AFL 26

About

AFL 26 is a single player and multiplayer management game. It was developed by Big Ant Studios and was released on May 7, 2025. It received neutral reviews from players.

Get ready for the future of footy with AFL 26. Feel every hit, hear every roar, and live every moment with unmatched authenticity and intensity. From the first bounce to the final siren, the action is fast, fierce, and true to the game. With lifelike gameplay, roaring crowds, expert commentary, and all the drama of real AFL, you’re not just watching the game — you’re in it. This is footy, redefine…

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56%

Audience ScoreBased on 178 reviews

gameplay8 positive mentions

stability17 negative mentions

Improved gameplay and graphics compared to previous AFL games, offering a more realistic and enjoyable footy experience.
Depth in career and management modes adds engagement and strategic elements for fans.
Continuous updates and patches by developers show commitment to improving the game.

Frequent bugs and crashes severely impact the overall playability and user experience.
AI behavior is inconsistent and often unrealistic, leading to frustrating gameplay moments.
High price point is not justified given the technical issues and perceived lack of polish.

gameplay
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
Gameplay generally offers a fun and realistic AFL experience with improved mechanics like set shots and marking, alongside a challenging management career mode. However, the game is frequently marred by bugs, crashes, and inconsistent mechanics, which negatively impact smoothness and immersion. Despite these issues, many players see noticeable improvement over previous installments, though some feel gameplay still needs refinement and polish.
- “The gameplay is fun, and the management career mode adds a good level of challenge.”
- “The gameplay feels fluid and responsive, with noticeably improved player animations and stadium atmosphere.”
- “I actually really love the set shot mechanics; I couldn't think of a better way to do it, very happy with that!”
- “Buggy as and game mechanics are very poor.”
- “Since installation, AFL 26 has crashed multiple times and suffers from numerous bugs that significantly impact the gameplay experience.”
- “As per usual gameplay is extremely clunky and feels automated to the point where it doesn't feel like you make decisions with the ball.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
52%
16%
The graphics receive mixed feedback, with some praising improvements in visuals, lighting, and player models compared to previous titles, while others find them outdated or merely adequate given modern standards. Recurring graphical glitches, such as AI teleportation and clipping issues, alongside occasional crashes, detract from the overall experience. Despite technical flaws, many users feel the graphics are decent enough and contribute positively to gameplay immersion.
- “The graphics are better and I can see what they have tried to do.”
- “Graphics and lighting have also seen some upgrades as well.”
- “I've played 100+ hours of AFL23 and this game is so much better, the graphics are stunning, everything is so much smoother than 23, everything sounds amazing, the sound of the ball getting bounced, when kicking, makes you feel like you're at a game of footy.”
- “And most of all the graphics were terrible.”
- “The graphics are mid compared to some of the games that are out nowadays; the marking is terrible, my player slows down while I'm chasing the ball to try and mark it, and the opposing player ends up phasing through me.”
- “I can't understand why they haven't just re-released their 2011 game with updated visuals.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The game struggles with numerous bugs and glitches, including graphical issues, crashes, and gameplay interruptions that often hinder the experience. While some players find it frustrating and unstable, others acknowledge recent fixes and appreciate the improved, realistic AFL gameplay despite lingering minor issues. Overall, stability remains a mixed aspect with notable progress but persistent problems.
- “Stadium glitches persist with some grounds facing back-to-front, and finals games not being played at correct venues.”
- “Annoying glitches and bugs plus at some random moment during a match the opposition starts kicking goal after goal and you can't even stop it.”
- “Game is unfinished and has terrible glitches and crashes at least once an hour, usually after finishing a whole game in career mode, so once you reboot it you have to redo the game hoping it doesn't crash again.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Users praise the team song music at the end of matches but report frequent game crashes occurring during or after the song, which significantly detracts from the overall experience.
- “The game crashes during the team song after matches, which really drags the experience down.”
- “It crashed in the 4th quarter and even during the song at the end of the game.”
- “Graphical glitches and crashes, particularly during the team song, negatively impact the game's enjoyment.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's story mode offers a solid single-player experience focused on club management or player career, providing a strong foundation for solo play. However, the online pro team mode presents a distinctly different and less favorable experience.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is present but sometimes undermined by player career-specific bugs that, while funny, can also be annoying.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is enhanced by fluid and responsive gameplay, complemented by improved player animations and a lively stadium environment.
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users criticize the monetization approach as a cash grab, expressing frustration that the game offers little innovation and reuses the same engine, negatively impacting the overall experience.