With the Switch 2 currently going in full swing, Nintendo’s original handheld from 2017 is still holding up. Apart from demanding triple-A story games, sports titles such as EA FC 26 and FM 26 continue to drop on this pocket-rocket.
The trend continues with NBA 2K26 as well. Despite being a technical basketball simulator, the original Nintendo Switch port surprisingly exists. It features all the updated rosters along with fresh signature animations that are enough to grab the attention of an average basketball freak.
But since portability often comes with compromises, are they too much in comparison to the more powerful successor? To answer your concerns, here’s our NBA 2K26 review on the original Nintendo Switch.
The Price Differences
First and foremost, let’s talk about the price differences. The NBA 2K26 standard edition costs $69.99 across all supported platforms. But for the Switch 1, 2K has reduced this amount to just $59.99.
With a ten-dollar difference, this version is the most affordable option for anyone who wants to live their basketball fantasy on the go. Still, even with a lower price tag, is NBA 2K26 worth picking up on the original Nintendo Switch? Let’s find out.
NBA 2K26 Nintendo Switch 1 Review
In comparison to current-generation consoles, NBA 2K26 is nothing more than a stripped-down version on the Switch. Don’t get me wrong, Shai is still on the cover, and LeBron dunks just as intensely, but the overall experience is far from the full-priced game.
Gameplay
As soon as you boot up the game, one of the biggest differences is the main menu. The Switch version offers the old-school tile-like menus, while the Switch 2 is identical to PS5 and Xbox Series S|X.
If that’s tolerable, wait until you fire up the NBA 2K26 MyCareer. The City is completely absent, and instead, you get an online Park that’s nearly lifeless due to a lack of crossplay.
Apart from these, the game can provide realistic court action, but only if you’re fine with its performance inconsistency.
Performance
Performance is yet another turn-off in the Switch’s case. While both Nintendo machines only manage to run the game at 30 FPS, NBA 2K26 on the less powerful hardware can become borderline unplayable in some moments.
Expect frames dropping below 20 and even lower if too many players gather around the paint. Similarly, the game doesn’t look that good either. Graphically, it’s an enhanced version of the NBA 2K Mobile running at a slightly lower resolution.
With the flaws discussed, here’s how they compare to some of the positives.
| Aspect | Advantage | Disadvantage |
| Visuals | Better than past entries such as 2K25 and 2K24. | Less detailed and blurry against the current generation machines. |
| Gameplay | Authentic NBA 2K experience | Less responsive due to performance issues |
| Online Experience | Available | Absence of the City with no cross-play and cross-save |
| Menus and Load Times | Feels faster than 2K25 | Old-school with a longer loading screen. It can be overwhelming if you are used to current-generation consoles. |
Should You Get NBA 2K26 For The Original Nintendo Switch?
On Switch 2, you should, but on the original handheld, it’s not recommended. Switch 1 is almost 9 years old, and the fact that we are still getting some new sports titles is indeed surprising. But NBA 2K26 is a game you should definitely avoid.
Even with $59.99, it’s not worth it because the more you play it, the more it feels like a reskinned roster update that offers nothing revolutionary. If you can grab it on sale for at least half the original price, then it’s okay to give it a shot. Otherwise, playing NBA 2K26 on the Switch 2 is the best way to taste basketball gaming on the go.
