WWE 2K25 Review: Latest Scores, Expert Opinions and Most Exciting Additions

Reviews continue to roll in for WWE 2K25, the latest release from pro wrestling's most prominent promotion and 2K Games, with the majority of them being overwhelmingly positive.

Game Rant, Forbes, and Vice, among others, graded it highly, with only a few criticisms of the dependency on virtual currency in the Island and MyFACTION modes.

More critics added to the mix, but what did they have to say and how much did they echo the opinions of their predecessors?

The Wrestling is Top Tier But Dependency on VC Hurts

Ben Wilson of GamesRadar rated the game highly, awarding it four out of five stars. He touted the gameplay, writing, "Good lord, the wrestling here is top-tier. Just exceptional. The best we've seen in the series going back to its Smackdown vs Raw heyday."

He applauded the animations, different match types, the return of chain wrestling, and the upgraded brawling areas, including the NXT Parking Lot. He touted the new Giant class, which makes handling Omos feel distinctly different than if one were to compete with Chris Sabin or Johnny Gargano.

The praise for the quality of the game and its many little details is obvious and plentiful, and spills over to the Showcase modes and Paul Heyman's involvement as its narrator.

All of that is dampened, though, by what he feels is a "galling" display of "siphoning fans for more money" that is The Island and MyFACTION modes. While gamers can ultimately achieve their desired rewards by grinding away, they are more likely to sacrifice a few dollars than grind away for hours at a time to be able to afford a pair of Nike sneakers to outfit their created Superstar with.

Wilson ultimately attributed the lost star in his final rating to the money-grubbing additions, even as the review remained majorly positive overall.

"But it has to lose a star for its cash-grab modes, which land as snugly as a Logan Paul brass knuckle shot to the jaw. In which you're the recipient, rather than the mega-rich Youtuber."

"The Streak Continues"

Games Hub's Leah J. Williams credited WWE 2K25's predecessors for lying the groundwork for it, writing, "Like its predecessors before it, WWE 2K25 is yet another very good wrestling game that builds on past entries – although clever improvements made along the way do give it a more exciting, fresh edge."

The reviewer praised the reintroduction of intergender wrestling as the game's highlight. "The implementation of intergender matchups. Where previously, matchups were siloed by gender, changing attitudes and the increased prominence of women’s wrestlers across WWE storylines has inspired a rethink of gameplay options," she wrote.

She praised the MyRISE mode for some of its tongue-in-cheek nature and its fun plots, most notably the one involving CM Punk.

"It’s a punchy plot that frequently makes fun of dirt sheet rumours and life in modern WWE, with the prominence of CM Punk being particularly good and tongue-in-cheek. The game goes to great lengths to poke fun at his history in WWE and AEW, with knowing nods to company rivalries."

The Showcase mode also earned high praise while The Island faced the same criticism for microtransactions from other reviewers, staying consistent across the board.

For Williams, the bad taste of The Island was not enough to deter her from grading the game higher than Wilson, awarding it four-and-a-half stars out of five.