NBA 2K26 Review: Innovations, Confirmations, and Some Old Flaws

NBA2K26 arrives punctually, as every year, near the new NBA season, ready to entertain us with its numerous modes and gameplay experiences.

The gameplay of NBA 2K26

Before delving into the analysis of the cornerstones of the new basketball remake dedicated to the world's most famous basketball league, it is necessary to break down the changes and innovations that await us controller in hand when we step onto the court with our virtual counterpart.

First of all, let's note a slight increase in the overall pace of the game, with faster athlete movements and improved command responsiveness compared to the past. To be clear, we are not talking about a significant increase in the speed of the action, and the simulation aspect of the title, with the appropriate settings, always remains prevalent, but just enough to make the player perceive a more fluid and engaging development of the action.

The system dedicated to reproducing player movement, proprietary to 2K, called PROPLAY, returns this year with particular attention to the real-time positioning of the lower body of each player, making the behavior of the lower limbs more coordinated and plausible.

PROPLAY also promises to replicate as photorealistically as possible the characteristic animations and movements of the most famous NBA athletes.

The rhythm shooting system has been revised, ensuring a more complete immersion in the shooting motion, which, with the use of the right analog stick, we will have to more accurately mimic in terms of timing during its execution. Both the offensive and defensive phases have benefited from significant improvements in managing the logic with which our teammates and opponents react to the wide variety of situations that arise during the game. Unfortunately, some of the series' historical flaws persist, including a collision system that sometimes feels clunky and not entirely satisfactory shot contesting, which, however, do not prevent the title from being a faithful and enjoyable reproduction from the pure gameplay perspective.

The technical sector of NBA 2K26

To the already excellent starting base, consisting of faithful models with detailed player faces, arenas and scenarios that faithfully reproduce their real counterparts, and all the surrounding elements that contribute to immersion in the NBA basketball atmosphere, NBA 2K26 (click here to purchase it) brings improvements that involve the entire graphical rendering, making it even cleaner and more detailed.

The English commentary and ambient sounds are on par with the visual counterpart, while a pleasantly inspired and diversified soundtrack accompanies us throughout the experience.

NBA 2K26: The City is the game's pivot

The CITY returns in NBA 2K26, revamped for the occasion, shrunk (perhaps too much) and reorganized. After creating our virtual counterpart through an editor that is even more detailed and articulated than in the past but nonetheless very intuitive, we will have the opportunity to roam around The CITY, frequented by dozens of other real players at 60 FPS (a novelty in NBA 2K26), and the difference from the past is palpable.

With parks that will be renewed at the beginning of each season (seasons lasting 40 days), with some remastered re-proposals from past NBA 2K titles and absolute novelties, they will guarantee a variety of settings. The countless customization elements that we can purchase with in-game currency (at discretely high prices, unfortunately) will make our player unique and stylish.

Affiliations disappear to make way for Crews: groups that can accommodate up to 50 players who will help us climb the rankings and obtain valuable rewards for our avatar's progression.

Out of Bounds is the story that will accompany us from the beginning of our career until the NBA draft. The more we prove our skill by completing challenges and objectives, the higher our draft position will be. The scenes and events that accompany the action, while well-made, are not particularly novel.

My Team and WNBA in NBA 2K26

The WNBA arrives in MYTEAM. This year, the stars of the women's league are included in the famous card mode for the first time in the franchise's history. Numerous small changes accompany the addition of All-Star Team Up, which allows up to 10 real players to battle it out on the court, each controlling their favorite card.

In NBA 2K26, you never stop dribbling

If all this isn't enough for the most avid fans, a game section entirely dedicated to the WNBA and the MYNBA and MYGM modes, even more detailed than what has been seen so far, contribute to enriching a video game offering that will keep you busy for countless hours. Click here to purchase NBA 2K26.