Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 25
  2. Negative: 0 out of 25
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  1. Mar 28, 2023
    90
    It’s clear that WWE 2K23 is faster, stronger, and goes harder than it has before, rounding off a great comeback story. The Showcase twist will see you forget John Cena’s five moves of doom, thus making sure there are five quality modes here to consume. The roster is packed with stars past and present, and the list of match types is stacked. Fortunately, it’s not held back by the paltry online offering or the few issues remaining in MyGM and Universe.
  2. Mar 27, 2023
    90
    WWE 2K23 is worth the pickup for any hardcore or casual fan of the wrestling franchise. Is it something that you’ll play for weeks on end? Maybe for about a month or two sure. Burnout is definitely there if you don’t let your imagination flow. WWE 2K23 is one giant wrestling sandbox waiting for you to jump in. You won’t be disappointed in what you get yourself into.
  3. Mar 15, 2023
    87
    This is all a very long-winded way of saying I liked WWE 2K23, a lot. I liked it more than I thought I would and expected myself to be really critical about it. I put a lot of hours into the game and I can see myself putting a lot more into it as well. If you are a wrestling fan, I am sure there is some part of WWE 2K23 that you will connect with, whether it’s being a GM, the online factions, or even just creating characters and running simulated matches. I am so happy I had the chance to review this.
  4. May 8, 2023
    85
    Online, WWE 2K23 performs well, with a few exceptions. Playing simple head-to-head is fairly seamless and responsive, but multiple team matches presented a handful of collision glitches and targeting problems. I found myself kicking the air on more than one occasion, while my opponents sat untouched nearby. It wasn’t a dealbreaker by any means, but in a title so focused on recreating WWE action, this repeatedly took me out of the moment. Fortunately, I didn’t experience any issues finding matches or opponents, thanks to snappy loading times and an easy-to-navigate lobby.
  5. Mar 23, 2023
    85
    An improvement over WWE 2K22, which was itself a superb wrestling game, WWE 2K23 has one of the best 2K Showcases to date, and fluid gameplay that's easy to pick up and play, but tricky to master. The champ is here.
  6. 85
    WWE 2K23 is the best wrestling game in a long time. It’s packed with so much to do, a great Showcase and an unbelievably vast creation suite. Minor issues aside, wrestling fans should not give this a miss.
  7. Mar 22, 2023
    85
    Overall, WWE 2K23 is better than 2K22 and it’s worth a pick up for hardcore fans and especially those that missed out on 2K22. The graphics engine really does help in making all wrestlers look better and it definitely makes created wrestlers look better. The loading is way, WAY shorter on 2K23 compared to 2K22. The additions are more like “touch-ups” when compared to the complete overhaul that we saw in 2K22, but it definitely tunes up modes in the right areas and makes them more interesting in the process. Just like 2K22 made me not want to return to 2k20, WWE 2K23 makes me not want to return to 2K22, so that in and of itself makes it worth the purchase.
  8. Mar 17, 2023
    85
    Not exactly a huge advancement on last year, but WWE 2K23 didn’t need to be, instead offering smart improvements on an already great formula.
  9. Apr 18, 2023
    83
    WWE 2K23 is yet another success in the franchise. It continuous what was done in the previous entry and adds many features that wrestling fans were hoping for.
  10. Apr 2, 2023
    83
    WWE 2K23 raises the bar from WWE 2K22 and becomes the best game in the series created single-handedly by Visual Concepts. The roster of superstars is massive, the number of game modes and possibilities are almost endless, and the gameplay mixes simulation and arcade with the depth the player wants to give it.
  11. Mar 28, 2023
    80
    All in all, I am really encouraged by this year’s game. They’ve made some significant improvements on some important legacy issues that have held the game back for way too long. There is a ton to do here and a lot of different ways to experience the core gameplay. Showcase remains a highlight and the expansion of MyRise continues to flesh out the series as a single player experience. I’d like to see GM mode get a significant rework next year to make it feel like a more fully fledged option and continued work on the physics around foreign objects if you are a fan of wrestling games at all, WWE 2K23 is an easy recommend.
  12. Mar 27, 2023
    80
    WWE 2K3 picks up from the base thrown in last year without disrupting anything, but going on to improve several details. The John Cena-dedicated Showcase mode is interesting and varied, just as the two new My Rise stories come with more narrative care. MyGM and MyUniverse are perfect for simulation fans, while MyFaction brings FUT-style online competition for the first time. Too bad just for the dated technical compartment, but it still remains a must-have title for wrestling fans.
  13. Mar 27, 2023
    80
    Overall it feels that the WWE 2K series is back for real. This year's version is light-years better than the disaster WWE 2K20 and also a step up from last year.
  14. Mar 22, 2023
    80
    WWE 2K23 has what it takes to guide your taste for wrestling for a whole year and just like the previous installment, it delivers and remains a fun and exciting experience.
  15. Mar 22, 2023
    80
    WWE 2K23 builds on the excellent foundation laid with the last edition of the game and moves forward a small step. The new features are limited, but they go a long way toward filling the gaps in WWE 2K22, for example with a significantly larger roster (nearly 200 wrestlers in total). The show stealer is undoubtedly the Showcase mode focused on John Cena and his (rare) defeats The experience overall is good, but the feeling is that little has been done to offer anything really new, merely tweaking the winning product of 22.. Like WWE’s TV shows, 2K wants to pleasure to everybody, but that’s simply non possible.
  16. Mar 22, 2023
    80
    WWE 2K23 is a solid improvement on its predecessor, is an easy entry to start with for new players, and adds just enough to make players return for a polished round two.
  17. Mar 19, 2023
    80
    Without any great changes to its formula, WWE 2K23 perfects what was established last year, for a more seamless experience.
  18. Mar 18, 2023
    80
    WWE 2K23 builds on last year's already impressive effort to deliver arguably the best wrestling game Xbox fans have ever seen. The gameplay feels smoother and more entertaining than ever, nearly all of the game modes have received welcome improvements, WarGames is a fantastic addition to the array of match types, and this is ultimately the most enjoyment we've had with the series in well over a decade. It's still a little rough around the edges in some places, but you'll most likely be having too much fun to care.
  19. Mar 16, 2023
    80
    An improvement on last year’s already firm foundations, WWE 2K23 continues the franchise’s rebirth with steady improvements, beefed up game modes, and an epic recreation of WarGames.
  20. Mar 16, 2023
    80
    WWE 2K23 isn't a revolution, but a welcome evolution to the series with just enough new features that are sure to please WWE fans and newcomers alike.
  21. Mar 16, 2023
    80
    Just like other games with similar mechanics it can be played without partaking in spending more money, but the grind will certainly put some casuals off ever investing a lot of time. Despite this, WWE fans will most likely be pleased with the refinements to the wrestling and updated roster, and if that is the case it is certainly a warranted purchase, but WWE 2K23 still leaves a desire for more.
  22. Mar 27, 2023
    75
    While it isn’t the gigantic leap forward that the previous game was, it does solidify the WWE 2K franchise as something people should be looking forward to, not something that should be avoided.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
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  1. Feb 2, 2023
    WWE 2K23 feels pretty good with at least the two modes available to try. Slingshot technology makes the experience totally different. WarGames mode gives the game quite a fresh air where players can enjoy the challenges either single player or multiplayer. The graphics have been improved compared to the previous ones and we finally have a good optimization, better times when loading the screen without leaving aside an improved mechanic that makes us enjoy every wrestler. [Impressions]
User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 22
  2. Negative: 5 out of 22
  1. Sep 8, 2023
    8
    First WWE game i have bothered to play in several and its been good. Glad to see the gameplay has improved and the bugs are far less frequent.First WWE game i have bothered to play in several and its been good. Glad to see the gameplay has improved and the bugs are far less frequent. hopefully 2k can improve on it. Full Review »
  2. Sep 4, 2023
    0
    Be prepared if you play on higher than rookie the cpu to no sell everything also bugged and glitched to hell the cpu will be able to grab theBe prepared if you play on higher than rookie the cpu to no sell everything also bugged and glitched to hell the cpu will be able to grab the rope when nowhere near it for a rope break and if you play on legend better hit at least 5 finishers in a row to beat a wrestler with an overall over 85 and even then they will still likely kick out of it. This is one of the worst wrestling games I have played what happened to fun wrestling games last good wwe game was 06 and the last decent one was 07 I do not know why I keep giving wwe games chances when they are so bad and every year they just get worse,,, at least Bray Wyatt is in this one if you pay 10 more dollars for an already 70 dollar game can you say greed or what? Don't buy this game it is bad. Full Review »
  3. Sep 2, 2023
    6
    It's a very good game in terms of gameplay, I can say that it has improved more than wwe2k22, but there are some problems in terms ofIt's a very good game in terms of gameplay, I can say that it has improved more than wwe2k22, but there are some problems in terms of multiplayer often the game stops or is not useful, so I can not give a high score. Full Review »