Ever since its profitable 2022 reinvention, 2K’s widespread WWE sequence has frequently made a number of iterative enhancements in an try to not solely construct upon its successful components but in addition justify its annual releases. WWE 2K25 definitely guarantees a brand new batch of iterations, together with a model new, on-line interactive world referred to as The Island, a revamp of its story, basic supervisor and Universe mode, a brand new hardcore match sort referred to as Bloodline Rules, and several other extra. However, I can’t say if all these new additions will elevate 2K25 above its predecessor as a result of, sadly, I didn’t get to pattern any of them at a latest preview occasion.
Instead of sampling this yr’s most important alterations, my time with 2K25 was largely targeted on the (largely) unchanged core gameplay and this yr’s adjusted Showcase Mode, which focuses on The Bloodline secure of wrestlers. But whereas I used to be locked out of most of this yr’s new concepts, I did admire some small however important alterations. They’re sufficient that I’m assured WWE 2K25 will probably be one other profitable evolution of the sequence and most certainly value any wrestling fan’s time.
WWE 2K25’s Showcase Mode focuses on the historical past of the Anoa’i household, headlined by its most up-to-date stars Roman Reigns and The Bloodline, but in addition celebrates earlier generations like The Wild Samoans, Yokozuna and, most famously, The Rock. The mode now consists of three kinds of matches: Ones the place you recreate historical past, others the place you create historical past, and most curiously for me, matches the place you alter historical past. I received to expertise all three varieties within the form of recreating Nia Jax’s Queen of the Ring victory from 2024, making a dream Wild Samoans versus The Dudley Boyz match, and altering the historical past of the long-lasting Roman Reigns towards Seth Rollins bout from the Royal Rumble in 2022. All three supplied their very own type of enjoyable and distinctive perspective for any hardcore WWE fan and an enchancment on final yr’s showcase mode. But that’s to not say there aren’t nonetheless some small points.
The Showcase Mode in final yr’s WWE 2K24, very like the one in WWE 2K23 earlier than it, was hampered by an over-reliance on switching to real-life footage that ran for a number of minutes – a system developer Visual Concepts dubs “Slingshot”. As I identified in my preview for WWE 2K23, “I discovered myself eager to be again within the motion and create these moments myself, not simply watching clips of footage which can be already burned into my mind.” Two years later, I’m blissful to verify that though the difficulty will not be fully solved, progress has been made.
The lower to real-life footage is now gone, as is the over-reliance on taking you away from the motion (a minimum of so far as I skilled within the hands-on session). Key moments are recreated in-engine by way of animation, offering a much less jarring expertise and a degree of satisfaction from seeing iconic moments realised within the sport’s (largely) beautiful graphics. These sequences additionally appear considerably shorter, that means much less time away from controlling the motion.
That’s to not say that every one my prior gripes with staying in management have been addressed, although. During the conclusion of my Nia Jax match, full management was taken away from me. Rather than keep within the ring, I used to be pressured to embody a bystander through the 1,2,3. Ideally, I’d like extra management throughout these vital moments. I wish to relive them with my very own gameplay choices, not merely observe as a passive bystander.
Elsewhere, 2K25 makes minor enhancements to different tough edges. Previous showcase modes relied closely on a guidelines system, requiring you to finish typically rudimentary manoeuvres to set off the match’s live-action sequences. A standard criticism is that this method makes a match really feel much less like dynamic gameplay and extra like a to-do listing. This system is again, which little doubt will show contentious as soon as once more, however it has been barely refined for WWE 2K25, with added non-compulsory targets on a timer. You’re rewarded for finishing these actions with cosmetics, however most significantly you’re not punished for failing them as you have been in earlier entries. It’s an important (child) step in the appropriate route.
The standout addition to Showcase Mode is surely the aforementioned capacity to vary the conclusion of sure historic matches. Where Roman Reigns as soon as misplaced by disqualification to Seth Rollins, now you can expertise how issues might have performed out ought to Roman have altered his temperament within the closing moments. It’s a contemporary expertise for hardcore followers of WWE and I’m very excited to see what occurs within the different unannounced change matches.
While there are notable adjustments in modes and match varieties, the core gameplay essence of WWE 2K25 is principally the identical as earlier than with some minor tweaks. That’s not essentially a nasty factor. I used to be already proud of the grappling motion in WWE 2K24, so I largely imagine it’s a good move to stay with the confirmed, profitable components. There are although just a few attention-grabbing additions and returns, nevertheless.
WWE 2K25 sees the long-requested revival of chain wrestling, a gameplay sequence that was sacrificed with WWE 2K22’s enormous engine revamp. During the opening moments of a bout, instigating a grapple will now power gamers right into a mini-game that permits you to achieve the higher hand. After locking up you may select to drive, wrench, assault and finally reposition your opponent right into a spot that’s advantageous to you. Like the buying and selling blows mechanic launched final yr, chain wrestling provides one other staple of WWE motion, taking one other very important step in the direction of precisely recreating what followers see on TV each week.
Also making a return is the submission system, a mini-game during which it’s essential to both keep away from or match your opponent’s color block on a wheel. While it has an awesome U.I. presentation, it shortly turns into second nature, and I’m glad to see it return. If you’re much less excited by its reappearance, it may happily be disabled within the choices. The identical goes for chain wrestling and different quick-time occasion moments – they’re all non-compulsory.
Without a doubt, my favorite gameplay characteristic from WWE 2K24 additionally makes its triumphant return: weapon throwing. Not solely has the roster of weapons been improved, however the backstage brawls have now expanded into new environments which can be good for weapon tossing. The finest location I skilled within the demo was the WWE archives, which not solely permits you to toss apples, footballs and megaphones, but in addition drops you right into a WWE fan’s dream surroundings, affected by historical past and easter eggs galore. Oh, and you can even battle on high of a large Wrestlemania signal and everybody’s favorite big fist from the Smackdown days of yore.
As to be anticipated, very like in actual life, the ring space is roofed in Prime sponsorships. Say what you’ll about that, however it does permit you to use the Prime Hydration Station’s big bottle as a weapon. For my cash, wrapping a bottle of Logan Paul’s luminous juice round your opponent’s head definitely appears like the very best use of the egregious electrolytes.
Perhaps probably the most notable gameplay alteration this yr, although, is the long-overdue intergender gameplay. For the primary time in a 2K WWE sport, you’re capable of pit the boys towards the lady in a match of your selecting. This, together with the most important roster ever (with 300+ wrestlers to select from) lastly opens the doorways to an entire host of matchups that beforehand weren’t out there.
Lastly, though the demo construct featured a restricted quantity of latest updates to discover, I did get some hands-on time with the brand-new match sort referred to as Underground. It’s a rope-less variation of an exhibition match that places you in a Fight Club-like setting with lumberjacks across the ring. This is one thing fully model new for the sequence and one thing I can share extra about later this month as a part of our unique IGN First content material. Be positive to verify IGN later this week to get a have a look at a full match, in addition to a full, detailed clarification of the brand new match sort from Visual Concepts developer, Derek Donahue.
WWE 2K25 continues the latest custom of the sequence, layering new options on high of present and strong fundamentals. Nothing proper now feels significantly revolutionary because the components feels largely per final yr’s providing simply with some small-but-smart tweaks. Time will inform if the marketed massive sweeping adjustments and new modes I didn’t get to see will really make this version stand out from its friends, however from my temporary expertise, it’s arduous to say that is something however a really incremental step for an already well-realised sequence.
Dale Driver is an Executive Producer of Video Programming at IGN and a lifelong WWE fan/apologist who acknowledges his Tribal Chief. Be totally bored by following him on Bluesky at @daledriver.bsky.social
