WWE 2K BATTLEGROUNDS

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 459 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
WWE 2K BATTLEGROUNDS Game Cover
WWE 2K Battlegrounds is an interesting distraction that wants to appeal to everyone, but will have trouble keeping a headlock on anyone for too long.
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WWE 2K Battlegrounds is an arcade-style wrestling game featuring overstuffed characters and exaggerated moves. It offers a variety of match types, arenas, and a character creator. The game features a roster of WWE superstars and legends, but some popular figures are missing. It's a fun and casual alternative to the more simulation-based WWE 2K games.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 459 reviews
gameplay21 positive mentions
monetization13 negative mentions
  • The arcade-style gameplay is accessible and fun, making it easy for casual players to pick up and enjoy.
  • The cartoonish graphics and over-the-top animations provide a unique visual appeal that adds to the game's charm.
  • Multiplayer modes, especially local play, enhance the fun factor, allowing for enjoyable gaming sessions with friends.
  • A significant amount of content, including characters and customization options, is locked behind a paywall, leading to frustration among players.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive quickly due to limited move sets and a lack of depth in character differentiation.
  • Technical issues, such as bugs and server problems, detract from the overall experience, making it feel less polished.
  • gameplay67 mentions

    The gameplay of WWE 2K Battlegrounds offers a fun and accessible arcade-style experience, with character customization adding depth. However, many reviewers noted that the gameplay can become repetitive due to simplified mechanics and limited match variety, alongside frustrations with paywalls for unlocking content. While the game is enjoyable for casual play, especially with kids, it lacks the complexity and depth found in other wrestling titles, leading to mixed feelings about its long-term engagement.

    • “The game runs smooth, and the game mechanics are top notch.”
    • “If you love arcady/cartoony graphics and enjoy great gameplay, then stop reading reviews and buy this game.”
    • “WWE 2K Battlegrounds is a welcome spin-off for the franchise, giving it the extravagant, over-the-top, enjoyable gameplay that captures and magnifies WWE’s best aspects.”
    • “Gameplay is monotonous; all characters in a class feel the same aside from finishers. The story mode is mediocre, and PC controls are absolutely awful. I'm sorry, I can't say I enjoyed playing this, because I can't lie in an honest review.”
    • “It's a grind to get all the wrestlers you want (unless you pay), but it's not worth the grind because the gameplay loop gets old real fast. All of the wrestlers are categorized into either highflyer, technician, all-rounder, brawler, and powerhouse.”
    • “With baffling modes and gameplay that doesn't ever need to extend past single button bashing, it really highlights how 2K have gone for the cash grab and decided a mobile game may reach a wider audience on consoles.”
  • story56 mentions

    The story mode has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and lacking depth, often comparing it to reading a comic book without voice acting. While some appreciate the unique battlegrounds and the ability to unlock characters through progression, others criticize the grindy nature and the reliance on microtransactions. Overall, the story is seen as basic and somewhat lackluster, failing to engage players fully.

    • “Although the story was cheesy at times, I felt that it was still pretty enjoyable.”
    • “The comic storyline is great, the animations are ridiculous (in a good way!).”
    • “Let me talk about stages in story mode; it's up to 118 stages so you can unlock things like characters and items.”
    • “As of writing this review, I am a little more than halfway through the story and I don't even want to finish it because it's so boring and repetitive.”
    • “The story mode is less than worthwhile and there is little replay value.”
    • “My only gripe is the story mode is a bit bland with the comic book style presentation.”
  • graphics43 mentions

    The game's graphics feature a cartoonish art style with exaggerated character models and environments, which some players find visually appealing and reminiscent of old arcade games. However, opinions are mixed, with some reviewers criticizing the graphics as basic and outdated, likening them to those of a cheap mobile game. Overall, while the art style has its fans, many feel it lacks the polish expected from a modern title.

    • “The game features a cartoonish art style with exaggerated character models and environments, giving it a unique visual appeal.”
    • “The graphics were stunning and the character models were good even though a few looked a little disjointed.”
    • “If you love arcady/cartoony graphics and enjoy great gameplay, then stop reading reviews and buy this game.”
    • “Looks like a cheap mobile game. I was expecting this to be a sequel to the WWE All-Stars game, but it is so basic. The graphics are something you'd expect from 2012 and are cheaply made and rushed.”
    • “Graphics are okay, but it's an obvious console port since you can't change many settings without editing the ini file.”
    • “I feel if they actually made some cut scenes or in-game visuals, it could have been better.”
  • monetization32 mentions

    The monetization in the game is heavily criticized for being predatory, with almost all characters and customization options locked behind microtransactions, even in the deluxe version. Players feel that the game is a cash grab, requiring extensive grinding to unlock content, and many express frustration over the lack of creativity and depth due to these monetization practices. While some find enjoyment in the gameplay, the overwhelming focus on microtransactions detracts from the overall experience.

    • “At least All Stars doesn't have microtransactions (yes, you can unlock everything without paying if you're willing to do an ungodly grind).”
    • “Now, there are microtransactions, but I find that King of the Battleground, if done right, can net you about 1500-2000 bucks each session, which 4 of those can get you a lower tier unlock.”
    • “Yes, but in its entirety, despite microtransactions, the game is super fun with friends and it's just wacky enough that you don't really notice the basic movesets and other minor flaws regarding AI.”
    • “Almost all characters and customization options are locked behind microtransactions, even if you buy the deluxe version.”
    • “WWE 2K Battlegrounds is a game that seems like it exists purely to house its storefront, offering predatory microtransactions which would be overly pricey in a free-to-play game.”
    • “All aspects of the game revolve around microtransactions and by offering so little to begin with, the motivation to continue playing isn't present.”
  • grinding13 mentions

    The game is criticized for its excessive grinding required to unlock characters and content, which can be tedious and time-consuming, especially for players who prefer immediate access to all features. Many reviewers express frustration over the basic story and repetitive gameplay, suggesting that the grind feels like a means to prolong engagement rather than enhance the experience. Additionally, the presence of microtransactions further complicates the unlocking process, leaving some players feeling that the game lacks polish and depth.

    • “So to go along with that, the game is very grindy but the story is very basic and somewhat lackluster, so the grind is kinda there just to keep you playing the game.”
    • “Other than that, it seems like there's a lot of grinding to unlock all the characters if you're not willing to spend real currency on a game you've already paid 40-50 bucks for. I would rather just have all the characters playable at the start and unlock alternate costumes or extra power-ups as you go along, rather than grinding match after match for hours to play as all your favorite wrestlers.”
    • “Despite the core gameplay being quite solid, a lot of the content is locked behind microtransactions and grinding away at matches.”
  • stability11 mentions

    The game's stability is generally described as "a little buggy," with several users noting specific glitches, particularly involving character moves that can lead to crashes. Despite these issues, many players find the game enjoyable and an improvement over its predecessor, 2K20, with some even appreciating the glitches for adding a unique element to the experience. Overall, while stability concerns exist, they do not significantly detract from the fun factor for most players.

    • “As a WWE fan, I enjoy this game. It's very fun, has no glitches, and the multiplayer works amazingly. It's an improvement over 2K20 and a game that is worth $40.”
    • “This game is really insane and fun, but there are some bugs in the game. Whenever I play as Jeff Hardy, it always glitches me out of any online matches (King of the Battleground or tournament) when I do any of his special moves like 'Whisper in the Wind'. Sometimes, when I play normal matches, the game crashes when I make Jeff do 'Whisper in the Wind'.”
    • “Feels super cheap and has a lot of glitches.”
    • “A little buggy but still enjoyable.”
  • music8 mentions

    The music in the game has been criticized for being largely generic and "cringe-inducing," primarily featuring radio rock that aligns with the brand's typical sound. While each wrestler has a satisfying personal moveset and unique intro music, players are disappointed by the lack of customization options, including the inability to change entrance music or clothing colors for custom characters.

    • “Satisfying personal moveset and intro music for every wrestler is separate.”
    • “You can't even change colors of clothing items, can't even change the entrance music.”
    • “Music is cringe-inducing, as it's mostly radio butt rock that is normally associated with the brand, which came as no surprise.”
    • “You can't even change the colors of clothing items, and you can't change the entrance music.”
    • “You can't choose music for your custom character.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its low replayability, with reviewers noting that the story mode lacks depth and fails to provide sufficient incentive for players to revisit it. Overall, it received a score of 5/10 for replay value.

    • “The story mode is less than worthwhile and there is little replay value.”
    • “Replayability - 5/10”
    • “Replayability - 5/10”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as pure and simple fun, with players finding it genuinely funny, particularly regarding the quirky weapons. However, some reviewers note that while the humor is enjoyable, the weapons lack a sense of impact, and there are concerns about the game's future with multiple DLC packs already planned.

    • “Just pure simple fun and funny as hell! :D”
    • “The weapons are funny, but they lack impact.”
    • “I just find it funny that they have 2-3 DLC packs planned and the game is already a mess.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    Overall, users report a positive experience with optimization, indicating that they did not encounter any performance issues while playing the game.

  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for its lack of depth and variety, leading to a repetitive and unengaging campaign experience. Additionally, the character designs are deemed chaotic, and the monetization strategies detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “The character designs are a mess, making it hard to connect with any of the characters.”
    • “The lack of variety in character development limits the game's longevity and replayability.”
    • “The campaign feels repetitive and silly, which detracts from any meaningful character growth.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

57% average critic score

Buy WWE 2K BATTLEGROUNDS

Play time

8hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
8-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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