However, it has its dark side. The series has been plagued by NBA 2K22 MT Coins aggressive microtransactions lately and has resulted in some of the lowest Metacritic user ratings. It all began in the twenty-tens. If the recent NBA 2K games are any sign, it seems like this trend will last into the future.

NBA Playgrounds was first created to be similar to other arcade basketball games such like NBA Jam and NBA Streets. It features the roster of the current and former NBA stars. The player must fill with these stars through various packs included in the game. They are from game modes across NBA Playgrounds. It received mixed reviews and was criticised for its slow pace and the low drop rate from the pack of cards.

NBA Playgrounds got a sequel after it was able to gain enough popularity. Released back in 2018 following the delay of a long time it was very similar to the original title and also made various changes and enhancements. There were many improvements, including improved matchmaking on the internet and new playground options. Despite the numerous improvements and additions, the game was widely criticised for its ad-hoc microtransactions which are rapidly becoming a feature of Cheap NBA 2K22 MT modern sporting games.