WWE 2K25 for Xbox Series X|S

Man, if you're into wrestling games and want to feel like you’re in the ring with your favorite stars-especially if you’ve been missing that old-school arcade vibe-this one’s worth a look. I fired it up after a long break from the series, and honestly, the first thing that hit me was how much better the animations feel now. The moves flow smoother than in WWE 2K24, and the new third-person camera really pulls you into the action. It’s not just about watching the match-it feels like you’re part of it.

The good stuff

The Island mode? Yeah, it’s weird, but kind of cool once you get past the grind. It’s basically a themed playground where you can hang out with wrestlers, play mini-games, and jump into random matches. It’s not open-world in the grand sense, but it gives you something to do between main events. And the new intergender matches? That’s actually a big win. Playing as a female wrestler against guys in a ladder match felt legit, not forced. The Chain Wrestling and Underground Match types add real variety-no more same-old Hell in a Cell setups every time. Also, the Showcase Mode on The Bloodline Dynasty? Super well done. It blends real footage with playable moments, and I found myself replaying certain scenes just to see how they’d change if I made different choices.

The not-so-good

But here’s the kicker-the Island mode is basically a cash grab. You’ll hit walls where you need “keys” or “tokens” to unlock content, and those are all tied to microtransactions. I didn’t mind paying for cosmetics, but the way progression is gated? Not fun. Also, there are still bugs. Like, one match froze mid-superkick because of a collision glitch. Not game-breaking, but annoying when you’re in the middle of a story mode run. And yeah, the roster updates are nice, but the AI still gets stuck in corners sometimes. It’s not the worst AI in wrestling games, but it’s not great either.

Bottom line

If you’re a fan of wrestling games and want something that feels polished with fresh modes, WWE 2K25 for Xbox Series X|S on PS5 is worth downloading. Just go in knowing it’s not perfect. Skip it if you hate microtransactions or expect a flawless simulation. But if you’re down for a mix of fun, chaos, and a little nostalgia, this one hits the mark-most of the time.