WWE 2K24 Review (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One & PC)

2K Games and Visual Concepts’ decision to take a two-year break from the WWE franchise continues to pay off. The series has been grasping at straws for a while. However, upon returning from the short-term hiatus, we saw considerable improvement from WWE 2k22 to WWE 2k23. Now, it’s time to see whether the upward strike holds up in the newest WWE 2K24 iteration. 

Was the rapid improvement in gameplay just a fluke? Will the team stick to its guns? Or do they overhaul a working system in favor of a new one? For fans of wrestling and all the shenanigans that go down in the ring, here’s a deep dive into WWE 2K24 to decide whether it’s worth taking out for a spin.

If It Ain’t Broke…

Fortunately, 2K Games and Visual Concepts do not mess up what’s already working out great. They don’t cause a stir or make vast waves that could potentially send fans into a rage, and not the good kind. Overhauling a working system is a gamble. By WWE 2K24 maintaining its predecessor’s systems, I might as well declare the review done and dusted. 

Here’s the thing. Annual releases seldom dabble in the experimenting gig. They rarely take wild chances, and for good reason. WWE 2k23 was a blast. So, the question is, how can WWE 2K24 be an even bigger blast? Well, a few touch-ups here and there. Shed off the wrinkled skin. Plaster it in place of shiny graphics and more seamless gameplay, and you’re good to go. 

In WWE 2K24’s defense, it doesn’t just leave its efforts at making reparations at the bare minimum. The new iteration takes further steps to cultivate a more enjoyable experience for fans. It adds new features, some small, others immediately noticeable. You get a couple of new match types. You even get to throw weapons—any kind you can think of—at opponents. WWE 2K24 rocks.

At First Sight

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, you immediately notice the striking touch-ups on wrestlers. The fine, intricate detail pits wrestlers as closely to their real-life counterparts as possible. Even minute details, such as body parts, muscles jiggling, and whatnot, realistically. Shout out to The Rock’s signature eyebrow raise.

Of course, more popular wrestlers bathe in the most love and attention to detail. But other less famous wrestlers, too, are a joy to control. The same goes for the arena and interface. You really feel like you’re thrust into an authentic WrestleMania experience. The interface looks cleaner than before, with intuitively placed buttons. 

The visuals can be better by today’s modern standards. What’s here, though, works and works well. Sailing the graphics to harbor is the audio and soundtrack, perfectly simulated from the crowd cheer and bone cracks we know of. Wrestlers wince in pain on impact. Punches land with might. 

The only criticism here is the seamlessness of the transition between real-life matches and game footage in Showcase of the Immortals, especially when we have other modes to compare to. However, it’s not too clunky to break the game or experience. On the other hand, the idea is clever, further immersing you into the game’s lore.

More, Merrier

Just about every game mode is bigger and better. You pick from a more vast roster than ever before. Every wrestler you can think of, from more current superstars to classic brawlers, makes it here. If not, they are probably already featured in previous games. Vince McMahon and Brock Lesnar have hit a soft spot with fans. It doesn’t make sense either, since they’re in the showcase. 

Speaking of Showcase, shall we go mode by mode? Well, Showcase is a mixed review. On the one hand, it celebrates WrestleMania’s 40th birthday. While you can’t rewrite history, the team does manage to faithfully recreate memorable moments from the 1980s to the present. You have to appreciate the noteworthy effort put in by the developing team, even recreating 80s camera effects.

On the other hand, though, it takes away the focus of a single superstar, documentary-style. Previously, you went along a high-rated wrestler’s journey to stardom. You even had the chance to influence the outcome in some ways. Now, it’s all written in stone and merely a tutorial-like mode showing you what to do and what happens next. 

Story, Story

MyRISE, though, always hits home. You enjoy two brand new stories: Undisputed for the male player-created character and Unleashed for the female option. I won’t spoil the storylines except to say that they’re genuinely fantastic, lengthier, and more engaging than before. 

For geeks, MyGM is a pleasure to tinker with. You enjoy notable improvements for a better experience. It also adds an interactive storyline, massaging your way into the best manager. Before, MyGM struggled a bit. Now, it seems to have reached its full potential, boasting an intense and replayable version.

MyFACTION, as always, is out to get your money, all in good fun, of course. It’s a collector’s playground that, admittedly, may not fancy everyone. If you put all the game modes side by side, MyFACTION will probably come out as the weakest of the bunch. It actually feels like a forced mode off of the 2K Games’ trend in other sports games. The same money pit and predatory aspect burst through the seams here. 

Fortunately, the creation mode more than makes up for its flaws. You enjoy tinkering around with limitless possibilities. Create your own unique wrestler or one inspired by your favorite one. You can even create your own unique arena, ranging from the wildest to the most practical. 

A Little Fun Doesn’t Hurt Anyone

Best of all, it’s the little tweaks here and there that elevate the entire experience. Again. You can throw weapons at opponents, such as steel chairs, ringside steps, sledgehammers, metal bats, and so on. You can even throw opponents into a vending machine backstage and receive candy for your troubles. Wrestling is a fun sport, and 2K Games understands this. It’s meant to be just for the fun of it, and my God, do you gulp it down nonstop. 

Additionally, you can enjoy additional match types, including casket, ambulance, special guest referee, and gauntlet matches. The casket one is a bit odd, essentially launching opponents into a casket latched onto the side of the ring and forcing it shut. Well, precisely closing the casket part is a button-mashing conquest until one of you submits to losing. 

The ambulance, though, packs loads of fun, significantly since you can climb up the vehicle, push opponents down to the ground, and dive into them. But the last part, again, reiterates a submission move: throwing opponents into the ambulance and proceeding to close the door shut. 

As for the gauntlet matches, it depends on your intuition. It can get exhausting to fight many opponents, one after another. However, it’s likely the challenge some gamers are looking for. 

Boredom Begone

Gameplay-wise, you’ll notice changes to the finisher moves, including new Super Finishers. Dives pack an extra crunch. My personal favorite is the new Trading Blows mini-game. Essentially, a timing-based competition determines who can trade blows the fastest. However, it props up infrequently and randomly, often in the early stages. Still, it's nice enough to give the game an extra high-spirited oomph.

Furthermore, you can now knock out multiple wrestlers in a single top-rope dive. You can now engage in double-title matches and use new paybacks. The point is that there are so many things to do in WWE 2K24 that you’re guaranteed to find something tasty. The variety is astonishing; it only makes it all the more exciting to imagine what comes next.

Verdict

WWE 2K24 is easily one of the best wrestling games in years. It packs a ton of variety, giving you lots of options to find your groove. The gameplay remains the same as in WWE 2K22 and WWE 2K23 after that. So, you should find it easy to jump back in. However, it quickly dawns on you that, despite the similarity, WWE 2K24 is clearly a superior experience. It adds lots of cool new stuff, from a more vast roster to new match types. The modes, too, are revamped to provide a more seamless and entertaining experience. 

Entertainment. That’s the goal 2K Games and Visual Concepts nails so perfectly. They didn’t shy away from chaotic gameplay, throwing chairs and all. Yet, beyond chaos, they made sure to prioritize a seamless and fluid experience. You hardly run into any glitches. Character models look stunning, from the innate detail in customization to collapsing and writhing in pain on impact. Arenas, too, are sprawling with packed columns and hyped-up crowds. Even backstage brawls receive their special love, with evidently more room to maneuver around.

Since WWE 2K22, the franchise has been on an upward trend, redeeming itself inch by inch. WWE 2k24 marks the epitome of the franchise’s potential, which only makes me giddy at what 2K Games and Visual Concepts have in store for us next.