Review: WWE 2K25

It’s a wonderful time to be a WWE fan as the business is excelling on all metrics.

From multi-billion-dollar Netflix deals to compelling weekly programming and diversified licensing opportunities, to a deep talent roster brimming with stars with compelling storylines, we are eating well.

WWE 2K25 benefits from the tide and helps entrench it by being one of the best wrestling games I’ve played.

WWE 2K25 Graphics

Visually, WWE 2K25 is an incremental upgrade rather than a generational leap. Wrestler models look great in the ring, with improved facial expressions and lighting that gives a more realistic feel to entrances and matches.

The new 3rd-person camera adds a fresh perspective, though its execution feels inconsistent. Some animations remain stiff, and while arenas look livelier, the crowd still moves with that robotic, last-gen sameness. I’m especially impressed by the bruises and welts that appear after wrestlers take damage.

It’s a great detail that increases immersion. Like other sports games I’ve played, not all wrestlers get the same level of detail with the major stars looking close to photo-realistic, bar the questionable hair physics. Some character models are a bit rough (like Bayley) and I hope this is addressed in future patches.

Gameplay

At its core, the in-ring action remains WWE 2K’s biggest strength. The controls are fluid, reversals feel rewarding, and the pacing strikes a good balance between simulation and arcade action. The expanded move sets and new match types—such as Bloodline Rules—add some variety, but outside the ring, problems persist.

Interacting with objects is still a bit clunky, cage matches remain a hassle, and multi-man bouts frequently descend into chaos for all the wrong reasons. If you play the standard one-on-one matches, you’ll have a blast.

If you venture beyond that, expect occasional frustration. I found the lip-syncing to be slightly off as well as the audio mix. Not enough to be detracting even though a little distracting.

Game Modes

The much-hyped new mode, The Island, is an ambitious but flawed experiment. It aims to be a more narrative-driven, social multiplayer experience but ends up feeling like an excuse for micro-transactions.

The episodic structure leaves the mode feeling unfinished, and the lack of meaningful interactivity makes it more of a side distraction than a core feature. I wish there was a navigation system of some sort as I struggled to find my objectives in the early hours.

Considering how generous the game is with content and modes I can easily accept The Island as a risky play by 2K, I just hope it is not foretelling future modes riddled with micro-transactions as this is a full-priced game and not free-to-play. Important to note that this mode, MyRise remains engaging, and I loved this year’s story.

Showcase Mode focuses on The Bloodline and is well-produced, offering some great historical matchups, even though it suffers from the usual scripted objectives that take the fun out of matches. It’s not as prescriptive as previous years where you had to be in the exact spot or fulfil some ridiculously difficult conditions to unlock rewards so more points there.

I was literally giddy as I replayed the closing moments of WrestleMania 40 which was absolute cinema and almost justifies purchasing the game just for that.

MyGM now includes online play, which is a great addition, though the new Premium Live Event format takes away some of the mode’s strategic depth. I didn’t spend too much time on this mode as of this review, largely because of the smorgasbord of content available in this game. Generous in every sense, from the ridiculously large roster to the modes, this game will keep you busy for months. I haven’t even touched on MyFaction with adds a few improvements and expanded match types.

I had a lot of fun creating my own superstar (Mufti Muscles) in spite the menu navigation being a bit clunky. Strangely the game only has two South African city names recorded so unless you’re from Pretoria or Cape Town, you aren’t going to get a hometown shout-out. I can understand Pofadder not getting the cut but it didn’t make sense for Johannesburg to not be included.

If you skipped WWE 2K24, then WWE 2K25 is a great investment. But if you played last year’s game extensively, it becomes a bit of a harder sell.

The core gameplay is still strong and there’s enough additions to justify the price but its only going to get better as the year progresses so while I believe its an essential purchase, it may not necessarily have to be an immediate purchase and you can probably grab it just before WrestleMania, your birthday or even pancake day. If you’re reading this because you know someone who loves WWE, then you should buy it for them immediately.

Review: WWE 2K24