WWE 2K24 makes even more improvements to the previous formula, making it one of the better modern pro wrestling titles fans have gotten.
WWE 2K24
Developed By: Visual Concepts, 2K Games
Platforms: PlayStation 4|5 (Reviewed On), Xbox Consoles, PC
Release Date: March 8, 2024
My love for wrestling has come and gone over the years. Growing up in the 90s with the Attitude Era, WWE set the precipice for all other wrestling shows. As time went on gaming became a bigger phenomenon, we saw the release of some amazing wrestling titles, but they always felt a bit disconnected cause the tech of the time.
With that 2K Games and Visual Concepts have been working to make the WWE Series an unforgettable experience since 2019. With their latest entry in the series, WWE 2K24 wants to prove itself worthy and demands fans to ACKNOWLEDGE it by bringing some of the best graphics and gameplay in years. With that, can WWE 2K24 hold its championship high? Or will it be eliminated early in the match? Let’s find out…
Can You Smell…What 2K is Cooking?
WWE 2K24 is the biggest launch for 2K in the game series’ history. With more than 200 playable characters on the rosters, new match modes, MyGM, MyRISE, Universe, Showcase, and more, the replayability of this game is utterly ridiculous. After playing for the last couple of weeks, I can confidently say that I have worked my way to the top of the leaderboard and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it!
Upon starting the game, I was immediately drawn to the Showcase of the Immortals mode. Rather than creating a wrestler right away, I explored the cinematic aspect of the game. This mode features an exciting lineup of 21 matches from WrestleMania; each with its unique set of challenges and rewards.
What I loved most about this mode is how it spans such a long length of time (from WrestleMania III to WrestleMania 39). This gives players a comprehensive view of the most memorable moments in WrestleMania history. Whether it’s the thrilling main events or the underdog stories that captivate you, this mode has something for everyone.
If you are new to this game, you should know that while playing these matches, your goal is to deal damage, pull off certain movements, and more before the match progresses. By completing these challenges, the match progresses into a seamless transition from gameplay to actual footage of the real match.
Once you finish the said match, you’ll be rewarded with new characters, venues, and tons of other bonuses that you can use to enhance your gaming experience. The Showcase mode is for sure a main highlight of this game, offering an unparalleled level of immersion that will take fans through some of WWE’s most iconic historical moments.
This mode features some of the most iconic in WrestleMania history, Stone Cold vs. The Rock, Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins, and more. Seeing all this play out while also controlling the action was a truly special experience.
As a reinvigorated wrestling fan, I can say that WWE 2K24 is truly something special. You can see the amount of love and dedication that Visual Concepts and 2K Games put into making this the best game on the market. As for The Showcase mode, this is a testament to this love and dedication, as it shows the development teams’ passion for their fans and the WWE.
The Epitome of Replayability
Apart from the amazing Showcase mode, WWE 2K24 offers a variety of other game modes for players to invest all their time into. One such mode is MyRise; a unique storyline that focuses on your custom-built character. The game provides a very high level of customization, allowing players to tailor their character’s appearance, wrestling style, entrance, and more to their liking.
There are two routes you can take: Undisputed (men) and Unleashed (women). Both are built with sprawling storylines filled with challenges, drama, and all the crazy wrestling action you need.
I found this mode very satisfying, especially when you overcome the challenges that these other WWE Superstars put you through. Not only do you have to deal with Superstars in the ring, but you also have to deal with the likes of prominent Superstars like The Miz, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, and even some WWE Legends.
This was quite the thrilling game mode as I made my custom character RISE to the top, main-eventing WrestleMania, and having to defend my Undisputed Championship. I made my Superstar not just a legend with fans, but with the other Superstars I took on. After pouring time into this mode, it was time to try out MyGM and MyFaction.
Though my goal was to focus a lot of time on these two modes, I can say that they just really were not my cup of tea. MyGM gives you full control of a show of your picking as it faces you off against other GMs and their brands. You start by drafting your roster, then building up your locations, pyro/effects, matches, etc. Though at first, this was interesting to me, I found myself slowly getting away from playing each match, to just simulating each match to my stats.
After moving from this, I tried MyFaction for roughly thirty minutes and realized the depth of this system for the game mode. This isn’t just an additional game mode, this is a sprawling mode that takes time and tons of investment to get what you can out of this mode.
(Sourced via our friend JayShockBlast)
With rewards like new personas for Superstars, new in-ring attire, and a new version of said Superstars this is a mode I suggest you invest time into right out the bat, unlike me, and put in 40 hours of gameplay before even opening the mode.
I am not saying that MyGM and MyFaction are bad additions to the game, they are expansion modes that add tons of layers to the already huge replayability of this game. These modes were just not something that pulled me in like the other modes did.
Finish The Story Your Way
Universe mode is a more simplified version of MyGM that gives you a front-row seat to straight-up action. In Universe mode, you take complete control of the wrestling universe by managing the roster, putting on shows, and creating feuds and storylines. You have the freedom to decide who fights whom, and which champions reign supreme.
One of the latest updates to the WWE 2K24 Universe mode is the enhancements and expansion of rivalries, run-ins, Money in the Bank cash-ins, new cutscenes, Special Guest Referee support, Double Title Matches, and a Loser Leaves Town stipulation. While I didn’t get to experience the Double title match or Loser Leaves Town, I found the new cutscenes and rivalries to be engaging.
I spent most of my time playing through the Universe mode as the late Superstar Bray Wyatt. This allowed me to witness many new cutscenes as I pushed him to rival Roman Reigns. The game’s developers have taken great care to ensure that these new features feel natural and add to the overall experience of the game.
One of the most exciting features of this mode was the ability to customize not only the roster of Superstars but also their alliances, tag or trio teams, entrances, and much more. This allowed me to create a unique experience tailored to what I liked. As I played, I discovered the vast array of options from the Creation Suit you can add in the Universe mode.
The Creation Suit grants lets players customize more than just Superstars. You can make your custom Championships, Money in the Bank cases, arenas, shows, and more! I was able to create my own WWE Universe, this gave me the feeling of being in complete control of my story.
At first, I was just controlling one character, but then I switched to classic Universe mode and built my dream showcase. I made a new WCW Monday Nitro show, rebuilt classic rivalries’, and made a new Wyatt family with all of Bray Wyatt’s Personas. I even made a new championship for my Superstars to fight for. The level of detail and customization available in this game is something beyond special and will immerse players for hours upon end!
Lastly, I have to mention the unbelievable graphics that accompany this game. Yes, the gameplay is smoother and there is so much to do in this title, but one of the biggest things that stood out to me is how stellar the visual experience was in WWE2K24. No matter the mode that you are playing in, Visual Concepts brings with it the power of the Unreal Engine, making it the best-looking wrestling title in the series.
Whether it’s the Showcase of the Immortals at WrestleMania or the smallest matches at your own created promotions, WWE2K24 brings the world of wrestling to life like never before with its lifelike graphics, fast-paced gameplay, and a plethora of game modes, along with the biggest roster ever. Visual Concepts and 2K Games can be proud of this remarkable accomplishment of making one of the best WWE titles of all time with WWE2K24.
