WWE 2K26: The freedom to tell your story in the ring

First, full disclosure. I’ve been playing wrestling games for about as long as I’ve been watching the product on television, going all the way back to the cable- and satellite-free METV days. I’ve seen the very best (Here Comes the Pain), and I’ve suffered through the worst (2K20). But there’s no doubt that in recent years the series has been improving, adding quality-of-life features and noticeable gameplay improvements each year., important match types, and above all improves the sense of freedom the player has to create their own personal WWE world.

Let’s start with the main gameplay changes. You won’t feel too many differences from last year, which is a good thing. But there are improvements that make the matches feel more authentic and more calculated. On top of that, the AI has improved significantly and reacts and “thinks” much better.

This year the developers placed a strong emphasis on “weight” and dynamism. The stamina system and reversals have been completely refreshed, forcing players to manage their wrestler’s energy strategically instead of simply “spamming” buttons. As mentioned, several match types that fans have requested for years have been added, including some that existed in the past and are now making a polished return. The Dumpster Match has a simple but challenging goal: Weaken your opponent enough to throw them into a dumpster and close the lid.

The I Quit Match returns after many years. You must use the microphone and force your opponent to say the words in order to win. The Inferno Match, where the ring is surrounded by flames, also returns after a long absence. The ring is encircled by fire that grows stronger as the match heats up, and the only way to win is to set your opponent on fire.

And finally, my favorite addition: Three Stages of Hell, where each round is held under different rules (for example: A regular match, a ladder match, and a cage match, and many more variations).

One of the biggest highlights of this year’s game is the size of the roster, with more than 400 wrestlers from the present and the past, including John Cena, The Undertaker, Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, and many others. In addition, this year we also get wrestlers from other independent companies such as AAA and TNA, which currently have partnerships with WWE. That alone will give you hours upon hours of gameplay, since each character plays in a different and unique way with their own move set.

CM PUNK

Another full disclosure: One of my favorite wrestlers of all time is CM Punk, who returned about two years ago after a ten-year hiatus. Normally I don’t dive too deeply into Showcase Mode, the mode that focuses on the past career of a legendary wrestler, but this year I savored every match. Among the nostalgic bouts being recreated you can find epic matches against John Cena, The Undertaker, and even Seth Rollins or Drew McIntyre. But Punk wants to make up for lost time, so we also get “what if” matches. What if Punk had taken Bret Hart’s place against Shawn Michaels, or what if Punk had been Kurt Angle’s final retirement match, and who would win between Punk and Eddie Guerrero? All of this unfolds while Punk himself narrates the transitions between segments. A huge success in my eyes.

Another mode that I think received a proper upgrade is The Island. Roman Reigns’ Island, for those who remember it from last year, is the place where you take a wrestler you created and try to live up to the expectations of the Tribal Chief, Reigns. This year you have three different storylines to choose from in the form of three different factions, each trying to take Reigns’ place. Since this is an open world similar to what you find in the basketball games, with purchase options and similar features, the fact that there is now a reason to replay the mode with different choices gives it much more playtime than last year, and makes it a bit more interesting. We’ll have to see how it develops with updates throughout the season.

The other mode that lets you create a character and take them on a journey is MyRISE, which this year received the biggest overhaul since the mode was first introduced, focusing on a much more personal and cinematic narrative. This year the mode is divided into two completely separate experiences (a men’s path and a women’s path), allowing players to build their legacy in different ways. Despite the massive improvement in replayability thanks to branching story changes, the option to freely walk around and absorb the atmosphere is still missing.

Another mode that returns with improvements, though not massive changes, is GM Mode, where you can become the “boss” of an entire brand. This year it’s possible to run seasons of 50 weeks, use more match types (including intergender matches), and conduct a much deeper draft.

The final mode we’ll touch on is Universe Mode, the famous sandbox that gives you full control over everything: The shows, the roster, the rivalries, everything. Unfortunately we didn’t receive new rivalry cutscenes, and we still don’t have rivalries involving three or more wrestlers. However, the promo system has been expanded, including post-match interviews, which is not bad at all. The highlight of Universe Mode is the draft, which injects some new life into the concept. But it still needs more content or the mode could fade quickly.

Now, before wrapping up, we have to address the elephant in the room, and it’s called the Ringside Pass. The game, like many others, has essentially moved to a seasonal model instead of direct DLC downloads. The idea is that after every few matches we accumulate enough XP and can unlock a character or another reward. If we are on the premium track we receive a valuable character, while the free track gives us one of the rewards we used to get in previous years simply by playing different modes (like a 1990s Hogan or an old championship belt). This year everything is located inside the Ringside Pass, meaning that if the character you want is high up at tier 40, you have two options: Play until you accumulate enough XP to reach tier 40, or pay extra to get something you already paid extra for. Personally, I’ll wait until the end of the season to see how much truly new content we actually received before deciding whether this change helps players save money and get more value or not.