Ranking every WWE 2K Game so far

WWE 2K Games have seen some ups and downs over the years, but the franchise has picked up the pace again with its recent entries. Even though some prefer the older WWE games over the 2K Games, it's hard to deny that these titles have evolved, thanks to realistic graphics and gameplay mechanics. While everyone has their own favorite WWE game, one would agree that none are perfect.

In this article, we will be taking a look at every WWE 2K game so far and rank them from worst to best.

Note: This article is subjective, reflects the writer's opinions, and is ranked.

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These are all the WWE 2K Games, ranked from worst to best

10) WWE 2K20

WWE 2K20 was riddled with bugs and glitches (Image via 2K)

WWE 2K was the first game in the franchise to feature a female wrestler (Becky Lynch) on the cover. Even though fans were excited about the game, the hype quickly died out when 2K released 2K20 in a buggy state with unappealing character models and a broken gameplay system that hampered the player's experience.

Some of the problems were fixed with future patches but the damage was already done, leading to many players losing hope in the company. The inclusion of the MyCareer mode featuring a male and female protagonist with terrible dialogues and a boring storyline pulls you out of the experience and falls flat when it comes to impressing players.

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9) WWE 2K15

WWE 2K15 could have been revolutionary (Image via 2K)

The reveal of WWE 2K15 was met with positive reactions because of how realistic it looked compared to the games from the previous generation. However, the graphics were the only real draw for the game, as it lacked in almost every other aspect, such as a small roster to choose from and not enough match types compared to the previous WWE games.

The character creator felt lacking and the game didn't even allow you to create female wrestlers. When it came to the gameplay, it was filled with mini-games that interrupted the flow of a match and made it needlessly longer. Even though there are many flaws in WWE 2K15, what saves it from being the worst game in the franchise is the 2K showcase of John Cena vs CM Punk and Triple H vs HBK.

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8) WWE 2K17

WWE 2K17 introduced the MyCareer mode (Image via 2K)

2K17 was advertised as the game with the largest roster in WWE games with Brock Lesnar on the cover. The gameplay here felt fluid and responsive, which proved that compared to 2K15, it was slowly evolving with time. However, fans started to notice that the graphics were no longer the game's main focus, as 2K was trying to focus more on realistic gameplay.

There was the inclusion of MyCareer mode that let you forge your path in the WWE by creating your wrestler. This mode was met with criticism because there was no voice acting present for the wrestlers, making the overall experience feel dull. The game wasn't bad, but it wasn't special either. However, the inclusion of backstage brawls was a nice touch.

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7) WWE 2K18

The game featured the return of Kurt Angle to WWE games after a long time (Image via 2K)

Compared to 2K17, its successor had a darker lighting system and detailed character models for the wrestlers, which felt like a significant improvement. The game included a MyPlayer mode that allowed you to create your characters and use them through a pre-determined story. They were allowed to roam the backstage area, which initially sounded interesting but lost its charm rather quickly.

There was also the inclusion of an eight-player mode, meaning the game allowed you to have up to eight characters on-screen instead of six. There was no 2K showcase here like its predecessor, meaning the content was lacking compared to 2K16. However, the gameplay evolved with the carry system, which allowed you to carry your opponents in different positions to perform various moves on them.

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6) WWE 2K23

2K23 was an improved version of 2K22 (Image via 2K)

Many believed that a younger superstar should have been the cover star for 2K23, but John Cena seemed like a good fit, considering he was getting his own 2K showcase in this entry. His showcase, however, was average, as there was a lack of opponents to play against and match objectives that wanted you to play exactly how it happened in real life, reducing creativity.

Other than that, the gameplay this time improved over its predecessor, with faster matches and polished moves. The graphics and character animations remained largely unchanged, which meant that there were not a lot of additions to the title. In short, the game felt more like an upgraded version of 2K22 instead of a new entry with everything overhauled.

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5) WWE 2K16

WWE 2K16 had one of the best 2K showcases in the franchise (Image via 2K)

2K16 had a hyped release even though fans were skeptical because of the lackluster 2K15. However, it exceeded all expectations, as it featured many improvements that fixed the gameplay by making it feel more natural and not mini-game-based. There was also the inclusion of the 2K showcase for Stone Cold Steve Austin, which looked back at the best matches of his career.

This showcase was the highlight of 2K16, as it featured some of the best rivalries and moments of his career. There was also a large roster of wrestlers, with the inclusion of some of the biggest names from NXT, such as Fin Balor and Samoa Joe. However, players noticed that graphics had been downgraded compared to 2K15, which was very noticeable when the community compared the two entries.

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4) WWE 2K24

2k24 featured 40 years of Wrestlemania (Image via 2K)

2K24 is the most recent entry in the franchise and has the most polished gameplay so far. Since 2K24 had 40 years of Wrestlemania with many more matches that have been significant to the event's history. However, the idea was not well executed, as the game featured objective-oriented gameplay for its showcase, leaving very little room for creativity once again.

Other than that, the graphics are just as good as its predecessor, and the GM Mode has been touched upon to add new features, such as more match types, championships, and superstar journeys to enhance the experience of being a general manager. The game also brings back classic match types, such as the ambulance match and casket match that have been fan favorites.

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3) WWE 2K22

2K22 was the saving grace of wrestling games (Image via 2K)

2K22 was the saving grace of WWE games after the disappointing launch of WWE 2K20. It focused on bringing back the classic arcade style of wrestling by blending in with the simulation style we were presented with for years. Even though the gameplay style was fun, it wasn't as polished as many expected it to be. However, it would evolve with the release of 2K23 and 2K24.

There were several new additions as well, such as the comeback of the highly-requested GM Mode, where players could book their fantasy matches and manage their budgets. Even though this mode wasn't as polished as it would be in the next few entries, it was still a significant step toward improvement. 2K22 was the perfect building block that gave the upcoming WWE games a direction.

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2) WWE 2K19

2K19 was an almost perfect masterpiece (Image via 2K)

2K19 was the game that perfected the simulation era of WWE games with fast and realistic animations, making the gameplay feel responsive and addictive. While it was not the best game in the series, it is still regarded as the game that perfected a lot of elements, like a banger main menu soundtrack, character creator, and a huge roster filled with talented superstars.

Even though there were issues, such as the roster not being up to date and no new match types, it still didn't take away from the fun gameplay. The game also had a MyCareer mode with a storyline about how you go from being an indie wrestler to winning the WWE championship in the company. 2K19 is still regarded as the peak of simulation wrestling games in the 2K series of WWE games.

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1) WWE 2K14

2K14 is the best WWE 2K game in the series (Image via 2K)

2K14 is still regarded as the best 2K wrestling game in the franchise because of its smooth gameplay and match types that were removed in future WWE games. The gameplay here evolved from WWE 12 and peaked in 2K14 as there were new additions added, such as OMG moments and a roster that featured superstars from past and current generations of that era.

The game also included 30 years of Wrestlemania mode which featured the best matches from each mania night which you got to play to experience the history of the showcase of the immortals. There was also a fun game mode called Defeat the Streak where you played as a superstar of your choice with the objective of defeating an overpowered version of The Undertaker in a Wrestlemania match.