WWE 2K25

WWE 2K25 is about as good as it gets. From the plenty of modes to its staggering presentation, Visual Concepts has not only made the best entry in the series, but one of the best games of the year so far.

It had a tough task following up last year’s incredible effort, but with the injection of The Bloodline this new entry becomes another top notch wrestling game.

WWE 2K25 is the best WWE 2K game since the franchise made its return with WWE 2K22. The in-ring action is top-notch, MyGM is more fun than ever, and there is enough content here to keep WWE diehards busy for months on end. And that's not even taking into account the inevitable community creations that will supply players with an endless supply of new characters and content. The community creations will no doubt make WWE 2K25 an even stronger game, but even without them, it's a blast to play and has quickly become one of my favorite wrestling games ever.

WWE 2K25 looks fantastic, still feels good to play, and is full of welcome updates both big and small.

WWE 2K25 offers a thrilling wrestling experience with improved gameplay mechanics, featuring new modes and a solid 60FPS performance on the Steam Deck. The game runs smoothly, even in chaotic matches, with impressive visuals and quick load times, though battery life may limit long play sessions.

Visual Concepts are coming into their own with their yearly wrestling entries, as WWE 2K25 really feels like the best in a decade. Monetization however casts a shadow over the improvements, giving an unprotected chair shot to the final product right before lift-off.

When we asked WWE 2K25’s lead gameplay designer Derek Donahue how Visual Concepts goes about creating games on a yearly schedule, he described working with an annual franchise as a blessing and a curse. “I love it because it means we get to give something to fans every year, and it gives us a chance to see how people engage with something; that informs how the next evolution of it works.” The flip side, of course, is ending up with installments like WWE 2K20, a game so notoriously broken that it became the posterchild for how annualized franchises can go wrong.

As we hurtle down the road to this year's WrestleMania, it's time once again to make a welcome pit stop at 2K's annual simulated grapple-fest. WWE 2K25 boasts new features, even more playable superstars, and a brand new multiplayer distraction in the form of The Island. But does it continue the momentum Visual Concepts has built in recent entries, or does this year's game commit an act of villainy so dastardly that John Cena's recent transgressions pale in comparison?

WWE 2K bounced back after the 2K20 disaster that resulted in a rethink and the cancellation of the following year’s game. However, while they have provided fun, fighting action for wrestling fans, the storylines haven’t always sparkled. Thankfully, some of Triple H’s TV magic has been sprinkled onto WWE 2K25, making it the best WWE game since his reign began.

I’d love to say that WWE 2K25 continues the excellence of games like WWE 2K22 and WWE 2K23, but that would be lying. WWE 2K25 makes WWE 2K24 look tame with the sheer amount of content locked behind paywalls. With three modes dedicated to making you spend extra money to unlock things that should just be… unlockable, the 2K greed is in full force here.

Don’t get me wrong: there’s nothing wrong with it if you happen to enjoy the pageantry of it all. WWE 2K25, I have to iterate, is a beautiful spectacle. The Is are dotted and the Ts are crossed. But in crafting the best version of itself, I wonder if its soul is still there.

I felt rather conflicted about covering this one. As a new player, I was floored by the character creator, impressed by the roster, and almost overwhelmed by the amount of content available. More seasoned fans of the franchise and returning players will simply have a different experience. And that’s okay! My frustrations with the mechanics are also deeply personal. I’m certain that anyone with more than a review period’s worth of time to practice will have a much easier time. But I’ve got no way of knowing for sure. In the end, I can easily recommend WWE 2K25 to new players and fans. This is a...