The WWE 2K games have been gracing our consoles since 2013. Since then, getting a new 2K game about the squared circle is like a Money in the Bank cash-in — you might not always be excited about it, but you know it’s coming. Sometimes, 2K gives us some great, generational updates, but often, they’re barely more than incremental.

Regardless, a new 2K game does get every WWE fan excited, including yours truly. Sure, a WWE 2K game might not be on everyone’s games watchlist for the year, but for the fans, it’s a new chance to see if the company has listened to them, and given them features, matches, and QOL updates that they’ve wanted for years. That being said, some entries in the WWE 2K franchise have clearly shined brighter than others — here are the mainline WWE 2K games, ranked.

10 WWE 2K15

A dull new era

WWE 2K15 was supposed to usher in a new era, being the first game of the new generation. Instead, it was a sluggish, stripped-down experience that barely justified its next-gen leap. After the phenomenal 2K14, this one found a way to just suck the fun out of matches. The creation suite was gutted, left out in the cold like an undercard jobber, and the roster was just a barren selection at launch.

At least it had a solid soundtrack curated by John Cena, a rare highlight in an otherwise lifeless game. But even the Doctor of Thuganomics couldn’t rap his way around the fact that WWE 2K15 was a massive step back. It had promise, sure, but that meant nothing when actually playing it felt like wading through molasses.

9 WWE 2K20

Only a mother could love

For WWE 2K20, 2K swapped development duties from Yukes Digital to Visual Concepts, and god, the result was tougher to look at than Mankind after a No Holds Barred match. Remembered for all the wrong reasons, 2K20 had glitches, horrific character models, and game-breaking bugs that made it a disaster on release. Sadly, games being in a terrible state at launch is still one of the worst gaming trends today.

I rather loved the Women’s Evolution Showcase, and MyCareer showed potential, but trying to slog through them without the game imploding was testing. Even if you found the bugs funny, it did nothing to hide the fact that this was the worst 2K game in the state it came in. Regardless, it still evokes more emotion than the lifeless 2K15, but that’s like saying a trainwreck was entertaining to watch — it doesn’t mean anyone wanted to be on board.

8 WWE 2K17

Where’s my cinema?

Ah, 2K17 — the game that was supposed to be one step forward after 2K16 showed improvements. Sadly, they removed Showcase mode, which was an instant red flag. The gameplay itself didn’t do much to fill the void, either — movement felt sluggish, animations were stiff, and matches lacked impact. MyCareer, as always, felt painfully barebones, with repetitive objectives and no real sense of progression.

The roster was massive, and the creation suite was still solid, but without Showcase, the game lacked a true single-player hook. It didn’t help that commentary was still robotic, and the in-ring action remained nothing more than serviceable. If you played 2K16, you’d be hard-pressed to notice any significant differences here — just a fresh coat of paint that barely covered the cracks.

7 WWE 2K18

More of the same

To be rather honest, 2K18 and 2K17 are rather interchangeable. It was more of the same, enough tweaks to justify its existence, but nothing exciting. Showcase mode was missing again, which automatically made this entry a weak one. The in-ring action was slightly smoother, yes, and the graphics, apart from a few scans, were pretty much the same. After all, this isn't like the long-standing Metal Gear franchise, where every game holds its own personality.

However, 2K did expand upon MyCareer in this game, and introduced free-roam backstage. Sadly, in true 2K fashion, it meant nothing, since we just walked around in mostly empty spaces with dull interactions and tedious fetch quests. Was this game terrible? No, but it was another filler entry, blending so much with its predecessor that the two games became one big, forgettable blur. 2K18 also stands as one of the major reasons we haven't gotten a WWE 2K game on the Nintendo Switch, thanks to this game's port for the handheld console being an unmitigated disaster.

6 WWE 2K16

What next-gen should’ve been

After the misstep that was 2K15, 2K16 felt like a breath of fresh air. The roster was stacked, the gameplay was smoother, and polish was undeniable. It’s no surprise that I kept playing this one long after 2K17 and 2K18 had come and gone. Plus, the Showcase mode’s Austin 3:16 storyline remains one of my favorites in the series to this day.

WWE 2K16 improved everything wrong with 2K15, and it was really the next-gen game we should’ve got in the first place. Everything felt just right — refined gameplay, better-flowing matches, and a soundtrack for the ages that burned itself into your brain. Looking back, WWE 2K16 has aged insanely well.

5 WWE 2K22

Redemption arc

After 2K20's disaster, WWE needed to cancel 2K21 — the first time the series missed a yearly entry. In hindsight, game delays aren't such a bad thing. 2K22 had a lot riding on its shoulders, after having spent two years in the oven, and it was a return to form if there ever was one. GM Mode was back, even if barebones, and it did fix a lot of the problems we’d gotten used to. The game looked downright fantastic, the roster was solid, and Rey Mysterio’s Luchador history through the years was a stellar Showcase experience.

2K22 was a genuine effort to win back fans, and it worked. Was the new gameplay style divisive? Certainly. Did I love it regardless? Absolutely. It was fast, fluid, and scratched the arcade itch that older games used to hit. Plus, the soundtrack was a metalcore kid’s dream, thanks to all those late nights I stayed up watching RAW reruns. While it wasn’t quite a legendary entry, 2K22 proved that the franchise wasn’t down for the count just yet.

4 WWE 2K23

Playing it safe

I still thank the devs for adding WarGames to WWE 2K23, but outside of that, the game was little more than an incremental update. As usual, GM Mode saw improvements, and the gameplay became more polished than ever. However, 2K23 didn’t push the series forward in any meaningful way. At this point, it’s clear that the franchise has found its footing, and 2K seems content with refining rather than revolutionizing.

Is that even a bad thing? The wrestling is the best it’s ever been, after all, and 2K23 builds on a rock-solid foundation. There’s little to complain about, but also little to write home about. The soundtrack for WWE 2K23 didn’t quite hit home either, but the core game being so solid kind of helps you forgive the forgettable audio mix they put up with this entry.

3 WWE 2K14

A love letter to WWE history

We’re entering legend territory now, and 2K14 nailed nearly everything. Its 30 Years of Wrestlemania was a dream mode, letting us relive iconic moments with a perfect roster that spanned decades. Even today, the gameplay remains fast, fun, and endlessly repayable, thanks to emulators on Windows. For anyone who wants a nostalgia trip, 2K14 still keeps the fun alive.

2K14 was the last game of its generation, and it still held more personality than 15, 16, 17, and 18 combined. Universe Mode was great, the Defeat the Streak mode is still one of the best modes in any WWE game, and create-an-arena topped off a content-rich experience. All in all, WWE 2K14 was a true celebration of wrestling history — one we wish Sony would let us play on its latest PlayStation 5 console.

2 WWE 2K19

The gold standard

For many, WWE 2K19 is the best WWE 2K game ever made, and they wouldn’t be wrong. 2K19 was the culmination of everything the series had been building up to from 2K16 to 2K18, with deliberately-paced matches, strategic reversals, and realistic stamina management. The game flowed beautifully, with tired finishers and pins adding a cinematic touch. The creation suite was deep, and Universe Mode allowed you to cut promos too.

Furthermore, 2K19 remains many people’s favorite also because after 2K20’s being one of the most disastrous launches in gaming and 2K21’s cancelation, this game remained the go-to WWE game for three years rather than one, making it even more beloved. It struck a near-perfect balance between arcade fun and simulation depth, offering OMG moves, ringside dives, and incredibly dynamic bouts. To this day, 2K19 is easy to pick and easier still to love, and if you want a wrestling sim without sacrificing fun, 2K19 was the gold standard.

1 WWE 2K24

The formula, perfected

This might be contentious, especially for those who love 2K19, but WWE 2K24 is the closest we’ve gotten to a perfect WWE game. It cranks up the fun, makes every match feel like a big PLE fight, and still offers deep mechanics to those who prefer being more methodical in their approach. Trading blows is always fun, and the selling feels like all the characters got private lessons from Dolph Ziggler himself. 2K24 doesn't require the latest and greatest in hardware either, since I just ran it on a 1660 Ti for a maxed-out 60fps experience.

God, the 40-years-of-Wrestlemania mode definitely needed more time in the oven, but the commentary and camera cuts are better than ever, and the game looks absolutely stunning. The hair and their physics aren’t perfect yet, but we’re getting there. I’m still sad about how much focus MyFaction takes away from Universe Mode, but it’s as refined as ever. All of this, and the best weapons and blood effects really makes 2K24 a game that stands at the top of the WWE 2K pyramid.

What’s next for the franchise?

2K is steadily hyping up WWE 2K25, building on the franchise’s solid foundation. Combat remains largely unchanged — if it ain’t broke, right? The big addition for PS5 and Xbox Series X, The Island, looks like NBA 2K’s Park, which more than likely just means microtransactions galore. Monetizing customization in a game where servers will shut down in about a year seems odd, but hey, it’s new for WWE 2K. On the bright side, intergender wrestling is finally here — so we can officially give Dirty Dom the smackdown as Mami. WWE 2K keeps improving, and while some choices raise eyebrows, the franchise is moving in the right direction with one of the most hyped upcoming games of 2025, WWE 2K25.