Ever since the debacle that was WWE 2K20, 2K Sports and Visual Concepts have gone back to the drawing board with its wrestling brand. It pretty much had to, in an effort to turn the tide and make a formidable grappling champion once more. They’ve succeeded with past WWE 2K titles, including the notable WWE 2K25 from last year. But now we’ve come upon WWE 2K26, loaded with changes and a roster that’s quite simply the biggest yet, thanks to Legends, NXT superstars and more. It should automatically be a winner…but there’s some mild setbacks.
That’s not to say players won’t have fun. They will. There’s tons of wrestling to do here, and the new match types are very well done. I never had so much fun throwing someone in a dumpster. The CM Punk showcase also has its moments (though some are sorely missing), and the Battle Pass, despite mild hangups, does make it easier to unlock superstars. I’m also a fan of the presentation, and the commentary with Booker T and Wade Barrett has grown on me.
That said, however, the Island still weighs in heavily. You practically have to pay to make progress there, along with some parts of MyFaction, if you wish to move forward. I wish there was a way around this, but, sadly, it’s part of the business model now. Some matches are also overwhelmingly tough because of this, though other parts, like the Creation Suite, will allow you to get by.
WWE 2K26 is still a worthy excursion for fans, and gives you a lot to do. But the microtransaction aspect needs to back down for the next chapter, because it’s becoming a problem alongside the current state of WWE. If you want the most out of the product, you’ll have to fork over a little extra for it.
WWE 2K26 Still Has a Champion’s Hold, But To a Point
The wrestling that’s at the core of WWE 2K26 remains excellent, thanks to Visual Concepts’ focus on gameplay. I still enjoy turning the tides in a match, even when the rules can be a bit much in some places. No matter – reversals, snaps and super moves are swell to execute. And you can practice quite a bit in the Performance Center, should you feel the need. There’s nothing here you can’t master with all the efficiency of, say, Joe Hendry. (*waits for him to appear*)
As for the modes, they’re up and down. The CM Punk Showcase definitely has some great moments, but some are sorely missing. For instance, where’s his 2011 Money In the Bank match with John Cena? Or, for that matter, that little “No” league he had going on for a few years? It focuses on specifics and kind of suffers as a result. At least the highlights included here are really good, as are the feuds.
MyGM is a treat, thanks to the inclusion of intergender matches (yes!) and the ability to throw more gauntlet matches into the fray. Of course, the Creation Suite ties in beautifully with that, thanks to creating your own wrestlers. You can even create some from, ahem, other companies if you’re feeling fruitful. (Don’t tell Trips!)
MyUniverse and MyRise have their moments as well…but that leads to one part of the game that’s truly hard to ignore. Yep, let’s talk about it.
Show WWE 2K26 the Money?
See, in order to make true progress, you need to level up. And you can either grind through several unnecessary matches to do so or pay a little extra money through monetization. It’s a frustrating business model that, honestly, weighs down WWE 2K26 more than it should. It’s a great mode, especially with the heel turns, but it smacks of corporate flavor.
That’s even more heavy in the return of The Island, WWE 2K26’s online portal. If you’re not even properly leveled up from previous modes, you may feel like you’re going through a grind here. It shouldn’t feel that way. Instead, it should present an ideal opportunity to form a faction and then set out to conquer the wrestling world. Instead, it’s like you’re stuck in school unless you graduate the way you’re told. I’d skip it unless you’re a die-hard grappler.
Everything else – the match types, the incredibly loaded roster of current superstars, Legends and NXT – all comes together into a fully loaded package. And the gameplay is still rock solid, thankfully, allowing you to practice any time before you hop in the ring.
I felt a little torn by WWE 2K26. This is a fan’s paradise for the most part, especially with the Battle Pass making it somewhat easy to unlock new stars, though the Premium Tier once again asks for something more. If you stick with the wrestling, you’ll find it to be right at home. Look at the business model, however, and you’ll see it’s in need of some changes.
At Least WWE 2K26 Performs Like a Champ
I’m happy to note that the presentation for WWE 2K26 is a far cry from WWE 2K20’s catastrophic failure. Most of the wrestlers still look top notch in the ring, complete with cinematic presentations. Some Legends are a bit…off, to say the least, but you won’t mind. And your Creation Suite stars fit right in without missing a beat. Even the weird ones.
The ring types, match types and backstage stuff also meld into what feels like a weekly episode of the show. And the matches are fun to watch as well, especially when the likes of Liv Morgan and Chelsea Green (my favorites!) mix it up. The speed maintains throughout each match, and the fact you can craft it into whatever you feel like is a nice touch.
That said, Gauntlet Matches can be a bit confusing with so many wrestlers in the ring. Unless they truly stand out – like Danhausen, who will likely make his debut any day now given his demands – you could easily lose track.
The audio is superb, with plenty of wrestler voices (hearing Punk is always a pleasure), official wrestler themes and slams and thuds to go around. Plus Booker T and Wade Barrett have the commentary chops to match, outdoing previous duos by sticking to some great banter. That said, I would’ve liked Barrett to announce more “bad news”. Maybe there’ll be a DLC patch, heh.
WWE 2K26 Is Solid, But Falls Short of Being a Grand Slam
When it sticks to its general wrestling guns, WWE 2K26 is a strong grappler. It has a lot of options on the table, a very impressive roster of wrestlers from today and yesterday (which you can add to with Creation Suite), and improvements abound. But it also has way too much monetization going on, forcing you to utilize it if you truly wish to progress. That shouldn’t be the way it has to be, especially given the game’s $70 entry price for the base model. (Just do yourself a favor and skip the Island if you can.)
The series now stands in a curious position. There’s enough here to give it a recommendation still, but there’s also concern that it could lose focus of what it wants with too much monetization. Battle Pass is a good start, but it needs to offer more to those that just want some good ol’ rasslin’. Remember, it’s not just about the money – it’s about the passion.
GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to 2K Sports UK for providing us with a review code! WWE 2K26 is available now for PC/Steam, Xbox,PlayStation and Nintendo Switch 2!
