Press Start may receive a commission when you buy from links on our site at no extra cost to you.
Since its re-debut in 2022, the WWE 2K series has taken significant strides in becoming one of the premier annual sports entries each year. WWE 2K26 continues that trend. Tweaks and refinements to familiar systems make the game feel fresh, new match types keep things interesting and CM Punk’s Showcase Mode is mostly stellar. It’s a shame, though, that each year comes with a new way to entice you to spend more to enjoy everything the game has to offer.
WWE 2K26 introduces a handful of notable in-game tweaks and improvements to the core gameplay. Both offence and defence feels slightly heavier this year, while tweaked reversal and stamina systems force you into needing to pay close attention to your stamina meter throughout a match. Missing reverse cues, or dodging too many times too quickly, will now drain your meter and you won’t be able to reverse anything your opponent throws your way. A purple meter appears after your regular yellow stamina meter is drained, turning you into a hovelling mess that can’t do a thing. It lends to the simulation feel the series has been going for over the last few years, and after a couple of matches I started to enjoy the greater focus on stamina management and making sure I wasn’t overdoing it with needless attacks.
I was pleased to see superstars interacting more realistically with objects they collide with, too, allowing you to fully experiment with weapons and props available around the ring. Being able to hit a suplex onto the steel steps and actually see that play out realistically – albeit with a glitch every now and again – was extremely satisfying. As well as this, I was stoked to see some new weapon additions, like the thumbtacks and the shopping cart, while the introduction of double table stacking finally made those TLC matches so much more fun. The ability to experiment and really play around with your environment is at the forefront of 2K26, and I’ve had an absolute blast playing around with what’s on offer so far.
Another small, yet significant, addition to the game comes by the way of start of match actions. You’re now able to set the tone of the match (essentially, anyway) by interacting with your opponent ahead of the match starting. You can offer to shake hands, trade blows, play to the crowd, rush your opponent or kick off a chain wrestling battle. While small, it adds an added layer of spectacle to the match and feels especially neat when it’s a notable rivalry or a pair of babyfaces going toe to toe.
Headlining this year’s game is CM Punk’s Showcase, which chronicles the history of one of the best, and most iconic, modern day wrestlers to lace up their boots. Matches are divided into three different categories this year – historical matches, fantasy warfare and ‘what if’ alternate reality matches. The latter two throw up some truly entertaining match ups and include a few Punk variants that change his moves up to keep things feeling fresh. The selection of historical matches span some of Punk’s best and biggest fights over the years, though it’s a shame Visual Concepts couldn’t get Punk’s feud with Jeff Hardy in – it’s one of the biggest and most iconic feuds to come out of late 2000s WWE, and Hardy’s just been confirmed to be added into the game in mid-2026. Needless to say, if you’re a fan of the Best in the World, you’ll enjoy your time in this year’s Showcase Mode. I mostly certainly did.
Showcase is just one of several big modes in 2K26, and there’s no debating this year’s game is packed with so much content that every type of wrestling fan should be relatively satiated. Like previous years, I spent the majority of my time in the game’s MyGM and Universe modes, both of which have received some well-needed refinements.
MyGM, the brilliant management mode that was introduced a couple of years ago, now feels like the real deal. Season time now defaults to 50 weeks, mirroring the real wrestling calendar, while you now have a bunch of additional budget options – allowing you to elevate your show on a tooth and nail budget or go all-in on a bigger roster packed with a variety of superstars. There’s been a significant increase in available match types this year, too, including the four new modes introduced in 2K26 (those being I Quit, Inferno, Dumpster and 3 Stages of Hell matches).
My most appreciated change to MyGM comes by way of being able to double book superstars, though. In previous entries you were locked out of using a superstar if they cut a promo on a show or had a match, forcing you into a bit of a balancing act around who you use from your roster. Now, you’re able to book superstars for promos and also have them jump into a match on the show, albeit with a higher stamina penalty. Needless to say, it adds more flexibility to booking a show, and, with the other changes, takes the shackles off of what is easily one of my favourite modes in the game.
Universe Mode has also received a couple of notable changes to improve the overall experience. The most notable is the introduction of the WWE Draft, which occurs across selected shows and has general managers draft superstars across primary and supplementary rosters. You’re able to create your own drafts, customise current drafts and really get into the nitty gritty of who goes where. I was stoked to see the option to draft legends and free agents into your roster, while adding supplemental shows (like NXT) offers up a chance to bring up and coming talent to the main rosters. Drafts take place across the respective show’s match cards, just like you’d see on the tele, and add a nice extra bit of flavour to the Universe experience.
Another nice, if subtle, change to Universe mode comes in the way you can cash in Money in the Bank contracts. Previously, it was a fairly clunky experience that didn’t ever really capture the feeling of what it’s like to cash in on a champion, knowingly or unknowingly. This year, you’re now able to target any eligible championship on a show and can choose whether to announce a cash in or cash in mid-match or post-match. While a slight tweak, it makes the whole premise of cashing in on an unsuspecting champion during Universe runs way more enjoyable.
I spent a lot more time in 2K26’s The Island, the big multiplayer mode introduced in WWE 2K25, compared to last year. One of the big reasons as to why is the way it’s structured – rather than being all about proving yourself to Roman Reigns and the Bloodline, this year’s take on The Island has you aligning yourself with one of three available factions. Each are headlined by a major superstar, with CM Punk’s Order of Anarchy, Rhea Ripley’s Order of Shadows and Cody Rhodes’ Order of Tradition available to choose from.
I had some big criticisms with The Island last year, mostly around how grindy it was, the whacky quests and how seasons didn’t really offer much incentive to play. It’s hard to say if that’s really going to change too much this year, however the additional match types and introduction of World Taunts – which allow you to assign taunts and show them off in the overworld – led to, at the very least, some fairly entertaining moments. It’s still grindy, of course, but it feels like it has a bit more personality in it this year. It’s not for everyone, of course, and as always there’s a heavy focus on paying real-world money to deck out your superstar, but it definitely feels like a step up from last year.
MyFaction and MyRise see some slight tweaks in 2K26, but I spent very little time with them this time around. I find the grind of both took away from my enjoyment of what else is on offer – why would I want to spend hours grinding locations in MyFaction when I can set up dream matches in Universe Mode? Likewise, the MyRise story didn’t capture me early on and I’ve felt very little desire to go back to it. There are better modes on offer in WWE 2K26, with the duo just not doing too much for me this year.
Perhaps the only reason to get into those modes would be to get the newly-introduced Ringside Pass levelled up. In a truly bizarre move, Visual Concepts have moved DLC to the game’s battle pass, forcing you to grind levels to unlock superstars you’ve paid for. This kicks off with season one, which launched with the game’s early access period, and sees a whole host of superstars – both paid DLC and free – all tied behind Ringside Pass tiers. Levelling up the pass is relatively simple – spend time in other game modes and win. However, XP given out for wins is minimal, and after hours upon hours I only found myself at level 20 out of 40. You can skip tiers, however that requires you to pay for the premium pass and then pay for skips on top of that. It’s all a bit icky.
It’s also worth saying that for a game that claims it has the ‘biggest roster ever’ in WWE 2K history, it’s a shame to see so many superstars locked behind the pass itself. And don’t even get me started on the range of superstar variants that add up to that magic 400 number. It just feels a little bit gross.
Even with those nitpicks, I can’t help but find myself having an otherwise excellent time with WWE 2K26. Every single year I come back and get swept up in the series thanks to its excellent gameplay, great Showcase modes and the litany of things to do in Universe Mode. I can confidently say that’s the case once again with WWE 2K26, and while it does have various missteps along the way, at its core it’s still an excellent wrestling game that is absolutely jam packed with things to do.