WWE 2K24 Review

Player(s): 1-8
Extra Features: Local (2-4) and Online (2-8) Multiplayer/Co-op, Leaderboards, Add-On Content

The WWE 2K series has been back on a roll ever since WWE 2K22. 2K23 brought a higher resolution graphics engine along with some upgrades here and there to other modes. 2K24 basically continues this tradition with upgrades to the existing modes. All the modes and features that were in 2K23 all return to 2K24 along with other match types such as Special Guest Referee Match, Ambulance Match, Casket Match, and Gauntlet Match. Overall, the game is only a slight upgrade to 2K23, but I feel it’s an overall better upgrade than the one from 2K22 to 2K23.

2K24 reintroduces all the same modes that started/continued in 2K22. My Rise, My GM, My Faction, Universe, and Showcase all return once again. Just like the previous year, My Rise has a male (Undisputed) and female (Unleashed) storyline for your created character. Beside completely new storylines, the mode basically has all the same features as 2K23. It seems like there are more branching storylines this year. Once again, you can change the path of the story by choosing one of two options at certain points in the dialogue. New match types, such as Special Guest Referee Match are present in this mode. The male storyline seems better in this year’s My Rise compared to last year.

My GM is a lot of the same as it was in past years. It’s still a General Manager simulation where you pick from managers (including a created character) and get to manage a brand through several months while competing against rival shows. The mode has added a bit more such as new match types, championships, superstar trading, and a few other additions. Your superstars can also level-up to gain new benefits as they compete in matches. The additions are ok, but this mode just still has a lack of reasons to play for too long – other than checking out the new additions. Out of all modes, My GM lacks appeal in the long run.

My Faction probably has some of the greatest changes. The Faction Wars has been completely overhauled into something a lot less monotonous. The mode used to only be a 4v4 ladder, but now the mode has turned into a sort of survival mode with choice paths along a grid. You create a team of four superstars and must fight through different matches along a path of your choice. These matches vary between 1v1 and greater matches and bring in other match types (such as ladder). You’ll fight a boss team at the end of each grid and you’ll get to choose a card from their pack to help you throughout the rest of your journey (the card is only yours for that one run). Your superstars all carry the damage from fight to fight, but you have the option to heal your team at certain points. You also gain bonuses, such as bonus healing and extra cards along with other bonuses by landing on certain blocks along a grid. Faction Wars has its own currency type that you can use to purchase from that mode’s store. This time, you are locked-in with a current team once you start and must complete your run (five grids total) or stop the run and cash out on your earnings. Thankfully, the game saves your current run so that you can exit out and go to other modes then come back to return to your run. Each run of the gauntlet cost you one ticket.

Beside the Faction Wars changes, there is also a new ranked match gauntlet that you can play online in My Faction. There are new “persona” cards that can be obtained to unlock new outfits for superstars outside of the mode. Along with buying packs of cards, you can now buy individual cards. The rest of My Faction is still pretty much the same. The mode will still not appeal to everyone. It’s a total grind of a mode (unless you want to spend real life money), but at least this time, it has a MUCH more interesting Faction Wars.

Universe is still basically the same thing as in years past. It’s a very popular mode that I never have truly gotten into, so I can’t tell you much about the changes. I do know that the mode now has Special Guest Referee support, Double Title Matches, and a “Loser Leaves Town” stipulation. Universe still has Classic and Superstar modes returning from last year.

This year’s Showcase mode has the most interesting subject matter that I have seen in quite a while. This one celebrates the 40 years of Wrestlemania and takes players through the most iconic matches in its history. If you’ve played other showcase modes, you’ll know what to expect and it hasn’t changed. Watch FMVs then go into the action of the matches. It’s pretty amazing how the FMVs transfer over to live action gameplay so well. Many unlockables are to be gained from fulfilling the different objectives in each match or you can just beat your opponent to make your way through the match and forfeit the unlockables. Instead of the Showcase focusing on a single superstar, this year’s showcase allows you to play a whole variety of superstars throughout all of its matches.

Along with the main modes, you also have the ability to create a bunch of different superstars, entrance/victory, move-set, MITB, championships, arenas, signs/images, shows, and videos. There is also an online mode and single player mode for facing off against other players and the CPU in various match types of your choosing. I also have to commend the developers for the new Guest Referee mode. This addition is a lot of fun for single player matches. You have a referee that can be either helping you out or trying to get you to lose the match. The referee has an audience meter that goes down as the audiences gets tired of the ref and the ref will be replaced at that point. The guest ref can do faster or slower counts and attack superstars behind their back (this can be countered). Even once the ref is driven out of the ring, the ref can still interfere by tossing in weapons and creating other disturbances. It’s a very nice addition! The casket match is interesting as well.

The graphics in the game have only improved very slightly from 2K23. If you put the two side-by-side up against each other, you have to be picky to see the changes. The superstar models seem to be smoother. The lighting is definitely better and probably the biggest graphic change. Shadows are much more evident in rings and throughout the arenas now. The game also just seems to run faster and smoother during gameplay. Some wrestler models have been upgraded, such as Bron Breaker’s model compared to the model he had in 2K23.

During tag matches, whether 2v2 or greater, you can now control your partner while wresting inside the ring. By holding the LB button and tapping in a direction with the directional pad, you can now give commands to your partner for helping you out. For instance, you can send them to attack the other team’s partners. This is a fantastic addition for the more annoying 4v4 matches. No longer do I have to knock out 3 other opponents before I can pin the legal opponent that I am fighting! Whoever thought of this, big kudos to you!

The loading in WWE 2K24 has improved quite a bit over 2K23. The game starts up faster and you can go into each mode a lot quicker. Matches load up faster as well. The main menus are also a big improvement over 2K23. Main menu icons light up with white borders and highlights once selected. It’s much easier on the eyes compared to the yellow glowing in 2K23’s menus. The overall soundtrack is the best since 2K19 for me. This year, I don’t feel like deselecting any audio. Post Malone has some overall good taste in music with the selected tunes this year. You have a good variety of hip hop, rock, electronic, pop, and even... country!?

The game has random bugs here and there, but they are often rare. I had one CPU opponent get stuck on the apron outside the ropes in one match. I also had problems to where the changes made to a customized character didn’t want to save at times, but they eventually did. I also had problems with refs and outside characters blocking the camera using the default camera view. Another thing that bugs me is how some of the superstars just don’t look as good as others – this has been happening for quite a while though. Also, some of the entrances could be better. For instance, with Cody Rhodes his movements and actions should really be timed with the music and pyro just like on the show. He has one of the most epic entrances on the show, yet it feels mediocre in the game thanks to the lack of timing.

Overall 2K24 has a bunch of small improvements when compared to 2K23, but it does feel like a better upgrade when compared to the transition of 2K22 to 2K23. It’s overall a worthy pickup for fans of WWE games. It has a much better showcase than last year and also the roster is the most solid it’s been in quite a few years. If you’re on the fence about it, I’d recommend trying it out before buying, though, since its similar to 2K23 in a lot of ways (mainly graphics).

The Good:
+ Great roster of legends and modern superstars (better than recent years)
+ Slight improvements to graphics and much better lighting
+ The gameplay is the best it’s ever been and it’s more fluid than 2K23
+ My Faction’s Faction Wars is much better
+ The new Guest Referee mode is a lot of fun

The Bad:
- A few random bugs here and there
- My GM mode could still use more excitement and reasons for playing it