WWE 2k25 Switch 2 Review

WWE 2k25 Switch 2 Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2

It’s been a while since I’ve entered the ring for some high-flying, death-defying, slobber-knocking action. So long, in fact, that WWE was still sharing the same name as a certain wildlife preservation charity. It was the height of the Attitude Era, and many weekends were spent with WWF Warzone and WCW Vs NWO on the Nintendo 64, causing absolute mayhem with four controllers, a few mates, and plenty of chairs. I haven’t been able to keep up with the storylines in WWE for the past 2 decades but as long as HHH is still rebelling against WWE with Degeneration X, JR is still in the commentators’ box, and The Rock is still the most electrifying superstar in sports entertainment and didn’t go off to pursue a career in acting, I’ll be fine. So for the dozens watching this video, and for my subscribers in attendance, let’s get ready to Reviewwwwwwww!

Before we dive in, I just want to take a moment to acknowledge the passing of Terry Bollea, better known to millions as Hulk Hogan. Like a lot of fans, I grew up watching him, and he was larger than life, and for better or worse, a defining part of WWE’s rise to global popularity. There’s no denying his role in shaping professional wrestling and bringing it into the mainstream. From WrestleMania to Saturday morning cartoons, his legacy is woven into the very fabric of WWE history. Rest in peace, Hulkster.

The WWE 2K series needs no introduction. Since rebooting in 2014, it’s become a mainstay for wrestling fans looking to simulate the chaos, spectacle, and drama of WWE from their living rooms. Each new entry brings fresh rosters, refined mechanics, and a chance to rewrite history with your favourite Superstars. With WWE 2K25 marking a milestone this year, appearing on a Nintendo system for the first time since the disastrous launch of 2k18, which effectively ended the franchise on the Switch. WWE 2k25 has a main story mode that involves the WWE having a civil war, so to speak, between opposing shows. It’s really cheesy, but in a good way, as it captures the spirit of the WWE, and allows multiple paths on how to approach things, and how to shape your character. You can level them up after each match, getting stronger and becoming the rising Superstar of the WWE. Outside of the main story mode, there is a huge amount of game modes that have become the series staple, as well as “The Island”, but more on that later.

Gameplay sees you fight in matches against the best of them, carefully managing stamina, special move gauges, and reversals. When I first entered the ring, I was getting destroyed, but after learning the ropes (pun intended), I found that matches had a certain back-and-forth to them, allowing you to turn the tide of battle with a well-timed reversal, and some clever tactics to allow you some breathing space. It’s one of those “easy to play, difficult to master” type of games, where a patient player is rewarded, and even losses teach valuable lessons. What I really loved about the gameplay is the element of strategy and point scoring to think about during the match. There’s a grading system that goes up to 5 stars, and you are awarded points toward that rating by varying moves, taunting your opponents, and generally putting on a show. I found myself stretching a match out for the purposes of this scoring, aiming to please the adoring digital crowd. Your efforts aren’t in vain in doing so, as the better the rating, the more currency you get to go towards unlocking another superstar from the roster. The game features a massive roster of past and present WWE superstars, and unfortunately, the world’s worst UI when it comes to selecting them. Instead of using a character portrait collage similar to what we see in fighting games, you are given an alphabetical list, showing only a handful of names at a time, making selecting your wrestlers a somewhat frustrating experience. The freeform approach to matches in exhibition mode also allowed for some memorable matchups. In one instance, I put some of the best Attitude Era wrestlers up against the popular newer talent in a bit of a “dream scenario” mashup. Now, while I’m not as big a fan of wrestling as I used to be, I was still having a blast and audibly cheering when Stone Cold managed to drop a stunner at the same time I locked in a Rock Bottom to send my opponents crashing to the mat. The game is full of moments like these, and I feel that’s what made it so enjoyable… much like the show itself, it’s a real spectacle.

There’s also a myriad of game modes that further add to the freeform customisation, letting you live out your wildest wrestling dreams. You can be a manager in the “MyGM” game mode, create your own wrestlers, storylines, and show in the “MyUniverse” mode, or live out your dream by joining the WWE in the main story called “MyRise.” There’s also a deck-building game mode called “MyFaction”, which, along with The Island, seemed to be designed as a more pay-to-win model. I particularly enjoyed the “MyGM” mode, as it allowed you to manage a roster of Superstars and organise shows, matches, and promos with the objective of beating other managers to be the most entertaining (and most profitable) show in the WWE. You can quickly simulate matches or take control and play them to help sway things in your favour. There are plenty of stats and abilities to keep in mind, like pitting opposing stars against each other for rivalry and entertainment factors, as well as scheduling other stars to come in and sabotage the match. It’s all very well done and works really well, and can be played solo or with friends.

WWE 2K25 is both technically and visually impressive. The Superstars have incredible detail, and even gradually work up a sweat during matches. Animations and moves look spectacular, and while crowds have never been a strong point, WWE 2k25 spectators manage to look really good, especially during intros. There’s a lot of meticulous detail, expertly capturing the larger-than-life characters that appear on screen, and it’s all rendered for the most part, at 60 frames per second, taking full advantage of the Switch 2’s hardware. There are a few times the engine can stumble, however, with minor animation bugs when getting tangled in the ropes, or having streamer mode on mutes some clips entirely, rather than just the music. Take my introduction to the island, for example, which was unskippable, so I sat there making awkward eye contact with Roman Reigns while Paul Heyman animatedly tried to explain something to me. Another odd bug seems to be that when the camera zooms in to highlight a special move or finisher, the game immediately drops to 30 frames per second, and it is very jarring, dropping from 60 fps. There seems to be no reason behind this, as it’s not a stutter, simply an instant drop, then resumes back to normal once the move is done. You can turn these highlight frequencies down, or even off, but they also look pretty cool. Fingers crossed this gets patched out post-release, as it’s the only thing I can really fault when it comes to the game’s performance. We aimed to push the game to its limits to try to land a submission, but even in full 8-player brawls, and outside of these move highlights, the game doesn’t skip a beat.

My biggest issue with WWE2k25 is just how perverse the monetisation is. If a game has a lot of content, but some of that is simply there to wrestle more money out of you, does it make it good content? The Island seems to be the ultimate tourist trap, solely implemented to get you to spend more to create your ultimate wrestler. I calculated it would cost over $110 to max out your wrestler, and it would appear that The Island is a blatant pay-to-win gameplay mode, making it almost superfluous for any gamer on a budget. Then there’s also the “MyFaction” mode, which, while you can earn packs as you go along, it’s clearly designed to benefit players who have some disposable income. As a matter of fact, it would cost you $220 AUD to purchase 20 packs, which might net you some decent superstars, but still doesn’t guarantee victory. I spoke about this at length with my friend last night, who told me that this sort of practice has become the norm in sporting titles. Still, I can’t help but feel like if I’m spending $110 on a title, that it should be much easier to earn through play, because ultimately, these modes isolate players already feeling the sting of paying a premium for the game itself. Both these modes reach a point where it becomes a case of “put up or shut up”, and I know that I won’t be investing my time or money in these modes after hitting a progression wall. That said, there’s still plenty of game on offer that doesn’t chokeslam your wallet in the other fantastic modes.

At $110 AUD, WWE 2k25 has plenty to offer on the Switch 2. Its myriad and variation of game modes mean that you won’t get bored after a match or two, and can switch things up at any time. For my Superstars looking into accessibility options, there are a few tweaks you can make, like switching button-mashing quick time events to a radial dial, adding subtitles, and changing things like auto-reversals, rope breaks, and weight from simulation to arcade, allowing any moves on any character.

Questionable monetisation aside, it’s clear that 2K have honed its wrestling series down to an art. Much like the real-world WWE, WWE 2k25 is big, brash, and bombastic, offering high-flying antics, cheesy storylines, and larger-than-life characters. Gameplay is technical and fun, giving players legitimate reasons to emulate the to and fro of real-life matches, while never being frustrating or overpowering. Everything looks amazing and has great attention to detail, and the ability to play the game your way offers significant replay value. When it comes to wrestling video games, it’s clear that WWE 2k25 wins the championship belt.

So, What’s it Like? WWE 2k25 is like the real-world WWE, with some interesting career paths.

Enjoyed our WWE 2k25 Switch 2 Review?

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