WWE 2K25 is a weird experience. On the one hand, the gameplay is immaculate, Visual Concepts took its time refining the formula, and it's quite possibly one of the most fun wrestling games I've ever played. Sadly, the action is bogged down by half-baked modes that make the package feel bloated. The Island is particularly forgettable for the level of anticipation it had ahead of release.
From a gameplay perspective, 2K25 is so much fun to play. Booting up a quick match and discovering the new modes and features Visual Concepts has added to this year's entry is perhaps what made me give the developers the benefit of the doubt while trying some of the atrocious modes the game is trying to sell as its main content.
Intergender wrestling is a fantastic addition that allows us to create even more dream matchups. The feature is also available for those who enjoy Universe mode. No, MyGM players, you weren't invited to this party.
New match types like Underground and Bloodline rules are incredible. Allow me to gush about the execution behind the Bloodline mode, as 2K deserves all the praise. In essence, it's a No HoldsNo-Holds-Barred or no-DQ match, but the way it works by having three random wrestlers come out to help each competitor.
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+ 52K really put some thought into each wrestler and their companions. For instance, if you're playing as Hollywood Hogan, you'll get Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and Syxx (X-Pac's WCW name). It adds a level of detail to the match type that justifies its existence.
It also helps that the core gameplay is absolutely amazing. Chain wrestling's return adds an extra layer that was much needed in 1v1 bouts, where the shenanigans and craziness of a multi-man match weren't present. So now we get the graps and crazy ladder spots all in one game.
Speaking of which, the fact that I can now curb-stomp Roman Reigns from the top of a ladder as Seth Rollins is the cherry on top. Having finishers being able to be executed in such a way or giving players the ability to pull off stunts from the outside barricades adds that extra layer of interactivity that previous entries desperately needed. It will make creating hype and funny moments while playing with friends easier.
This year, the hype starts at the entrances. The new third-person camera is a small but perfect addition that's a joy to play with. If you've ever dreamed of becoming WWE's next Kevin Dunn, 2K25 gives you the freedom to do so, and I'm all for it.
Sadly, there are plenty of negatives standing between you and all the excitement the game can offer at its core.
The Island of Irrelevancy
2K banked on The Island becoming a new way for players to immerse themselves in the world of WWE. On the outside, the bells and whistles look captivating and exciting. There's a massive lucha temple for Rey Mysterio enthusiasts; head over to the Deadlands, and there's a chance you'll see the roaming ghost of Paul Bearer.
click to enlarge + 5In reality, it's a neat environment that's obnoxious to navigate, filled to the brim with ridiculous microtransactions and a nonsensical story with no production value that makes you wonder why it wasn't available for last-gen console users, considering it looks and runs like an Xbox One or PS4 title, and that's being generous.
Want to get a pair of Nike shoes? You'll need 18,000 VC. No, it's not a joke or a typo. For context, the Deadman edition of 2K25, which costs $100, only grants 15,000 VC as a bonus. You can't even buy a pair of digital shoes with the benefits of a premium edition.
The entire mode would be an easy skip for everyone who values their time. However, some unlockable cosmetics to create your wrestler in other modes (your The Island character can't be imported to MyRISE) are tied to progress in this mode. Want a cool lucha mask or more customization options in general? Chances are, you'll have to waste time on The Island. Or spend money.
click to enlarge + 5The entire thing feels predatory, as it's designed to incentivize players to jump online and compete against other users. There's no way to group up with friends, and in the off-chance you do get a match that isn't laggy and borderline unplayable, you'll likely be facing someone who's so overpowered it will make you ponder your life decisions and why you've decided to waste precious time booting up such a cynical game mode. Want to guess as to how you can level up your character faster? Yeah, you'd better pull that wallet out again.
MyRISE Is the Better Island
If you ignore The Island and the fact that 2K locked plenty of cosmetics behind it, the rest of the package isn't as bad. This year's MyRISE is a fun little story mode with engaging replay value. It features a new NXT "brand": Mutiny (which can also be used as a new brand in MyGM; more on that later).
You'll have to create both male and female wrestlers as you take on missions in Smackdown and Raw while trying to discover what's happening with this new NXT Mutiny revolution. Depending on your choices, your story can take some hilarious comedic turns or be as serious as you want. You know, keep kayfabe alive.
click to enlarge + 5Despite having replay value in the form of branching story paths, I don't see myself returning to MyRISE after my first playthrough. Mainly because everything outside matches is boring.
The voice acting is rough, which is a shame. None of the star talent featured in the mode is comfortable as a voice actor. This is bizarre, considering CM Punk, who is fantastic at storytelling, is prominently featured as a mentor to your created characters.
The in-between matches segments are just you browsing through uninspired menus and deciding between progressing the story or doing live events to boost your stats. That's pretty much it.
For Better or Worse, MyGM Is Just Still There
I love MyGM, and it was my go-to mode in 2K24. However, since 2K talked about new features coming this year, I was hoping for a more substantial upgrade, which isn't there.
If you've never touched this mode, the elevator pitch is simple: imagine a Football Manager-like mode with wrestling and PvP elements. You'll compete against friends or CPUs to see who runs a better wrestling promotion.
You'll get to choose a brand and a General Manager, both coming with unique power cards to help you turn the tide of a season. You'll participate in drafts, book your shows, craft rivalries, and improve facilities, culminating in a monthly PLE to see who can accrue the most fans and earn trophies to be named the best of all time.
Online is neat, but the best aspect of a great MyGM playthrough is hanging out with friends and trash-talking each other. I was excited when I heard 2K was adding cross-promotional PLEs this year, but I was disappointed by their lackluster execution.
click to enlarge + 5The way PLEs work now is quite a step back, at least for me. Each GM only gets to book one match and a promo per PLE while selecting two wrestlers to perform in the opening and main event matches, facing off against other promotion's wrestlers. That's it. There's no more interactivity beyond that, no way to properly set a champion vs champion bout or a full-on Survivor Series gauntlet match, for instance.
Even the anticipated new PLEs added, such as Money in the Bank, are a complete disappointment. Getting your wrestler to win their match at the event rewards you with $100k. Thanks for the cash, but Visual Concepts could've put more thought into adding such an iconic PLE. What about an actual power card that lets me book a cash-in?
If you want to clean up your rivalries, you'll have to do it in the go-home shows, which is bizarre, to say the least. The whole point of running a wrestling promotion is that, as a booker, you build rivalries every week, with feuds culminating in a big monthly event. That is the basic premise of a mode like MyGM. Now, that's not even possible this year. Such a strange decision breaks my immersion and desire to keep playing.
MyFACTION, The Less Predatory Ultimate Team!
I'd be lying if I said I was interested in MyFACTION. But, after playing it for a couple of hours, I see the appeal. Like The Island, however, MyFACTION is a mode built around microtransactions, with currency earned at such a slow pace that I probably won't stick around beyond the early hours when it's showering you with rewards to incentivize you to keep playing.
In short, it's a card game. It's like Ultimate Team without some of the pesky grievances EA's mode offers. Once you get a wrestler card, it's yours to keep. World Tour mode is solid single-player fun but grindy, as the early zones will force you to utilize lower-level cards despite having more powerful ones from the get-go.
There are some interesting rogue-lite modes, with you choosing up to four wrestlers, letting you follow a set path of challenges and rewards. The damage you take doesn't reset between bouts, but you can occasionally power up your selected wrestlers. Eventually, take on bosses that, once you beat them, you'll be able to purchase from a store that requires too much currency for me to care.
Acknowledge the Showcase… or Not
The 2K25 Showcase mode exists, but that's about it. No, but honestly, it's a fun little trip down memory lane. It has never been my cup of tea, and that didn't change this year.
Going through the motions with arbitrary objectives to "relive" iconic moments in-game is not appealing. Sure, the game offers you the option of cute What-If scenarios, but again, unless you're a Bloodline superfan or very into the Samoan wrestling lineage, there's not much enjoyment coming out of these.
I will say that the production and the way Visual Concepts recreated some of these moments at least put an outstanding level of attention on them, especially the initial sequence recapping WrestleMania 40.
In the end, as much as I loved the gameplay, having zero incentive to jump into any of the modes offered hurts my enjoyment of WWE 2K25.
It does feel like a case of trying to cover too much and ultimately not properly sticking the landing on any of the modes available. There are sparks of brilliance in MyRISE and MyFACTION. The Showcase kicks off fantastically before going downhill, and the MyGM changes made it a worse experience. The Island should be a case study of how not to shoehorn a corporate-mandated microtransaction hellhole.
But by god, if it isn't fun to run a few Bloodline rules matches with some friends. That's what it's all about with these types of games. For what it's worth, at least the foundation is there.
