Visual Concepts and 2K have done a lot to regain WWE fans' trust after the misstep that wasWWE 2K20.WWE 2K22served as the franchise’s grand comeback, whileWWE 2K23built on the solid foundationlaid by its predecessor, delivering an even more polished and fully-featured wrestling game.WWE 2K24is the latest entry in the series, and while it doesn’t make any massive leaps forward, it’s another fun WWE game that will give fans their money’s worth and then some.
Anyone who has playedWWE 2K22andWWE 2K23knows what to expect fromWWE 2K24. The same core gameplay remains intact, though Visual Concepts has added some interesting new wrinkles to enhance the in-ring action and truly make it the best it’s ever been. Players can now issue commands to their partners in tag team matches, weapons can be thrown straight at opponents' faces in hilarious fashion, and a new “Trading Blows” mini-game has been added to mimic the “yay/boo” spot from real-world matches.
In-ring,WWE 2K24provides all the over-the-top chaos fans have come to expect from the series. It functions perfectly as a silly arcade game, but simultaneously works as a serious simulator.WWE 2K24gives players the tools to play however they want.
All the usual match types and options are back, but some new ones have also been added to the mix. Two of the most notable areAmbulance matches and Special Guest Referee matches. The former sees players attempting to damage their opponents enough to be able to toss them into the back of an ambulance, while the latter has players taking on the role of the referee, making pinfalls, admonishing misbehaving wrestlers, and otherwise imposing their will on the proceedings. These matches are unlikely to pull longtime fans away from the more tried-and-true gimmick matches like Hell in a Cell and Ladder Matches, but they are nevertheless nice additions that are very much appreciated.
Whether fighting with friends or battling the AI,WWE 2K24provides endless entertainment with the in-ring product. The modes built around the in-ring action are more hit-and-miss, as is typical of the series. Showcase this year is all about highlighting classic WrestleMania matches, with players taking control of the winner of each fight and completing objectives to replicate what happened in the real-world match. It’s cool to see the arenas and style evolve over the years as one progresses from the 80s to the present day, but this year’s Showcase is still unlikely to win over any detractors.
WWE 2K24provides all the over-the-top chaos fans have come to expect from the series.
Showcase of the Immortals, as theWWE 2K24Showcase modeis called, suffers from the same drawbacks as the mode does every year. Forcing players to complete specific objectives in each match makes things dull, as does pulling control away to show live-action footage. Hardcore WWE fans have likely seen these clips countless times already, and so triggering them doesn’t feel like a reward. The scenes serve as roadblocks keeping players from actually playing the game, and honestly, fans will have a much more fun time with Showcase by skipping them.
Still, some like Showcase in theWWE 2Kgames, and they will likely be satisfied with what this year’s entry brings to the table. The same can be said for MyRise, which once again offers two different storylines for players to experience with their custom superstars.MyRise is as campy as ever, with plenty of amusing scenes and memorable moments sandwiched between boring backstage yapping and bizarre-looking original characters.
MyRise and Showcase are serviceable but don’t do enough to convert naysayers, and the same can be said for other modes like MyGM. While there are small improvements like theinclusion of ECW as a brand, MyGM is especially disappointing and far from the greatness found in previous iterations. It still doesn’t feature a full calendar year of WWE for players to experience, and it doesn’t offer the fun multi-brand matches fromSmackDown vs. Raw 2008.
MyGM still seems to be lacking any online support, though we were unable to testWWE 2K24’s online capabilities. OnceWWE 2K24is available to the masses, it’s a safe bet that its online will function the same as in previous years. This means online matches and a lot of fantastic user-generated content to download. As usual,WWE 2K24’s creation suite is so deep that players are only limited by their imaginations, and those who enjoy making custom content in games will spend countless hours making superstars, arenas, championships, and more.
WWE 2K24players will also be impressed by the game’s incredible graphics, which offer photo-realistic superstars and brilliantly animated fights. There are a handful ofWWE 2K24character models that miss the mark, but otherwise, the game looks amazing. ThePost Malone-curated soundtrackand mostly spot-on commentary help completeWWE 2K24’s tremendous presentation.
WWE 2K24 features Vince McMahon and Brock Lesnar in Showcase mode, with Lesnar playable in multiple matches. Neither McMahon nor Lesnar are found outside of Showcase, however.
WWE 2K24is a gorgeous wrestling game with hard-hitting fights that will keep players plugged in for hours on end. The series seems to be settling in to the annual release trap of small steps forward over major improvements, but hopefully next year’s entry can provide the big leaps thatmodes like MyGMneed to help theWWE 2Kseries reach the next level and finish the comeback story that started withWWE 2K22.
Reviewed on Xbox Series X
WWE 2K24launches March 8 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. Game Rant was provided with an Xbox Series X code for this review.
