WWE 2K26 [REVIEW] – The Best in the World (With Some Divisive Changes) 

Every year, wrestling fans gear up for the new WWE game release, and with WrestleMania just around the corner, WWE 2K26 has dropped at the perfect time, bringing with it a massive roster, brilliant gameplay refinements, and a few genuinely controversial changes to the core formula. While some of the live-service elements can be a bit of a headache, it is a remarkably strong and feature-packed release that gives WWE fans a ridiculous number of ways to play.  

Check out some screenshots down below: 

Let’s start with the in-ring action, because that is where the biggest shake-up lives. For the last few years, high-level matches eventually turned into staring contests where nobody wanted to throw the first punch, purely because reversing attacks was too easy. I know it has been a bit of a downer when playing locally with friends, whilst in online play, it was often a case of timing button-presses as opposed to having a competitive wrestling showdown. The developers have fixed this by binning infinite reversals and tying them to a brand-new yellow stamina bar – every time you dodge or counter a move, you lose a chunk of energy, and if you completely drain it, your wrestler enters a state where they are totally exhausted and unable to reverse anything. 

It completely flips the script on how you approach a match, and now, the goal is to go on the offensive, attack first, and force your opponent to burn through their stamina before you do. It takes a little bit of time to get your head around (especially for returning players), but once it clicks, bouts feel much more authentic. And more importantly? It makes them a lot more fun, too… almost like some of the old-school WWE titles that you might have played. Oh, and the sense of chaos with the use of weapons (such as stacking tables) or the physics system when pulling off high-manoeuvre moves across the ring and other surroundings? It’s better than ever.

You’ve also got new match types to mess around with this year, with the Dumpster match being a welcome addition (even if it is essentially a casket match with different scenery), and the I Quit match adding a neat mini-game to the submission mechanics to make them feel more in line with those seen on TV. As a long-time Kane stan, my favourite is the Inferno match, which isn’t only a proper visual treat but also feels incredibly satisfying to compete in, with players beating up opponents to build up the heat in the ring and then forcing them into a fiery defeat. Hey, I’m an Attitude-era fan, ok… it’s a bit silly, but this sort of thing feels wonderful to me. 

“WWE 2K26 is a massive game, and while the heavy monetisation in some modes is a nuisance, the sheer amount of brilliant wrestling content on offer is simply undeniable.” 

The returning cover star this year is CM Punk, and he naturally takes centre stage in the Showcase mode. As in previous years, it plays out like an interactive documentary, complete with video packages of the man himself talking you through his career. It is incredibly well presented and a pleasure to play through, though hardcore CM Punk fans might be slightly gutted that massive chunks of his history are missing. There is no ECW footage, no Straight Edge Society era, and so forth, and with certain wrestlers missing from the roster, some standout showdowns of his career just don’t make the cut. To make up for the gaps, there are several fantasy ‘What If?’ style matches where you can play as either Punk or his opponent, but they don’t hit the same. But hey, it’s still a ton of fun to play, and with plenty of unlockables earned across this mode, it’s well worth taking a look at. 

And if you prefer creating your own superstar? MyRise returns with separate campaigns for the men’s and women’s divisions. The premise this time is that you are ‘The Archetype’, a former champion returning to the ring after two years away. The whole thing is a straightforward redemption story where you pick a clear heroic or villainous path, with the tale taking different turns and the player unlocking specific items depending on the approach they take. It’s very satisfying, and whilst it does suffer from a bit of padding with random matches here and there, it feels like it adds a believable sense of pacing to the storytelling from a WWE perspective. 

For management fans, MyGM and Universe mode have received some lovely quality-of-life updates. MyGM now supports chaotic eight-person matches and intergender bouts, giving you far more booking options, whilst Universe mode adds the WWE Draft as well as a new broadcast camera angle for players who just want to sit back and watch their custom promotions play out on screen. There’s nothing TOO drastic gameplay-wise, but rather refinements that make the experience more enjoyable for those who’ve already sunk hours into the modes over the years. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

The creation suite has also seen a massive upgrade, officially doubling the capacity for custom superstars and custom images – as someone who REALLY invests in the community creations, this is a big plus for me. There have already been some fantastic creations to download that really capture the authenticity of superstars that didn’t make it into the game, so if your favourites didn’t make the cut (or are at AEW), you’re sure to find them. 

On the multiplayer and live-service side of things, the results are much more mixed. The Island online hub is back, letting you join factions run by CM Punk, Rhea Ripley, or Cody Rhodes. It is fully voice-acted now, which is a massive upgrade over reading text boxes, and the new roguelike Faction Wars towers give you a decent reason to keep coming back for more. Sadly, it still feels heavily bogged down by microtransactions – bumping up your character’s stats requires virtual currency, and with some tricky difficulty spikes, you can feel the game trying to push players to invest their hard-earned cash. MyFaction is similarly frustrating, and whilst the card-collecting mode has some fresh ideas this year, it is still riddled with loot box mechanics. Exclusive Live Events often require you to own specific, hard-to-find cards to enter too, whilst some of the best alternate outfits for characters (known as Personas) are locked away in the mode and will require either a LOT of grinding or a LOT of money to unlock. 

Finally, we have to talk about the Ringside Pass. Traditional post-launch DLC packs are gone, replaced by a battle pass system featuring 40 free and 40 premium tiers per season. Earning XP across any game mode unlocks new wrestlers, alternate attires, and virtual currency, and in fairness, it gives a constant sense of progression to the game. This is definitely going to divide the player base, though: some will hate the grind required to use new wrestlers, while others will love that the free tier hands out loads of freebies just for playing (even if some could have just been part of the main roster anyway). The absolute best part, though, is that seasons never expire, so if a new pass comes out, you can finish your old one first, completely removing that awful fear of missing out. I’ve actually enjoyed working through the first Ringside Pass, but more than anything, I’m intrigued to see what comes to the free tier of future editions… it could make or break the sense of progression in the game. 

Developer: Visual Concepts 
Publisher: 2K Games 
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC 
Website: https://wwe.2k.com/2k26/