WWE 2K24 review: Test your button-mashing might

WWE 2K24 enhances everything we love about its predecessor and upgrades it with new fan-requested features and interactive gameplay. 

Visual Concepts and 2K’s latest WWE 2K24 pro wrestling game gives the WWE Universe a historic look at the grandest stage of them all and a chance to mold their own destiny. WWE 2K24 is available in three editions, Standard, Deluxe, and Forty Years of Wrestlemania. All of which feature amazing cover art. WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes is on the standard version, whereas WWE Superstars Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley represent the dynamic women’s division on the Deluxe Edition. Bianca Belair makes history as the first black woman to be featured on the cover of a WWE 2K game. This is also the first WWE 2K game to feature two women on the cover. On the cover of WWE 2K24 Forty Years of WrestleMania is a collage of past and present WWE Superstars and Legends.

After watching the trailer and seeing a first look at the new match types, I was thrilled to dive into WWE 2K24. I played the game on an HP Pavilion Gaming PC. My computer has an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G 6-core CPU, 16GB of RAM, Radeon RX 5500 GPU with 4GB of dedicated memory. 2K’s recommended system requirements are an Intel i7-4790 / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and GeForce RTX 2060 / Radeon RX 570 graphics. I ran into glitches where the game would run in slow motion at times. To fix this, I updated my AMD graphics card drivers then uninstalled and reinstalled Steam. I also turned off V-Sync in the game's graphics settings and adjusted my monitor's refresh rate to 120Hz. 

WWE 2K24 features the biggest roster yet, with more than 200+ WWE Legends and Superstars — many of which have alternate attire. New to the game’s franchise are “Ravishing” Rick Rude, Ken Shamrock, George “The Animal'' Steele and others. Five optional DLC packs are expected later this year, beginning in May. Some of the playable characters I’m looking forward to are CM Punk, Pat McAfee, Jade Cargill, Nia Jax, Dragon Lee, Iron Sheik, and Great Muta. 

2K Showcase: Iconic Wrestlemania moments

This year’s Showcase revisits the most profound moments in Wrestlemania’s year history and features 21 iconic matches. This is the most nostalgic Showcase by far since I got to replay matches I watched on TV as a kid in the late 80s. For my review, I played five showcase matches, two of which starred one of my all-time favorite wrestlers, the late, great Macho Man Randy Savage. I like how this year’s 2K Showcase dives into the history of the matches with fun facts like title reign lengths and recaps of storylines which led to that particular Wrestlemania clash. Thankfully, you don’t have to complete a long list of objectives to advance to the next match on the timeline. It’s up to you when and if you want to challenge yourself and unlock more rewards. Whether you’re new to the game or played before, once you get confident with the game controls, it’s easier to complete the objectives. 

MyRise: Finish your story

MyRise is WWE 2K24’s story mode and it offers two gameplay options — The Men’s Undisputed and Womens’ Unleashed. It features expanded rewards, 80 unlockables that carry-over into MyGM and MyFaction game modes. WWE 2K24 MyRise is particularly interesting this year as it’s parallel to the storyline that’s currently playing out in the Road to Wrestlemania’s Roman Reigns’ Bloodline storyline. It poses the same questions: Will Roman keep his title or not? Will Cody Rhodes Finish the Story? This year I’m playing as The Dark Horse, a rising Superstar who has to prove that he’s worthy of holding the WWE Championship title and belongs on the grandest stage of them all. MyRise lets you step into what pro wrestling calls, the “kayfabe” personas, and what it’s like to live as a WWE Superstar in those personas. As you navigate through the game and create your own story, you’ll gain rewards, unlock new entrances and take into any other character across the game.

Graphics

WWE 2K24’s graphics are on par with the hyper-realistic character likenesses we’ve come to expect from the franchise. The facial features, mannerisms, signature moves, and ring gear of WWE Legends and Superstars are spot on. Environments are colorful and well lit, faces in the crowd are sharper and I love that most of the attendees now wear the same t-shirts found in the WWE Shop. My only gripe is that backstage interviewer Kayla Braxton doesn’t look as true-to-life as other game characters. 

Gameplay

Although buttons and controls are similar to last year’s release, WWE 2K24 has some fresh new button-mashing combos, signature finishers, and match types. You can also have your character dive from the top rope to knock down multiple players at once. Visual Concepts and 2K listened to the fans and added the Special Guest Referee Match which was the most requested, the Ambulance Match, Casket Match, and Gauntlet Match. I got every bit of my WWE-loving life playing my Wrestlemania 40 dream match — Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley with The Rock as the guest referee. Just like on TV, the referee may have some bias toward one wrestler and either slow count or not call out dirty moves or cheating. I especially like the Ambulance and Casket Matches in which the only way to win is to toss them into the ambulance or casket and close the door as they try to stop you. This feat of strength requires you to mash several buttons in succession at the right time which seems nearly impossible. I tried and failed many times and wish it were more like the game’s submission move which only prompts you to tap two buttons. On PC, it’s the A and Buttons on the Xbox Controller.

Choose your weapon

Another welcome addition I was hoping for, you can now throw weapons at your opponent. The gallery now includes a microphone, a giant Slim Jim, and Zelina’s Vega’s signature Chancla! I tested the new weapon throw in a Casket Match, playing as Roman Reigns against Rey Mysterio. During the match, I tossed a baseball bat at his head from afar while he was outside of the ring. Backstage Brawl also has interactive elements like a soda machine with cans you can throw. This match type now supports up to 4 players whereas Royal Rumble now accommodates eight players in 30 superstar online matches

Universe Mode & My Faction Upgrades

If you’re curious about the behind-the-scenes and creative side of sports entertainment, you can become a general manager in WWE 2K24’s Universe Mode. It’s now enhanced with new general managers like WWE Hall of Famer Teddy Long, brands like NXT 2.0 and ECW, match types, talent scouts, and Superstar trading between brands. There’s also contract management, new promos, tag team callouts, and more. 

MyFACTION is 2K Games' WWE SuperCard mobile card game for PC and console. There’s now a new direct purchase card market and Persona Cards for alternate attire that can be used across MyFaction and the rest of the WWE 2K24. Plus, you get an updated multiplayer experience, more real-world factions, more 4v4 match types, and rogue-lite elements: persistent damage, armor, and a Faction Wars-specific reward shop.

Bottom line

Much like pro wrestling, WWE 2K24 is not for the weak at heart and tests your perseverance. It’s a great job of paying homage to WWE history from WWE Legends to future Hall of Famers to the WWE Performance Center rookie class. 

If you’re a fan of the franchise or like button-mashing fighting games with multiplayer support, WWE 2K24 doesn’t disappoint.