Cricket gaming has always occupied a strange corner of the sports genre. While football and basketball fans get a new, hyper-polished simulation every single year, cricket lovers have had to make do with a smaller, scrappier pool of titles — some brilliant, some buggy, and a surprising number that remain must-plays years after release. In 2026, that pool is more interesting than it has been in a long time. A brand-new mainline simulation has landed, a beloved management series has had its biggest update in years, and a handful of older cult classics continue to hold their own thanks to devoted modding communities.
Whether you’re chasing photorealistic stadiums and silky batting animations, or you’d rather sit back and manage a domestic franchise through a decade of seasons, this guide breaks down every cricket game worth your time on PC right now. We’ll cover gameplay, graphics, career depth, multiplayer, system requirements, and pricing, so you can pick the right title for the kind of cricket fan you are.
What Makes a Great Cricket Game in 2026?
Before diving into the rankings, it’s worth setting out what actually separates a good cricket game from a forgettable one. Unlike football or basketball, cricket is a sport built on rhythm, patience, and situational decision-making, and that’s a hard thing to translate into a controller or keyboard. The best titles tend to nail a handful of things:
- Batting and bowling feel — Timing-based batting systems that reward reading the bowler’s length and line, rather than mashing a single button, tend to separate the great games from the mediocre ones. On the bowling side, variation in pace, swing, and spin should genuinely matter, not just exist as a menu option.
- Licensing and authenticity — Real players, real kits, real stadiums, and real tournaments (the Ashes, the IPL, the Big Bash, the World Cup) go a long way toward making a game feel alive, even if licensing gaps are common in cricket games compared to football or basketball titles.
- Career and management depth — Cricket lends itself extremely well to long-form career and franchise management modes, since a player’s or team’s story can stretch across real seasons, retirements, and rebuilding years.
- Commentary and atmosphere — Bad commentary can break immersion faster than almost anything else in a sports game, while a good commentary team and a lively crowd can make even a routine net session feel like a genuine occasion.
- Modding and customization — Because official licensing in cricket is patchy at best, community-made kits, faces, stadiums, and tournaments have become essential to keeping older titles feeling current.
- Longevity through updates — Cricket doesn’t get yearly reboots the way EA Sports FC does, so the developers’ willingness to patch, balance, and add content after launch matters enormously.
With that framework in mind, here’s how the current crop of PC cricket games stacks up in 2026.
1. Cricket 26 — The New Flagship
Developer: Big Ant Studios | Publisher: Nacon | Release: November 19, 2025 | Platforms: Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Cricket 26 is a cricket video game developed by Australian developer Big Ant Studios and published by French publisher Nacon, released on 19 November 2025 as the official video game of the 2025–26 Ashes series and the ninth game in Big Ant Studio’s cricket series, succeeding Cricket 24. It runs on an updated version of the same in-house engine that powered Cricket 24.
If you only buy one cricket game on PC this year, this is the obvious starting point. As the current flagship of the genre’s longest-running simulation series, Cricket 26 arrives with the deepest feature set Big Ant has ever shipped. The game introduces an all-new Management Career mode alongside a bigger and better Pro Team, an in-depth Ashes mode, and expanded control on and off the field through enhanced gameplay and in-depth strategies. Pro Team, the collectible card-based squad-building mode, also returns with more cards and more modes to chase.
What really sets Cricket 26 apart from its predecessors, though, is the Academy. Players can create and share their own stadiums, players, bats, and full teams, or download content that the wider Cricket 26 community has already built. Given how spotty official licensing can be in cricket — plenty of boards and leagues simply don’t sign off on video game deals — a strong creation suite like this effectively future-proofs the game. If your favorite domestic team or overseas league isn’t in the box, there’s a good chance someone in the community will have recreated it within weeks of launch.
2. Cricket Captain 2026 — Best Management Sim
Developer & Publisher: Childish Things Ltd | Release: June 18, 2026 | Platform: Windows (Steam)
If Football Manager is your idea of a perfect night in, Cricket Captain 2026 is the closest cricket equivalent, and its 2026 edition is the series’ most ambitious yet. Build your dream team with Cricket Captain 2026: forty-five new playable domestic teams across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ireland, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe give you more ways than ever to start your journey, whether you want to build a dynasty in Sri Lanka, top the tables in Zimbabwe, or build a team in Ireland. The 2026 edition also takes on a packed summer of England international cricket, with home Test series against New Zealand and Pakistan, and white-ball series against India and Sri Lanka.
This isn’t just a database refresh, either. Cricket Captain 2026 ships with match engine and 3D highlights improvements, alongside genuinely useful editor customisation — a kit editor, competition logo editor, and team emblem editor now give players far more creative control than any previous entry. The player editor has also been expanded, giving long-time save-file veterans more granular control over how careers and retirements play out over time.
3. Cricket 24 — Still a Strong Pick (and Often Cheaper)
Developer: Big Ant Studios | Publisher: Nacon | Release: October 5, 2023 | Platform: Windows, plus consoles
With Cricket 26 now the flagship, Cricket 24 has settled into a very respectable “still excellent, now discounted” role, and its current Steam reception backs that up. Cricket 24 is rated Mostly Positive from over 2,400 user reviews on Steam, with 79% of all reviews positive, and recent 30-day reviews sitting even higher at 93% positive out of a smaller recent sample.
The game covers major cricket nations including Australia and England in the official Ashes, plus the West Indies, New Zealand, Ireland, and — for the first time in the series — professional Indian T20 teams, all housed across more than 50 detailed official stadiums. Career mode remains one of its strongest features: it follows the journey of your player from club cricketer to the international stage, developing skills and growing a fan base, and gives players more control over their destiny, whether they want to become a short-form specialist, focus purely on Test cricket, or try to balance both.
Fielding also received a complete overhaul in Cricket 24, aiming to deliver the most realistic and responsive fielding controls the series had produced up to that point, and the game is fully cross-platform, letting PC players compete online against console players regardless of platform.
4. Cricket 22 — The Budget-Friendly Simulation Veteran
Developer: Big Ant Studios | Publisher: Nacon | Release: December 2, 2021
Cricket 22 is the official video game of the 2021–22 Ashes series and the sequel to 2019’s Cricket 19, released on 2 December 2021 as a curtain-raiser ahead of that year’s Ashes in Australia. It introduced a revamped bowling and fielding control scheme built around a more arcade-leaning after-touch system, which lets the player influence a ball’s direction after it’s been delivered. With Meg Lanning and Pat Cummins fronting the cover, it also leaned heavily into current-era international star power at launch.
Several years on, Cricket 22 has aged into the “reliable value pick” role of the series. Developed with input from professional players, Cricket 22 remains one of the more realistic PC cricket simulators available, and despite being a couple of years old at this point, ongoing community patches and mod support keep it relevant well into 2026. The game covers some of the biggest tournaments in the sport, including the Ashes, the Big Bash, and The Hundred, paired with updated mechanics and improved commentary compared to its predecessor.
5. Don Bradman Cricket 17 — The Sandbox King
Developer: Big Ant Studios | Release: 2017
It says a lot about the strength of Big Ant’s earlier work that a game from 2017 still shows up near the top of “best cricket games” lists nearly a decade later. Don Bradman Cricket 17 takes its name from Sir Don Bradman, the legendary cricketer whose legacy endures in the modern game, and is match-play cricket in which players alternate between batting and bowling roles, with one-day cricket as the game’s central focus.
What keeps DBC17 alive isn’t cutting-edge visuals — by 2026 standards its graphics show their age — it’s the sheer depth of its academy and customization tools, which let players build custom competitions, teams, stadiums, and even entire domestic structures from scratch. One reviewer put it simply: for players who want a sandbox with no ceiling, Don Bradman Cricket is still the way to go, even though the game is now the better part of two decades removed from its original release.
6. Big Bash Boom — The Arcade Alternative
Developer: Big Ant Studios
Not every cricket fan wants a slow-burning Test simulation, and Big Bash Boom exists for exactly that crowd. Based on Australia’s most successful T20 domestic competition, it’s a faithful, fast-paced replica built around the format’s high-energy, boundary-hungry style of play. It trades realism for pace, favoring quick sessions over the hours-long commitment a full Test match career demands.
System requirements are similarly lightweight to Don Bradman Cricket 17: a 64-bit processor and OS, Windows 7 (x64) or higher, an Intel Core i3-3210 or AMD Athlon II X4 555 CPU, 4GB of RAM, a Radeon HD 6670 or NVIDIA GeForce GT710 with at least 2GB of memory, DirectX 11, and a broadband connection for online play. If your PC can’t handle the newer, heavier sims, this is a great fallback that still delivers a genuinely fun, arcade-style cricket fix.
Why it’s worth it: Perfect for short sessions, couch multiplayer nights, or anyone who finds Test cricket simulations too slow-paced.
Worth noting: It’s a niche, format-specific spin-off rather than a full-featured simulation — don’t expect deep career or management systems.
7. Cricket 19 — The Underrated Middle Child
Developer: Big Ant Studios | Release: 2019
Sandwiched between Don Bradman Cricket 17 and the current-gen Cricket 22/24/26 line, Cricket 19 doesn’t get talked about nearly as much as it deserves. It’s widely regarded as a lifelike, entertaining entry in its own right, even if its player likenesses weren’t always as sharp as some licensed competitors managed at the time, and even seasoned reviewers noted it could have benefited from adding more limited-overs formats to its tournament schedule at launch. If you find it bundled or discounted, it’s a worthwhile detour, particularly if you’re chasing a slightly different era of licensed rosters than the current games offer.
Why it’s worth it: A genuinely solid, often-overlooked simulation that regularly turns up cheap in bundles.
Worth noting: Fewer format options at launch than later entries in the series, though community patches have filled some gaps.
8. Modded and Community-Enhanced Classics
One thing that separates cricket gaming from almost every other sports genre is how much life its modding communities squeeze out of older titles. Because official licensing for boards, leagues, and players is inconsistent even in brand-new releases, community-created rosters, kits, faces, and entire domestic tournaments have become essential add-ons rather than optional extras.
Don Bradman Cricket 14 and 17, along with Cricket 19 and 22, all maintain dedicated modding communities that continue producing updated squads, stadiums, and competitions well after official support winds down. If a specific league, team, or player isn’t officially represented in whichever game you buy, it’s always worth checking community mod hubs before assuming it simply isn’t possible in that title.
9. Cricket Management and Strategy Alternatives
If Cricket Captain 2026 whets your appetite for strategic cricket but you want something with a lighter, more casual footprint, there are mobile-first management titles that have made their way to PC through Android emulation or native PC ports, blending auction-style team building with simplified match simulation. These titles tend to focus heavily on squad drafting, live auctions for star players, and long-term franchise building rather than deep tactical control during matches themselves — a good pick if you enjoy the roster-building side of fantasy cricket apps but want a slightly more structured, persistent campaign wrapped around it.
10. What’s Coming Next for PC Cricket
Big Ant Studios’ cadence over the last decade suggests the series will keep iterating on a roughly two-year cycle tied to major Ashes series, so the next mainline entry likely won’t land until closer to 2027 or 2028’s international calendar. In the meantime, expect continued post-launch content for Cricket 26 — additional Academy features, roster updates tied to ongoing international tours, and balance patches addressing early community feedback — alongside Cricket Captain’s usual pattern of incremental annual refreshes to rosters, competitions, and its match engine.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Game | Best For | Release | Price Tier | Hardware Demand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cricket 26 | Overall best current simulation | Nov 2025 | Full price / premium | High |
| Cricket Captain 2026 | Deep management and strategy | June 2026 | Budget | Very low |
| Cricket 24 | Great value, cross-play | Oct 2023 | Mid-range (often discounted) | Moderate |
| Cricket 22 | Cheapest full simulation | Dec 2021 | Budget (frequent sales) | Moderate |
| Don Bradman Cricket 17 | Sandbox creation and modding | 2017 | Very cheap | Very low |
| Big Bash Boom | Fast arcade T20 sessions | — | Very cheap | Very low |
| Cricket 19 | Underrated mid-generation pick | 2019 | Cheap / bundled | Low–moderate |
How to Choose the Right Cricket Game for You
If you want the best all-round modern simulation: Go with Cricket 26. It has the newest rosters, the official Ashes license, an active Academy community, and the most refined version yet of Big Ant’s gameplay systems, even if it’s still shaking off a few post-launch rough edges.
- If you love strategy and long-term team building more than actually swinging a bat: Cricket Captain 2026 is the clear pick. With its expanded domestic team roster, improved match engine, and new customization editors, it’s the deepest management experience cricket gaming currently offers, and it’s kind to both your wallet and your PC’s hardware.
- If you’re on a budget or an older PC: Cricket 22 or Don Bradman Cricket 17 will serve you well. Both go on sale frequently, run on modest hardware, and — particularly in DBC17’s case — offer nearly limitless customization through community content.
- If you just want quick, fun T20 sessions with friends: Big Bash Boom’s arcade-leaning gameplay and light system requirements make it an easy, low-commitment pickup.
- If you’re chasing the newest official rosters and don’t mind paying a bit less for a slightly older game: Cricket 24 hits a genuine sweet spot — full cross-platform play, a strong career mode, and the kind of Steam sale pricing that makes it hard to pass up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cricket 26 available on Steam?
Yes. Cricket 26 launched on Windows PC alongside PlayStation and Xbox platforms, and it’s the current official video game tied to the Ashes series.
Is Cricket Captain 2026 a full 3D cricket simulation?
Not exactly — it uses statistical match simulation paired with 3D highlight packages rather than full ball-by-ball 3D rendering, which is what allows it to run on such modest hardware while still delivering deep tactical and management gameplay.
Do I need a powerful gaming PC to run these games?
It depends heavily on which title you choose. Cricket 26 and Cricket 24 benefit from a reasonably modern mid-range PC, while Cricket Captain 2026, Don Bradman Cricket 17, and Big Bash Boom will run comfortably on considerably older or lower-spec hardware.
Are older cricket games like Cricket 22 still worth buying in 2026?
Absolutely, especially at sale prices. They remain fully playable, benefit from years of patches and community mods, and often cost a fraction of the newest release while still delivering a complete, licensed cricket experience.
Is there any cricket game with true, deep career progression on PC?
Cricket 26 and Cricket 24 both offer detailed player career modes that follow your journey from domestic cricket to the international stage, while Cricket Captain 2026 offers career-length management progression instead of an individual player’s on-field story.
Final Verdict
Cricket gaming in 2026 doesn’t have the yearly, big-budget reinvention that football or basketball fans are used to, but that’s arguably part of its charm — the genre rewards patience, and the games that stick around tend to earn their longevity through deep systems, active communities, and developers who keep patching years after launch. Cricket 26 is the current headline act and the safest all-round recommendation, Cricket Captain 2026 is an essential pickup for strategy fans, and there’s a genuinely excellent budget game waiting in the back catalog no matter what kind of PC you’re running.