PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews

WWE 2K25 is the best wrestling game ever made so far. Visual Concepts has refined the series over the years, and this edition delivers more realistic graphics, polished gameplay, and The Island mode, which is the cherry on top.

WWE 2K25 is about as good as it gets. From the plenty of modes to its staggering presentation, Visual Concepts has not only made the best entry in the series, but one of the best games of the year so far.

The work of WWE 2K25 is simply outstanding. An experience that knows how to attract new players and convince the most veteran ones with a surprising evolution in the saga. Epic comebacks like Wrestle Chain go hand in hand with new intergender matches, game modes for all tastes and a wide catalog of gameplay offerings to create what is undoubtedly the best chapter of the series in years. The presence of mythical fighters and names, the entertainment possibilities and control improvements such as the new third-person over-the-shoulder camera manage to paint a smile on the player's face as he flies over the barriers towards the opponent or enjoys some of the many craziness of The Island. A great job that proves, now yes, that in this wrestling few know as much as Visual Concept.

As a whole, WWE 2K25 feels like a small but impactful step up from its direct predecessor, and an overall better game. So, the good streak of Visual Concepts and 2K continues.

Like its predecessors, it's a shame that WWE 2K25 shoves its microtransactions in your face so much, because as a package it's rather excellent. All the usual modes make return with some nice upgrades, intergender matches are finally in, and the in-ring action is better than it's ever been. Basically, it's the best wrestling game there is.

WWE 2K25 is an exceptionally good video game. It’s chock full of well-realised modes and is an absolute blast to play. Whether you want to duke it out against the NXT Mutiny brand in MyRise or experience the rise of the Bloodline Dynasty in Showcase mode, there’s something here for every kind of wrestling fan.

WWE 2K25 is certainly not without its glitches (of course not on the level of the dumpster fire that was 2K20), and for the most part they’ve already been improved via patches. In my opinion, 2K25 is a must buy for a current or lapsed wrestling fan. It’s better than last year’s release, which is still saying a lot, and it’s miles better than the AEW release which feels like an eternity ago.

Visual Concepts has surpassed WWE 2K24 with this new release. Thanks in part to small gameplay and presentation additions and extensive game modes, it is a true pleasure to play for the WWE fan. Unfortunately, in some modes you are bombarded with attempts to earn extra money from you through microtransactions, which does detract from the experience. WWE 2K25 does almost everything right, but wants you to pump extra money into it just a little too much. As a result, the game misses out on a Gold Award.

Every game mode and feature in WWE 2K25 isn’t going to be for everyone, and that’s okay. Regardless of whether you’ll spend your time battling through the campaign, taking a Bloodline history lesson or strolling around the micro-transaction-riddled The Island, what’s included here is almost everything a wrestling fan could dream of. Packed with an epic roster, new match types, unbelievable creation options and smart gameplay tweaks that continue to prove the in-ring action is the best it’s ever been, it’s undisputed: WWE 2K25 is the best wrestling game available today. Put your ones up; because that’s not a prediction, that’s a spoiler.

The additions and improvements made in WWE 2K25 more than justify the series’ annual cadence, but new mode The Island shows us a potentially grim future of monetisation and pay-to-win practices.