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After taking over the annual WWE 2K games release in 2021, 2K and Virtual Concepts took a long, hard look at how to polish their next project. WWE 2K22 was the recipe they were looking for. It was nurtured in 2K23 and now come to fruition in WWE 2K24. It doesn’t make phenomenal changes, of course. However, subtle details and new additions to gameplay and creation suites have easily pushed WWE 2K24 to become the undisputed king of the ring.
Story: The Beat Goes On
WWE is well known for its rich narratives and deep account scenarios, which have always been featured in its video games in a custom manner. You can jump into the MyRise and choose to start a journey as a male or female superstar. The rest of the show is all yours to begin and finish your story with a custom dream (or nightmare) of your creation.
The narrative for the male career is called Undisputed, following the story of Roman Reigns vacating his title to leave the company. You’re a pro wrestler who fights to win this title and stay the undisputed champion afterward. As for the female career, the Unleashed storyline allows you to start from local wrestling shows and progress to the big show.
In both storylines, you can choose different answers to the contacting wrestlers and managers, leading to many branching pathways. But in the end, the record always ends in the same way. However, it’s good to see top-tier WWE faces like Roman Reigns show up in MyRise, voice-acted by them. This wasn’t the case last year in WWE 2K23.
Since WrestleMania is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Showcase mode glorifies the event by letting you play the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time. This mode hasn’t changed from previous titles, but it’s still good to revisit the memorable matches while enjoying the transitions from the game to real-life match cutscenes.
Gameplay: Upgrading A Thriving Blueprint
At first glance, WWE 2K24 doesn’t seem like it has more sand in its box than the previous two titles. However, play the game for an hour in its different modes, and you’ll find generous details that scream improvements and refinements across every facet of the experience.
Reversals are now better thanks to the “Early” and “Late” notifications on every move. You can throw objects towards the target to deal damage and create funny moments inside and outside the ring. And a new Super Finisher feature allows wrestlers like Cena to perform two AAs on the opponent, finishing anyone’s in-ring story in an instant.
In a menu full of diverse game modes, the Casket and Ambulance matches are the big additions this year. The rules are simple: Put your opponent in an ambulance and shut the door, or put them in a casket and bury them if possible. There’s button-mashing and controller-breaking mini-game to escape these fates. This is while you can climb the ambulance, throw the opponent down on the floor, and jump straight on them.
Adding a special referee is also available in WWE 2K24, permitting Rhea Ripley or one of the licensed referees to judge the match. You can be the judge, count faster for your allies, or not call for the rope break even if the pinned wrestler is holding the twine. Even if you have AI decide the match’s fate, their decisions tip towards their allies, followed by custom animations you get if you defeat or lose to the referee’s pals/foes.
The MyGM game mode review is a big win for WWE 2K24. A normal mode of adding wrestlers to hit each other in different scenarios is now turned into rivalry between you and other WWE brand’s general managers. Setting matches and trading wrestlers among 240 of them is much more detailed than 2K22 and 2K23, with having to manage your budget and grow new talents on your show.
Graphics & Audio: Not Quite There Yet
Graphics haven’t changed much since WWE 2K22, not drawing on the full power of 9th-gen consoles to deliver to their potential. Check the hair design of certain characters, like Becky Lynch, for example. The game’s rich in details, but still, you don’t see a ground-breaking difference in terms of visual quality between the Xbox One and Xbox Series X versions.
The sound effects are sharper when you slam the opponent on the ground, or hear the fans chanting Seth “Freakin” Rollins theme song. The attention to components in the MyRise mode’s dialogues and fans’ relateable chanting is incredible, even if it’s not all new in this year’s title.
However, most of the menu theme songs of WWE 2K24 are boring and will not get your blood pumping. I’d much rather listen to wrestler themes instead.
Conclusion: Acknowledged!
It’s been three years, and every WWE 2K gets better than the previous, and WWE 2K24 is following the same path. With nothing removed and more gameplay features and details added, WWE 2K24 is better than any that have come before.
Review copy given by the publisher. Xbox Series X version reviewed.
WWE 2K24 (Xbox Series X Reviewed)
While it's not a flawless masterpiece, WWE 2K24 adds the features we've been waiting for for a long while. The game takes the good-looking jacket of the previous two titles and upgrades it with better color and more elements to enjoy.
Pros
- Addition of new and fun game modes.
- Fresh details on fans' reactions to superstars' moves and entrances.
- MyRise mode storyline is deeply detailed.
- Balanced competitiveness of the overall gameplay.
Cons
- Visual quality is still on the mid-gen level.
- MyFactions mode is still a work in progress.
- Not suitable OST choices.
