NBA 2K26 (2025) · Tastebuds

Bragging rights are on the line in MyCAREER, MyTEAM, MyNBA, The W, and Play Now. Showcase your bag of moves with hyper realism, Powered by ProPLAY, and challenge your friends, or rivals, in NBA 2K26’s competitive modes—and leave no doubt that you wear the crown.

Simulator Sport Non-fiction basketballXbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One

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Character

Contemporary, classical in form, plot-driven and grave.

contemporarynostalgic
classical in formformally daring
character-ledplot-driven
gravecomic
earnestironic

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From the critics

A few lines from each review; the whole review is on the critic's site. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.

ImpulsegamerSep 20254.6/5
NBA 2K26 is -hands down- the best version of 2K possibly ever. The PlayPRO engine is leaps and bounds improved from 2K25, making for a wonderfully executed game backed by stellar presentation and AI powered strategy. There's so many ways to enjoy NBA 2K26, that both veterans and newbies to the series will fall in love. Just note certain modes favor microtransactions as the lone path to true success.
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TheXboxHubGareth BrierleySep 20254.5/5 stars
It’s always good to take to the court again, and that’s true once more with NBA 2K26. It is an excellent new addition to the franchise.
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Gaming NexusJason DaileySep 20258.5/10
NBA 2K26 is another small but significant step forward for the franchise. It has never felt better to play an NBA 2K game, thanks to on-court gameplay improvements and quality-of-life fixes off the court. There is so much content that you almost have to pick a lane and stay there, while microtransactions are positioned as a fix for the FOMO you'll inevitably feel ignoring one mode for another. But it's still easy to recommend NBA 2K26 to hoops fans.
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Nintendo LifePJ O'ReillySep 20256/10
NBA 2K26 on Switch 2 fails to deliver the 60fps gameplay we've all been holding out for. It also runs at a lower resolution than I would have expected, and its online modes, thanks to no cross-play or cross-progression are ghost towns.However, if this is your only platform, and if you are okay with 30fps, there is still a huge festival of basketball to enjoy here. This is a game packed full of fun modes, and it'll teach you everything you could ever need to know about the sport whilst giving you some fine on-court action to boot. Here's hoping for a patch down the line, but 2K26 comes off as a great game underperforming on Switch 2 at launch.
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ShacknewsDonovan ErskineSep 20257/10
NBA 2K26 is a good basketball game. It’s got a great on-court experience, and some of the rough edges have been sanded down. Still, issues that have existed for years persist. Philosophically, not a lot has changed. I’ve enjoyed my time with it more than I did 2K25 and 2K24, but I still yearn for a more well-rounded and fulfilling basketball experience.
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Snippets via OpenCritic, where 89% of critics recommend it.

About the game

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Developer: Visual Concepts
Publisher: 2K
Released: September 5, 2025
Modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
Perspective: Third person
Time to beat: 79 h main story

IGDB rating 8.0/10 from 18 ratings.

Screenshots

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