WWE 2K17

The loss of the 2K Showcase is unfortunate, but WWE 2K17s gameplay tweaks, and already strong feature-set save the day.

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WWE 2K17 is a wrestling simulation game that offers both single-player and multiplayer modes, including local co-op for up to 2 players in split-screen. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes over 20 characters, 50 new moves, and additional DLC content. However, note that multiplayer servers will be shut down after June 30, 2022. The PC Standard Edition features the Goldberg Pack with playable WCW and WWE Goldberg characters.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

59%

Audience ScoreBased on 551 reviews

gameplay20 positive mentions

stability54 negative mentions

The game features a large roster, including many fan-favorite wrestlers and legends.
The character creation suite is extensive, allowing for a high level of customization.
Gameplay improvements, such as the new reversal system and backstage brawls, enhance the overall experience.

The game suffers from frequent crashes and performance issues, making it frustrating to play.
The MyCareer mode lacks depth and can feel repetitive, with limited storylines and rivalries.
Online multiplayer is plagued by desync issues and lag, making it nearly unplayable.

gameplay
82 mentions
24 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of WWE 2K17 has received mixed reviews, with some praising its mechanics and improvements over previous iterations, while others criticize it for being repetitive, glitchy, and plagued by performance issues. Many players appreciate the depth of the fighting mechanics and customization options, but express frustration over server problems, long load times, and a lack of engaging content in modes like Universe. Overall, while the core gameplay can be enjoyable, significant bugs and design flaws detract from the experience.
- “Cool mechanics, nice gameplay, and awesome roster.”
- “The gameplay has improved somewhat since 2k15, and the moves are sold much better by the wrestlers than before.”
- “WWE 2K17 is a step in the right direction when it comes to creation suite and gameplay mechanics for the matches.”
- “The load times are horrid and the gameplay is awful.”
- “The gameplay gets repetitive from match to match; there is no real incentive to play universe mode other than achievements, the in-game currency is completely devalued by the accelerator, online is dead, and the game crashes after 2-3 matches in MyCareer.”
- “Gameplay wise, I've had several moments where I've just had to shut off the game due to frustration, sometimes due to glitches and performance issues, and other times due to actual design features that defy logical thought.”
graphics
65 mentions
17 % positive mentions
77 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics in WWE 2K17 receive mixed reviews, with some praising the improvements over previous titles and noting realistic character designs, while others criticize persistent graphical glitches, performance issues, and a lack of significant advancements since 2K16. Many players report crashes related to graphics settings, and despite having capable hardware, they experience lag and frame rate drops. Overall, while some aspects of the graphics are appreciated, the game's technical performance detracts from the visual experience.
- “Wonderful graphics and detailing and various modes.”
- “This game got a new graphics and new WWE animations just like real life.”
- “They stepped it up on graphics and people look way more realistic this year than ever.”
- “There are graphical glitches where you get a colored line (like a black line stretching from black fingernails, for example) on created characters at times.”
- “What can't be fixed, what can't be addressed... is the horribly bad graphics/facial captures... my god some of these characters look like nightmare pod people drawn by a 5 year old with Parkinson's and Tourette's.”
- “This game has a lot of bugs, I can't create a superstar, I can't start a career, and every 20 minutes the game crashes with 'graphics device removed'.”
stability
59 mentions
8 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, crashes, and graphical glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players find enjoyment despite these issues, many express frustration over the frequent technical problems, suggesting that the game feels unpolished and poorly optimized. Overall, the consensus indicates that while the game has potential, its stability issues detract from the overall experience.
- “The game runs great.”
- “Overall, it runs great though - feels generally more responsive than 2K15.”
- “Runs great for me (i7 4770k).”
- “Constant crashes and more bugs and glitches than a Bethesda game, and these bugs and glitches make the game unplayable.”
- “I spent nearly 50 hours making custom characters for a custom universe show, painstakingly having to reboot this buggy nightmare 'game' only to have all 40+ characters be deleted, as well as hundreds of custom logos, and all progress in my universe mode.”
- “The game freezes when trying to create arenas, also the crashing bug is alive in this game as well... 2K, fix your shit.”
music
43 mentions
9 % positive mentions
84 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the limited and repetitive soundtrack, which features mostly subpar licensed songs. While some enjoy the ability to mod and import custom music, others lament the lack of integrated options for creating personalized wrestler entrances. Overall, the soundtrack's quality and variety seem to detract from the gaming experience, especially for those who value customizability in their audio.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes to this music long enough to realize that I was going to be okay.”
- “I really enjoyed the game because when you start a PPV match, they will play music just like you are watching WWE on TV.”
- “The nature of NXT now is such that it has a highly devoted, energetic fanbase, and the experience of having crowds sing along with Nakamura or Bobby Roode's entrance music can be just as awesome as a match itself.”
- “The soundtrack is very small and you'll hear the same songs over and over, half of which aren't very good songs either.”
- “Not the case for PC since I have tried and tried over and over to find a way to use custom music, so you are basically stuck with the crap music they have for you to choose from.”
- “Still no option to import MP3 files from your PC to use as entrance music, forget about the fact that RAW 2 on the original Xbox did this in 2003; apparently that's too much of a feature for the developers to include in the game.”
story
34 mentions
15 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The story mode in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive, bland, and lacking depth, often leading to boredom. While some appreciate the ability to create their own narratives in Universe mode, others lament the absence of engaging storylines and character development, noting that the career mode feels outdated and superficial compared to previous titles. Overall, the storytelling aspect is seen as a significant drawback for those seeking a rich narrative experience in wrestling games.
- “Moral of the story, you never know what life holds in store for you, and if I would have given up when all the odds were stacked against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “Normally in games I like a good story, but this game allows you to create your own story with Universe mode (the best game mode by the way). Even MyCareer wasn't bad and it was certainly much better than 2K15's MyCareer.”
- “I think the gameplay's engaging, and its simulator-like nature leaves the door open to great storytelling and creative ideas.”
- “It's boring, and I ended up wrestling the same guy 5 matches in a row, and there wasn't much of a story.”
- “The career mode has zero depth, virtually no story or the ability to tell your own, virtually no voice overs after the 'performance center' and is a complete joke.”
- “Just a grind with barely any story or real feuds to keep you interested.”
optimization
34 mentions
21 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant performance issues, glitches, and crashes, particularly on PC. While some players with high-end systems experience smooth gameplay, others face frequent stuttering and lag, indicating that the game is poorly optimized overall. Overall, there is a consensus that the game requires substantial patches and improvements to enhance its performance and stability.
- “I didn't face any performance losses although I am on a GTX 960 2GB.”
- “If the right optimizations were made, I can see this game being suitable for more people.”
- “My computer has an inferior processor to what is called for but still the game runs smoothly.”
- “I don't think I've ever seen a worse-optimized or more broken game.”
- “Would be a great game if optimized, but there are random crashes and random freezing/stuttering.”
- “Till they clean up this unholy mess of theirs, I'd suggest you spend that cash on a much more optimized game.”
humor
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be a standout feature, particularly during chaotic multiplayer matches and universe mode, where over-the-top antics and glitches lead to laugh-out-loud moments. The absurdity of in-game scenarios, such as exaggerated moves and unexpected bugs, adds a comedic layer that enhances the overall experience, making even frustrating glitches entertaining.
- “I have played about 10 to 15 hours of the single player and managed to beat the crap out of Brock Lesnar on the hardest difficulty; the casual multiplayer on this game is so hilarious. The first Hell in a Cell match that my friend and I had ended up with 41 combined choke slams and super kicks off the top of the cell. Beware that the super kick will cause the opponent to bounce on his neck, and if this were even slightly realistic, that person would be dead. On many occasions, you will experience the best of bugs, such as your character having a seizure on top of a Hell in a Cell cage or getting stuck in that same cage. You might be picking up on the pattern here: Hell in a Cell matches are the best!”
- “It's hilarious to watch him talk trash.”
- “There are bugs, but they are hilarious!”
grinding
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be largely tedious, with some expressing frustration over the time required to unlock wrestlers and belts. However, there is a positive shift noted in the MyCareer mode, where the grind has been reduced, making it less time-consuming and more enjoyable compared to previous iterations. Overall, while grinding remains a concern, improvements have been made to enhance the experience.
- “The MyCareer mode isn't as grindy as in previous years, which I really appreciate.”
- “VC is more easily obtained, and you don't have to grind for 100 hours to get your character to a decent level.”
- “The VC grinding gets pretty tedious; all the wrestlers, belts, etc., should just be available straight away, in my opinion.”
- “But this is just tedious at best, and god awful at worst.”
- “Insanely tedious to learn and not fun to play.”
monetization
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-150 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization model in the game is heavily criticized for requiring players to purchase virtual currency (VC) to buy moves, with the potential for future real-money transactions. Players find the grind to earn VC excessively tedious, as maxing out a wrestler demands an unrealistic amount of VC compared to the low earnings from matches and merchandise sales, leading to perceptions of the game as a cash grab rather than a genuine sequel.
- “The monetization system feels a bit off, as you have to buy moves with VC, which you earn through matches. It seems like next year they might offer VC for real money, given that Take-Two is focused on microtransactions. Having to accumulate 8 million VC just to max out your wrestler, when you only earn 9,000 VC per match and a minimal amount from t-shirt sales, raises some concerns.”
- “While the game is enjoyable, the monetization aspect is frustrating. Earning VC through gameplay is slow, and the prospect of needing to spend real money to progress faster is disappointing.”
- “The current monetization model makes it challenging to fully enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money. Earning VC through matches is a grind, and the high costs for upgrades can be discouraging.”
- “You have to buy moves with VC, which you earn through matches. I guess next year they will offer to get VC for real money since Take-Two is all about microtransactions now. Having to get 8 million VC just to max out your wrestler when you only get 9,000 VC per match and a low amount from t-shirt sales (only when you have a shirt) is questionable to say the least.”
- “This should have been DLC for 2K16, not a whole new cash grab game.”
replayability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability, particularly in its career mode, where players can invest significant time to either challenge authority or align with a manager, providing varied experiences based on player choices.
- “The replayability is definitely there if you have the time to spend days in the My Career mode, as it is exactly what it says on the tin: challenge the authority or become a Heyman guy.”
- “Each playthrough offers new challenges and experiences, making it hard to put down.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps the game fresh, encouraging multiple runs.”
- “The replayability is definitely there if you have the time to waste days in the My Career mode, as it is exactly what it says on the tin: challenge the authority or become a Heyman guy.”
- “After completing the main story, I found little incentive to replay the game. The side quests feel repetitive and lack depth.”
- “While the game offers multiple endings, the choices feel superficial, making it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”