WWE game slams competition as ‘2K24’ puts gamers in figure four of gaming fury

The annual release from WWE games has finally arrived, and many fans are wondering if the title has improved any from last year. WWE 2K24 is the continuation of the long running series published by 2K Games, a trend that began all the way back in 2013 with WWE 2K14. So what has been added this year that makes it worth buying? Is the game worth buying at all?

The history of WWE games has been quite rocky as of late. The largest blemish on 2K Games’ reputation was the release of WWE 2K20, a game broken and poorly made in almost every single way. However, 2K has slowly been building its credibility back with the last new releases. 2K22 was an amazing return to form for the studio, after taking a step back from yearly releases to refocus. After that there was the release of 2K23 which continued the increase in quality, making fans hopeful for the future. So now 2K24 has finally released, and the biggest question is, what has been added?

One of the first features to note about the game are updates to gameplay. The core has stayed the same, with very few changes to how each wrestler plays. However, there were a couple changes worth highlighting. First off, the number of finishers and signatures a wrestler can have has been increased to 5, a change that allows for players to use their full range of moves to end a match. Sticking with the topic of finishers, a new ability has been added to the game called a “super finisher.” This move is the ultimate match ender for each wrestler. For instance, in the case of Cody Rhodes, his “super finisher” is the Triple Cross Rhodes. Another example of a wrestler with a super finisher is Seth Rollins, with his move, the Stomp from off the top rope. These small tweaks have allowed the game to feel more versatile, allowing fans of WWE to truly craft their masterpieces in match form. 

Another new feature is the new match types introduced. The first one of note is the ambulance match, a match where the only way to win is to put the opponent into the back of an ambulance. The new match type allows for some creative moments off the top of the ambulance. Another match type that has finally been included in the game is the casket match. The casket match is very similar to the ambulance match, in the way that the goal is to place the opponent in a specific location, but the casket match is a prep for the long dirt nap. The casket match has been included in past WWE games, so it was nice of the developers to finally bring the match back in all its glory. Speaking of match types returning, one of the longest awaited match types that fans were requesting has finally come home: the special guest referee match. The concept for this contest is simple, it is the exact same as a regular match, but a wrestler from the game (including the player) can be the referee for the contest. Obviously, this match type can get quite chaotic, which makes it a great and welcomed inclusion. 

One other notable part of this year’s game is the showcase mode. Typically, WWE games have a showcase mode where they highlight a specific WWE star and their career. Last year in 2K23 the showcase mode highlighted the career of John Cena, but they interestingly decided to focus on the important losses he endured over his illustrious tenure. However, this year WWE has decided to focus on the history of Wrestlemania, and all the famous matches from the years. This mode tracks all the way back to Wrestlemania 3, with matches like “Macho Man” Randy Savage fighting Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat, and Hulk Hogan against André the Giant. Each different match has the player complete objectives to simulate how the match went down in real life, allowing the player to feel fully immersed in the retelling of the match. The showcase mode goes on to highlight incredibly technical matches, such as Kurt Angle versus Eddie Guerrero, to the fascinating and bizarre matches, including the “Firefly Funhouse” match between Bray Wyatt and John Cena. Ultimately, the mode culminates in the climactic recent match between “The Head of the Table” Roman Reigns against “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, a relatively obvious way to gain excitement for their rematch at WrestleMania 40. Overall, the mode does a great job of introducing casual fans of WWE to past matches, while highlighting the importance of the modern day bouts. 

Another mode that has been expanded upon is MyRise, the career mode of sorts for WWE games. MyRise is the mode where the player creates a custom superstar and has them live out a WWE career. While MyRise was introduced a couple of years ago, the mode has continued to evolve and grow. There are two stories to choose from this year, one of them being “Undisputed” where the player takes control of a superstar who was thrust into a tournament for the recently vacated WWE Championship. The other story, “Unleashed,” is more of a traditional career mode, where the custom superstar rises through the ranks of the independent wrestling scene, with hopes to become a WWE champion. Both modes offer different entertaining stories with a multitude of branching pathways that are quite engaging. 

Ultimately, WWE 2K24 is a welcome inclusion to the WWE lineup. The game adds a plethora of new options, while continuing to bring the quality WWE games (besides 2K20) are known for. Truly, fans have seen a ton of quality from this game, placing it at the head of the sports simulation table, something only comparable to Curt Hennig, perfection.

WWE 2K24 has not only expanded off of the previous year, but it has shattered the glass ceiling of last year, and that's the bottom line. 

Grade: A

by Jacob Stinski 

Published April 1 2024

Oshkosh West Index volume 120 issue VI