WWE 2K22 [PlayStation 5] | REVIEW

I’ve had a bit of a strange relationship with WWE games. After playing pretty much every entry from the original PlayStation all the way through to WWE 2K15, I dropped out for a few years. I lost interest in wrestling completely, so the allure of re-creating rivalries or playing as my favourite superstars wasn’t there anymore. Want to know what game I decided to drop back in with? WWE 2K20, the bug-filled mess of a game that forced a break in WWE game releases and sent the developer back to the drawing board for the next entry. That next release is now upon us, with WWE 2K22 re-inventing the core experience to make something more enjoyable for fans. It has done a really good job of it too, with the wrestling action accessible, fun, and great to look at.

Check out a gallery of screenshots down below:

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The one thing that’s worth mentioning from the get-go is how good the wrestling of WWE 2K22 feels. The action is fuelled by combos this time around, with players able to string together combos of light and heavy strikes with the square and cross button, whilst the circle button will initiate a grapple. In a grapple, players can either press the square or cross button to hit different attacks, with each varying up based upon the repertoire of moves that your superstar has available as well as the position of your foe.

Attacking is straightforward and easy to get to grips with, with WWE 2K22 often feeling more akin to a traditional fighting game with its combo-based action. However, there are plenty of defensive options at each fighter’s disposal, with players able to hold triangle to block strikes or alternatively hit a well-timed button press to completely reverse attacks. Constant reversals can often be a bit of a nuisance in wrestling games, especially against skilled opponents, but the window of opportunity here is balanced enough that the action can go back-and-forth without feeling like a non-stop string of reversals.

There’s also the special meter which builds up as you attack that can be used to unleash finishers, the button-mashing of submission attempts and pins, as well as the traditional damage system that sees individual body parts take damage, all of which complement the more simplified approach to the wrestling in WWE 2K22. It helps make for some really enjoyable showdowns which both newbies and wrestling veterans will be able to appreciate – it’s possible to succeed by hitting combos and nailing a good variety of grapple moves in traditional button-mashing fashion, but there’s plenty of room for calculated attacks that bring with them an element of strategy as you target specific body parts.

“Constant reversals can often be a bit of a nuisance in wrestling games, especially against skilled opponents, but the window of opportunity here is balanced enough that the action can go back-and-forth without feeling like a non-stop string of reversals.”

For all its strengths, there were some aspects of the wrestling that could feel a little weak. Some moves were too drawn out with animations for example, with the player losing control as some fancy manoeuvre is pulled off that goes on for a few seconds. Of course, this is probably to be expected given the sense of grandeur that comes with some of the more acrobatic wrestling moves seen these days, but it did feel a little weird in-game watching your character move around the ring without any button inputs. The stun system could be a little hindersome too, if only because it keeps you out of the action for so long. Again, it’s part of wrestling so it makes sense thematically, but from a gameplay perspective it could be frustrating being left on the ground dazed whilst your opponent runs riot. Neither are game-breaking issues by any means and they didn’t stop me from having fun, but they were noticeable nonetheless.

When it comes to game modes, WWE 2K22 brings with it a traditional variety of matches. You’ve got the likes of one on one, tag team, tornado tag, triple threats, fatal four ways, eight-man battles… you know, your typical wrestling showdowns. These can be modified in a variety of ways too, whether that’s with Extreme Rules, a Hell in a Cell, a Battle Royale, and so forth. If you’ve seen it on TV, chances are you can do it in WWE 2K22… what more could you want?

Well, it turns out WWE 2K22 doesn’t skimp on game modes, with it offering a whole host of ways to experience the WWE Universe. MyRise acts as the main ‘story mode’, with players taking their own created WWE superstar through a career as a low-card act to a world champion. This brings with it plenty of choices to make along the way, with the player able to play the role of a face (a good guy) or a heel (a bad guy) with their decisions. This adds replayability to the mode, especially since stories can take completely different turns based upon your actions, and believe me, some can be RIDICULOUS (in the best possible way). It was a pleasant surprise just how much the mode offered, especially with the different side tasks you can engage with, and it helped MyRise stand out as my favourite mode of WWE 2K22.

“MyGM is actually pretty strategic and demands proper coordination and management to succeed in, with players not only having to manage their finances but also use different boosts to improve their ratings and give them the upper hand over their rivals.”

Alternatively, there’s the Universe mode which allows players to essentially put together their own WWE shows and control all aspects of booking (the matches, the rivalries, the champions) or instead play as just one wrestler in the Superstar mode and see their career through. It’s really cool to be able to put shows together and live out the childhood fantasy of running the WWE, but I found myself playing as an individual superstar more; it offered endless possibilities and was a good way to chill out and play for fun.

One mode that makes a big return this time around is MyGM, which allows players to take on the role of a General Manager and spend money to draft in wrestlers, put together shows and rivalries, and compete with the other shows of the WWE to be the most popular. It’s actually pretty strategic and demands proper coordination and management to succeed in, with players not only having to manage their finances but also use different boosts to improve their ratings and give them the upper hand over their rivals. It can be played in local multiplayer too, which I can imagine will appeal to a lot of players.

Whilst MyGM is fun though, I just found that the freedom offered in Universe mode appealed to me more. I didn’t need that competitive element when letting my creativity bloom; instead, I just liked being able to put together whatever shows I wanted with no stress or limitations. Still, I have no doubt that MyGM will be a lot of players’ favourite mode, so I’m glad to see it has made a return.

Check out a gallery of screenshots down below:

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It can’t be a sports game without some card-themed mode included these days, and that’s where MyFaction comes in. I’m going to make something clear straight away: MyFaction brings with it microtransactions where players are able to purchase a currency with real-life cash to get new cards. However, from what I’ve played so far this isn’t necessary at all, whilst the fact that MyFaction is exclusively single player means that you won’t get any real competitive edge either. It’s more of a shortcut as opposed to a necessity to succeed, which is a lot less poisonous in my eyes.

As for the mode itself, it’s all about building a deck of wrestlers, competing in different challenges (you’ll do the wrestling yourself), and unlocking rewards along the way. Admittedly, I haven’t put a whole lot of time into it yet, but it was definitely satisfying unlocking some of my favourite superstars and simply building up my collection of cards – especially since they come with different ranks that can change things up. It adds another way to experience the action of WWE 2K22 that feels a lot different to the other modes in the game. I don’t know if I’ll stick with it for the long-term, but it looks like it’ll bring a lot of variety to keep players coming back.

Finally, we have Showcase, which acts as a celebration of the game’s cover star Rey Mysterio. Players will essentially play out some of the most significant matches of his career, with battles against the like of Eddie Guerrero, Shawn Michaels, and Batista just a few that players can expect to be a part of. What makes this mode feel special is the way that the battles transition between in-game wrestling and real-life footage, which doesn’t only look impressive in-game but makes matches more atmospheric and meaningful. There are different objectives to complete in the mode too, which setup a lot of these moments and challenge players to approach matches in a specific way. It’s an experimental mode, but a massive success in my eyes and something I’d like to see more of in future releases – plus, it comes with some special unlockables, so it’s definitely worth playing through if you want a full roster…

“Wrestlers look more realistic than ever, the animations are fluid and life-like, and the entrances and celebrations are incredibly accurate to their real-life counterparts.”

With the fun fighting and rich selection of modes to play through, there really is plenty on offer in WWE 2K22 to keep players invested for months on end. There’s a great selection of superstars to fight as too, with over 170 available ranging between legends and current stars across the company’s multiple brands. It was a shame to see some personal favourites missing, some because they’re in AEW and others for reasons unknown, but here’s hoping they might be a part of some future DLC. On the flipside, playing as fighters who have left the company before the game even released was a bit weird too – yes, I’m talking about you, William Regal and Keith Lee (why did WWE let them go?!).

Thankfully, there are plenty of customisation options to create superstars, move sets, entrance movies, and so forth that you’re almost guaranteed to be able to re-create some of your favourites in some shape or form. Better yet, you can download the creations of other players, with full cross-play support included when it comes to sharing creations. There are a LOT of creative folk out there, so don’t be surprised to see the likes of missing wrestlers, super heroes, movie stars, or anime characters joining your roster soon.

What’s most important though is that the game improves SIGNIFICANTLY over WWE 2K20. Some argued there was no way back for the series after that disaster, but WWE 2K22 improves upon it in every way, whilst the visual and technical bugs are at a minimum. Don’t get me wrong, there’ll still be a few weird things that can happen in matches here and there (especially when it comes to using ladders and tables), but the game doesn’t feel broken; in fact, it’s the most fun I’ve had with a wrestling game since the days of Smackdown versus Raw.

Oh, and before I forget, the game looks stunning too. Wrestlers look more realistic than ever, the animations are fluid and life-like, and the entrances and celebrations are incredibly accurate to their real-life counterparts. It’s a VERY pretty game, especially on the PlayStation 5, and manages to recreate the electric atmosphere of the WWE Universe perfectly.

Developer: Visual Concepts
Publisher: 2K Sports
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Website: https://wwe.2k.com/