In many ways, Visual Concepts’ long-running NBA 2K series mirrors the careers of players it works so hard to emulate. Sometimes, it’s a flash of potential: a hotshot rookie catching fire after putting up duds in consecutive games. Others, it’s more comparable to a wily veteran nearing retirement – we see a glimpse of talent, that peek into what it could still be. That’s what keeps me, for better or worse, hoping for the best as I start playing NBA 2K26. It’s both flashy and old school, like a “how do you do, fellow kids” teacher who wears different Jordans to class every day, it has enough cool new kicks, fits, and gimmicks to make it a much more interesting and enjoyable experience than last year’s entry, even after spending only a dozen hours with it so far.
Of course, “cool” probably isn’t the right word to describe that teacher, let alone NBA 2K26. After all, an annual sports game is obviously not going to be a radically new game, since most of its gameplay and mechanics are fundamentally similar to last year’s iteration, and the one before that, and so on. But in the context of the genre it’s made a good first impression, because several minor improvements cumulatively make such a huge difference to the whole that I’m willing to say it and risk being called a nerd. Yes, I am talking about the new-and-improved shot meter. As always, one of the smallest components in its vast hardwood floor of dribbling and criss-crossing parts leaves a massive influence on how just about everything else on the court plays out.
What I Said About Last Year’s NBA 2K25
Every IGN NBA 2K Review Ever
2K has long been an outstanding series, pushing forward all sports games in its pursuit of quality. Here’s every review of every NBA 2K game since, well, NBA 2K.
Reviewed by Brandon Justice
24 November 1999
Many aspects of this game are unbelievable, but it is the type of game that does just as much to open your eyes to the possibilities as it does to blow you away. In the end, we’ve got one hell of a basketball game, but a game that is far from perfect. While not quite as polished as NFL2K, NBA2K is most certainly a must have title for any sport fan, and is one of the most compelling reasons to own a Dreamcast to date. Bring on NBA 2001, boys, and next year, think three free-throws. Three!
Reviewed by Brandon Justice
7 November 2000
This game can be frustrating unless you play by its rules, which are often far outside the realm of what is physically reasonable. It is a fun basketball game, and makes a lot of advancements in the genre, but still lacks the polish to be the type of revolutionary experience NFL2K1 was for its sport. We’ll be happy playing this one, but we can’t wait ’til next season, where we’ll hopefully find a more enjoyable balance between realism and fun.
Reviewed by Anthony Chau
2 November 2001
The improved AI, making the computer opponent more aggressive on defense, may have been just a little too aggressive as I find my computer opponents setting up zone defenses really early in the game. Finally, the commentary isn’t great; it pales in comparison to the lively commentary found in NFL 2K2. But these minor gripes are stated because there’s nothing really wrong with the game, and considering the competition – or should I say, lack of competition – NBA 2K2 is one of the most complete sports games on any platform.
Reviewed by Hilary Goldstein
6 October 2002
If you’ve always been with Sega’s hoop title, don’t stop now, it’s been fixed and made even better. If you’re new and looking for a really solid sim that does basketball intelligently and realistically, this is your game. And if you want a more run-and-gun fun style, then maybe try one of the other offerings this year, because NBA 2K3 don’t mess and if you’re not prepared, it will aggravate you.
Reviewed by Jon Robison
21 October 2003
The addition of a pro hop button and the separation of the shoot and dunk buttons would make the game all the better, but even without those features, ESPN NBA Basketball is still overall the best playing basketball game this season. For the first time, basketball fans have an excuse to be playing a game at four in the morning. It’s 24/7, the life of a baller.
Reviewed by Hilary Goldstein
28 September 2004
ESPN NBA 2K5 isn’t a horrible game by any means, but it’s probably Sega’s weakest sports game this year. On the surface it looks fine. It plays decently and if you know how to use IsoMotion2, you can definitely enjoy playing offense. There’s a lot of fine-tuning needed and it seems pretty clear this game really shouldn’t be shipping quite so soon. I just couldn’t possibly play any more of the Association. It’s not bad, it just isn’t great and some of the AI gaffs began to really get on my nerves over time. However, the 24/7 mode is refreshing, even after playing a lot last year.
Reviewed by Craig Beridon
26 September 2005
Graphically, this is a top notch sports title. Players all look identical to their real life counterparts, and at times, 2K6 can be the smoothest, most realistic hoops game on store shelves. With the loss of the NFL series, 2K and Visual Concepts seemed to have more time to definitively enhance NBA, but the gameplay improvements were only moderate. One-on-one and street competitions are more enjoyable than the full court 5 on 5 league games, but any fan of console hoops should enjoy this one.
Reviewed by Jason Allen
27 September 2006
I’m happy with how this game turned out. I saw some weird things like arms passing through players, and some weird things happening with the animations at times (odd collision issues) but overall, the game plays quite well. It’s not hugely different from what we saw last year, but the advancements that were made were solid enough. NBA fans that own current gen consoles can hold out a little longer before they upgrade. NBA 2K7 on Xbox gives nice bang for $30 bucks.
Reviewed by Hilary Goldstein
2 October 2007
In many ways, NBA 2K8 is an improved game on the court. But there are a lot of minor issues that really drag it down. Over the course of my first dozen games, I was in love. But as the season wore on, the issues began piling up to a point that it became a source of frustration. The Lock-on D gaff is inexcusable and the lackluster defensive AI allows decent players to tear it up on offense. Jason Williams should not be dropping 30 points a game. Yet he won the MVP in year two of my franchise. Still, any hoops fan should give NBA 2K8 a look. It’s certainly the best basketball game on any system this year. The Association is a solid franchise mode and, if VC can iron out its AI and gameplay issues, next year’s model could be something very special.
Reviewed by Nate Ahearn
18 November 2008
NBA 2K9 is basketball game for the purists out there and has plenty for diehard basketball fans to enjoy. At a price of $19.99 I can almost forgive the absence of multiplayer, especially when you consider how much game there is still is to play. There are tidbits built in to appease casual fans, but there’s no question that with things like Bird Years making their way into this year’s game that 2K9 is made for aficionados. Even still, anyone who has seen a pro game will be able to find the similarities and the finite details that make NBA 2K9 the best game in town.
Reviewed by Jeff Haynes
12 October 2010
Many sports gamers wonder what the differences from one year to the next will be to determine whether it’s worth their cash. In this respect, NBA 2K10 is just barely above a roster update, with gameplay that resembles last year’s title, practically no significant updates that improve the gameplay, and visuals that are clearly on the wrong side of outdated. While the basketball is still adequate, the arcade like play instead of simulation play may turn off some players, and the lack of vast improvements will make it hard to justify picking this one up over the current gen version, which is clearly the focus of 2K Sports.
Reviewed by Hilary Goldstein
1 October 2010
NBA 2K11 is a love letter to basketball fans. If you don’t follow hoops, a lot of the subtleties will be lost on you. And if you are looking for a loose, fun, crazy dunkfest experience like NBA Jam, you’re going to get hosed. But if you are serious about basketball, this will fill a long-standing void in your hoops-loving heart. This is the NBA. No one else has come close to representing it in such great and accurate detail as this.
Reviewed by Jack Devries
30 September 2011
No sports game has ever made me this excited to play. Seriously it’s all I’ve been able to think about for the last week. The realistic, challenging, gorgeously animated gameplay carries across a cornucopia of modes. Playing legends of the past, the stars of today, and my own personal NBA rookie are all different flavors of f#$%ing rad. Any one of these modes would be reason enough to purchase the game, but all of them together make for a game that any basketball fan has to pick up.
Reviewed by Ryan McCaffrey
28 September 2012
It’s both scary and exciting to think how good a game we might get if NBA 2K actually had a serious competitor pushing it to new heights. But even when left with a clear, unobstructed path to the basket, 2K13 throws down a monster jam with this year’s edition – probably the last one developed solely for this generation of consoles. It’s obviously the best hoops game out there, and it might even be the best sports game of all, period.
Reviewed by Ryan McCaffrey
12 November 2013
If you skipped current-gen this year, it’s a no-brainer: yes, yes, yes, yes. Next-gen NBA 2K14’s ambitious new modes each leave a bit to be desired, and for better and for worse, it plays almost identically to the game you may already own. But this edition is not only a smooth-flowing piece of pro basketball simulation, it’s also one of the few games that makes a true next-generation leap in visual fidelity. And when you’re dropping $400-$500 on a fresh piece of hardware, there’s something to be said for that.
Reviewed by Mike Mitchell
9 October 2014
NBA 2K15 feels like a new-gen experience that 2K isn’t quite ready for. It’s an absolutely beautiful game to look at, and its controls are as tight as they’ve ever been. Some features are vastly improved from last year, and fortunately most of those continue to work when the servers don’t. It’s a shame that the best game modes won’t always be accessible, because this could’ve been an amazing basketball game. It still could be, if 2K can fix it. But if you buy it right now, you can expect a great offline experience.
Reviewed by Mike Mitchell
29 September 2015
NBA 2K16 is one of the most complete packages I’ve ever seen. Developer Visual Concepts continues to raise the sports simulation bar by completely retooling its silky-smooth gameplay, adding brand-new physics systems, and refining its traditional game modes. Not all of the changes work as well as others, most notably the Spike Lee-themed MyCareer mode, but it doesn’t take away from the impressive overall package.
Reviewed by Chase Becotte
21 September 2016
NBA 2K17 is another rock-solid game in the franchise. It features worthwhile updates to the dribbling and shooting mechanics, and backs up those improvements off the court in ways that make me care about managing my team. All in all, I know NBA 2K17 will be in my gaming rotation for many months to come.
Reviewed by Chase Becotte
20 September 2017
NBA 2K18 is another step forward on the court, improving on the series’ already great gameplay. You’re rewarded for smart, controlled basketball when dribbling, driving, and playing defense in ways that make sense for the players you’re controlling. In the side modes, results are mixed: the new fusion of Career mode elements into The Neighborhood gives it some new life, but the same can’t be said for the meaningless story elements within MyGM, and microtransactions now have too much of an impact on gameplay. There’s far more good than bad, though, and NBA 2K18 deserves credit for taking chances.
Reviewed by Ben Vollmer
11 September 2018
For many, basketball is more than just a game, and NBA 2K19 doesn’t take that lightly. It throws every resource it has into the theatrics of the sport, creating charismatic presentation, a well-written story mode, and strong core gameplay. The series’ persistent weaknesses are still apparent in areas like the transition game and ludicrous microtransactions, but there’s so much variety to how its extensive MyLeague mode plays out that there’s always a reason to look forward to the next game of basketball.
Reviewed by Ben Vollmer
September 9, 2019
NBA 2K continues its tradition of upping already tremendous gameplay, emulating the real-life sport in ways that didn’t seem possible just years ago. The inclusion of the WNBA may be this year’s biggest step forward, especially because it does an excellent job showcasing the many gameplay improvements from last year. MyCareer also continues to improve in small and noticeable ways, setting a new standard for story modes in sports games. Still, NBA 2K20 would have been better off by focusing on its complex modes like MyLeague and cleaning up MyTeam to be less dependent on microtransactions. In spite of that, NBA 2K20 remains the best at what it does. It just might be time to ask for better.
Reviewed by Ben Vollmer
September 10, 2020
NBA When it’s clicking, NBA 2K21 has some of the best gameplay in sports video game history. But that’s been true for several years now, and though this year’s iteration improves on a handful of things, most notably the aimed shooting mechanic, there hasn’t been much movement. At the same time, it’s a shame that 2K’s focus isn’t on the fun you can have on the court, but instead the money that can be extracted from your wallet off of the court in the MyCareer and MyTeam modes, which just aren’t fun to grind through without paying. Maybe the new set of consoles on the horizon will bring a fresh start for the NBA 2K franchise, but right now I feel more pessimistic about the series’ future than ever.
The more things change, the more they stay the same, and that’s never been more true than with NBA 2K25. Although the core gameplay feels familiar (and it most likely always will), a handful of improvements such as Go-To Moves, Rhythm Shooting, and Shot Timing Profiles also make it more novel and challenging. MyCareer remains the most important mode in the series, and I love that the Heart of a Dynasty storyline and the return of Streetball bring a sense of nostalgia and highlight a renewed focus on single-player experiences that I’ve finally been given reason to hope will be even better next year. Don’t get me wrong: microtransactions are still as pervasive and frustrating as ever, particularly when progressing your player online. But at least it doesn’t always feel necessary, especially in MyTeam, thanks to the much-needed restoration of the Auction House to allow you to earn cards without buying VC. To put it plainly, NBA 2K25 isn’t quite on the level of the splashy return of Michael Jordan in 1995. Instead, it feels more like his late-career stint with the Washington Wizards; you know what you’re getting at this point, but it still has a few tricks up its sleeves that longtime fans like me can be pleasantly surprised by even as we gripe about long-term issues. – September 13, 2024
Score: 7
Read the full NBA 2K25 review
Green and Slightly Curved
If you were lucky enough not to have experienced last year’s shot meter, I envy you. In place of the nightmare-inducing dial/arrow/ring design from 2K25, NBA 2K26 features a much more intuitive, easier-to-time, and infinitely better-curved bar shot meter. If you’ve heard that before, it’s because it’s similar to 2K23’s – but this isn’t entirely a reversion to that. Instead of remaining static, the new meter’s green field adjusts based on defensive coverage: if a defender is right up in your face, you’ll have practically no chance of making the shot. But if you’re open, it’ll be much easier to time the release right and make a shot.
Trust me, I’m having so much more fun shooting jumpers now than I was this time last year because I’m actually making them consistently. There is a slight tradeoff, though: because it’s easier to get greens, there’s also less room for imperfection. Meaning if you get a slightly early or slightly late timing, you might as well start running back on defense because the shot will more than likely brick. That said, I’ll take this shot meter any day of the week over a barely improved chance to make mistimed shots.
Now, I’m a big believer in the concept of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” because why ruin a good thing, right? But I’m an even bigger believer that if something is broke – like last year’s janky player movement – you b7etter get to fixin’ quick. Visual Concepts did just that because NBA 2K26 makes running, cutting, and defending so much smoother that it makes NBA 2K25’s motion feel like you were stuck running in quicksand. This is no small change because it permeates every single mode, making the entirety of NBA 2K26 feel less robotic and far more natural and enjoyable.
Plus, it makes one of my favorite new features, Go-To Post Shots, look even more accurate and realistic. Remember in last year’s review how disappointed I was that I couldn’t dominate the paint with Jokic’s or Embiid’s shimmy shake fade-aways? Well, dreams do come true because for the past day I have been spamming the Sombor Shuffle an ungodly amount of times in each match I play. It is a delightfully methodical, bruising alternative to the agile, quick-twitch motions of the typical Go-To Moves, and I will continue using it until the AI learns to stop it. Until then, it’s barbecue chicken alert each time down the floor.
Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road
Now for the bad news. What, you thought it was going to be all good from here on out? Sorry, Dorothy, but the years haven’t been kind to this yellow brick road. And by “yellow brick road,” I mean NBA 2K26’s offline-only modes. Last year, the so-called improvements to MyNBA were underwhelming, to say the least. This time, dear friends, they are practically non-existent, and, as an offline-mode truther, I am very disappointed.
With 2K25 we at least had the addition of the Steph Era, even though it already felt redundant alongside two other eras in the 2010s (in addition to the LeBron Era). Are you ready to hear what the 2K26 MyNBA modes have in store? Drumroll, ple…you know what, don’t even bother. It’s called Offseason Scenarios for MyGM. These are tailor-made, long-term quests for each franchise that you must fulfill to appease the fanbase and, more importantly, the owner.
These scenarios come in threes and are given out at the beginning of the offseason. But much like my issues with last year’s MyGM mode, these tasks (and many of the features in the mode itself) again feel forced and, at times, unrealistic. The RPG elements, with their perk and attribute point systems, seem out of place and unnecessary because they hardly make a difference in the grand scheme of basketball operations. At the end of the day, it’s still all about winning as many games and championships as you can. Or, if you’re on the other end of the spectrum, losing and tanking as much as possible. Overall, the whole mode feels like a side project hastily thrown together just to get that last bit of extra credit needed to pass the class.
Despite my problems with its offline-only modes, the fundamental gameplay tweaks show plenty of promise in what I’ve played on my first day with it. I’m especially excited to see how it looks in MyCareer with its new-and-improved storyline, as well as in the potentially wonky online gameplay of MyTeam. But after suffering through last year’s shot meter and molasses-like movement, there really is nowhere to go but up. Whether that shows in my final verdict and score next week, though, remains to be seen.