WWE 2K25: New standard set

WWE 2K25 is set to be released on Friday as 2K continues it’s wrestling franchise with high expectations.

According to Metacritic, reviews already have 2K25 as the highest rated WWE game since "WWESmackdown! Here Comes The Pain," which just adds to the absolute run WWE has been on during this ‘Netflix Era’ and stranglehold on pop culture with 2K24 cover-stars Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Cody Rhodes leading the way alongside the 2K25 cover star Roman Reigns. 

Sports games bring a general skepticism with their yearly release cycle that add minimal features and provide roster updates but credit is due with 2K and Visual Concepts going above and beyond to produce a fantastic WWE video game to match the hype and look of the current product.

I mentioned Metacritic to start off the review because the one thing I want you to know as you read this is that simply put -- This is the best WWE 2K game that has ever been released, no disrespect to 2K23 or 2K24 but 2K25 is THE one. 

A lot has happened in the WWE as we come up on the release of the game, including WWE’s move to Netflix for Monday Night RAW and superstars like Jacob Fatu, Penta, Stephanie Vaquer and Motor City Machine Guns joining the roster. 

Jacob Fatu is on the Day One roster with the others mentioned on the way via DLC and the game boasting deepest roster ever with over 300 playable characters that span every era of WWE. Names on this roster list include The Great Muta, "Superstar" Billy Graham and "Ravishing" Rick Rude to name a few. With an updated arena to show the move to Netflix for Monday Night Raw, and upgrades to the game’s bruises, and blood features, which provides an extra level of realism to the game experience by making your character look like they’re going through it. 

Included in the presentation is the added layer of one of the more unique features of WWE 2K25 -- the third-party camera. You will have control to make it as immersive as possible. From the entrances to during the matches, you can take things to a different level that really puts you in the action. 

The new feature will take some time to get a handle of but is well worth the effort for the different angles during matches. There is a super-authentic feel to the immersion in most areas, with NXT fans banging loudly in smaller venues at the right moments and crowd reactions in bigger arenas providing the proper ambiance that goes perfectly with the sound design.

Now the best part of the game in my opinion is this year’s "Showcase Mode," which focuses on the Bloodline Saga as you go inside the history of professional wrestling’s most impactful family while being guided by the Wiseman, Paul Heyman who is at his absolute best honoring the history and provides you with the opportunity to relive, or change, the course of Bloodline history. 

Among the initial "Showcase" storylines are Yokozuna defeating Hulk Hogan at 1993's King of the Ring,, "High Chief" Peter Maivia against George "The Animal" Steele in a steel cage match. While making sure to go into the rivalry of Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns and the impact of Jimmy Uso’s wife Naomi. 

No disrespect to Tamina but some of the objectives throughout the showcase mode were incredibly difficult for me as a 31-year-old father. Maybe I suck but 90 seconds seemed way too fast, I’m washed I know. I will repeat this is a gem of a showcase mode and 2K26 will have a hell of a time trying to match this year’s. 

This year's "My Rise" combines the men's and women's stories into a single cohesive plot as NXT stars invade the main roster, and in year’s past your choices play a massive factor in how things play out. Due to a now updated patch the mode is now playable as early release players were not able to play at times without crashing. 

WWE 2K25 does mark the return of Intergender Matches, the arrival of ‘Bloodline Rules’ Matches & backstage brawls have been expanded to include exciting new areas. Including the WWE Archives, which is a warehouse full of classic WWE memorabilia, with the beloved SmackDown Fist from the GOATed UPN era and the arrival of Underground Matches give a feeling of near-endless options for single-player and multiplayer mayhem. WWE 2K25 is the best WWE 2K game ever. The in-ring action is top-notch, there is enough content here to keep WWE diehards busy for months on end & i haven’t even touched MyGM, The Island, or seen what the incredible creative community will create with worldwide release days away. Our Feel Review will be available at the end of March.