WWE 2K23 Review: More, More, MORE!

Visual Concepts and 2k Sports have released WWE2K23 into the world, and this edition doesn’t change much from the previous versions – but it does add a lot more for players to do. The immediate comparison to last year’s WWE 2K22 is obvious, and fans familiar with the mechanics will find nothing new in the gameplay arena.

With six major modes and over 160 WWE wrestlers to unlock and play with, there is plenty of variety in this version of the 2K franchise. Where WWE2K23 differs from its predecessor is in its bolstered and much-improved game modes. The Creation Suite is much larger, online multiplayer has been added to MyFACTION, plus MyRISE and MyGM have added a ton of new material, and Universe Mode offers even more options than before.

WWE Guides: Every Available Locker Code (March 2023)

As with many yearly sports releases, WWE2K23‘s gameplay is almost identical to the previous year’s installment. However, what wasn’t added in gameplay was certainly made up for in new things to do. The 2K Showcase runs through the career of WWE‘s John Cena and allows players to recreate classic matches within his 20-year career with the possibility of changing the past. Each match has a precursor video of John talking about his time in the ring and describing the pivotal moments of each battle.

One of the most popular portions of the WWE2K franchise, the Creation Suite, hasn’t changed much in the way of operations but has added a huge amount of new items, props, parts, and customizations. This gives players even more ways to make their favorite wrestlers, celebrities, or personal look-a-likes. The online community is already uploading and sharing hundreds of CAWs for fans to download and enjoy.

The MyGM mode in WWE2K23 also added a large number of new improvements including new General Managers, new brands, and new match types. Players can choose from the new stock of GMs which include Mick Foley, Xavier Woods, Kurt Angle, Eric Bischoff, and Tyler Breeze. NXT 2.0 and WCW were added to the brand choices alongside last year’s Raw, Smackdown, and NXT. Another new addition is the 4-Player Mode where up to four different players can go head-to-head against each other to prove who runs the best Brand.

The most notable addition to WWE2K23‘s MyUniverse is the new Momentum system. Wrestlers can build Momentum Points by winning matches which can then be spent on special events or used in the advanced Rivalry System, which gives players more direct control over many of the “outside-of-the-ring” options. There is also an option to turn this off completely and take absolute control over their Universe. This has players decide every aspect of a match, rivalries, and events that go on in and out of the ring within their personalized federation.

There is a lot to enjoy in this year’s WWE2K23, and the amount of new content should please those who’ve already put so many hours into the last installment. There are still some bugs within the actual gameplay elements that have plagued the series for years, but with much fewer mistakes than WWE 2K22. The increased Creation options, the addicting blind packs and new online multiplayer of MyFACTION, and even the separate storylines added into MyRISE for women and men wrestlers. There is a lot going on this year and WWE2K23 is a great version for veterans and new players alike.

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WWE2K23 is available now for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. An Xbox Series X/S code was provided to Screen Rant for the purpose of this review.