, to try the crazy thing that might not work. I want to see the same thing from gaming companies. After all, the basic rules and game of basketball don't change much from year-to-year.

Is there any guarantee that Breakdown turns out to be a great addition? Not at all. It may prove wildly out of place. It would not be the first time I was in the minority on liking a new feature. But this is a big swing, and I'm excited about it.

I have been one of the most vocal critics of the way NBA 2K has gone in recent years. It's no secret that MyTEAM and multiplayer make it the most money. But Breakdown is an indication that 2K understands gamers who enjoy single player gotta eat too.