WWE 2K26 Expert Reviews and Impressions From Around the Web

Expert reviews for WWE 2K26 are hitting the web and while there are still issues that need fine-tuned or modes that could be rethought, the early consensus is that WWE and 2K Sports have teamed up to release one of the best pro wrestling games of all time.

What did reviewers from high-profile sites Game Spot and IGN have to say about this year's release and when will fans have the opportunity to get their hands on the game, if they did not already order one of the special editions with early access?

Find out in this preview and collection of reviews.

Release Information

Release Date: March 6 (King of Kings, Attitude Era, and Monday Night War editions), March 13 (standard edition)

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Nintendo Switch 2

Pricing: $69.99 (Standard), $99.99 (King of Kings Edition), $129.99 (Attitude Era Edition), $149.99 (Monday Night War Edition)

Rating: ESRB T

Pre-Order Bonus: The Joe Hendry Pack (Joe Hendry, Joe Hendry My Faction EVO card, MySuperstar CAS Part: Joe Hendry T-Shirt, MySuperstar Island emote: Joe Hendry spin), early access, and virtual currency

The Most Enjoyable WWE Game in Years

Chris Hayner of Game Spot wasted no time giving props to this year's release and its developers, writing, "While WWE 2K26 might not have a major new addition like 2K23's War Games match, there is a lot to love about this latest entry, as its developers have addressed a long list of ongoing issues that have plagued fans in recent years."

He added, "There are tweaks and fixes of all sizes found throughout, with almost every mode getting an update to make playing the game however you choose a much more enjoyable experience."

Hayner was complimentary of the switch from traditional DLC packs to the battle pass formatted Ringside Pass, but did warn that some will become disenfranchised when they realize that the unlockable Superstars within are essentially useless a year from now when they are part of the roster in WWE 2K27, setting this battle pass apart from other popular games, such as Fortnite.

He complemented the Showcase option, largely the new gauntlet feature that allows you to defeat all of the opponents in one sitting and unlock all of the rewards rather than advancing through the long mode to do so.

While admitting there is room for improvement, the reviewer wrote:

"Luckily, the rest of the game largely outshines the issues that remain. Without a major new match addition or dramatically changed gameplay mechanic, I expected WWE 2K26 to get lost in the shuffle as another incremental upgrade. Instead, it's filled with substantial upgrades that touch most corners of the game, making for a thoroughly more enjoyable experience."

He awarded the game an 8 out of 10, applauding the "focus on quality-of-life upgrades," The Island, and new match types while pointing out the tedious MyRise mode and outdated animations as the only significant negatives.

"2K26 Hasn't Learned Many New Moves Since Last Year"

IGN's Jarrett Green submitted his in-progress review of this year's game and thus far, the lack of significant change and the pay-for-play model that was criticized last year have reared their heads.

He did commend the changes to stamina in the game, writing:

"The biggest slam to the system is an adjustment to stamina, adding a condition called "winded" to superstars who run out. While winded, your stamina wheel turns from yellow to purple, and you can no longer run or use reversals until it empties and goes back to normal. This adds more risk-reward to all of the offensive and defensive actions you do in the ring that cost stamina."

At the same time, he noted the issue with reversals. "It doesn't address the problem of how the reversal prompts are unintuitive and sometimes at unpredictable points during a move's animation, making picking the system up feel impossible without hours of ring time and muscle memory development."

He applauded the new match types, with the I Quit bout being the best addition, but was critical of The Island for being poorly written and paced.

He fairly pointed out the positives and negatives of the annual Showcase mode, too, before writing his early summation.

"So far, WWE 2K26 is proving that this solid five-year run the series has been on was built on a great foundation. One that has barely had to change, but continues to in ways that are starting to hurt more than help."

He concluded, "This isn't a knockout blow for the series, but its certainly a threat to the champion. Hopefully, when I sink more time into other modes like MyRise and MyGM, they're good enough to help rally this heavyweight to a win."