Ever since its successful 2022 reinvention, 2K's popular WWE series has consistently made iterative improvements to build upon its winning formula and justify its annual releases. WWE 2K25 promises a new batch of iterations, including a brand new, online interactive world called The Island, a revamp of its story, general manager, and Universe modes, a new hardcore match type called Bloodline Rules, and more. However, I can’t say if these additions will elevate 2K25 above its predecessor because I didn’t get to sample them at a recent preview event.
Instead of exploring this year’s significant alterations, my time with 2K25 was focused on the core gameplay, which remains mostly unchanged, and the adjusted Showcase Mode, centered around The Bloodline stable of wrestlers. Despite not experiencing most of the new ideas, I did notice some small but significant changes that make me confident WWE 2K25 will be another successful evolution of the series, likely worth any wrestling fan's time.
WWE 2K25's Showcase Mode focuses on the history of the Anoa'i family, featuring stars like Roman Reigns and The Bloodline, while also celebrating previous generations such as The Wild Samoans, Yokozuna, and The Rock. The mode now includes three types of matches: ones where you recreate history, others where you create history, and matches where you alter history. I experienced all three by recreating Nia Jax’s Queen of the Ring victory from 2024, creating a dream Wild Samoans versus The Dudley Boyz match, and altering the history of the iconic Roman Reigns versus Seth Rollins bout from the Royal Rumble in 2022. All three offered unique fun and perspective for hardcore WWE fans, marking an improvement over last year’s showcase mode. However, there are still some minor issues.
The Showcase Mode in last year’s WWE 2K24, like its predecessor, was criticized for over-reliance on switching to real-life footage, a system called "Slingshot" by developer Visual Concepts. As I noted in my WWE 2K23 preview, "I found myself wanting to be back in the action and create these moments myself, not just watching clips of footage that are already burned into my brain." Two years later, I’m happy to report progress, though the issue isn’t completely resolved.
The cut to real-life footage is now gone, reducing the time away from controlling the action. Key moments are recreated in-engine through animation, providing a less jarring experience and satisfaction from seeing iconic moments realized in the game’s mostly gorgeous graphics. These sequences also seem significantly shorter.
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However, not all my prior concerns about staying in control have been addressed. During the conclusion of my Nia Jax match, control was taken away from me, forcing me to embody a bystander during the 1,2,3. Ideally, I’d like more control during these important moments to relive them with my own gameplay decisions, not merely observe as a passive bystander.
Elsewhere, 2K25 makes minor improvements to other rough edges. Previous showcase modes relied heavily on a checklist system, often making matches feel like a to-do list rather than dynamic gameplay. This system is back but slightly refined for WWE 2K25, with added optional objectives on a timer. Completing these actions rewards you with cosmetics, and failing them no longer results in punishment, marking a vital step in the right direction.
The standout addition to Showcase Mode is the ability to change the conclusion of certain historic matches. For example, where Roman Reigns once lost by disqualification to Seth Rollins, you can now experience how things could have played out differently. This offers a fresh experience for hardcore WWE fans, and I’m excited to see what happens in other unannounced change matches.
While there are notable changes in modes and match types, the core gameplay essence of WWE 2K25 remains largely the same as before, with some minor tweaks. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as I was already satisfied with the grappling action in WWE 2K24. Sticking with the proven formula is a smart decision. There are, however, a few interesting additions and returns.
WWE 2K25 sees the revival of chain wrestling, a gameplay sequence sacrificed in WWE 2K22’s engine revamp. During the opening moments of a bout, instigating a grapple forces players into a mini-game to gain the upper hand. After locking up, you can choose to drive, wrench, attack, and ultimately reposition your opponent into an advantageous spot. Like the trading blows mechanic introduced last year, chain wrestling adds another staple of WWE action, taking a vital step towards accurately recreating what fans see on TV every week.
Also returning is the submission system, a mini-game where you must either avoid or match your opponent's color block on a wheel. While it has an overwhelming UI presentation, it quickly becomes second nature, and I’m glad to see it back. If you’re less excited about its reappearance, it can be disabled in the options, along with chain wrestling and other quick-time event moments, making them all optional.
My favorite gameplay feature from WWE 2K24, weapon throwing, makes a triumphant return. The roster of weapons has been improved, and backstage brawls have expanded into new environments perfect for weapon tossing. The best location I experienced in the demo was the WWE archives, allowing you to toss apples, footballs, and megaphones while exploring a WWE fan’s dream environment, littered with history and Easter eggs. You can also fight on top of a giant WrestleMania sign and the iconic giant fist from the Smackdown days.
As expected, the ring area is covered in Prime sponsorships, allowing you to use the Prime Hydration Station’s giant bottle as a weapon. Wrapping a bottle of Logan Paul’s luminous juice around your opponent's head certainly feels like the best use of those egregious electrolytes.
Perhaps the most notable gameplay alteration this year is the long-overdue intergender gameplay. For the first time in a 2K WWE game, you can pit men against women in matches of your choosing. This, along with the largest roster ever (over 300 wrestlers), opens the doors to a host of previously unavailable matchups.
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Lastly, although the demo build featured limited new updates, I did get hands-on time with the brand-new match type called Underground. It’s a rope-less variation of an exhibition match in a Fight Club-like setting with lumberjacks around the ring. This is something completely new for the series, and I’ll share more about it later this month as part of our exclusive IGN First content. Be sure to check IGN later this week for a full match and a detailed explanation of the new match type from Visual Concepts developer, Derek Donahue.
WWE 2K25 continues the recent tradition of layering new features on top of existing and robust fundamentals. While nothing feels particularly revolutionary, the formula remains largely consistent with last year's offering, with small but smart tweaks. Time will tell if the advertised big sweeping changes and new modes I didn’t get to see will truly make this edition stand out, but from my brief experience, it’s hard to say this is anything but an incremental step for an already well-realized series.
