First impressions of the WWE 2K25 video game

I have to say that I’ve been a fan of wrestling video games since I was a kid. The first wrestling video game I bought was Pro Wrestling on the NES, and I’ve continued to buy wrestling games ever since.

As far as this franchise is concerned…

I have purchased every edition of the series since it started as WWF SmackDown! on the original PS1. With each passing year came a new edition, and since I bought the Deadman Edition this time around, there was no way I was paying over $200 for the Bloodline Edition just to get a bunch of action figure characters.

Thanks to early access, I played most of the day yesterday and a few hours today, so here are my first impressions of the game.

Graphics and Sound

I didn’t think they could improve these elements much, but they did. Graphically, it’s a step up from WWE 2K24, and the sound makes you feel like you’re actually watching WWE.

Game Modes

Showcase Mode: I wanted to unlock as much content as possible, so I played through Showcase Mode and spent most of my time in MyRise.

This year’s Showcase Mode is really well done. Paul Heyman narrates the entire mode, and they made some changes in the presentation that improve the experience significantly. Gone are the bad music and awkward live-action cutscenes from the past few editions—we’re back to a more traditional style of storytelling.

Most of the matches and objectives are easy to complete. Aside from the Money in the Bank and WarGames matches (which are the two hardest to get through), the rest go by quickly if you follow the instructions correctly. You can finish the mode in about two hours.

MyRise: This mode is also really fun for the most part, as the storyline is one of the best they’ve created for the franchise. However, my biggest criticism is the Live Event system, which you have to grind through if you want to unlock everything. The mode gets very repetitive and boring after a while. Since you need over 200 wins to unlock everything, it requires a lot of patience to complete.

MyGM Mode: I also tried MyGM Mode, and they made some solid improvements.

You can now choose from a wider selection of GMs.
There’s an option to enable or disable a timer for booking each show.
The money cap has been increased.
More match types have been added.
You can now choose whether to win the mode by earning money or by collecting GM trophies.

Gameplay-wise, it’s similar to last year’s version, but the added features make it worth exploring.

Match Types

Underground Match: I tried the new Underground Match, and honestly, it’s a fun addition. It plays similarly to a backstage brawl but takes place in a ring. A nice touch this year is that the game now indicates when your opponent is on the verge of being knocked out, so you know when to hit your big move to finish them off.

Ladder Match: The Ladder Match received an overhaul, making it slightly harder to play. The new mechanics take some time to learn, but they add realism and improve the match flow.

Weight Detection & Intergender Matches

Weight detection animations are much better than in previous years. Also, the ability to do intergender matches adds variety, even though it doesn’t feel entirely realistic since WWE doesn’t allow those types of matches in real life.

Conclusion

Even with a few minor nitpicks, this game is an improvement over last year’s edition. There’s a lot to do before you unlock everything, ensuring plenty of replay value.

Final Score: 9/10