WWE 2K22

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,087 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
WWE 2K22 Game Cover
WWE 2K22 is jam-packed with content, and it represents a significant step forward in terms of graphics and quality when compared to its predecessors.
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WWE 2K22 offers exciting wrestling action with a variety of game modes, including the Deluxe Edition's additional Undertaker characters and Season Pass. The nWo 4-Life Edition takes it to the next level with playable nWo Superstars, arenas, the nWo Wolfpac Championship, and MyFACTION content. Experience authentic WWE action with an extensive roster and immersive atmosphere.

Play Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,087 reviews
gameplay234 positive mentions
stability267 negative mentions
  • gameplay586 mentions

    The gameplay in WWE 2K22 has received mixed reviews, with many praising its fluidity, improved mechanics, and engaging combat that harkens back to earlier wrestling games. However, players have also reported significant issues, including bugs, crashes, and frustrating mechanics that disrupt the overall experience. While the graphics and presentation are generally well-received, the gameplay's balance between arcade and simulation styles has left some fans wanting more depth and stability.

    • “With improved graphics, smoother gameplay, and a wealth of modes, this game is a must-have for wrestling fans looking to dive into the action.”
    • “WWE 2K22 brings the action and drama of professional wrestling to the gaming world with fun gameplay that captures the spirit of the sport.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly fun and engaging, with intuitive controls that make it easy to pull off impressive moves and combos.”
    • “If it's not a bug closing the game, it's the dumb mechanics, awful AI, useless balancing, and the terrible controls just make the whole experience frustrating at some point... ever since 2k16...”
    • “The gameplay is awful and clunky, the audio is balanced horribly, you have to go and turn on a setting just to get your superstars to not cosplay as the Flash. New controls are awful, load times are horrible, but... the game actually loads and doesn't crash (sometimes) unlike 2k20... so props to 2k for making a $60 AAA game that actually works (sometimes) even if it is awful.”
    • “The gameplay is messed up or something; whoever is in charge of the gameplay mechanics just needs to be fired.”
  • graphics549 mentions

    The graphics in the game have received significant praise for their impressive detail, realistic character models, and smooth animations, marking a notable improvement over previous installments. However, many players have reported persistent technical issues, including frequent crashes related to a "graphics device removed" error, which detracts from the overall experience. While the visuals are generally considered stunning, the inconsistent performance and limited graphical options have left some players frustrated.

    • “Impressive visuals: the graphics have seen a significant upgrade, with more detailed character models, smoother animations, and improved lighting effects.”
    • “The game's graphics capture the spectacle of the WWE with a level of detail that makes you wonder if the wrestlers ever get tired of seeing themselves in high definition.”
    • “The graphics are amazing, the gameplay is smooth, and despite other users' experiences with the game, I have not had a single crash after almost 12 hours of playtime.”
    • “Has a fatal graphics error that will render it unplayable.”
    • “The graphics are terrible for a 2K game; the wrestling is terrible, and I picked it up because it was on sale. It's definitely not like the old games I played as a kid.”
    • “Constantly crashes with graphics_device_removed error; I wish I had read the discussions on the forums before buying and wasting money.”
  • story402 mentions

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising the MyRise mode for its branching narratives and character customization, allowing players to shape their wrestling journey as either a face or heel. However, criticisms include a lack of cohesive storytelling, repetitive missions, and technical issues that hinder the overall experience. The Rey Mysterio showcase is highlighted as a standout feature, providing engaging storytelling, but many players feel that the overall narrative depth and character interactions could be significantly improved.

    • “MyRise offers a compelling career mode where you can create a superstar and take them from rookie to legend, with branching storylines that add replay value.”
    • “You'll embark on a journey that's more dramatic than a daytime TV show, complete with rivalries, absurd promos, and the kind of plot twists that would make Shakespeare roll in his grave.”
    • “The showcase mode was very tastefully done; Rey Mysterio truly is one of the greatest, and playing through his career in the WWE and his storytelling might be what gets me back into the wrestling fandom.”
    • “I mean, I play these games for the story, and as far as story goes, this game barely has any.”
    • “The story mode is extremely boring and the game is just not worth 60 dollars and not even worth anything past 30 bucks.”
    • “The story mode, which was promised to be this great big branching storyline thing, is so, so boring, and reduced to a 'pick your opponent' thing.”
  • stability279 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly impact gameplay. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these issues, others describe it as a "buggy mess" that detracts from the overall experience, particularly in modes like Universe and online play. Despite improvements over previous iterations, many still recommend waiting for further patches before fully investing in the game.

    • “I'm having fun with it, no third-party launchers, very bug-free, graphics are amazing, and the controls for keyboard work fine!”
    • “The game runs great, the models and animations are very good compared to the previous installments, and overall, the gameplay mechanics just work even with the new (yet very weird) control scheme.”
    • “Looks stunning and runs great with very minimal bugs and issues.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess and is unplayable as delivered.”
    • “Game crashes like crazy, already crashed around 10 times within 2 hours of gameplay, unplayable like this, wwe games are famous either for glitches or crashes.”
    • “I've spent more time troubleshooting and restarting my frozen computer than I have spent playing.”
  • music117 mentions

    The music in the WWE 2K series has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the limited soundtrack and the absence of custom entrance music, a feature that was previously available. While some users appreciate the inclusion of certain tracks and the overall production quality, others criticize the repetitive nature of the music and the lack of iconic wrestler themes. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as decent but lacking depth, with many players hoping for more variety and customization options in future installments.

    • “Graphical fidelity, music, and animations are all very well produced and really give that great WWE feel.”
    • “The soundtrack has a great mix of metal, rock, and hip hop, the gameplay overhaul makes all of the mechanics of wrestling a breeze and the action in the squared circle has never felt more fluid.”
    • “The music sounds great!”
    • “Pls don't buy this or any WWE game; it is full of bugs, and music starts playing in the middle of a match out of nowhere.”
    • “The biggest drawback is the lack of certain theme songs that have been in nearly every version, like the DX theme, which is the biggest single sin the game has committed.”
    • “No custom entrance music really sucks, although I suppose given this day and age, I kind of understand why.”
  • optimization71 mentions

    The optimization of WWE 2K22 has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant improvements over its predecessor, WWE 2K20, particularly in graphics and overall performance. However, numerous reports highlight persistent issues such as frequent crashes, stuttering during matches, and long loading times, especially on PC, indicating that the game still suffers from poor optimization. While some patches have addressed certain performance problems, many users feel that the game remains unoptimized and frustrating to play, particularly in custom character creation and online modes.

    • “Huge improvement from 2K20, amazing optimization, no bugs at all (at least I haven't encountered any) and just actually playable now.”
    • “This game is so much fun; it's very well optimized for PC and performs and looks spectacular.”
    • “Patch 1.15 has provided several much-needed improvements to loading times and optimizations, especially regarding universe mode and customized characters.”
    • “There seems to have been absolutely no optimization for this game on PC at all.”
    • “The game is a buggy, unoptimized mess.”
    • “At this point, I can't recommend the game because of optimization issues.”
  • humor51 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding joy in its absurdity, glitches, and over-the-top scenarios, often leading to hilarious moments during gameplay. Custom character creations and unexpected AI behaviors contribute to the comedic experience, making it enjoyable even when the game mechanics falter. Overall, the game embraces its silliness, providing a fun and entertaining atmosphere that resonates with fans of the genre.

    • “It's where body slams, suplexes, and top-rope maneuvers meet the absurd, the unexpected, and the downright hilarious.”
    • “The story mode is like an epic soap opera with a humorous twist.”
    • “This game is literally so bad it's good; I've never had more fun doing stupid things and finding glitches in one game.”
  • monetization41 mentions

    The monetization strategy in the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, particularly through the MyFaction mode, which is seen as riddled with microtransactions and designed to exploit players. Many users report that the game is plagued by bugs and crashes, further exacerbating frustrations with its monetization tactics. While some aspects of the game are enjoyable, the overwhelming focus on in-game purchases and limited customization options has left players feeling exploited and dissatisfied.

    • “The monetization of parts of the game are quarantined, so you don't really have to interact with them if you don't want to.”
    • “There is so much content and other stuff to unlock by just playing the game; there are only a few little things I felt were missing, and the microtransactions are not necessary to enjoy.”
    • “The monetization is actually fairly good, but opens itself up to being as much of a cash grab as other sports games in future titles.”
    • “Overall, 2K has a shady past when it comes to in-game purchases, and it continues here.”
    • “MyFaction is a cash grab that for some reason the devs decided to lock certain wrestlers in so we can't use them outside of the mode.”
    • “MyFaction: a scummy pay-to-win mode that pushes advertisements for every new booster pack down your throat every time you start up the game.”
  • grinding35 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players describing it as tedious and excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of hours for minimal rewards. Modes like MyFaction and MyRise are particularly criticized for their grindy nature, which detracts from the overall enjoyment and sense of achievement, while some players feel that the grind is exacerbated by microtransaction pressures. Despite some enjoyment in collecting and building characters, many find the experience frustrating and lacking in meaningful payoff.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The MyFaction mode (the 'Ultimate Team' mode) is nothing but a grindy, horrible, and boring mode where barely anything is different from normal matches except challenges that are randomly assigned, so much so that they may actually be impossible to complete in the match due to the wrestler or environment you are in.”
    • “MyFaction is extremely grindy, so if you want any cards, be prepared to sweat for them with countless hours to get just one you want.”
    • “It's counterintuitive and killed any sense of payoff for grinding.”
  • replayability31 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is highlighted as a strong point, particularly through modes like Myrise and Universe, which offer diverse storylines and character customization. However, some players express concerns about burnout and the need for more content and playable characters to sustain long-term engagement. While many enjoy the multiplayer experience, others feel that single-player modes lack depth, leading to mixed opinions on overall replay value.

    • “MyRise offers a compelling career mode where you can create a superstar and take them from rookie to legend, with branching storylines that add replay value.”
    • “Being able to add your custom characters to the MyGM rosters was a very good decision, and makes it almost infinitely replayable.”
    • “In addition, there are some new modes that offer a lot of replay value and there are three different single-player campaigns - so, there's a lot of meat here.”
    • “It's just you burn out after a while and you're better off just getting a non-2K game instead since they're more replayable.”
    • “Some depth needs to be added to increase its replayability.”
    • “They shut down all servers, including community creations which is the only thing that gives this POS excuse for a wrestling game replayability.”
  • emotional11 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding moments of genuine connection and heartfelt storytelling, particularly in the showcase mode that honors relationships like that of Eddie Guerrero. However, others criticize the overall narrative as lackluster and uninspiring, feeling that the game fails to evoke strong emotions beyond humor or nostalgia. Overall, while there are poignant moments, many players feel the emotional depth is inconsistent and overshadowed by repetitive gameplay.

    • “The game knows the story is trash, but presents itself with such great humor it made me cry some tears.”
    • “Ultimately it made me feel like my characters were mine.”
    • “Especially the first few matches that explore his relationship towards Eddie Guerrero are very emotional, even incorporating the raw episode after Eddie's passing which was especially heartbreaking.”
    • “It's okay, but I wish there were more than just a boring story mode.”
    • “The content is just the same button-mashing experience from the past; the career mode has a dull story (which at least reflects the current state of WWE).”
  • character development3 mentions

    The character development in the game is criticized for being nonexistent, with characters portrayed as immature and unlikable, contributing to an overall lackluster story and design. Reviewers express disappointment, suggesting that the game fails to engage players and is not worth the investment.

    • “No character development; everyone is acting like they are 13-year-old sweaty bullies.”
    • “Worst game of 2022. Should've refunded it when I had the chance. Waste of money. Co-op is bad, broken controls, bad character design, etc. Do not buy this game; even 2K17 was better than this.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    Reviewers appreciate the game's atmosphere, noting its energetic moments, such as the thrilling warrior's entrance, which evokes strong emotional responses. However, some desire a more realistic environment, while others enjoy the menu-based exploration and social interactions that contribute to the overall ambiance.

    • “The atmosphere is definitely there; I was actually rooting and shaking when I saw the warrior's entrance for the first time. OMG, the energy!”
    • “MyRise plays like HCTP story mode, giving you locations to visit in a menu-like atmosphere while allowing you to chat with people in a bar or the GM office to start a storyline.”
    • “The only thing I want is a more realistic atmosphere when playing the game.”
    • “The atmosphere is definitely there, I was actually rooting and shaking when I saw the warrior's entrance for the first time. Oh my god, the energy!”
    • “Only thing I want is a more realistic atmosphere when playing the game.”
    • “Myrise plays like HCTP story mode, giving you locations to visit in a menu-like atmosphere while allowing you to chat with people in a bar or the GM office to start a storyline.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

Buy WWE 2K22

Play time

14hMedian play time
59hAverage play time
8-47hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 45 analyzed playthroughs

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