‘NBA 2K26’ Review: Updates to key features make latest edition an enjoyable experience

NBA 2K has done a good job with the presentation. 2K26 is no different, as it includes specific features for all 30 arenas. Additionally, Tim Legler is part of the commentary team alongside Kevin Harlan, Greg Anthony, Stan Van Gundy and Shams Charania, among others. But if there’s one issue (at least from what I experienced), it’s that there was no halftime show featuring Ernie Johnson Jr., Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal. Not having the halftime show makes the game go a little faster, but I enjoyed that part of the presentation.

One big move that was made for NBA 2K26 is featured in MyTeam. For the first time in franchise history, WNBA player cards are available, allowing players to mix and match NBA and WNBA stars on the same team. This was a strong move by 2K Sports, as the WNBA continues to grow at a strong pace.

‘NBA 2K26’ provides smooth overall gameplay

Another feature that stood out to me is MyCareer (titled MyCareer: Out of Bounds). In this year’s game, players will start their journey as an unknown prospect in high school, working their way to the NBA. Shout out to the developers of NBA 2K26 for adding more content to MyCareer and providing an interesting story.

The City is a feature that connects players from all over the world. I’ve never been a huge fan of The City, but NBA 2K26 includes an improved layout that’s more compact than what was seen in the past. I think a lot of players will enjoy that because The City was huge in previous games, making it a little challenging to travel to different areas quickly.

There’s so much more to talk about with this game, but ultimately, NBA 2K26 delivers on different levels. It’s not a big improvement from last year’s edition, but it didn’t need to be, as the overall gameplay is smooth, there are improvements to important features, and there’s an overload of content, which makes the game a must-buy.