WWE 2K26 review: It comes close to being the best in the world — but yearly releases are clearly holding it back

One of the first games I had in my collection as a kid was WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It on the PlayStation 2. It was incredible at the time to be able to have matches and brawls in backstage areas of WWE arenas. Approximately four years later, WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 came out, and it became a personal favorite.

The fluidity of matches, even when playing with friends in versus modes, felt like being in a real-life wrestling match. SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 also included additional content, such as creating your superstar or championship, a General Manager mode, and fun match types like the Buried Alive Match.

It was impossible not to have déjà vu while playing WWE 2K26, which includes many of the modes and features from those classic wrestling games. While it’s part of a recurring yearly series, the latest WWE 2K game still manages to introduce new features and gameplay elements.

However, some of the side modes, while entertaining, leave something to be desired. As in previous entries, 2K still struggles with the quality-over-quantity dilemma that often affects these yearly sports games.

WWE 2K26: Graphics and gameplay

Graphics are one of the first things people notice in these games, with even WWE blending the games’ entrances with the real ones on their live TV shows.

Visually, this is by far the best-looking WWE game to date.

While previous entries had issues capturing the likeness of certain wrestlers, this installment delivers outstanding work in the art department, with faces and bodies that closely match their real-life appearances.

From tattoos to hair and animations, this game will make your relatives ask whether you’re playing a game or watching a real match.

WWE 2K26 delivers some of the best gameplay the franchise has ever seen. It introduces new elements like a stamina bar for dodging, allows you to drag opponents to your desired location, and features extremely realistic animations.

All of these elements combined make the gameplay flow in ways I’ve never seen in a wrestling game before.

In previous wrestling games, there has often been an issue with fluidity, with characters performing unintended or awkward moves or moving in the wrong direction. In 2K26, these issues can still occur, but they are way rarer. This improved flow makes it one of the most immersive experiences of any wrestling game.

The “ragdoll” physics in WWE 2K26 add a fun new dynamic to matches. Seeing wrestlers fall in this more realistic, yet sometimes comical, way feels like a missing piece from previous WWE 2K games. The 2K team has also added the perfect match types to complement these animations. Three Stages of Hell Match, Inferno Match, and Dumpster Match are all great additions, but Brawls and The Scrapyard take things to new levels — literally.

Brawls transform everything, from the rules to the camera perspective, even giving off a platformer-like vibe. You can climb structures, fight on top of them, and even jump from them. While brawl-style matches have been in wrestling games for a long time, the verticality offered in these new maps introduces a fresh dynamic.

That dynamic is further enhanced by a massive roster. Combined with the ability to customize each wrestler’s move set, the game offers countless possibilities for how a match can unfold. You can also personalize each wrestler’s entrance, victory pose, gear, and outfits.

Thanks to strong commentary work, especially from Wade Barrett and entertaining contributions from Booker T, every match feels chaotic in the best possible way. Playing these modes with friends brings out the full potential of the gameplay and the unique features each location has to offer.

WWE 2K26: Story and monetization

However, monetization in this game is heavier than ever, with some wrestlers locked behind a Battle Pass, DLC packs, or grindy game modes. Combined with a $70 base price, and editions going up to $150, this is an issue that’s impossible to ignore and one of the most criticized elements in user reviews on Steam.

Nevertheless, 2K26's many game modes will keep you entertained without the need to buy additional content. The MyRise mode has you create a character who goes through a redemption story, rising from the indies to NXT and eventually back to WWE’s main roster.

While the storytelling is simple, hearing real wrestlers lend their voices to a story involving your character is always impressive. These wrestlers deliver good performances, alongside the actors voicing the protagonists.

To progress through MyRise, you must complete several matches, many of which feel like filler and add little to the story. In addition to its simplicity, some of the dialogue feels as if it were from a rough draft. Still, it’s a welcome surprise that the story doesn’t lean into something like Netflix’s WWE Unreal and instead respects the concept of kayfabe, with heel superstars treating you as true antagonists and villains.

The Island mode is back and now available on PC as well. In this mode, you can choose to represent one of three factions fighting for control of the Island. However, that conflict is rarely felt, since most of the time all factions and their NPCs remain in the same area.

Still, you’ll find great ring arenas here, as well as the Scrapyard location. The Island also functions as a multiplayer hub, and seeing other players’ characters adds a fun social experience. While online and open-world features can be great additions, they can also impact performance, and at least on my end, I had to lower some graphic settings for stability.

MyFaction, Universe, and MyGM return, but they all suffer from the same issue of feeling lackluster and rushed; issues that could likely be improved if these games had more development time between releases. A simpler solution, however, might be to merge these modes, as they often feel like variations of the same idea. Across these modes, you essentially take on the role of a general manager within the WWE universe, engaging in drafts and traveling across the country to manage shows.

So, why not blend all these modes into a single, more meaningful experience? For example, the cards and roguelike elements of MyFaction could be integrated into a Universe mode where you act as a general manager. A similar approach could be applied to MyRise and The Island. Instead of the awkward, empty halls that work as the menu of MyRise, incorporating The Island as a WWE headquarters open-world could make for a more interesting story experience.

The Showcase mode is easily the standout of this group of side content. In it, you replay matches from CM Punk’s wrestling career while he narrates his story. This mode works well because it focuses on the core gameplay without the filler content found in the other modes.

Some “What If?” scenarios are also included and completing specific objectives during a match trigger cinematic cutscenes. Similar cutscenes of interruptions can happen on normal matches as well, if you allow them in the match settings.

Last but not least, the background music is an element that I feel makes not only WWE, but sports games in general, special. To this day, I still listen to songs and bands from the WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 soundtrack. Music and UI alone can make a big part of the gaming experience memorable — just ask any Halo fan.

Fortunately, WWE 2K26 brings one of the best jukeboxes, with music from great bands like Linkin Park, The Warning, Bad Omens, and more. What makes this jukebox even better is that you can use these songs as themes for your custom entrances.

WWE 2K26: Should you buy it?

I’m confident that most players don’t buy these games for the DLC characters, side modes, or the soundtrack. Players want a WWE game to play as the wrestlers they admire and recreate their matches and moves.

It would be great if side modes were more polished, and monetization more controlled in future entries, that’s for sure. Yet, the core gameplay is better than ever. Whether playing solo, online, or with friends, the game delivers memorable moments thanks to the realistic animations, fluid matches, and chaotic fun in the Brawl areas.

WWE 2K26 filled me with nostalgia while still feeling fresh, and it gave me hope that the next entry could be worthy of the title of "Best Wrestling Game in the World".