Review: WWE 2K24

My three favourite lifelong hobbies are playing video games, watching WWE – it would be unfair to say professional wrestling as I hardly watch TNA, AEW, New Japan, or any other promotion, and eating.

As you can imagine, WWE video games are like toasted cheese with tomato soup for my soul, and I’ve enjoyed them immensely over the years, having sampled 40 games in the franchise, including this year’s stellar entry.

Given that WWE 2K games, like many sports titles, are largely an annual affair, it’s sometimes difficult to get excited for new entries as the updates are often incremental and evolutionary rather than revolutionary, given the shorter development cycles.

However, WWE is experiencing a significant resurgence in popularity and mainstream relevance, and this fervour and momentum carries through to the game. Also, important to note that WWE 2K20 was not great so the developers skipped a year to really overhaul the franchise and have delivered banger after banger since – to quote WWE’s Sheamus.

One of the standout features of WWE 2K24 is its dedication to refining and enhancing the gameplay mechanics established in previous iterations. While maintaining the familiar control scheme from its predecessor, the game introduces new elements like the trading blows mini-game, adding an enjoyable layer of strategy to in-ring combat.

Furthermore, the revamped Showcase mode offers a journey through four decades of WrestleMania, immersing players in iconic matches with varied objectives and seamless transitions between real footage and gameplay.

Showcase modes typically focused on one WWE talent’s career (WWE calls their wrestlers superstars) and while enjoyable as a collage of sorts, does become a little samey as you play as one character the entire time.

Like WWE 2K14 (which focused on ’30 years of WrestleMania’), playing as different superstars and experiencing different eras of wrestling is very special, largely because I started watching wrestling in the eighties, and is only let down by a few odd match omissions, likely due to licensing and contractual issues with some wrestlers now being in other promotions like All Elite Wrestling, including one of my favourites, Bryan Danielson, and a few too many objectives per match, affecting the pace.

The roster in WWE 2K24 is impressive, featuring over 200 superstars, most faithfully representing their real-life counterparts. From the character models to the inclusion of real-life referees, the game’s attention to detail contributes to its overall authenticity and immersion.

However, some clothing choices or looks may be outdated, but the developers have released a few patches since I started playing to address some of that. There’s also a very active user community that’s constantly uploading wardrobes for players to access.

In terms of gameplay, WWE 2K24 strikes a balance between innovation and familiarity. While some moves may feel overly complex, a comprehensive tutorial ensures that most players can quickly acclimate themselves to the mechanics and enjoy the in-ring action.

However, it might be a tad complicated for some to grasp, as it’s not a pick-up-and-play experience. I struggled a little playing my first Ambulance match, one of the match types, as I couldn’t shove Shawn Michaels into the vehicle or off it.

Complementing the Showcase mode is the narrative-driven MyRISE and the strategic MyGM mode. I didn’t spend too much time on Universe mode. MyRISE stands out for its engaging storytelling and meaningful decision-making, and it’s likely where I’ll spend a lot more time after this review is filed.

MyGM offers a compelling simulation experience where players can assume the role of a wrestling promoter. MyGM has been around for a few years (since 2K22, I believe), but I never tried it before. Now I wish this game was on the Nintendo Switch as it would be great to play as a second screen experience.

If you’re a fan of WWE, then there is very little to fault with this game. The graphics are exceptional and very close to photorealistic for the major stars, there’s so much to do, and the roster is huge.

However, I don’t know whether it will win over gamers who haven’t tried the franchise, so while the user base is significant, there might not be enough accessibility or hooks to grow the audience. I really wish I’m wrong. It’s going to be difficult to build on this game next year. Maybe 2K will introduce an arcade mode to help it better compete with other fighting games.

In summary, WWE 2K24 delivers an immersive and engaging tribute to wrestling’s grand tradition. With its refined gameplay, diverse game modes, and authentic presentation, it’s a must-have for wrestling enthusiasts looking to experience the thrill of the squared circle in digital form.