WWE 2K25 Review

For as long as I can remember, I've been a diehard WWE fan, an obnoxious one at that. I was the kid who stayed up way past bedtime just to witness legends in action whilst grasping onto my DIY paper WWE titles. From Randy Orton delivering RKOs, Brock Lester dismantling opponents, The Undertaker sending chills down our spines, and John Cena's ever-show of strength and integrity whenever he would turn into Super Cena.

To me, wrestling wasn't just sports entertainment; it was a spectacle, a larger-than-life drama that had a young me at the edge of my seat. It taught me culture and persistence, and most importantly, it taught me how to dream. Fast-forward to today and WWE 2K25 lands in the heart of the road to Wrestlemania, promising to bring the same magic into the virtual ring so that you can create your dream moments at any moment in time.

WWE 2K25 was developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K. It is the 25th installment in the long-running WWE video game franchise and the 11th under the 2K banner. It serves as a successor to WWE 2K24. After spending countless hours in the ring testing new features and diving deep into the nitty-gritty of WWE 2K25, I have a lot to say. Let's break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of WWE 2K25.

Starting with the game's user interface, the design is quite nice, simple, clean, and modern, which a lot of people might find appealing. The clear layout with logical icons makes it easy to navigate without being overwhelmed. But the graphics, on the other hand, are kind of a mixed bag. 

Well, a lot of the characters have improved their looks to better resemble their real-life counterparts; the texture quality has kind of taken a step back. The faces of the superstars tend to stick out more at the expense of the details in other areas. It's time we fully transition to next-generation capabilities because a lot of the elements in WWE 2K25 still feel like they belong in the PlayStation 2 era.

There are new additions to match types, the newest edition being Bloodline Rules, which was featured in Wrestlemania 40, allowing interference from allies. There's also an updated Brawl Mode featuring various new outdoor environments. 

The previous match types from WWE 2K24, such as the Casket Match and Ambulance Match, also returned along with the Underground Mode, which has a rather unusual setting that feels like a mix of MMA and pro wrestling. While it is a pretty cool addition, it doesn't feel too different from the other standard matches you get, making it more of a novelty than a must-play mode.

One of the biggest aspects of WWE 2K25 is the huge roster. However, some of the superstars are locked behind MyRise—the single-player story mode—and Showcase mode. While this does give you the incentive to try out and play through these modes, not everyone is keen on locking characters this way. The DLC characters have also been unknown, including ECW's New Jack, which is a pretty cool edition.

A small but welcomed change is that you now have the ability to control camera angles during entrances. This added customization allows you to be more immersed in the experience, whether you want to view from the crowd's perspective or set up dynamic shots. Spectator Mode is another appreciated feature, particularly for those who enjoy simulation-style matches.

The underground mode mentioned before is an interesting concept that lacks uniqueness. It's only limited to one-on-one matches with no ropes and NPCs surrounding the ring. And while it does lightly resemble Josh Barnett's Bloodsport, it doesn't feel distinct enough. 

Additionally, the Backstage Brawl mode has been expanded and now features WWE Archives and a Parking Lot Brawl. The latter is really enjoyable, giving you a vast space with various interactive objects like cars, scaffolding, and weapons. This motor is really fun and entertaining for chaotic, high-impact brawls.

Bloodline mode was another unique feature that was mentioned before. When a superstar takes enough damage, an ally can run in to assist them. For example, when playing as Hollywood, Hogan, Hall, Nash, and Six would rush in for support, while opponents like Roddy Piper would get backup from DDP, Booker T, and Lex Luger.

The tentative details of this mode are great, making it feel like a true representation of wrestling factions. It could've been very easily labeled as NWO mode because of how accurately it replicates their antics from the olden days.

The Showcase mode features a lot on the Bloodline storyline; while I'm not the biggest fan of this faction, I do appreciate the historical aspects that are included in this mode. One particularly well-done moment is the recreation of the King of the Ring 1993, where Yokozuna defeated Hulk Hogan.

WWE 2K25 even includes the infamous photographer spot, which adds authenticity. Unlockable characters such as the mighty Hulk Hogan and Yokozuna add special appeal to this mode.

The gameplay refinements of WWE 2K25 are noticeable. There is an improved stamina mechanic that prevents move spamming. Striking and chain wrestling have also been changed and refined, making matches feel smoother. Getting used to the chain wrestling system—don't get me wrong—is nice to see it return, but it still requires some adjustment.

But the game is not without its faults, The Island mode is all of the most questionable additions. It basically acts as a predatory micro-transaction-heavy experience. You can create custom characters and participate in events, and the prices of each of the things you can buy in the game are heavily inflated. 

Something such as a simple haircut costs you around 9000 currencies, while matches only reward you with 170. The load times in WWE 2K25 also pay for the long, making the entire experience feel like an unnecessary crash grab rather than something that's a meaningful addition.

While the universe mode is still enjoyable, it suffers from a lack of significant updates. The rivalries that you get are still limited, and certain presentation aspects, such as championships not appearing and promos, make it feel like something is always missing. 

General Manager Mode, on the other hand, received a few quality-of-life improvements, but it's pretty much the same. If you enjoyed last year's version, you'll pretty much enjoy this game because of the few refinements, but don't expect a major overhaul.

The audio in WWE 2K25 is pretty solid across the board, with crisp sound effects and engaging commentary. The soundtracks during cut scenes and in Showcase mode are pretty impactful for increasing suspense and drama; the attention to detail in the sound design is something that the game does really well at immersing you in.

Despite the improvements, I still feel as though WWE 2K25 plays it too safe. The animations remain largely unchanged, making it a slightly enhanced version of the predecessor rather than a true evolution in the franchise. While the core gameplay is still pretty good, and it seems like the expanded Backstage Brawl and Bloodline mode add variety to it, I would be open to seeing more innovation in future installments.

Overall, WWE 2K25 is a solid WWE simulation game. If you like the previous WWE 2K24 title, you'll probably love this one as well, but if you were hoping for a drastic change, you might be a bit disappointed.