WWE 2K25 Review: The Wildest, Most Limitless Wrestling Game Yet

By Jason T. Smith

Creative Editor, Pastrami Nation

Just when you thought WWE 2K24 had set the bar with its jaw-dropping realism, fluid gameplay, and the most detailed Create-A-Wrestler mode we’ve ever seen—2K ups the ante again. Enter WWE 2K25, a game that takes everything fans loved about 2K24 and dials it up to eleven. Then throws it through a table for good measure.

Right out the gate, WWE 2K25 makes it clear this isn’t just a rehash. The beloved Showcase mode returns with a twist—it’s not just about WrestleMania anymore. Your first match? Yokozuna vs. Hulk Hogan at King of the Ring. Then you’re tossed into WrestleMania IX as the Headshrinkers facing off against the Steiner Brothers. These moments feel fresh and nostalgic all at once. And that’s just the beginning.

The game also features expanded modes like Island, MyRise, and the gritty new NXT Underground match type. But let’s get to what really blew my mind: intergender matches. That’s right—for the first time in a WWE 2K game, women and men can finally square off, one-on-one, no gimmicks or tag stipulations required.

In older games, the closest you got to seeing a female wrestler in the ring with a male opponent was via mixed tags or awkward manager roles. Gone is that limitation. Now, you can have Rhea Ripley absolutely obliterate your fictional version of that annoying ex-neighbor or high school bully. For me, this is a full-circle moment—throwback to 2000, hanging at a friend’s place, playing WWF No Mercy on the N64. The girls would create themselves as wrestlers, throw down with the guys, and everyone had a blast. It was chaotic, fun, and real. WWE 2K25 brings that same vibe back—and then some.

And let’s not forget the creation suite. Want to recreate Earthquake or bring Papa Shango back to life in the squared circle? You basically can—the game is packed with classic gear and customization options that are just begging you to dive in. Add to that a lineup of upcoming DLC that includes legends like Abyss from TNA and Sid Justice, and you’ve got a game with near-infinite possibilities.

WWE 2K25 is pure, unfiltered wrestling joy. It’s over-the-top, hilarious, nostalgic, and more versatile than ever. My brothers haven’t laughed this hard in years—watching created versions of old principals and playground bullies get decimated night after night is just chef’s kiss.

So do yourself a favor: stop reading, fire up your console, and grab WWE 2K25. You won’t regret it.

Rating: FIVE Pastrami Nations out of FIVE