WWE 2K25 (Xbox Series X|S) Review

The biggest, and really only, name in wrestling games returns again with yet another stellar outing, with 2K and Visual Concepts’ WWE 2K25.

The champ is here (again)

Yes, there are wrestling video games out there other than the WWE 2K series. The thing is, none of them are yearly happenings, and none have the sheer amount of stuff to play off of and include that 2K and developer Visual Concepts does. Licensing the biggest modern brand in the sport also allows for the inclusion of defunct WCW and ECW themes and images, plus a monstrous collection of talent that’s second to none.

Among those counted under the WWE’s umbrella are piles of current wrestlers, both male and female, but there are so many more. And yes, if you know BG then you know I’m about to mention the Legends. WWE has some of the most iconic grapplers of all time signed to Legends contracts, meaning they can potentially be included in games (and get other merch too). I’m talking about names like Hulk Hogan, Jake the Snake Roberts, Andre the Giant, Macho Man Randy Savage and more.

Add in the fact that this series typically plays and looks pretty great too, and it all adds up to a package that few fans, modern or lapsed, would want to miss out on. We’ve granted positive reviews to WWE titles for a few years now and, surprise, WWE 2K25 won’t be any different.

From the Federation to the WWE

The premise of the WWE 2K series is more or less that it presents an all-encompassing wrestling experience. WWE 2K25 naturally still continues this path, stocking a huge number of options, from its match types to its creation suite.

There are a plethora of exhibition matches possible in the new title, including staple classics like one on one, tag team, and hardcore. Matches like Royal Rumble, battle royal, Hell in a Cell, cage, gauntlets, casket, table, and more are also included, but WWE 2K25 even serves up more unique stuff too, like underground, Wargames, last man standing, and submission matches. Could some of this stuff have just been modifiers to singles and tag modes? Probably, but it’s pretty neat to see all of the varied types laid out in a menu.

One of the coolest of them all too, is the Brawl. The match type harkens back to a classic WCW game that shall remain nameless, as Brawl ditches the ring and allows players to fight to a knockout. Locales include the backstage area, the NXT parking lot, and the WWE archives, and that last one is a gem. A warehouse loaded with WWE items from decades-past? Yeah, sign me up.

There’s much more than just exhibition mode though, as MyRISE, MyFACTION, MyGM, and Universe modes all make a comeback. Some of those are fan-faves and some… aren’t, but that last one is a favorite of mine. Universe allows players to forge their own ‘WWE’ by choosing a roster, holding weekly shows, scheduling PLE’s, and more. It’s a time-drain, but plenty of fun if you really get into it.

Creating a champion

While we’re talking about modes, I have to mention how easy it is to build your own superstar in the creation suite. There’s no other game that can even hold a candle to what WWE 2K does in this arena, at least not yet, and this year’s edition offers a mess of options that enable the creation of custom Superstars, victories and entrances, move-sets, videos, and much more.

Some of that can be a little daunting when you first try your hand, but you can get some incredible stuff rolling if you have the time and attention. And if you don’t? Well, just head to the online area of the menu and boot up Community Creations. After worrying that the feature might be eschewed or nerfed in some way for this year’s game, it’s back and just as great as ever, allowing you to grab download from the stunning pool of talented fans out there who post them. As usual, this was the first place I went, to get Demolition, the Legion of Doom, and about fifty other wrestlers from the 80s and 90s that needed to be in my game.

Big dogs

Speaking of deep modes, WWE 2K25 has a pair of them to dig into. A perennial inclusion, Showcase is back, and this year plays off of the Bloodline. We’re not just talking about Roman Reigns and the action of the last few years though. Nope, Showcase goes way back, with matches starring the likes of the Wild Samoans, Yokozuna, and more.

Like in the past, players will have to hit certain prompts to succeed, resulting in not just a bump to the next match, but also select unlocks that you can’t get any other way. And some of these aren’t minor either, as winning the first match with all the boxes checked gets you a bunch of goodies, including Hulk Hogan’s most iconic look and the fabled winged eagle belt.

And then there’s The Island. Exclusive to the current generation of consoles, The Island is a basic open-world sandbox. There you’ll create a character, interact with other players, and wrestle a series of matches to get the Tribal Chief himself to acknowledge you. For what it is, it’s surprisingly fun, though you might be turned off if you’re looking for something more meaty and RPGish.

Even so however, there’s serious potential to this new mode. And if it’s kept for future installments of the game, I’m hoping that it gets a little more fleshed out into a lite ‘wrestling-RPG’. That’s something that I’ve always wanted to see.

Matching up

That bevy of modes wouldn’t be much good to anyone if WWE 2K25 didn’t play well, and I’m happy to say that it does. Visual Concepts has done a terrific job since its shaky start with the series, and has crafted another winning entry for 2025. While I still don’t like the faster paced style as much as the classic N64 games, I’ve gotten used to what WWE 2K offers, and it’s not only easy to play, but incredibly detailed.

From simple strikes, slams, and suplexes, WWE 2K25 ramps up into top rope maneuvers, carries that include fireman and powerbomb positions (which you can use to launch into other moves), plus a full array of submission holds. Like in past games as well, tap-outs are handled with button mashing or a slider. Personally, I find the former can make submission finishers a little tough to close the deal with though.

Along with all of that, the title also serves up both chain wrestling and “trading blows”. Yes, they’re more or less in-match mini-games, but they’re also kind of fun, popping up at unexpected times to keep the action feeling fresh and current. Just a note here though, as you can turn off either one (or both) if you prefer.

Picture perfect

Continuing the theme here, WWE 2K25 looks and sounds terrific too. That’s to say, if realism is your thing. Much like with the controls, I prefer the cartoony look of classic grappling games to something that looks like it jumped off of Netflix. That said though, I can also certainly appreciate the latter for what it is. While WWE 2K25 isn’t quite photo-real, it’s as close as I’ve seen yet, and in some instances it can actually be tough to tell if a clip is from the game or not.

On the whole, the game’s grapplers look as good as I’ve ever seen them. Visual Concepts hit pretty high on the authenticity meter, nailing the looks of almost the entire roster, from the golden age’s Hulk Hogan and Macho Man, to the Attitude era’s Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. I will mention though, that some choices as to the roster are a little strange. Iconic gear/looks for some wrestlers aren’t included (hi Kane), which is odd for a game as massive as this one, and locking a few key characters in Showcase still comes off as… well we’ll just say ‘not great’.

I also wish there were more classic arenas and shows included. Wrestlemania, Raw, the Rumble and more look terrific, and are in some ways even more impressive than the actual wrestlers, but I wanted more of all of them. I have to believe that it wouldn’t have been all that hard to squeeze in some WWE Superstars and Wrestling Challenge action, or for that matter, include a wider selection of variations when it comes to PLE/PPV’s. As an old school fan, I just wanted more Attitude and Golden Age, though I’ll say it again that Community Creations sure does come in handy.

Rounding things out, the audio continues to be another stellar element in WWE 2K. The entrance music is great, and even the play by play calls from Michael Cole and crew comes off very solid. As someone who doesn’t even watch the current product, that’s some praise.

Overall

WWE 2K25 is another high-quality wrestling game in what’s been a marquee series for 2K and Visual Concepts. There might be a challenger to the crown eventually, but as of right now the reigning champ still stands head and shoulders above the rest.

A copy of WWE 2K25 was provided by 2K for this review

WWE 2K25
Release date: March 14th, 2025
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S (reviewed), PS5, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: 2K
Developer: Visual Concepts
MSRP: $59.99 USD