WWE 2K16

 Xbox One
User Score
5.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 97 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 97
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 97
  3. Negative: 38 out of 97
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. bdodds1985
    Oct 31, 2015
    0
    The controls (or lack thereof) in this game are just horrible. Response is horrible. 2k ruins story lines and career modes every single game they make. This entire game just feels incredibly sluggish and lacks response from controls that a wrestling game should have. The worst part, is some of those buttons are multi use, and will screw you up 75% of the time you press them. I wanted toThe controls (or lack thereof) in this game are just horrible. Response is horrible. 2k ruins story lines and career modes every single game they make. This entire game just feels incredibly sluggish and lacks response from controls that a wrestling game should have. The worst part, is some of those buttons are multi use, and will screw you up 75% of the time you press them. I wanted to love this game so bad because I have not played a wrestling game since the days of WWF and WCW, but this just ruined it for me. I stopped caring for wrestling a long time ago, but knew it could be fun in a game, however, I stopped playing 2k things after my initial purchase of NBA2k14 and then 2k15... I saw right where that was going, and honestly, I had no idea this was even a 2k game until I played it. It was an impulse buy and a hope that the gameplay has improved since N64, but it has not. It might look better, but this timing and response issues with controls as well as 2k's spin on story lines and anything else corny as hell totally ruined the game for good.

    when someone else besides 2k makes one, I'll try it. Until then, dead.    … Expand
  2. KasaiWolf
    Nov 20, 2015
    2
    Aw WWE 2K16 you could have been something special. Well let me begin.

    Good Points: - The graphics on Xbone are amazing, from when you get into the ring until you win the match. Amazing to look at. Although using the face scan feature is a hit or miss as I nearly burned the preset ones with fire. - A good roster for anyone. From old faves like Shawn Michaels to new ones like Bray Wyatt    Aw WWE 2K16 you could have been something special. Well let me begin.

    Good Points:
    - The graphics on Xbone are amazing, from when you get into the ring until you win the match. Amazing to look at. Although using the face scan feature is a hit or miss as I nearly burned the preset ones with fire.
    - A good roster for anyone. From old faves like Shawn Michaels to new ones like Bray Wyatt and Rusev. There is someone for everyone.
    - Creation suite is finally back to the way it should have been.

    Bad Points:
    - The reversing system is downright broken, again like last year but on steroids.
    - Game is slow and sluggish to respond. It's painful when you compare it to something like WWE 2007 or even WWE 2K14.
    - Submission system is a pain in the ass, borderline broken and terrible. WWE 2K14 had a much fairer system to it and I wish they had kept it, or even give you the option to change it to a previous version.
    - Pin system is annoying as hell but after the last few games I've gotten used to them constantly changing it.
    - Worst part of all is the new grapple system. It is absolutely borderline broken and not even fun to play. Sadly it was this part that broke me and made me exchange the game.

    If you are looking for a game that looks pretty your here at the right place, one that plays good in the match?? Well look elsewhere. Mabye back at 2K14.    … Expand
  3. KletassVanDam
    Oct 30, 2015
    2
    A big improvement over 2k15, I'll give them that, but still sucks overall. The reversal system is still very annoying, i just turn it off. same for the chain wrestling minigame garbage, turn it off. with these options on, you spend more time watching this little moves and playing the mini games instead of seeing the cool big moves. spacial detection is still a problem. I'll have a finisherA big improvement over 2k15, I'll give them that, but still sucks overall. The reversal system is still very annoying, i just turn it off. same for the chain wrestling minigame garbage, turn it off. with these options on, you spend more time watching this little moves and playing the mini games instead of seeing the cool big moves. spacial detection is still a problem. I'll have a finisher ready, and stand in position waiting for the prompt, and sometimes it doesn't come, giving the opponent recovery time, then you have to set him up and try again. The BIGGEST detractor to this game, by far IMO is this notoriously obnoxious and ill-conceived submission mini-game. Slap on the sharpshooter for example, and don't watch the wrestlers struggle, instead watch this STUPID little mini game where you control one colored-bar, and have to chase your opponent's colored-bar in a f****** circle! The catch? Both bars move at the same speed AND they control like they are on ice... but somehow the computer (even on easy) can match your moves step for step so if you try to slow down to reverse direction, they will see and avoid you. the REAL problem with this mechanic, that makes it DUMB is that think about this for a second... if I have the move on my opponent, that means I'm on offense, and my opponent should be feeling pressure and taking damage... however, the mini game is in favor of the opponent, as it's a countdown to force the hold to release, not the other way around (meaning he doesn't have to try to catch your colored-bar, just avoid and it will release). More often than not, even with the opponent completely in the red on damage, this gives you only about 2 seconds to start the circle chase. what a completely inept mechanic! And there's no option to turn it off... what's wrong with a good old-fashioned button-mash while in a submission?

    They did a great job overhauling and streamlining the creation process, and the game plays a little faster than last year (but still too slow).

    Another ongoing annoyance, BTW is that if you start a taunt, you can't break from it, so if you pick a wrestler and aren't sure how long a taunt animation will take you are left helpless in doing a goofy pose for the crowd, while your opponent recovers, walks right in front of you and attacks with you helpless (there are a lot of wrestlers, which is awesome, but good luck remembering their taunt lengths). They should make the simple change, of allowing you to break the animation by attacking or grappling or moving, etc.    … Expand
  4. cameronh
    Nov 1, 2015
    0
    Absolute broken mess that is somehow worse than last years game. The targeting system is broken, the glitches are terrible and game ruining. The AI cheats all the time, even if they do not have any reversals left they can still reverse and they fill their meters up much quicker than human players do. The submission system is also somehow even worse as well. It is ridiculous that YukesAbsolute broken mess that is somehow worse than last years game. The targeting system is broken, the glitches are terrible and game ruining. The AI cheats all the time, even if they do not have any reversals left they can still reverse and they fill their meters up much quicker than human players do. The submission system is also somehow even worse as well. It is ridiculous that Yukes keeps making this crap every year. If you want a refund and you bought digitally from Microsoft they will happily refund this game if you tell them how broken it is, I did it earlier today and got a refund in about 10 minutes.… Expand
  5. incubus664
    Oct 28, 2015
    4
    Glitchy textures. Empty arena environments. Archaic controls which are often slow to respond. A skill levelling system that seems to make little to no difference. They fooled me again. Never EVER again will I buy a Yukes developed game. That's AUD$99.95 I'll never get back.
  6. TheQuietGamer
    Aug 22, 2016
    4
    With plenty of characters and modes to try out there could have been a lot to love here. Enjoying the game though requires getting past it's fighting system. Something that's unfortunately lacking here.

    Graphically it's kind of behind the times. It wouldn't have looked too bad on the 360 and to be honest it's not really a bad looking game at all. It's just not up to par with the current    With plenty of characters and modes to try out there could have been a lot to love here. Enjoying the game though requires getting past it's fighting system. Something that's unfortunately lacking here.

    Graphically it's kind of behind the times. It wouldn't have looked too bad on the 360 and to be honest it's not really a bad looking game at all. It's just not up to par with the current gen. The wrestlers just look too plastic and there isn't a lot of detail in the environments outside of some surprisingly well-done people in the audience. The soundtrack in the game is pretty great and it definitely sounds like a real wrestling match in the moment to moment action.

    The gameplay is just outright bad. A nice amount of content can't hold the package together when the actual wrestling sucks. It's a fairly simple and solid system that's just botched in execution. Attacking is all about throwing in some quick jabs and dealing real damage when their softened up with flashier moves. That all works fine and well. The problem sets in when you need to counter your opponent. That's when everything goes to crap and the game feels outright broken.

    The counter/reversal system is handled through what can be most accurately described as quick-time events. The most common being a quick flick of the right trigger to quickly get out of the way and deliver a quick counter move. The problem is that most of the time it just doesn't work. The game either fails to realize that you've pressed the button or the timing system is so messed up that it registers your input as either too fast or too slow. This system feels outright broken and can lead to extended segments of watching your character get whaled on while you are doing everything you can to fight back, but are just getting screwed by a broken system.

    The reversals can also require more complex interactions from the player with inputs that feel specifically designed to give the opponent AI the edge. One such example involves a input that requires to tilt the analog stick to a specific spot and hold it there to fill up a circle before your opponent can do the same. Naturally it just comes down to who finds it first. Or does it? I've had an experience where I beat the computer to the spot and still had their circle fill up first. There's outright broken, then there's cheating.

    It's still technically a playable game. You just need to never get grabbed by your opponent. A pretty easy thing to do if you can just keep whaling on them, keeping them stunned until you can pin them. It's totally possible, but don't be surprised when the game pulls off a miracle where the AI comes back at right at the end of it's health and pummels you until it wins the match. It happens quite frequently here. A lot of content aside this game just isn't worth it. The actual wrestling is bad to the point where it can feel outright broken.

    4.5/10    … Expand
  7. Broyax
    Jan 9, 2017
    1
    Oh mes aïeux, qu'est-ce que c'est que ce truc ? un "jeu" de catch avec des gros cons ! et des tatouages. On peut jouer qu'avec des gros cons encore plus dopés que dans tout l'athlétisme et le cyclisme réunis, pas l'ombre d'une bombasse à l'horizon, c'est déprimant. J'ai pas trop envie de personnaliser mon gros con mais je lui ai trouvé un smoking qui le rend encore plus débile que nature.Oh mes aïeux, qu'est-ce que c'est que ce truc ? un "jeu" de catch avec des gros cons ! et des tatouages. On peut jouer qu'avec des gros cons encore plus dopés que dans tout l'athlétisme et le cyclisme réunis, pas l'ombre d'une bombasse à l'horizon, c'est déprimant. J'ai pas trop envie de personnaliser mon gros con mais je lui ai trouvé un smoking qui le rend encore plus débile que nature.

    Le "jeu" en lui-même ? une succession de QTE et de commandes foireuses toutes aussi improbables les unes que les autres. Remarquez, ça ne m'étonne pas, le catch est un "sport" (un sport, vraiment ?) de boeufs, difficile de modéliser ça en jeu vidéo, et pour le coup, c'est raté.

    A part ça, je note que le jeu fait 42 Go... 42 Go pour un jeu de catch à la mords-moi-le noeud !? je les vois pas à l'écran mes 42 Go : tout ce que je vois, c'est un truc archi-moche qui a une génération de retard. De qui se moque-t-on ? ça charge sans arrêt en plus, à chaque menu, chaque sous-menu... c'est programmé avec des palmes ?

    Finalement je m'interroge : ils le vendent, ça ? grâce au Gold, je l'ai essayé gratuitement mais payer pour cette mascarade aussi bidon que le sport qu'elle est censée représenter me semble impensable. M'enfin bon, ça permet de relativiser, les jeux de baston daubés japoniais en deviendraient presque fréquentables.    … Expand
  8. sharkman265
    Aug 16, 2016
    0
    Game is awful , broken mechanics and controls make this unplayable garbage , playing on easy is like playing gears of war 2 solo on insane difficulty , you lose matches 99.8% of the time in my career (against the AI) this game shouldnt have ever been made in first place!!!
  9. TimeOfTheChimps
    Jul 10, 2016
    4
    Though the graphics are improved and there are several new modes added, WWE 2K16 suffers from a crummy submission system (the AI will win every time no matter how hard you try) and excruciatingly long loading times; every time you switch to a new item in Create-A-Wrestler, it takes about ten seconds to load the newly added object. Ugh. This is the next generation so it should really beThough the graphics are improved and there are several new modes added, WWE 2K16 suffers from a crummy submission system (the AI will win every time no matter how hard you try) and excruciatingly long loading times; every time you switch to a new item in Create-A-Wrestler, it takes about ten seconds to load the newly added object. Ugh. This is the next generation so it should really be fixed by now. Another thing I have to add is that the Create-A-Wrestler mode, while improved and allowing for many more unique CAWs, lacks many Diva related items. Fix this. Also, the soundtrack needs to be improved. There are only two songs that are any good, and even in that case, they all play over and over and over again. Every. Freaking. Time. This is giving me a headache to even THINK about. The MyCAREER is bland and unengaging and turns into a grind-fest because, unlike NBA 2K's MyCAREER, it isn't fun in the slightest. The only other positive out of all of this that I have to add is that the "Hard" and "Legend" difficulties are actually difficult, unlike in previous games, where they were both a piece of cake. Really nothing else to say except that without a character creator to make things interesting, this game would really, really suck. 3/10.… Expand
  10. Hav0k
    Dec 3, 2015
    0
    Reset my password just to log back in and review this mess of a game. Just about every system is more of an adventure in terrible game design than fun simulation. The pin and reversal systems are bad and the submission system is terrible. It's a frustrating mess to play and you often feel more excited that you won based on pure luck than any actual skill.
  11. MrPeperonny
    Nov 21, 2015
    4
    I was hyped before I bought this game. But after several hours of playing I can say I'm mostly disappointed of this year's edition of the WWE 2K series. In my eyes it seems like 2K wants to create a wrestling simulation that is as close to the real WWE as possible. And that’s what I want, too. But they are far away from it.

    There are over 120 different superstars in the roster. That    I was hyped before I bought this game. But after several hours of playing I can say I'm mostly disappointed of this year's edition of the WWE 2K series. In my eyes it seems like 2K wants to create a wrestling simulation that is as close to the real WWE as possible. And that’s what I want, too. But they are far away from it.

    There are over 120 different superstars in the roster. That sounds huge. But I don’t really care about half of the roster or so. Why is it even necessary to have such a giant roster? For me every superstar feels the same. You don’t need to learn different strategies for different Superstars, no matter if it’s a high-flyer like Kalisto or a brutal fighter like Brock Lesnar. Same strategy, same chance of winning. The ratings of a superstar only make tiny differences. It also doesn’t care against which opponent you play, he always (and I mean ALWAYS) kicks out of the cover after the first finisher. Finishers in WWE 2K16 are more like no-finish-finishers. I do like the principle of the new submission system. But I seems to be unbalanced right now. Well, maybe I’m wrong and just need more practice…

    Most of the superstars and their entrances look very great and realistic. But sometimes there are some details that are messed up. Let’s have a look at the camera: every entrance starts with the same camera perspective. It makes all feel so static. And sometimes the camera doesn’t show the right things. Take Finn Balor. When you are in the RAW arena the camera shows his entrance movie. And when you are in the NXT arena the camera shows the ceiling because the camera still thinks you are in a RAW arena with a huge titantron. Also, there are some details missing in the entrances. Let’s return to Brock Lesnar: There’s no pyro in the ring corners. Yes, you don’t see it in the TV shows most of the time, too. But hey, it’s a video game, so let everything go BOOM! So, I wanted to edit the ring pyro to his entrance. Why the heck is there a ring pyro called “Brock Lesnar” when it’s not assigned to him in default? No problem, I could assign it to him in just a few seconds. Then I started a match with him and wanted to enjoy his entrance. But wait… Where is the pyro? Oh, I see. Lesnar is my current World Champion. And those edits don’t work when the superstar has a championship belt. And also, the very cool entrance animation with him and his manager Paul Heyman is gone. Heyman is now following Lesnar like a lagging stick figure. This makes the entrance editor kind of obsolete.

    Speaking of managers. 2K introduced a new feature to this game where you can play as a manager. It’s not a revolution but it is fun to play every now and then. So, why is it still not possible to assign a fixed manager to a superstar in universe mode? Sure, you can edit a match. But if it’s a rivalry match and you add a manager, it will be just a normal match. This way, you can never see Lesnar in a rivalry with his manager Heyman on his side. It just doesn’t feel complete. The same applies to the shows in universe mode. They don’t feel complete. Why don’t they start a show with a pyro, like they did in WWE 2K14? It’s simple, but it would make the presentation more complete and realistic.

    Let’s change the topic to the my career mode. It was pretty fun the first few hours I played it. I was building up my own story, it was awesome. But then I realized that you cannot skip a match of your current rival. Somethimes I just don’t want to care about that match. You always have to do something. Even if it’s just loading the match, doing nothing and then leaving it immediately. With those loading screens in WWE 2K16 this takes ages for nothing. It feels like you are in matches only half of the time and spend the other half with waiting for something to load. Frustrating.

    I already mentioned the entrance editor. You can edit the titantron movie and the minitron movie. Why not the walltron? The current WWE arenas all have huge walltrons that make them an essential visual part of the entrances. You can just make it show the arena movie or turn it off. And why are there no generic movies? I don’t want my custom superstar called “John Doe” enter the ring with a movie saying “Dolph Ziggler” in big letters. And how about the other editors? The superstar editor is flexible, diverse and powerful. If it wasn’t for the long loading screens again… Damn! Cool, you can create a custom championship! But why can you only give it a 22 letter long name? Just remember, the official “WWE World Heavyweight Campionship” is 35 letters long.

    Wow, there are so many cool ideas in this game. But nearly everything is broken. Even the 2K Showcase mode. It’s great and fun to re-live the story of Steve Austin, but it has the same gameplay issues as mentioned above. It’s frustrating to see that most of the issues are just so tiny things. 2K, please don’t add new features to WWE 2K17, just fix the small things to make an awesome wrestling simulation! Thanks.    … Expand
  12. Geodude074
    Sep 4, 2017
    0
    The game mechanics are nothing more than a series of QTE. It's bad. Using the right joystick to circle around and try to chase after the AI? What were they thinking?! Everything in this game is a QTE. It's not fun. It's supposed to be wrestling! Punch, kick, body slam, jump off the top ropes! But instead you do nothing but execute QTE. Boring boring boring.
  13. samin777
    Oct 12, 2017
    0
    WWE 2K16 – it is an awesome game. It has got a whole variety of characters. It is a wrestling game as well. The game is available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and many more other consoles. You can go on my career and create your own superstar and you could join the hall of fame. You can play online as well with your friends. The characters that are included in the game are Daniel Bryan,WWE 2K16 – it is an awesome game. It has got a whole variety of characters. It is a wrestling game as well. The game is available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and many more other consoles. You can go on my career and create your own superstar and you could join the hall of fame. You can play online as well with your friends. The characters that are included in the game are Daniel Bryan, Booker T, Finn Balor, Bad News Barret and many more other characters. Then thing that I did not like about the game is that it took time to download but when I played the game it was fun. You can get the DLC for it but you have to pay extra for that and same for if you want to pre order the game. I like the game because I like playing wrestling games. The age you have to be for the game is under 16. In the game it has got loads of features like, for example, 2k showcase, universe mode, create suite and many more other features in the game. The improvement they could make is make it more exciting because if you keep playing the game every day you will get bored of it. If some people are wrestling fans they might buy this game. It is a sports game as well. It has got loads of action in it because you will fight people and might win championship belts.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

89
#89 Best Xbox One Game of 2015
38
#38 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2015
28
#28 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Games Master UK
    Jan 3, 2016
    81
    The series' all-time high point inside the ring - but still a year away from being the complete package. [Christmas 2015, p.79]
  2. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Dec 8, 2015
    70
    Iffy submission system aside, this is the smoothest and most authentic WWE game to date. [Christmas 2015, p.74]
  3. PLAY! Zine
    Dec 8, 2015
    60
    WWE 2K16 brings some improvements, but not enough to be the game fans deserve. Smashing the opponent from the ladders through the table is great, until you turn to the audience and realize they look like they came from a PS2 game. But if you close your eyes, the game at least sounds awesome.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »