Choose NBA Playgrounds
Choose NBA Playgrounds if you want the Online PvP side of the pairing. NBA Playgrounds launched in 2017.
NBA Playgrounds vs Lacrosse 26
NBA Playgrounds and Lacrosse 26 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 Playgrounds (2017) is 9 years older than Lacrosse 26 (2026). Both support cooperative play. 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 Lacrosse 26
Choose Lacrosse 26 if you want a Simulation game with Shared/Split Screen, PvP, and Co-op. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Lacrosse 26 launched in 2026.
Both NBA Playgrounds and Lacrosse 26 sit in Sports on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen PvP, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op, 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 Playgrounds |  Lacrosse 26 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2026 |
| Genres | Sports | Sports, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Price unknown | 34.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 62.3% positive (395 reviews) | 8 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Saber Interactive | Crosse Studios |
Side by side
- Both are Sports games on Steam.
- NBA Playgrounds (2017) is 9 years older than Lacrosse 26 (2026).
- Both support cooperative play.
NBA Playgrounds vs Lacrosse 26 — FAQ
- Should I play NBA Playgrounds or Lacrosse 26 first?
- If you want chronology, NBA Playgrounds (2017) came out before Lacrosse 26 (2026). 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 Playgrounds and Lacrosse 26 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 Playgrounds and Lacrosse 26 have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: NBA Playgrounds ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op; Lacrosse 26 ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.