Finish The Story? It’s Just Getting Started.
HIGH The controls and character models have never been more lifelike.
LOW Rope and aerial maneuvers occasionally look a little janky.
WTF Bayley should sue the game designers.
They did it. After the last two WWE 2K games flirted with greatness, the developers listened.
They learned.
And now? They made the most enjoyable wrestling title since gamers held three-pronged N64 controllers. With better visuals, tighter controls, and impeccable spectacle and immersion, WWE 2K24 is an absolute monster. Not only is this a must-buy for die-hard grappling fans, but also for those who gave up on the series in the wake of the 2K20 disaster. Those days are long, long gone.
The crux of WWE 2K24‘s appeal lies in its refined in-ring gameplay, which has never been more fluid and responsive. Gone are the ridiculous thumb gymnastics and spam-heavy reversals. Instead, players can now execute context-sensitive actions with greater ease, whether positioning a rival for a devastating move from the turnbuckle or chaining sequences that mirror the… realistic… escalation witnessed in real-life matches.
There’s also the addition of the “Trading Blows” mini-game, which is supposedly player-initiated but tended to happen to me randomly. While enjoyable once or twice, the arbitrary nature of the event, and the lack of any real advantage given for winning makes this more of a distraction than an asset. Thankfully, gamers can turn this feature off in the settings.
I should mention that legacy issues like the unnatural body movements seen when players are near the ropes remain, but with the effortless controls, players would have to be nitpicky to focus on these rare moments. Wrestling hasn’t felt this natural since the early ‘aughts, and no WWE title has had that unmistakable “just one more match” quality in far too long.
The developers have also found new ways to pump more visual splendor into WWE 2K24. While the last few editions have been gorgeous, the precise character models, facial expressions, and subtle in-ring movements add all new layers to the presentation. There are a few exceptions, of course (what did Bayley do to you guys, anyway?) but 2K24 sees a notable uptick in detail, and gamers will be pleased.
This was no small feat — WWE 2K24 features an expanded roster of more than 200 current and past
WWE talents, each of which features multiple versions (called “Personas”) and are customizable.
While I prefer to replicate the television versions of these characters, I imagine users will find hours of
enjoyment swapping movesets and entrances. If only 2K implemented a custom entrance music feature.
I suppose this can wait for next year.
WWE 2K24’s creation suite continues to excel, offering unparalleled customization options that enable
players to recreate or invent virtually any aspect of the wrestling world. From creating referees and
signs to designing entire promotions, the community-driven content significantly extends the game’s
lifespan and appeal, even if the absence of custom entrance music remains a notable limitation.
Likewise, the array of match types has somehow grown, reintroducing fan favorites like ambulance, casket, and special referee matches back into the mix. Gamers even have the option to play as referees, which offers some nuance to multiplayer matchups. Of course, some of these have modified control schemes which can be difficult for newcomers. But once the controls are figured out, there’s a lot of reward to be had by completing these missions.
The WWE 2K series has never been short on modes and features, and 2K24 offers the most robust collection yet. GM mode is particularly engaging this time around, with deeper dives into the operations of running the world’s largest wrestling promotion. Here, users can scout, trade, budget, and build wrestlers from wannabes into world champions. The mode may not be new, but the delivery has never been more accessible. Those who have shied away from the micromanagement, intricacies, and minutiae from previous renditions should take another look this year.
MyRise, WWE 2K24’s narrative story mode, returns in fine form, with all-new storylines for both male and female wrestlers. There were always RPG-lite elements to this mode which played nicely into the bombastic storytelling the sport is known for, but the addition of more engaging voiceovers and sidequests gives this mode more depth than ever. Gamers who found themselves tiring of the grind will likely be surprised by how much depth has been added, and how much more rewarding the end-game is as a result.
Also, it should be mentioned that the dramatic impact of the storylines is beyond comparison. I am not permitted to discuss the outcomes here at the time of this writing, but suffice it to say, while this isn’t exactly Succession or Yellowstone, fans of sports entertainment are likely to be satisfied with what’s presented here.
Also back by popular demand is the retrospective Showcase mode, which takes gamers on a journey through the history of Wrestlemania, replete with accurate presentation, arenas, music, and even era-appropriate interviews from days gone by. Wrestling newcomers may not understand the context of every match, but long-time fans (like the creaky Gen-X’er writing this review) will revel in this thorough trip down memory lane.
My only struggle with WWE 2K24’s modes is the card-based MyFaction mode, which is another standard collect-and-swap grind… and another opportunity for microtransactions. While it compares well to similar modes in other sports titles and allows for more progression with less out-of-pocket expense, it just doesn’t offer the same immersion as 2K24’s other features. Maybe it’s time card-based modes took a post-Wrestlemania retirement.
Online, the game performed well. Lobbies were fast to load, the match options were extensive, and matchmaking made sense. But, as a new release, problems occurred with both lag and random resetting of matches. I fully anticipate this will be resolved by the time this review hits the digital newsstands.
At the risk of hyperbole, WWE 2K24 is an essential purchase for wrestling fans, sports fans, and fighting game fans. It’s not flawless and it’s not a huge leap beyond 2K23, because it didn’t have to be. This is the wrestling title fans have waited for, and every promise and tease from the past few renditions has been fully realized here.
In short, WWE 2K24 is a crowning achievement for a series that nearly buried itself just four years ago, and I’ll be playing it long after the referee counts 1-2-3.
Score 9 out of 10
Disclosures: This game is published by 2K and developed by Visual Concepts. It is available on XBO, XSX/S, PS4, PS5, and PC. This game copy was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the Xbox Series X. Approximately 15 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was not completed. Approximately 4 hours of play were dedicated to online multiplayer modes.
Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated T. This is a realistic representation of professional wrestling action and storylines, with violence at the forefront of the gameplay. Additionally, some dialogue and themes in the story modes may concern some parents.
Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes available in the Game Settings menu.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: WWE 2K24 features subtitles and numerous tactile feedback features within the controller, in all modes. The game is playable without sound and is fully accessible.
Remappable Controls: No, the game’s controls are not remappable.
When not writing for Gamecritics, Brad spends his days as a managing editor, handling content that is far less complicated than the RPGs haunting his dreams each and every night.
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