Love it or loathe it, wrestling is big business. So, it’s not much of a surprise that the daddy of ‘sports entertainment’, WWE, gets an annual game released to much fanfare. WWE 2K24 takes the solid foundation 2K have been building over the past three or four years and builds on it.
The result is a rounded and refined engine that has every ounce of enjoyment wrung from it. With hundreds of wrestlers on show, and plenty of modes to enjoy, WWE 2K24 is a content monster that WWE fans will relish tackling.
WWE Showcase
2K24 is certainly more of an evolution more than a reinvention, if you have played any of the past few titles you’ll click with the controls. You’ll know how it handles and move sets will come back to you quickly. Experienced players will instantly throw down combos of light, hard and grapple attacks with ease.
While the action is iterative, WWE 2K24 brings a host new and returning features, with some that fans have been crying out for. Visual Concepts clearly focused their attention to how the action is packaged rather than trying to fix what isn’t broke.
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And this is a smart move. Matches are fast and frantic affairs, with a real focus on countering and defence. You and your opponent will push for openings to attack or effect some of the more spectacular ‘Signature’ moves, which you can unleash once you have filled a special bar.
Career Mode 2K24
MyRise mode is the WWE 2K24 story mode. MyRise features two campaigns for you to tackle with custom grapplers. The men’s division campaign ‘Undisputed’ focuses on the battle for the top, with Roman Reigns steping down. The women’s division campaign, ‘Unleashed’, sees an indie outfit gets entangled in the world of WWE. Your character then has to make a name for themselves all over again.
WWE 2K24 sees the return of the MyGM from the 2K23 version. There are a few new features and mechanics that add a lot of depth to proceedings. 2K24 brings the ability to purchase permanent upgrades to production, scout for talent, and conduct trade offers between brands following events.
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MyUniverse mode also returns for those after longer-term fun. This mode, too, has seen a few updates that enrichen the experience. There are now more types of run-ins, and support for double titles. 2K24 also brings ‘loser leaves town’ matches as part of a rounded set of enhancements that add meat to the experience.
Immortals on Show
The ‘Showcase’ mode, however, is probably the best singular piece of content on offer. 2K24‘s ‘Showcase of the Immortals’ focuses on notable matches from the history of WrestleMania. Fans of WWE will absolutely love reliving classic matches from over the past 40 years.
The presentation is excellent. Real footage switches to in-game action to really immerse the player in the moment. Cody Rhodes and Corey Graves’ narration adds an extra layer of polish, as well as offering plenty of ringside facts.
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Showcase does have the odd few weird editing moment. Faces of some referees are blurred, you’ll see some random cuts pointedly excluding wrestlers or other WWE figureheads who have plunged from favour.
A very cool side effect of the detail and depth of the Showcase is how it changes the pacing, moves and match flow to make these moments more realistic and fitting to their era. The classic fights are often much slower, and more delicately timed affairs.
Roster of the Immortals
WWE 2K24 has a mind-blowing roster more than 240 playable wrestlers. The massive roster is filled with current superstars and legends, with a few surprises to be found. The excellent editor means this figure is effectively infinite.
If you would rather not get the hang of the tools on offer, the sharing feature means that any wrestlers you can think of, during any era, will be online somewhere.
Many of the gimmick matches that have appeared in previous 2K games make a return for 2K24. Match types like ambulance, casket, gauntlet, and special guest referee matches all add fun and variety to the mix.
Look of WWE
WWE 2K24 is visually stunning. The level of detail in the superstars, and much of their animations, are approaching lifelike. There is still some jank to be seen as you string animations together or tackle characters whose models fall outside certain size categories, but the sense of weight and power is conveyed well.
The televisual aspect of the presentation is also excellent, and is only enhanced by the crowd. The masses will react to your every move, with finishers or signature moves causing an eruption in the arena that never gets old. There are moments when the atmosphere will make the hair on your neck stand up.
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The sound is simply stellar across the board. From entry themes to the ring side announcers to the white noise of frenzied arena, everything has a mirror polish to it. WWE 2K24‘s audio adds layers to the overall presentation, and nails the immersion.
WWE 2K24 delivers an eye-watering roster, adds new ways to experience its tight mechanics, and gives single players plenty to do. 2K24 went big and nailed the landing, giving players easily the most complete WWE title in yonks.