“WWE 2K25 could be the series’ last babyface moment before a heel turn in 2026.”
Pros
Strong fight stays robust
Deep roster, tons of match varieties
MyRise is an MVP
MyGM will get its wanted on-line play
Cons
Showcase loses its identification
The Island is atrocious
Grotesque microtransactions
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Maintaining the core
Doubling down on greatness
Heel flip incoming
If John Cena’s latest transfer to the darkish facet has taught us something, it’s that no babyface is resistant to a heel flip. That’s an inevitability that I concern 2K video games are setting us up for with WWE 2K25.
Don’t get me mistaken. This yr’s professional wrestling simulator is one other stable providing from a collection that has efficiently rebuilt itself right into a most important eventer after bottoming out in 2019. It’s the Cody Rhodes of online game franchises, going from undesirable to simple. The core brawling remains to be robust, standout modes like MyGM are higher than ever, and the roster simply retains getting greater. But the seeds of a not-so-shocking twist are beginning to poke out from beneath the ring, as 2K25 teases the type of company flip that TKO board member Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson can be pleased with.
Enjoy the franchise’s present babyface run whilst you can: WWE 2K25 might be the franchise’s final really feel good second if new modes like The Island are any indication of the place the story goes subsequent.
Maintaining the core
Love it or hate it, it’s exhausting to not respect how robust WWE 2K25’s core is. The wrestling simulator remains to be in nice form following 2024’s career-defining entry. Not a lot has been modified right here, and that’s for the very best. The basic wrestling is essentially the identical as what we noticed in WWE 2K24, with fine-tuned tussling full of grappling and dramatic reversals. Though it may nonetheless stand to raised clarify its myriad of nuances to gamers, it’s nonetheless a reasonably simple system to choose up and luxuriate in.
2K Games
The bulk of the modifications are small ones. Players can carry out suicide dives, the submission wheel minigame makes its return as an non-compulsory gesture, and there’s one completely new thought in chain wrestling. That final one is one other minigame that may happen early in a match that has gamers selecting a submission after which tilting a joystick to discover a candy spot on a wheel to execute it. It’s a bit complicated, and provides yet one more minigame to a system with one too many at this level, however it’s largely unobtrusive and a enjoyable method to replicate a extra technical facet of professional wrestling that’s exhausting to adapt.
The solely factor that actually stands out to me right here is that tag staff matches are considerably improved this yr. That’s due to a tweak to computer-controlled characters, who will now not break up each single pinfall they’ll. If their companion is more likely to kick out on their very own, their pal received’t become involved. It makes tag matches really feel a lot nearer to the true factor, turning one of many collection’ worst match varieties round. That’s the type of nitty gritty tweak that developer Visual Concepts is now ready to make because it has all the pieces else right down to a science. A sport like this could get higher and higher with every new entry in the case of pure gameplay, not deteriorate. 2K25 has issues, to make certain, however not the place it counts.
You can by no means have too many choices in a WWE 2K sport.
Beyond that, 2K25 does an amazing job of increasing a wrestling sandbox that felt prefer it had nowhere left to go. Intergender matches are an amazing addition that open the door for far more dream eventualities. Women are allowed to bleed in matches simply as males can, which provides extra depth to these bouts. Underground matches are a enjoyable little addition that’s simpler to know for informal gamers, whereas Bloodline Rules matches add a bit extra run-in chaos. There’s nothing too groundbreaking right here, however you possibly can by no means have too many choices in a WWE 2K sport. This yr’s entry largely feels updated with the product, except for its lack of Netflix branding, which is precisely what you need out of those video games.
This yr’s roster is completely acceptable too, even when it prominently includes a stunning quantity of freshly launched wrestlers. The already loaded listing of superstars will get a pleasant infusion of traditional expertise this yr due to 2K25’s Bloodline branding. The complete bundle is themed round cowl star Roman Reigns and his prolonged household of Samoan legends. It’s nice to see stars like Peter Maivia, Samu, and Haku proper alongside of us like The Undertaker and Rob Van Dam. The roster feels pretty updated with present stars like Jacob Fatu as properly, and even newcomers like Penta are already confirmed for DLC. Anyone that’s lacking needs to be simple sufficient to create within the returning artistic suite, which stays the collection’ strongest device.
Doubling down on greatness
Those fundamentals are robust, however they’re solely elements in a WWE 2K sport. The actual trick is cleverly shuffling them into a number of modes, whereas nonetheless making every style completely different. It’s the Taco Bell method to engineering Mexican delicacies — and that’s an apt comparability contemplating that 2K25’s modes vary from scrumptious to nauseating.
First, there’s the nice. Universe mode nonetheless supplies a superb wrestling simulation that spits out surprisingly cogent tales. My present run has Kairi Sane heeling it up with Asuka towards the Unholy Union. The feud has been full of low-cost photographs and run-ins that make it truly really feel like a working TV feud slightly than a restricted laptop simulation. One match ended when Alba Fyre beat Asuka to a pulp on the surface earlier than dramatically diving again within the ring to beat a 10 depend and win. The subsequent match had her making an attempt for a similar transfer solely to almost have it backfire in her face. That wasn’t scripted; it was a very emergent second that speaks to how robust the simulation is.
If I needed to give an award for Most Improved, it must go to MyRise.
The standout MyGM mode continues to impress, particularly with its much-needed on-line play this yr. I nonetheless haven’t grown uninterested in reserving my very own reveals and managing a rising roster of egos. This yr shakes issues up in some enjoyable methods too, with go dwelling reveals, commerce durations, and season-changing bonuses which can be awarded after a premium reside occasion (PLE). The solely change that doesn’t completely land is a brand new method to PLEs that flip each present right into a cross-brand occasion. Competing gamers solely get to e-book two matches apiece. The opening match and most important occasion are at all times reserved for model vs. model matches. There’s no method to actually construct a narrative for these, so they simply find yourself feeling like random exhibition bouts with no stakes on the road except for bragging rights (I suppose it’s a reasonably correct illustration of Survivor Series earlier than its War Games days in that sense).
If I needed to give an award for Most Improved, it must go to MyRise. I’ve lengthy been a critic of the mode for its low-cost presentation and uninteresting storytelling. To my shock, this yr’s marketing campaign is likely to be my favourite piece of the bundle. Rather than making two separate campaigns like earlier years, 2K25’s MyRise tells one singular story that has gamers controlling two superstars. The story revolves round a scorned group of disrespected NXT wrestlers who take WWE hostage. Players management a sizzling free agent who finds themselves within the crosshairs of the rogue group. In my story, I performed an MMA fighter who needed to name in back-up from her luchador ex to assist get the scenario beneath management. It’s a enjoyable, goofy story that performs with the very actual pressure amongst wrestling followers about how NXT stars are sometimes misbooked when getting referred to as as much as the principle roster.
2K Games
The solely traditional mode that seems like a downgrade right here is that this yr’s Showcase, which takes gamers on a tour of Samoan wrestling historical past. On paper, it’s nice. Paul Heyman leads the documentary, giving gamers loads of historic background on the embellished Anoaʻi household, from the WWF days to current. What’s a little bit of a disgrace, although, is that Visual Concepts has ditched its signature Slingshot tech, which might seamlessly transition gameplay cutscenes to clips from precise wrestling historical past. A developer I spoke to throughout a preview earlier this yr famous that the transfer was achieved to maintain gamers in gameplay extra usually, however that doesn’t actually try. Real footage is simply changed with lengthy animated sequences. The hands-off time is similar, however with out the thrill of feeling such as you’re taking part in a documentary.
Generally, Showcase finds itself in a clumsy transition part. It seems like Visual Concepts is making an attempt to get away from the documentary facet of it and switch it right into a extra versatile marketing campaign. This yr’s threads whole fantasy matches in between actual ones, which simply makes it really feel creatively incohesive. It virtually seems like WWE is making an attempt to push some revisionist historical past to pump up The Bloodline’s historic influence by imagining a world the place The Headshrinkers had been allowed to go over at Wrestlemania. It’s nonetheless a enjoyable mode with numerous match selection peppered in, however MyRise usurps it as the principle draw for these on the lookout for a enjoyable single-player marketing campaign.
Heel flip incoming
While these modes give followers so much to cheer for, there’s a darkish facet right here that I concern might flip the collection right into a full-on heel throughout the subsequent few years. WWE 2K25 is riddled with appalling microtransactions on high of a full priced sport. I’ve by no means been a fan of MyFactions, the collection’ card sport mode that exists to take advantage of money out of diehards with gacha booster packs, however it’s at the least a mode I felt I may ignore. It has its followers, and I do perceive why. It’s enjoyable to gather wrestlers and shuffle them into customizable factions. It’s not my cup of tea, however it’s at all times been a reasonably polished mode for folk who need one thing prefer it.
I can’t say the identical for The Island, 2K25’s massive new addition. The contemporary mode is WWE 2K’s model of NBA 2K25’s The City, the place Roman Reigns has created a wrestling amusement park of kinds that gamers can freely discover. I don’t hate the idea in principle. Street Fighter 6 confirmed me that an open-world element can work in a combating sport if it’s applied properly. That’s not the case with The Island; it’s so embarrassingly low-quality that I’m shocked 2K Games allowed it to ever see the sunshine of day.
It’s the type of despicable enterprise you’d anticipate from The Final Boss.
The closest parallel I can consider here’s a licensed Rugrats sport from the Nintendo 64 period that you simply’d discover on the backside of a discount bin. The island itself is garish in its visible design, all embellished with the type of gimmicky cubicles you’d discover at a fan expo. Aside from some filmed inserts of Roman Reigns, a lot of the dialogue with NPCs takes place in ugly, static title playing cards with no voice appearing. In reality, there’s virtually no sound design in any respect within the mode. It is eerily silent as I stroll across the space between quiet quest-givers. It seems like a leaked pre-alpha construct of a cancelled mode.
Why launch one thing like this in any respect? Money. The Island isn’t a mode that exists for gamers. It exists for 2K Games. When I first make my character, I am going via the method of assigning wrestling stats to her. When I affirm, I understand that every one these stats will price foreign money and I’m shortly kicked into a store the place I can purchase as much as $100 price of credit with actual money. Considering that PVP is part of The Island, you possibly can join the pay-to-win dots there. When I’m not wrestling matches or taking a look at a JPG of R-Truth, I can go into retailers to purchase cosmetics, the place I can even spend actual cash. Brands like Nike have their very own retailers right here, for some motive. It’s like a satirical joke somebody would make in the event that they had been making an attempt to make enjoyable of the online game trade’s obsession with microtransactions.
I’d say that you need to simply ignore all of it collectively (and also you’ll need to relying on what platform you personal, as a result of The Island isn’t appropriate on past-gen consoles regardless of wanting prefer it was constructed for PS1), however there’s something so deeply cynical about The Island that has me fearful in regards to the collection’ fast future. Even simply the truth that it’s important to purchase sure cosmetics from it seems like a characteristic constructed to prey on those that reside by the artistic suite, the very gamers who assist preserve the collection thrilling yearly free of charge. Worse of all is that The Island feels prefer it was constructed for teenagers before everything, with its goofy theme park points of interest and fantasy humor. The use of microtransactions right here feels downright predory in a manner that I by no means fairly felt in MyFactions. It seems like 2K Games spent the previous couple of years build up good will right here simply to tug the rug out simply when it had received over its viewers.
2K Games
You may even see that within the launch technique for this yr’s sport. WWE 2K25 “launches” on March 14, however that’s not likely true. It truly launched on March 7. That’s the day that anybody who pre-ordered one in all its dear particular editions may entry the sport one week early. Those who did had been greeted by game-breaking bugs together with one which made MyRise largely inaccessible for its first weekend. Imagine paying over $100 for a online game to play it early, having it not work proper, after which popping into two modes which can be begging you to pony up additional. It’s the type of despicable enterprise you’d anticipate from The Final Boss.
I’m nonetheless fairly constructive on WWE 2K25 general. I’ve been having a blast in Universe mode and MyGM, the place Ethan Page and CM Punk are having the title feud of a lifetime. There’s a lot content material right here that you simply actually can ignore its two egregious modes and nonetheless get your cash’s price after which some, however this yr’s entry seems like the beginning of a villain arc. The Island is a brand new low for a collection that has seen all-time low; should you’re going to squeeze cash out of gamers, at the least give them a superb present, not the Wonka Experience. I hope that 2K Games will take the fitting lesson from Wrestlemania 40 and take heed to the followers subsequent yr. All warmth could also be good warmth in wrestling, however it isn’t in video video games.
WWE 2K25 was examined on PS5 Pro.