NBA2K26 – Review

I took the virtual basketball out of the cupboard.

I spent a few evenings on PS5 with NBA 2K26, playing as someone who once shot hoops as a kid, but who hasn't seriously watched basketball, either in its tangible or virtual form, for about 10-12 years (the last memorable game for me was NBA Live 14).

About today's game and this review, all I can say is that it's a mixed bag. I experienced 'wow' moments and frustrating ones, but overall I think it's worth a try if you like the idea of basketball with spectacular graphics and a fair bit of realism.

How far has basketball come since the Live era?

The first time I started NBA 2K26, I was jaw-dropped by how realistic the players look on PS5. No joke… Details like skin texture, how sweat looks, how muscles move when you dunk, all are far beyond what I remember from Live 14. The arenas have better dynamic lighting, reflections, shader effects that make the court's wood look alive.

And when you're in the stands (the sideline camera), the arena lighting, the fans, the banners, all contribute to the feeling that you're not watching a simple console game, but a rather sophisticated broadcast. Twice I was left open-mouthed, thinking I was actually watching a real match. Luckily, my player number two woke me from my drowsiness with a series of three-pointers. Tip of the day: If you're playing, be careful not to get carried away by the scenery, or rather, the game's spectacular graphics.

Ball control, dribbling, defensive movements, all have improved. In particular, the way you protect the ball, how you move trying to steal it or block the opponent's shot, feels more natural than in previous versions. When building your own player, you choose builds (templates) inspired by real players, plus community options, and a scouting report appears that tells you where you excel and where improvement is needed. If you've only played Live and maybe an older NBA, like me, the difference will seem huge. It's no longer simple arcade, but it's not frustrating hyper-simulation either.

Playability and match dynamics

Once you get used to the rhythm, basketball in 2K26 on PS5 feels solid. Games aren't slow, but you don't feel excessively bombarded with information either. Shot timing has received some adjustments. It's more important to feel when to shoot, to plant your foot correctly, to synchronise the ball's lift, not just to press and hope. The "Rhythm Shooting" system seems to be there for those who want to feel the difference between someone who shoots well and someone who shoots by luck. Also, defensive movement is more expressive: body interactions, improved collisions, feedback on ball recoveries. Thus, the difference between virtual and real is considerably reduced. Eh, as if we didn't already know that, right?

However, not everything is sunshine and rainbows. There are moments when the AI seems to do strange things, meaning it doesn't position itself as you'd expect or misses simple gestures when the shot meter becomes annoying in some matches, especially if you're not playing on high difficulties. It's clear that the balance between realism and accessibility is still delicate. If you're coming from NBA Live 14, where everything was simpler, it can sometimes be frustrating to feel that, "Oops, I shot too early or too late!"

Game modes and content: how long can you stay hooked on the action

To get down to business, NBA 2K26 has everything you'd expect: MyCareer, MyTeam, MyNBA, plus competitive and online modes, PS5 support with haptic functions and 3D sound, plus visual options that shine on the new hardware. For example, special editions bring bonus content (virtual currency VC, MyTeam / MyCareer gear items) for those who pre-ordered the game. The MyPlayer Builder has become more complete, in the sense that you now have an animation glossary, badges, performance reports, and more variety in height and archetypes.

The entertainment also comes from MyTeam where you collect NBA and WNBA players, build teams, play online or in special matches. If you like collecting, setting up, experimenting with strategies, there's a good part here. But the truth is that VC still matters a lot. If you want to advance quickly or buy visual/tactical things, you might feel the need for microtransactions or to invest quite a lot of time.

Personal connections: childhood, Live 14 and nostalgia

Because I played basketball as a kid, I know what it means to "feel the ball", the correct step, to feel how to run and coordinate, but on a real court, not a virtual one. This makes the good moments in 2K26 truly special. When I manage an alley-oop, when I make a good defence and an interception, I feel, for a few seconds, that I'm controlling a player who resembles me, the basketball player from childhood, planning agilely, carefully and not just pressing buttons randomly. Compared to NBA Live 14, where many animations were repeated and the control was simple, 2K26 offers a more fluid feeling. You pass at the last second, anticipate the opponent, struggle to catch perfectly, to carve a dribbling line that takes you to the basket and so on.

But yes, nostalgia also has its downsides. I keep comparing it to that Live game and my real basketball experience. For example, something that might bother you when comparing it to other experiences, virtual or not, is that in NBA 2K26 you see a slight lag in some dunks or lateral movements, or when the transition animation isn't 100% faithful, but these are small, ultimately insignificant details.

What needs improvement?

Adherents of pure simulations might feel that certain mechanics still favour gameplay that sells, not necessarily total realism. It's possible that on high difficulties you'll feel that you need the reflexes of a true gamer, but not always the ability of a real basketball player. Microtransactions and virtual currency (VC) remain present and important. If you don't want to spend real money, you might feel that progress is slower than you'd like.

Tutorials for those who have forgotten everything about defensive positioning or shot timing are not always detailed enough. I felt the need to search for videos and guides to understand where to stand on the court, when to drive to the basket, how to anticipate the opponent's plays.

And so, we've reached the final verdict…

After shooting real hoops and arguing with the scoreboard, then playing NBA 2K26 on PS5, my conclusion is that 2K26 manages to be the best in the recent series for someone like me – a nostalgic, an occasional player, not a basketball expert. If you like to enjoy the game, see superb graphics, animations that take you slightly out of reality or bring you back to it, depending, varied modes and the opportunity to put yourself as a player on this stage, it's a solid choice.

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It's not perfect, but it makes great progress in the directions where it was truly needed, especially regarding that specific movement realism, shooting control, visual details, and implicitly, the arena atmosphere.

Thanks to CD Media S.E. for the review code and the opportunity to play NBA2K26.