Choose NBA 2K22
Choose NBA 2K22 if you want a Simulation experience. 11,766 Steam reviews back the pick.
NBA 2K22 vs NBA 2K26
NBA 2K22 and NBA 2K26 both land in Sports on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Sports games on Steam. NBA 2K22 (2021) is 4 years older than NBA 2K26 (2025). NBA 2K26 scores higher on Steam reviews (74.7% positive) than NBA 2K22 (68.5% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose NBA 2K26
Choose NBA 2K26 if you want the Camera Comfort, Custom Volume Controls, and Stereo Sound side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 74.7% positive across 8,820 reviews.
Both NBA 2K22 and NBA 2K26 sit in Sports on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Online PvP, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 NBA 2K22 |  NBA 2K26 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2025 |
| Genres | Sports, Simulation | Sports |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | Price unknown | 69.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 68.5% positive (11,766 reviews) | 74.7% positive (8,820 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op |
| Developers | Visual Concepts | Visual Concepts |
Side by side
- Both are Sports games on Steam.
- NBA 2K22 (2021) is 4 years older than NBA 2K26 (2025).
- NBA 2K26 scores higher on Steam reviews (74.7% positive) than NBA 2K22 (68.5% positive).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Both are Deck Verified.
NBA 2K22 vs NBA 2K26 — FAQ
- Which is better, NBA 2K22 or NBA 2K26?
- On Steam reviews NBA 2K26 scores higher (74.7% positive) than NBA 2K22 (68.5% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, NBA 2K26 is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play NBA 2K22 or NBA 2K26 first?
- If you want chronology, NBA 2K22 (2021) came out before NBA 2K26 (2025). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are NBA 2K22 and NBA 2K26 similar?
- They overlap on Sports on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Do both NBA 2K22 and NBA 2K26 have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: NBA 2K22 ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; NBA 2K26 ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op.
- Do NBA 2K22 and NBA 2K26 both run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.