NBA 2K26 is officially out today on Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in its "Standard Edition" form, although early access has been live for a little while now, and therefore a few reviews have already started to hit the web.
So, considering this game is set to be extremely popular on the Xbox charts this month, we thought we'd take a look at some of these early reviews to help you decide whether it's worth picking up ahead of the weekend.
Here's what some of the first reviews are saying about NBA 2K26 so far:
Loot Level Chill (9/10)
"NBA 2K26 is a solid improvement to last year, specifically in its gameplay. You have much more control over various shots thanks to the new shot meter. Player movement is much smoother and versatile. While some modes like MyGM feel like a carbon copy of NBA 2K25, there are plenty of improvements to The City and MyTEAM."
But Why Tho? (8.5/10)
"NBA 2K26 combines improved visuals with some important tweaks to keep the series feeling fresh. It still feels like the same old basketball experience, but the fresh coat of paint and greased wheels make it more fun to play and will have players coming back for more."
IGN (8/10)
"Overall, NBA 2K26 is the equivalent of a team that’s a few pieces away from contending, making this year’s catchphrase, “Ball Over Everything,” pretty fitting if you don’t count the endless microtransactions in all the online modes. Because when you’ve got the core performing this well, and all eyes are on the on-court action, it becomes easier to ignore those imperfections."
Operation Sports (Positive)
"Gamers frustrated with in-game handles will appreciate the new feel enough to justify the transition to the new edition on that alone. Coupled with the various fun modes available to ensure that the online experience doesn’t quickly become a stale experience of grinding out daily, weekly, and seasonal goals, it all balances out to a strong, if not perfect, addition to the sports gaming canon."
IGN Adria (7/10)
[Translated] "NBA 2K26 is a solid sequel to the series, with significant improvements in gameplay, atmosphere, and modes. However, a number of issues, such as being too complex for casual players, relying on microtransactions, and underdeveloped mods like Crews, prevent this game from reaching its full potential."
As you can see, NBA 2K26 is scoring big with the critics so far - it has an average of 82 on Metacritic and 84 on OpenCritic at the time of writing. It's still early days, but this is clearly a great start for 2K's latest release in the series.
If you're interested in trying it out for yourself, the Standard Edition is now available to buy on the Xbox Store at a price of £69.99 / $69.99, and it includes both the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S versions. Let us know how you get on!