Since release WWE 2K22I've collectively put hundreds of hours into the latest series of games from 2K and Visual Concepts as each year seems to get better and better. Lots of in-ring improvements, game mode expansions and creative content every year WWE 2K the release was always incremental but always moving in the right direction. Unfortunately, this series has ended WWE 2K26.
to be clear WWE 2K26 is a good game standing among great games. It doesn't take permission back to a catastrophic release WWE 2K20but it lags behind its predecessors WWE 2K22, WWE 2K23, WWE 2K24and WWE 2K25. This is because although it is generally solid on a technical level, WWE 2K26 sometimes feels creatively weakened.
The action in the ring remains high (with a few mistakes)
It's hard to imagine the in-ring action getting any better than this WWE 2K25but WWE 2K26 continues to push. Between all the additions in recent years, as well as the addition of new matches, the in-ring experience is more personal than ever. Players can start matches however they want, whether it's a cheap shot or a chain match, and the AI behaves more realistically than ever. I was quite surprised when the AI cornered me, ran to the opposite one, and then did a running attack on me like I expected on TV. Yes, some superstars still have moves that they wouldn't normally do in real life, but in real life they would likely avoid many game situations. The audio-visual experience, the feeling of being in the ring, and the face/heel expression are elevated in the WWE 2K26.
However, it seems to produce more errors than I have personally experienced in the past. For example, virtually any time I would Irish whip someone into a standing table outside the ring, they would teleport to the middle of the ring. There have also been many instances of Top Rope moves being undone. I would clearly land on the opponent and hit the move but they wouldn't react while my character acted like the move missed. That was the worst of my hit detection problems, but there were others. It's nowhere near bug level WWE 2K20 and it never completely ruins the experience, but it does impact immersion, which is otherwise at an all-time high.
WWE's trend of Superstars getting upgraded models while others look cursed continues.
WWE 2K26 Ringside Pass is fine, but you won't let it be forgotten
One of WWE 2K26New features include the Ringside Pass, a Battle Pass-like system that unlocks new Superstars, MyFactions and Island bonuses just by playing the game. It's not as predatory as I'd feared, and nothing created any sense of FOMO when first launching the Ringside Pass. I progressed it easily, mostly without thinking about it. However, I wish I could play the game without it being on my screen.
If you're not playing a match, the Ringside Pass is probably in the upper right corner of your screen. When the rewards are ready to be claimed, a golden message pops up that is annoying enough to constantly demand attention. It's a constant system reminder that I find completely unnecessary, and I didn't see anything in the settings that would allow me to turn it off (or at least limit its presence).
The breadth of content in WWE 2K26 suffers under its own weight
One of the strengths WWE 2K the game is the breadth of content. Between Showcase, MyRise, MyGM, Universe, MyFaction, The Island, and the general game, there are plenty of options to support players spending hours on each game. Thanks to its design, it ensures that there is something for everyone.
I'm a big fan of the MyGM mode (as an example), with that game mode probably taking up most of my hours, and it feels stronger than ever. Extending the length of the season does more than extend it: it increases the risk of injury, adds more weight to booking decisions, supports a larger roster than before, and gives plenty of challenges/reasons to book multi-man matches for up to 8 wrestlers. Overall, I feel like investing my time into the mod has a solid return.
The PLEs still get special treatment, but the big ones—Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, Survivor Series, SummerSlam, and WrestleMania—still lack their identity. Intergender Wrestling now exists in MyGM, which is less appealing than other add-ons, but creates situations where wrestlers misgender each other. I never connected Liv Morgan and Finn Balor as an example, but Liv was pretty upset when I let “her” go. I've completed one full career in my time with the game so far and I'm pretty happy with it despite a few minor issues.
Universe, MyFaction, and The Island take a similar approach, with The Island adding three new factions that upgrade through Towers. They offer a bit more and provide a similar experience to previous years, while continuing the incremental improvements that the franchise is known for. However, the lower quality of Showcase and MyRise reduces the overall selection of game modes.
CM Punk doesn't want you to play Showcase mode
Showcase Modes are a great way to get a preview of a wrestler or match each year. Unfortunately, WWE 2K26Showcase Mode has two serious issues that, especially when combined, leave it feeling particularly lackluster.
First, CM Punk's narrative is uncharacteristically lackluster. John Cena's approach to the Showcase offered good insight into his mentality, even if it was a little cheesy at times, and the bar was raised with the Bloodline Showcase. The presence of Roman Reigns and the storytelling skills of Paul Heyman helped elevate what was already a strong showcase. CM Punk, on the other hand, is very obviously reading lines from a script and doesn't seem like he's enjoying it. CM Punk's mic skills are legendary, but not on display here. It's made worse by the repeated use of the phrase “slingshot technology” in virtually every scene, making his appearance feel like an advertisement for the technology rather than a reflection on his career. I probably heard him say “slingshot technology” the same way Drew McIntyre complained about CM Punk.
Second, CM Punk's Showcase suffers from a lack of actual WWE matches, or rather what is on offer is overwhelmed by imaginary matches. Demo modes usually have a solid roster of actual matches that are supplemented with fun “what ifs” or silly matches to round it out. Almost half of CM Punk's matches fall into the latter. Most of these matches allow players to choose between CM Punk or another wrestler, which alleviates some of its repetitive nature, but there have been plenty of great WWE matches that just don't exist in Showcase. It's probably contract issues in some cases, but it still looks like half CM punk showcase and half whatever showcase.
Each of these is a problem on its own, but when combined, the Showcase experience suffers. Between the match selection and CM Punk's lackluster storytelling, the lackluster Showcase falls short of the best in the world.
The story of MyRise is Bland
MyRise has had some really interesting stories in the past. Dark Horse lived in the shadow of Roman Reigns as the new WWE Undisputed Universal Champion, and the NXT Rebellion was a fun, hostile takeover story (which mostly featured CM Punk). WWE 2K26The story of MyRise finds itself at the bottom of the barrel. Creatively, it's the worst story: the story of the return of the Archetype could be summed up in a few words. It even subverts moments from past games for a short time, with the player spending too much time in a fictional promotion TBD or on a national tour again.
The story of MyRise is also the same across the men's and women's divisions, only the new characters have been swapped. The real deciding factor is whether players want to play as either Face or Heel in the micro-story, with opportunities for these moves scattered between each story turn. There is also usually a twist on MyRise stories, and WWE 2K26's is the coolest yet.
To make matters worse, MyRise requires players to complete Rise matches in order to progress in the story, creating a grind where players must collect 12 stars by competing against wrestlers that are usually unrelated to the story. That's at least 3 RISE matches every time players are forced into this position. There's always been a grind element to MyRise in the past, but WWE 2K26 nor does he pretend to wrap it in any narrative veneer.
it all said WWE 2K26The MyRise storyline has some solid moments – just telling of R-Truth ripping off Jeye Usa's “Yeet” with a “Neat!” is one of the highlights.
WWE 2K26 isn't the best in the world, but it's not the worst in the world
WWE 2K26 lives in the long shadow cast by the improvements we see in WWE 2K22 throughout WWE 2K25. Even its own improvements to the proven formula, but it ends up disappointing far more than its predecessors. The action in the ring is still fierce and most modes deliver the experience fans have come to expect, offering enough variety to keep the hours ticking by. There's fun to be had, but it's undermined by a lack of creative ambition. The creativity within its offerings is what elevates a good wrestling game to a memorable one, but WWE 2K26 they often feel trapped in a creative plateau.
WWE 2K26 releases March 13 for Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, with early access starting March 3. GameRant was provided with an Xbox Series X code for this review.
