Cricket 26 is a cricket simulation built around four distinct offerings: squad-building in Management Career, the Australia–England rivalry in Ashes mode, card-based Pro Team, and player-created content in Academy. It launched on November 20, 2025, according to publisher Nacon and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB); Steam and Xbox list November 19, with no explanation for the one-day difference. Platform and edition availability can vary by region, so check your local store.
What is Cricket 26?
Developed by Big Ant Studios and published by Nacon, Cricket 26 is a cricket sports simulation. Its main advertised addition is Management Career, while the game also offers an Ashes mode, card-collection and multiplayer features, and tools for creating and sharing community content. The feature descriptions below come from the publisher, developer, cricket bodies and storefronts; they are not independent assessments of gameplay quality.
What modes and features does Cricket 26 include?
Management Career: build and manage a squad
Management Career focuses on the decisions around a team as well as the matches themselves. Nacon describes scouting, recruiting and training players, then building a team and devising strategies. Big Ant adds selecting lineups and batting orders, developing young talent, setting tactics and managing injuries. The ECB describes squads, finances and long-term strategy. These descriptions establish a team-management focus, but do not specify particular league or contract mechanics.
Ashes mode: Australia versus England
Ashes mode centers on controlling Australia or England in the rivalry. Nacon highlights training sessions and press conferences; Big Ant describes tour net sessions, full squads and recreations of notable moments. These are official feature descriptions, not an independent judgment of how authentic or complete the mode feels.
#1 Best Overall
- IT'S A LIGHT STRATEGY GAME WITH A TOUCH OF LUCK. Players take on the role of one of eight cricket teams competing in a championship. In each round, players bat and bowl one over using six dice. As the game progresses, players gain experience, allowing them to enhance their skills. The game lasts for five rounds (45-60 minutes) and offers four different ways to earn winning points.
- 2–5 PLAYERS, DESIGNED FOR ALL LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE. The game is made for both cricket fans and newcomers. No cricket knowledge is required to play, but the game can be a fun way to learn the basics! Its mechanics are easy to pick up while offering enough depth to keep things interesting across multiple plays.
- KICKSTARTED AND COMMUNITY-TESTED. The game was funded on Kickstarter by a global community of board gamers and cricket lovers. It’s been playtested across age groups and regions, with feedback helping refine gameplay into a smooth, balanced experience.
- HIGH REPLAYABILITY WITH MULTIPLE STRATEGIES. Will you go for high-risk sixes or a slow build-up with power cards? With each match playing out differently, no two games are ever the same. The more you play, the deeper your strategy gets.
Pro Team and Centurion multiplayer
Pro Team is built around assembling a squad from player cards. Nacon and Big Ant describe weekly packs, an auction house and challenges, alongside Centurion, a multiplayer mode. Steam flags in-game purchases and chance-based in-game purchases. Those disclosures do not establish specific prices or odds.
Academy and gameplay tools
Academy lets players create and share players, teams and stadiums, as well as download community creations. Steam also says players can create and share bats. Big Ant describes push shots into gaps, more aggressive fielding, and Test-match decisions involving run rates and energy. These explain the advertised controls and tools, but do not establish how they perform in play.
Rank #2
- Cricket Showdown is a fast-paced, easy-to-learn cricket card game that brings the excitement of real cricket into quick, fun matches. Designed for kids, teens, and families, the game combines strategy, luck, and classic cricket moments like runs, wickets, and boundaries. Each round is quick and energetic, making it perfect for family game night, parties, classrooms, or travel. With simple rules and short playtime, Cricket Showdown is easy for beginners to learn while still engaging for experienced cricket fans.
Which teams and competitions are licensed?
The ECB’s October 9, 2025 announcement says Cricket 26 includes The Ashes and The Hundred, the Caribbean Premier League, Cricket Ireland, West Indies, Pakistan, and fully licensed Indian T20 teams. The announcement does not provide a complete team-by-team roster, so this is not an exhaustive list of every licensed side or competition.
Where can you play Cricket 26?
Nacon’s US product page lists a physical Standard Edition for PlayStation 5 and a digital Standard Edition for PC; Steam lists the PC version. The Xbox store search listing identifies Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming and handheld play. Because regional availability and edition formats may differ, confirm the version offered by your local store before buying.
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- FAST & FUN CRICKET CARD GAME: Bring the thrill of the sport to the table with a quick, fast card game that blends light strategy with head-to-head action - an easy pick for any cricket-themed game night.
- WHAT’S INSIDE THE BOX: Each box includes 18 batting cards, 18 bowling cards, 2 reference cards, 1 third umpire card, 1 out card, 1 not-out card, and a rules sheet.
- PERFECT FOR KIDS & FAMILY GAME NIGHTS: Designed for kids ages 7+ and grown-ups, it plays as a friendly social card game or a tense competitive card game - great game night cards for all ages.
- EASY TO LEARN, QUICK TO PLAY: Simple rules make it an easy card game you can teach in minutes; fast rounds keep everyone engaged and make it a nice intro to learning games for kids.
- TRAVEL-FRIENDLY & INDOOR SAFE: Pocket-sized, no setup, all cards - an ideal portable 2 player card game for holidays, cafes, classrooms, or rainy days.
The official publisher and ECB release date is November 20, 2025. Steam and Xbox list November 19; the sources do not explain whether that reflects time zones, regional timing or store metadata. Store listings can also change after release.
Can your PC run Cricket 26?
The following are the Windows specifications listed by Nacon and Steam, not independent performance benchmarks. Both recommend an SSD; Steam also lists broadband internet.
| Specification | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 or 11 | Windows 10 or 11 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-6600K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X | Intel Core i7-11700K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 80 GB available space | 80 GB available space |
| Additional listing notes | SSD recommended; Steam also lists broadband internet | SSD recommended; Steam also lists broadband internet |
Meeting a listed requirement is not a guarantee of a particular frame rate or visual setting; neither storefront specification is a benchmark. For a purchase decision, compare your PC’s processor, graphics card, memory and free storage with the relevant column.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What multiplayer and controller support does the PC version list?
Steam lists single-player, online PvP, shared/split-screen PvP, online and local co-op, shared/split-screen play, cross-platform multiplayer and controller support. The store says the developers recommend playing with a controller. The listing does not specify which platforms can play together, so do not assume every cross-play combination is supported.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Ultimate gift for a cricket enthusiast. Detailed cricket field for immersive play.
- Perfect for cricket lovers of all ages
- Endless fun for all skill levels.
- Foldable design with storage bag for easy transport
- Safety prioritized with sticky balls, ideal for families
Sources
- Nacon’s Cricket 26 product listing
- ECB announcement, October 9, 2025
- Big Ant Studios feature page
- Steam store listing
- Xbox store listing information is available on the Xbox product page; platform details cited above are based on its search-result listing.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
