Every WWE 2K Game Reviewed, From Worst To Best

For more than a decade, the WWE 2K series has tried, failed, rebooted, stumbled, and occasionally soared. From ambitious Showcase modes to infamous glitches, the franchise has mirrored WWE itself, full of big swings, strange detours, and the occasional genuine classic.

At SLAM Wrestling, we’ve reviewed (almost) every major entry in the WWE 2K line, watching the series evolve year by year across multiple console generations. Some games have felt like must-plays. Others have felt like cautionary tales. And with WWE 2K26 now on the horizon, it felt like the right time to look back at how the series has actually stacked up.

WWE 2K20

Original WWE 2K20 Review by John Powell – WWE 2K20 Review: Don’t try this at home

“The moral of the WWE 2K20 release is that perhaps unlike sports games, we don’t need a new WWE game every, single year. Rushing a product to market like this just isn’t worth it for the developers, publishers or the fans.”

WWE 2K20 is remembered as the series’ most troubled release, arriving at a time of major transition after Yuke’s departed and Visual Concepts took full control of development. Ambitious ideas, including a dual Showcase focused on the Four Horsewomen and Women’s Evolution, were undermined by widespread technical issues, glitches, and instability at launch. What should have been a statement of independence for the new development team instead became a cautionary tale, forcing the franchise into a year-long reset and reshaping how future WWE games would be approached.

Reviews for this year’s game were overwhelmingly negative, earning the lowest Metacritic score of the series by some margin, with a score of just 43. Critics agreed that the plethora of bugs and glitches makes the game pretty much unplayable, and that this is a year that 2K should have skipped due to the major shakeup in the development process.

My Score – 2/10

WWE 2K15

Original WWE 2K15 Review by John Powell – WWE 2K15 flawed and a step backwards

“Although we would love to smell what Yuke’s and 2K Sports are cooking, WWE 2K15 has too many flaws and too many omissions to be considered anything but a major step backwards. Like the current plight of our pal Kane, there could be a road to redemption ahead but it is gonna be a very bumpy ride to say the least.”

WWE 2K15 was the series’s first step onto the then-new generation of consoles, but it came with noticeable growing pains. While the move to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One promised a more realistic presentation, much of the game felt stripped back compared to its predecessor, with fewer modes and a slower, more methodical in-ring style. It was a transitional entry that prioritised visual upgrades and simulation over content depth, leaving it remembered as an ambitious but uneven foundation for what the WWE 2K series was still trying to become.

Reviews for this entry into the series weren’t great, with the game garnering a 62 on Metacritic, and the main criticisms were that there was a distinct lack of content and the gameplay felt very slow and boring compared to the previous WWE games. However, the leap into next-gen did provide an impressive visual quality boost.

My Score – 4/10

WWE 2K Battlegrounds

Original WWE 2K Battlegrounds Review by John Powell – WWE Battlegrounds has the best of both worlds

“If you can go with the flow and understand that Battleground is an alternative take on the WWE universe and of WWE 2K, Battlegrounds is certainly worth the $50 price tag.”

WWE 2K Battlegrounds represented a sharp detour from the mainline series, trading simulation for an exaggerated, arcade-style brawler built around cartoon visuals and over-the-top power-ups. Released in the wake of 2K20’s troubled launch, it was designed as a lighter, more accessible alternative rather than a true sequel, offering quick matches and pick-up-and-play action. While it succeeded in differentiating itself from the core WWE 2K formula, Battlegrounds ultimately felt more like a side experiment than a long-term direction for the franchise.

Reviews for 2K Battlegrounds were decidedly mixed, getting a 60 on Metacritic, with reviewers welcoming the change in direction, but feeling like there wasn’t enough substance to hold people’s attention for long.

My Score – 5/10

WWE 2K16

No Slam review for this entry.

WWE 2K16 arrived with a clear mission to rebuild confidence in the series after the mixed reception of 2K15. It restored much of the missing depth with a greatly expanded roster, improved match pacing, and a renewed focus on content, led by its Stone Cold Steve Austin–centred Showcase mode. While it still leaned heavily on the simulation style introduced the year before, 2K16 felt more complete and stable, positioning itself as a course correction that brought the franchise closer to what fans expected from a full WWE experience.

Reviews for 2K16 were much better than 2K15, with the game getting a 73 on Metacritic as critics thought that the series had taken a step back in the right direction, but that there was still some work left to do for the next entry.

My Score – 6/10

WWE 2K17

No Slam review for this entry.

WWE 2K17 built on the recovery started by its predecessor, refining the in-ring action and expanding the game’s creative tools rather than reinventing the wheel. Its biggest additions came through deeper Creation Suite options and a more fleshed-out MyCareer mode, giving players greater freedom to shape their own WWE journey. While it lacked a headline-grabbing Showcase like earlier entries, 2K17 was seen as a steady, reliable instalment that focused on polishing the formula rather than taking major risks.

Reviews for 2K17 were once again mixed, despite improvements made to the Creation Suite and MyCareer, with critics feeling like not enough improvements had been made to give the game a better rating. It scored a 69 Metacritic rating.

My Score – 6/10

WWE 2K18

No Slam review for this entry.

WWE 2K18 pushed the series further into the modern era with its first attempt at a fully explorable backstage and arena environment, expanding the scale of what a WWE game could be. The MyCareer mode leaned heavily into narrative, turning the player’s journey into a more cinematic experience, while the roster continued to grow to reflect WWE’s ever-expanding talent pool. However, performance issues, particularly on the Nintendo Switch version, overshadowed many of its ambitions, leaving 2K18 remembered as a bold but technically uneven step forward.

Reviews for this entry into the series continued the downward trend of the series, getting a 66 on Metacritic, with criticisms of the career mode being that it felt like too much of a slog and that it was poorly written.

My Score – 6/10

WWE 2K14

Original WWE 2K14 Review by Jon Waldman – WWE 2K14 stays on track

“WWE 2K14 is a bit of a lameduck game with the next gen more than likely entertaining us next year. So it back, enjoy WWE 2K14 and get ready, because WWE 2K15 may just be the best wrestling game you ever play.”

WWE 2K14 marked the beginning of a new era for the franchise, becoming the first WWE video game published by 2K Sports after taking over the series from THQ and long-time developer Yuke’s. While much of the core gameplay carried over from the WWE ’13 engine, the shift in branding brought a renewed sense of direction, highlighted by its ambitious 30 Years of WrestleMania Showcase mode. It set the template for the modern WWE 2K line, signalling a move toward more presentation-heavy, historically focused experiences that would define the series for years to come.

Reviews for the game were generally positive, with the game sitting at 75 on Metacritic, with many people thoroughly enjoying the 30 Years of WrestleMania Showcase mode, but others felt like this entry was filler as we awaited the next generation of consoles.

My Score – 6.5/10

WWE 2K19

Original WWE 2K19 Review by John Powell – WWE 2K19 puts the franchise back on track

“Taking everything into account WWE, Yuke’s and Visual Concepts have really come through for fans turning things around after the disaster that was WWE 2K18 making this year’s installment the best value since WWE 2K14. If they can pay this much attention and take this much care with the game modes each and every year, the WWE game franchise will be worth picking up on an annual basis unlike most sports games that are currently on the market.”

WWE 2K19 is often viewed as the high point of the series’ first era under 2K, delivering the most polished version of the simulation-heavy formula. With tight gameplay, a strong Daniel Bryan–focused Showcase mode, and one of the deepest rosters the franchise had seen, it felt like the culmination of years of incremental improvements. For many players, it became the benchmark against which later entries would be judged, standing out as a rare release that balanced realism, content, and stability in equal measure.

The reviews for 2K19 were greatly improved to reflect the sentiment that this year’s game was a huge step forward for the series; it garnered a 76 on Metacritic, with reviewers enjoying the depth of the roster and improvements made across the board.

My Score – 7.5/10

WWE 2K22

Original WWE 2K22 Review by John Powell – WWE 2K22 a return to greatness

“Across the board, WWE 2K22 is an extensive and comprehensive improvement that returns the franchise to its former glory.”

WWE 2K22 marked a hard reset for the franchise, arriving after a full year off and carrying the message that it was time to “hit different.” With a faster, more arcade-leaning gameplay style and a renewed focus on accessibility, it moved away from the heavy simulation approach that had defined earlier entries. While not without rough edges, 2K22 succeeded in restoring faith in the series after the disaster of 2K20, re-establishing WWE games as playable, stable, and forward-looking once again.

Reviews for the reboot were massively better than 2K20, and it’s a good thing too, as another terrible entry could have been Visual Concepts’ nail in the coffin. But instead, they delivered a much better experience, with critics praising the developers for fixing the problems of the previous entry. It got a 76 on Metacritic.

My Score – 7.5/10

WWE 2K24

Original WWE 2K24 Review by John Powell – WWE 2K continues to raise the bar

“WWE 2K24 really is the best wrestling game franchise ever produced. It is so well done that the developers are now sifting through grains of sand or salt to find anything they can improve upon. While many traditional sports games crank out the same tired old yearly instalments, WWE 2K24 gives gamers value for their money whether it is the multitude of DLC packages, the various modes, the stacked roster of playable characters, the new matches or the enhancements that really do improve the gameplay and experience. The challenge to the developers is if they can continue to top themselves year after year. So far, that challenge seems to be accepted and met.”

WWE 2K24 leaned heavily into celebration and spectacle, using its 40 Years of WrestleMania Showcase mode to frame the game as both a tribute and a history lesson. It continued to refine the faster gameplay introduced in 2K22 and 2K23, while adding new match types and expanding its already deep roster. Although it did not dramatically reinvent the formula, 2K24 benefited from stability and familiarity, presenting itself as a confident anniversary entry that focused on honouring WWE’s past while maintaining the series’ modern momentum.

Despite making small improvements to the formula they seemed to have already perfected, this year’s entry lost a point on Metacritic with a score of 81, but critics agreed that rather than being a step forward, this game was as good as the previous edition.

My Score – 7.5/10

WWE 2K25

Original WWE 2K25 Review by John Powell – WWE 2K25 has it all and then some

“There is just so much content packed into WWE 2K25 that there literally is something for every type of wresting fan and every type of gamer as just when you think 2K and the WWE have done all they can, they raise the bar yet again. Like most sports games though, the add-ons and enhancements will be the keys to the franchise’s longevity. So far, the WWE 2K model has a lot of miles left on it and plenty of asphalt to burn.”

WWE 2K25 arrived as a consolidation year for the rebooted series, focusing more on refinement than reinvention. With Roman Reigns headlining the standard edition and Paul Heyman central to its presentation, the game leaned into modern WWE’s identity while continuing to polish the faster, more responsive gameplay style introduced in 2K22. It expanded existing modes rather than overhauling them, positioning itself as a stable, confidence-driven entry that showed the franchise had finally found its footing again after years of uncertainty.

Critics felt like, again, this was another sidestep in the series, as it was still an enjoyable experience, but no innovation made since the reboot three years prior. The latest entry in the WWE 2K franchise got an 80 on Metacritic.

My Score – 7.5/10

WWE 2K23

Original WWE 2K23 Review by John Powell – WWE 2K23: The total package

“WWE 2K23 continues one of the best comebacks in video game franchise history. From the Installment That Shall Not Ever Be Named (WWE 2K20) to last year’s superb comeback and this year’s astounding entry, the franchise has returned to its former glory.”

WWE 2K23 built directly on the foundation laid by 2K22, refining its faster-paced in-ring action while expanding its suite of modes. The return of WarGames and a John Cena–themed Showcase mode gave the game a strong identity, blending modern presentation with a tribute to one of WWE’s defining stars. It felt like a confidence play from a franchise back on its feet, less about reinvention and more about proving that the new direction could be sustained year over year.

Reviews for this game were even higher than the last one, getting the series’ highest Metacritic score so far with 82. Critics all agreed that the improvements made to last year’s game made this the most comprehensive wrestling video game experience to date.

My Score – 8/10

So there we have it, every WWE 2K game ranked from worst to best, and it’s no surprise that 2K20 takes the wooden spoon as it was a buggy mess of a game that shouldn’t have seen the light of day. The new development team should have taken that year off to get the hang of what they wanted to make.

WWE 2K23 takes the top spot for me because it was an improvement on the rebooted series, and I felt like Visual Concepts really took what they learned from their mistakes from 2K20 and what they did well in 2K22 and got the best out of the series in 2K23.

While we don’t know when 2K26 will drop, it’s been rumoured that it will release in its usual mid-March timeslot, just in time for the build-up to WrestleMania. Here’s hoping this one is the best entry in the series yet!