What You Need To Know:

• WWE 2K22 was released on March 11, 2022, for the PlayStation 5/4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, and PC.

• This is a soft reboot of the WWE 2K series after the release of the critically panned WWE 2K20.

• WWE 2K22 returns to more arcade-style gameplay with impressive controls and graphics.

• If you are a fan of WWE or professional wrestling, this game will impress and entertain you.

My fandom for professional wrestling goes back to kindergarten. I discovered WWE when their Friday night program “Smackdown” was airing on the CW television channel. While I had watched occasionally up until that point, my first recollection of myself following a storyline in-depth was the “La Familia” storyline between Edge and the Guerrero family versus the Undertaker. My love for the entertainment of professional wrestling, along with my love for video games, made me ask for a copy of “Smackdown Vs. Raw 2007” for my PlayStation 2. It’s often regarded as a great wrestling game, so, the question is, how does the newest WWE video game stack up to the ones before it? 

WWE 2K22 is developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Games. This is Visual Concepts’ second WWE title after the much-maligned disaster of WWE 2K20. Before going in-depth into the technical aspect and fun factor of the gameplay, I want to address something. Yes, WWE 2K22 is a much better game than WWE 2K20. Comparing the two is unfair since WWE 2K22 is a much more polished and technically proficient game than its predecessor. The number of modes and features greatly exceeds the anemic amount in the previous title. If you’re reading this and wondering if it is at least better than the previous game, yes, very much so. It’s insulting to call the last title a video game compared to this offering. 

The first thing any player will notice about WWE 2K22 is the graphical presentation. The PlayStation 5 version was played for the purposes of this review, and WWE 2K22 is the best-looking wrestling video game bar none. Everything from character models, entrances, arenas, and cutscenes is wonderful. Every wrestler looks photorealistic to their real-life counterparts, along with the ones that weren’t available for motion capture facial scan. 

The presentation of the matches looks like a WWE show on television. Camera angles, match flow, and sound design feel as if you’re watching on television. The wrestling moves look as good as ever, with the most new moves in a long time. Everything looks great, and it was worth the wait to allow Visual Concepts to create a new engine for these impressive graphics. Graphics aren’t everything, however, and the gameplay in a wrestling game is critical for enjoyment. 

The gameplay in WWE 2K22 feels like a good mix of arcade and simulation. Taking the best parts of former developer Yukes’ design, Visual Concepts returns to a less restrictive type of gameplay that emphasizes fun rather than being realistic. The controls feel responsive, and the combos for moves feel similar to a fighting game. 

The best part of the simulation aspect of the game is the different weight classes of the wrestlers. Super-heavyweight wrestlers feel harder to control than cruiserweights, but they are more powerful, and they can perform more devastating moves. It does not have as much of an arcade feel as “Smackdown: Here Comes the Pain” or “WWF: No Mercy”, but the balance is more toward an arcade side and offers the best gameplay in the WWE 2K series. 

A mode dedicated to the cover star Rey Mysterio is called the “showcase”. This mode goes through some of his best matches along with commentary by Mysterio throughout. The mode goes through his career from his start in the WCW cruiserweight division to his current legendary status in WWE. His commentary is appreciated, and the mode is well made, but it could have been much more in-depth and covered more matches. There were also some odd inclusions of matches here, some felt like they were here to include wrestlers and arenas as unlockables. 

General Manager mode is included for the first time since “Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008”, and while it isn’t as great as the previous versions, having it come back in any form is appreciated. 

The “MyRise” mode is essentially the career mode of the game. It has a branching story path with plenty of cutscenes, but it doesn’t feel as dynamic as some of the games of the past. For a soft reboot, it’s a good start. However, it will likely get better in the coming games.

The character and arena customization are unbelievable. The number of things a person can create is unlike any other game of its kind. I have seen wrestlers, fictional characters, and real-life personalities created accurately within the character system. Getting this game to relive and create new memories with the character customization is worth the purchase. While WWE 2K22 doesn’t exceed in pure content (aside from the customization), the content here is worthwhile and will keep fans happy until the next major release. 

WWE 2K22 was one of the biggest lowkey surprises I had played in a while. I didn’t expect anything amazing going in, but I enjoyed the experience a lot. The fun factor of the gameplay, especially in multiplayer with friends, is unmatched. This game is perfect for a party or if you’re looking for quick online play. The game is not perfect by any means, but it’s a worthwhile wrestling video game that deserves recognition for what it does right. Would it make the top 10? With a little more TLC (pun intended) for the next installment, this soft reboot could be the start of something new.