Every September, I always tell myself that this will be the year 2K finally gets it right. So, when I booted up NBA 2K26 and saw my player moving smoothly instead of a robot dipped in corn syrup, I thought, maybe, just maybe, this is it. Then I checked the price of a generic, unbranded virtual hoodie, and it's a whopping 25,000 VC. That's when I knew we were in for another year of the same old song and dance.
After spending considerable time with NBA 2K26 across multiple game modes, I'm left with that familiar taste that comes with any sports game released in the modern era. Yes. The actual basketball is phenomenal and probably the best that we've ever seen.
The revamped shot meter that dynamically adjusts based on defensive pressure, the buttery smooth player movement that finally ditches the sluggish feel from last year, and the addition of rhythm shooting all combine to create a genuinely exciting play-by-play action.
However, surrounding this excellent core is a monetization scheme so evil and so aggressive it would make a free-to-play mobile developer blush.
The Good: Basketball Has Never Felt This Good
Credit where it's due. Visual Concepts has absolutely nailed the on-court experience that you and I want in an NBA 2K game. The ProPLAY motion engine isn't for show, but a real step forward in sports game animation. Your player moves with an authentic feel of weight and momentum. It's very evident when you hit the brakes to stop and shoot for a dime or when you're fighting through a screen as a defensive player.
One of the reasons I disliked NBA 2K25 is that your starting player feels so sluggish, it's as if he's not even a trained basketball player. This all changes in NBA 2K26. Don't get me wrong, you will still start with a mediocre player in MyCareer, but you move more smoothly that you instantly feel like you belong in the big leagues.
Signature moves are also much more realistic. When Steph Curry does his threes, the animations through his jump shot and mannerisms on-court really do it justice and look exactly like how we all see the GOAT shooter on TV.
These shooting improvements and animations deserve special mention, but they're not actually new. Rather, it's a refined version of what we had since NBA 2K23, but the way the green window now changes based on defensive coverage is what makes every shot feel like you earned them. Your jump shots feel very authentic, and when you leap through the air for a dunk, you feel that explosive first step right before you launch through the air.
Rhythm Shooting Is Not a Gimmick
NBA 2K26 adds a new feature called "Rhythm Shooting," and it might sound gimmicky at first, but it fundamentally changes how shooting feels. Instead of just watching a meter, you're playing with your instincts and feeling the shot through your controller. Once you get the timing down for your shot makers, it becomes second nature, almost like muscle memory. It's a nice feature that adds more realism to a basketball game.
AI Is Better Than Previous Titles
AI teammates in NBA 2K26 are decent, and they can follow plays off-ball. The new "Freelance Engine" gives the AI some options to develop basic plays on its own, even without you having to call them on every possession.
Your point guard can recognize when the bigs have clinched a position down low or if wings will cut to the basket. It's still not perfect, and in a game such as NBA 2K, it may be doubtful that they would ever be, but this is still a nice improvement, especially when you're grinding MyCareer.
MyCareer: Same Story Problems, Better Gameplay
The "Out of Bounds" storyline in MyCareer continues 2K's tradition of forcing narrative beats that rarely match your on-court performance.
Your character, MP (yes, they still won't let you have a real name), is an insufferable whiner from Vermont who becomes a streamer because apparently that's relatable now.
The path takes you from high school to an elite camp, then overseas because things won't go your way, and the narrative forces you to Europe regardless of what choices you think you're making.
VC Grind Remains Glacial
Now, we all know from the start that the narrative in NBA 2K games is atrocious, but the good thing in MyCareer is that basketball is fantastic. The objectives make sense, progression feels rewarding when you're winning games, and the improved AI means that your teammates aren't complete morons anymore.
That said, the VC grind remains glacial. You'll earn about 1,000 - 1,500 VC per game, which sounds fine when you're putting all that into upgrading your stats. When you get bored with how basic your character looks, this is when you'll realize that a generic, unbranded t-shirt or a tribal tattoo can cost thousands of VCs, and other seasonal cosmetics can easily strip away your hard-earned VCs. I know that this sounds all fluff and cosmetics, sure, but therein lies the trap.
The City: It's a Social Hub Nobody Asked For
The City returns as this bizarre MMORPG-style hub where players run around to flaunt their VCs in dinosaur costumes and hazmat suits while you're just trying to meet with your agent about shoe deals.
It's less intrusive than before, and they've packed everything into a very gentrified shopping center and park area. But somehow, it still feels completely disconnected from what this game should be all about - basketball and not a mall filled with boutiques as if you're on your way to a trick-or-treat masked as a way to boast how much you spend with your credit card.
Sure, NBA 2K26 might offer more ways to earn VC compared to previous titles, like watching 2KTV, answering in-game trivia, or predicting NBA winners in Daily Pick 'Em. But the VC rewards from these activities are so small that they feel more like marketing tools than actual methods for farming VC.
That said, Street Kings stands out as a bright spot. This full-court 3v3 race-to-21 format is probably the best game mode outside of MyCareer. It provides you with a fun break outside of grinding VCs in MyCareer, and I dare say, one of the most ingenious and creative game modes from NBA 2K in years. Who knew Big Al could dunk, right?
MyTeam Is Still Predatory, But MyNBA and MyGM are The Best They Have Ever Been
MyTeam remains the most aggressive pay-to-win mode in the game, and it functions as 2K's card collection agency. Sure, you can theoretically build a competitive team without spending real money, but let’s be honest, that grind takes months, not weeks. Not to mention that this game mode makes it painfully clear that you're playing at a disadvantage without some decent, high-tier cards.
In contrast, this year's MyNBA is the best version that it has ever been. Playing through different eras is an absolute banger of an idea to bring in this game mode, as well as being able to modify CBA rules, finances, retirements, and a very short FIBA tournament, which adds welcome variety.
WNBA Feels Like an Afterthought
Angel Reese, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Carmelo Anthony, is the cover athlete for this year's NBA 2K26. However, even with a WNBA star on this year's cover, it still feels like the WNBA is nothing more than an afterthought.
While it's nice to have the option, and WNBA players in the game play better than their real-life counterparts, there's just not much compelling content here. If you're part of the small niche that follows WNBA, I think that's fine. The good thing about it is that if you create a player for WNBA, you don't have to grind for VC, and that's the hook, line, and sinker right there.
WNBA doesn't have MyGM, doesn't have eras, which doesn't sound fair, considering one of the most highlighted features in this year's NBA 2K game is learning the history of those who came before. I could argue that, apart from this, there's still a lot of conversations to be had, particularly in the international scene. I, for one, would want to see 2K focus on getting FIBA licenses and getting more international teams in the game.
Soundtrack Is Great, But the Halftime Show Is Lazy
The soundtrack is the better aspect of this game, and it has more than enough iconic hits to get you going each time you load the game up. With icons such as Kendrick Lamar, Future, Metro Boomin, Lorde, Travis Scott, Playboi Carti, Wu-Tang Clan, Master P, Ice Cube, Doechii, you can never get enough of NBA 2K's music.
While the in-game soundtrack is a celebration of music, the same cannot be said of NBA 2K26's in-game commentary action, particularly with its halftime shows. The halftime show featuring Shaq, Ernie Johnson Jr., and Kenny "The Jet" Smith is the worst and laziest I've seen in the history of NBA 2K.
Ernie Johnson Jr., as great as he is and as professional as ever, cannot carry Shaq and Kenny, who sound lazy and read from a script. It's so obvious that they don't deliver the same energy and fun as they do when they cover live NBA games. Maybe that's because they're missing Charles Barkley, who's the main engine that gets them going during their halftime show tirades.
So, Is NBA 2K26 Better After the Season 2 Patch?
The answer is YES. While NBA 2K26's launch didn't start on shaky ground, it was plagued with a lot of frustration in online 5v5 games in the Park, where fadeaways are abused to perfection by Point Guards and Shooting Guards. This has all been fixed, including some improvements to player movements, rhythm shooting, but most particularly in contesting shots and stealing the ball.
Now, for the other side of that question:
Is It Too Late to Get NBA 2K26?
The answer is NO. As of this writing, the game is currently a few weeks into Season 2, but this game is the best it's ever been and the most fun I've played with NBA 2K in quite a while. A lot of players by now have multiple builds, but that shouldn't discourage you at all from getting this game. The best way to play this game is at your own pace and grind.
What makes this year's NBA 2K entry is that Visual Concepts did a great job in introducing new game modes while keeping the game at a competitive and fun level. The patches so far are geared towards fixing aspects of the game, and while some updates still fall into the "wait and see" category, it's clear that the devs aren't immune to community feedback, and it shows that at least, they're leaning in the right direction.
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