With WWE 2K25, we are returning to the world of professional wrestling, or American Wrestling as we know it in our country.
With WWE 2K25, we are returning to the world of professional wrestling, or American Wrestling as we know it in our country. With the matches being broadcast live on broadcast platforms in our country this year and the return of big names, we are ready to experience the professional wrestling scene, which has attracted attention with new modes and improved features in WWE 2K25. Let’s see how ready the game is for this.
WWE 2K25 Review – Let’s Keep It Professional
Last year WWE 2K24 When I reviewed , I mentioned that the game went beyond just a roster update and two or three new modes, and that it made a lot of improvements that strengthened the gameplay. The animations were good, the gameplay was good, the presentation and story modes were good, the AI was still bad but still playable. This year, the parts of the game that were already working well were not changed, if you played the game last year, you won’t feel unfamiliar. WWE 2K24 can be played in a way that is close to an American wrestling simulation, or you can continue in a more arcade way by changing various options in the settings. The AI is… not worse. At least this time, they know who the opponent is.
The fighting system, as I mentioned above, is very close to simulation, but it also features mini-games that include QTE events. In addition to the small mini-games we were used to (like slamming to the ground), the previously existing “chain wrestling” system is back. This system, which mostly takes place at the beginning of the match, allows you to see a series of moves that end with the wrestler’s special finish if you press the right buttons.
This year, WWE 2K25 brings us the most playable wrestler selection of any American wrestling game. There are over 300 wrestlers to choose from, including names we know from the movie world like Dave Bautista, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, classic fighters like Bret “Hit Man”, and stars like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Some of these are the same wrestlers from different eras, all with different stats. With this roster, you can organize a big fight consisting of just Triple H. The models of most of the characters look pretty good, and are detailed enough to see the differences between them both visually and in gameplay.
Welcome to the Island!
In addition to the MyRise, MyFaction and MyGM modes found in previous games, two new modes are being added this year, Showcase: Bloodline Dynasty and The Island. The Island, where we can roam freely and where each corner is filled with small areas designed according to the theme of different wrestlers, we take on various tasks and try to complete tasks in matches. The game’s currency is rewarded with VC, and we use this VC to buy items from various brands. When The Island was first shown, I said “Hah, they did what they did in the NBA, they’ll drown you in microtransactions again”, it was as I expected. The surroundings look nice, but our character’s movement speed is slow even when running, like a tactic to spend more time in the game. A “Can we get VC?” type of guidance starts after a short while and it gets annoying in a short time. It’s not just cosmetic, it is also possible to increase character features with VC. Again, there may be a debate about “you earn and increase if you play”, but the P2W reality that VC brings is obvious. Also, just like the NBA 2K series, The Island is only available on last-gen consoles, meaning you won’t have access to it on PS4 or Xbox One consoles.
Showcase mode, where we have previously experienced legendary matches of certain wrestlers such as John Cena and Rey Mysterio, and last year in honor of the 40th anniversary of American wrestling, is here this year as Bloodline Dynasty. As in previous years, a great job has been done in terms of presentation and matches. Focusing on Bloodline and the Anoa’i, Fatu and Maivia families with content that WWE fans will love and never-before-seen matches, this mode comes to life with the presentation of Paul “The Wiseman” Heyman. As in previous years, this year you can cause the matches to reach different endings than their real results with the character you control, and sometimes you have to give really tough fights for this.
If we look at the game modes, it is almost as good as every previous year, some of them have certain improvements. MyRise, which offered two different stories last year, continues with only one story this year. The story, which offers unlockable characters and arenas, is again very well designed. This time MyGM offers a 4-person online game option, you can test your management skills against other people.
MyRise focuses on a single story this year, with new fighting environments, unlockable arenas, and characters. Universe mode is still versatile and made even better with the return of promos. MyGM has gone global with four-player online multiplayer. The Island, however, is the game’s biggest disappointment. This open-world mode, where you try to earn a WWE contract on Roman Reigns’ “Relevancy Island,” focuses heavily on microtransactions. Cosmetics are expensive and hard to earn, making it easy to ignore—which is probably for the best.
Conclusion
WWE 2K25, which I played on the PlayStation 5, has kept everything that was good from last year, added new improvements and increased variety with a huge roster of playable wrestlers. It hasn’t made a huge improvement over last year in terms of visual and technical performance, but since it’s already in good shape, there’s no need to go into that separately. The game’s music is mostly to my taste, so I can praise it for that. I never got bored during the long periods I spent in the character creation screen.
The Island, which offers a visually beautiful experience, is a little disappointing because of its structure that pushes you to spend money. However, this disappointment is compensated by other game modes and fun content that is not dependent on in-game payments. The WWE 2K series, which manages to go a little further each year, has been a little weaker in terms of development this year. If you played 2K24 last year and are not a big wrestling fan, you can also wait for a discount to buy this game.
