For years, the NBA 2K series has been the undisputed king of basketball simulation. That’s not saying much when you consider that 2K has a monopoly on basketball games, and NBA 2K is the only option, but that’s all we basketball fans have to work with. Thankfully, this year’s game is a step forward.
But like all annual sports games, there are always bound to be some complaints to talk about. This year, more than ever, it looks like offline players are going to have a tougher time with NBA 2K. With 2K pushing offline play to the sidelines with every release, it’s worth asking whether you should bother with NBA 2K26 at all if you’re an offline player.
The Core Gameplay Experience
The game’s biggest strength lies in its on-court experience, which feels smoother than ever. The newest feature, ProPLAY, is a motion engine that replicates real-world NBA moments into in-game animations. As a result, the dribbling feels tighter, especially with Kyrie Irving and Steph Curry. The faster animations have improved the input delay and make chaining moves feel fluid.
Beyond movement, the visuals are stunning, with detailed player models, a unique court, and arena details. The crowd feels more alive, and the addition of Tim Legler to the commentary team is a huge positive, enhancing the broadcast feel. The game also runs smoother than 2K25, though there are a few dips during cutscenes.
Then, there’s the bad. For offline players, shooting mechanics can be quite troublesome in this new entry. On difficulties above Pro, shots only go in if the timing is perfect, which immediately makes the game less accessible. Movements can sometimes feel floaty, and the main drawback of faster animations is that the game is not balanced. The offence feels overpowered, and the defence is made more difficult than in previous games.
The Main Issues With Shooting And AI
Digging into the core issues with offline play, a major point of frustration is the AI. It feels dumbed down and predictable. The computer’s offense often defaults to a five-out offense in the modern era, which lacks realism. It is also slow to adapt to rapid gameplay changes. This makes every match feel repetitive and can easily bore you after a few games. What you get as a result is a bit of a slog when you’re competing with AI all the time.
The bigger problem, though, is the “green or miss” shooting system. Yes, in NBA 2K26, it looks like only perfectly timed shots make it in. In previous games, mistimed shots still had a chance of scoring you points, but that looks to be way too difficult in this entry. For offline players who enjoy a more casual feel, this can be irritating. It’s not better online either, because if you’re already tilting, you’ll have to pull something really special out to make a perfect shot.
This whole “green or miss” system is clearly designed for the high-stakes online competitive play. Even then, lag can turn it into quite a big issue at times. But at least you know what you’re dealing with when playing sweaty online matches. Going through the same frustrations during casual play doesn’t make a lot of sense.
There’s also a new tempo element, which makes things even more difficult. Players have to control the speed of their stick movement relatively precisely for the right shot. This was added to create depth, but it does make shooting more complex.
Modes For Offline Play
There is an extensive collection of game modes in NBA 2K26, but the level of attention each mode receives varies drastically. The heavily monetized modes receive proper attention, as they are the moneymakers after all. In offline play, the modes on offer are much of the same as last year, but there are some new problems.
MyCAREER, the most popular mode, offers a new story: Out of Bounds. Which, unlike previous releases, is actually engaging and won’t make you fall asleep in a span of minutes. However, the mode is heavily impacted by microtransactions and inextricably linked to the online experience. Even though the story has improved, to even reach an 86 overall rating, you need 190,000 VC, which would require hours of grinding. This turns the single-player experience into quite the chore.
For fans of franchise management, MyNBA and MyGM still work the same with little to no improvements. There’s a severe lack of real new content here, and it doesn’t feel much more than a roster update. On the other hand, MyGM does add minor features like “Offseason Scenarios,” but these often feel like shallow events lacking depth.
In a refreshing change of pace, The W stands out as a welcome addition. The WNBA career mode is free of monetization and allows you to start at a respectable rating (78-85 overall). It feels like career modes from a decade ago, you know, when fun was more important than the frustrating grind. It’s a fantastic mode, but one that serves as a reminder of what you’re missing with the rest of the offline experience.
Is NBA 2K26 Worth $70 For Offline Only Players?
The answer is: it depends. For offline players, NBA 2K26 is certainly a mixed bag. It features fresh and exciting gameplay with great dribbling, but is held back by flaws in the AI and shooting system. If you want great on-court action, often play on the couch with your friends, and want some good old, realistic basketball, this game still offers all that.
However, just be aware of what you’re missing out on if you don’t intend to jump into online play. That’s where all the major updates are, and by not experiencing them, you could argue that you’re wasting your $70 and should maybe wait for a sale. Just MyNBA and MyGM aren’t good enough this year to splurge that amount of cash, but sadly, that’s not necessarily anything new.
