WWE 2K25 is using the legacy of The Bloodline as the theme for this year’s new game, as it tries to keep the revived series on its winning streak.
WWE 2K25 review – The Bloodline ushers in new era for wrestling games
After last year’s WWE 2K24 was hailed as one of the best wrestling game ever made it left developer Visual Concepts with the tall task of delivering something even more special for the next game.
Annual sports franchises always struggle not to feel like the same game with a new lick of paint and while the fast-paced world of WWE means each year will feel different, with roster changes and new matches, the developers still need to do something special to justify the hefty price tag each year.
Thankfully for fans, they have achieved that this year. The Bloodline take centre stage in this new game, both in a revised Showcase mode and as part of The Island, a new open world style mode which will be familiar to fans of the NBA 2K franchise who have played The City.
Throw in Bloodline Rules matches, new Backstage Brawls featuring the Easter egg-packed WWE Archives level, and the expansion of Special Guest Referee to numerous match types and there’s a lot to get excited about here.
Let’s start with The Island, WWE’s big new online mode – which is an exclusive for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. With Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns as your guide, the mode sees you create a new superstar gunning for a WWE contract. The world – which is a good size for this first effort – is split into different areas styled after the likes of The Undertaker, Asuka, and Roman himself.
We only saw a couple of other users in the game world pre-launch, but the idea is that it will be filled with other players once the game is released to the public. We still saw enough to get a feel for the mode though, with challenges and live events leading to unlockables, along with different storylines as you chase your goal.
The population of gamers will determine its replayability, but even with no one else in there, we found plenty to do and explore, with the virtual currency easy to earn and use on cosmetics items.
For gameplay, the graphics and animations are slicker and smoother than ever, enhanced by the bruising and sweat system, and blood staining the mat as matches go on. The return of Chain Wrestling to the franchise is very welcome, with a simple joystick mini-game seeing wrestlers tussle for control.
Combined with last year’s Trading Blows mini-game, it’s another element of WWE action brought to life. Similarly, Barricade Dives are a fun feature, adding more depth to the interactivity of the ringside area.
The new Giant weight class also adds another layer, with the hulking superstars moving differently, and even having another purple health bar to deplete before you can take them off their feet.
The Island feels like a living, breathing world (2K)
Visually, the game looks great and the team deserve praise for already having the new-look Raw on Netflix and SmackDown arenas (the former only unveiled in January), so you don’t have to wait until next year for those.
The so-called Third Person Camera (we know it’s all third person, but now it’s more over your shoulder) is a fun way to appreciate the visuals in entrances, plus it gives you full control during matches.
In terms of new matches, Bloodline Rules is the big one here and it delivers the chaotic action the bouts are famous for in WWE. Two superstars start the match and during the bout each will get to trigger a Bloodline Rules Payback move, which brings another wrestler down to join the fight.
Each superstar gets three each, and there are all new animations and commentary to enhance the experience. We tried a few of these, and got a real mix of stars coming out – for a bout between CM Punk and Roman Reigns the interferences pulled from the Tribal Chiefs’ allies and rivals, while a random bout between Rob Van Dam and Chelsea Green saw the latter joined by Piper Niven, before stars like Liv Morgan evened the score.
The other new match this year is Underground, which redefines how combat works, with Visual Concepts exploring ‘the idea that the ring doesn’t have ropes’, opening the door to new moves and motions. The presentation is spot on too, with fans around the ring.
For Backstage Brawls, the NXT Parking Lot has a ton of interactive elements (which even includes a sheet for glass positioned over four chairs), while the team have teased upwards for 60 Easter eggs for the WWE Archive.
We spotted nods to everyone from Bray Wyatt and Elias to Undertaker and Bret Hart, along with the SmackDown fist. Fans of 2002’s WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth should head there for a real dose of nostalgia.
This year’s Showcase feels like a sizeable step forward for the game, as Paul Heyman assumes his position as Wiseman to take you through the history of The Bloodline dynasty, ranging from obvious members like The Rock and Roman Reigns to the likes of Naomi and Nia Jax, by way of The Wild Samoans and Three Minute Warning.
This time, the matches in the mode are split into three types, encouraging you to relive, change or make history, with the latter featuring dream matches. It’s a welcome change to the mode, opening up new possibilities for the future and resulting in some fascinating match-ups and unlockables in the form of wrestlers, arenas, and more.
The timed objectives add another challenge too, while the decision to scrap the SlingShot technology, which blended real-life and in-game footage, in favour of sticking with the latter really helps with the immersion.
For MyRise, the introduction of inter-gender wrestling plays a big role. Rather than separate storylines for male and female superstars, this year the mode features a single storyline that sees Bayley, Kevin Owens, and others using NXT to try and take control of WWE.
The voice acting and storylines are as engaging as ever, with new personality choices impacting what storylines are available to you, plus branching choices for dialogue which also has a big impact.
The WWE Archives backstage brawl is a treasure trove for fans
You’ll create a male and female superstar for this mode (you choose which comes first, and how they are linked), with a wealth of reasons to go back and replay with a different focus.
Elsewhere, the Universe sandbox mode includes the return of Promos to add another layer, while MyGm introduces online multiplayer for up to four players.
MyFaction sees the return of Persona Cards, which can be carried over to all other game modes, although previously some complained about how difficult it was to unlock certain cards without paying real money for them.
With 50 new stages and World Tour replacing Proving Grounds, the mode has more of a non-linear feel now, along with new community events and themed cards. Of course, currency can still be unlocked by grinding, but the use of microtransactions is still very unwelcome.
Finally, this year’s roster takes things up a level to over 300 superstars, along with five DLC packs over the next eight months featuring everyone from TNA Wrestling legend Abyss to new Raw arrival Penta – with the latter available in May despite only making his WWE debut less than eight weeks ago.
While some changes and improvements are more subtle, and the full impact of The Island remains to be seen, this does feel like another big step forward for the franchise, building on last year’s incredible effort with another wrestling juggernaut.
WWE 2K25 review summary
In Short: It had a tough task following up last year’s incredible effort, but with the injection of The Bloodline this new entry becomes another top notch wrestling game.
Pros: The gameplay is more fluid and immersive than ever, with new matches and enhancements across the board. The Island is a fun addition, while MyRise and Showcase get a welcome boost.
Cons: MyFaction’s microtransactions still don’t sit right, while the creation suites could do more (particularly in terms of arenas) to help creators.
Score: 9/10
Formats: Xbox Series X/S (reviewed), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC
Price: £64.99
Publisher: 2K
Developer: Visual Concepts
Release Date: 14th March 2025 (early access from 7th March)
Age Rating: 16
Chain wrestling adds to the immersion in a big way (2K/Metro)