WWE 2K20is a key candidate to being the worst game of the year. With a Metascore of 43 and an overwhelmingly negative 1.1 User Score, it’s established thatWWE 2K20is definitely a bad game. Thebugs are fun-ruining and game-breakingand cause the game to crash more than any other game. The controls were changed too for no apparent reason, with no way to switch them back or modify them.
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However, could the same still be said over a year after its release? And are the problems the game initially came with preventing users from appreciating this wrestling game’s true beauty?
Updated July 05, 2025, by Jack Pursey:At Wrestlemania 37, wrestling fans were treated to theirfirst look at the upcomingWWE 2K22. The trailer didn’t give too much insight, but it did confirm that the gaming franchise would be returning to its simulation-style rather than continuing the over-the-top arcade action from the previous entry,WWE 2K Battlegrounds.
Unfortunately, players will have to wait a bit longer before getting their hands on the latest game. So, to tide fans over until the release day comes, we’ve expanded this list to add another three reasons as to why WWE 2K20 is actually a great game to play in the meantime.
13Huge Roster Of Characters
One similarity betweenWWE 2K20and WWE in real life today is that the amount of active wrestlers is considerably larger than ever before.WWE 2K20was launched with a whopping238 characters, including variations of the same wrestler.
Granted, most players will only play with 20% or 30% of the characters, but the huge roster is still a great feature. It gives players an enormous range of fighting styles to contend with and also offers tons of variety for the popular Universe Mode.
12Enormous Selection Of Community Creations To Download
If the huge range of developer-created wrestlers implemented in the game weren’t enough, then players can head over to the Community Creations feature and download a whole host of characters.AEW starslike Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega, former WWE wrestlers like CM Punk and Emma, and even fictional characters like The Hulk and Joker can all be found.
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Wrestlers aren’t all that players can download from the Community Creations mode, as arenas, belts, shows, and more can be obtained.
11Great Range Of Customizability Options
If players still can’t find what they’re looking for in the Community Creations mode, then that can flex their creative muscles and form their own creations.WWE 2K20lets players customize a huge range of features, including wrestlers, entrances, move-sets, arenas, and more.
Moreover, the level of detail that players can go into when customizing these features is excellent. Even the smallest details can be tweaked and fine-tuned, so players can make their creations as true-to-life or utterly ridiculous looking as possible.
10Back-and-Forth Gameplay
WWE 2k20never lost its playability. Thewrestling gameis a fighting game unlike any other. Instead of players squashing each other, the game’s competitive mechanics encourage players to take bumps as a strategy. The reversal system is limited and works in a way that encourages players to take hits and bumps to ration reversals, unlike RPG fighting games where players can spam parry and reversal moves.
There’s also the payback abilities where a meter is filled when the player takes a bump. After the meter is filled, wrestlers unleash their tide-turning abilities. Additionally, when finishing maneuvers are reversed, the foiled attacker loses his finisher while the to-be recipient earns one, immediately flipping the tables. This combat system results in back-and-forth matches where players put on a good show, just like an actual wrestling match.
9Devastating Moves
With everyWWE 2kgame release, there comes a new set of moves to add to2k’smove library.WWE 2k20’smoves feel impactful and devastating. They are also satisfying to perform after reversing an opponent’s move. The moves are wonderfully motion captured, and to execute them in a match feels punchy and epic.
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There are also varied attacks that wrestlers can perform in different areas of the ring—the ropes, the corner, the top turnbuckle, the apron, and so on. Different move types are also given appropriate damage numbers to justify a move’s lethality. For example, a piledriver in the ring would have less damage than a piledriver onto the concrete.
8Immersive Wrestling Experience
The combat system encourages players to think like wrestlers. It removes somearcadey elementsand adds some simulation into it. Super Heavyweight superstars like Big Show and Keith Lee won’t be so easy to knock down, while Light Heavyweight superstars like AJ Styles and Seth Rollins move about the ring faster.
It’s elements like these that create a lot of variability to combat, but on top of that, these elements such as fatigue and adrenaline give competing players the same pacing of an actual wrestling match. In addition, the commentary makes everything more immersive.
7Various Fighting Styles
Each wrestler on theWWE 2k20roster feels unique. Wrestlers are categorized under different fighting styles. Giants, cruisers, powerhouses, specialists, and strikers. Each of these styles has its own sub-category as well. A specialist can either be a submission specialist or a technician.
If, for example, the player is playing as 7 foot 200kg Braun Strowman, he will walk slower and execute moves slower but will haveimpactful strikesand bodyslams. On the other hand, playing as submission-specialist Daniel Bryan will give players an advantage when performing submission moves.
6Authentic Character Feel
WWE 2k20makes characters feel like the real deal. Some wrestlers perform some very unique actions like light heavyweights rolling around after getting their arm twisted. Or, giants not easily being knocked down. This makes playing the wrestlers feel a lot like they are controlling the actual performer. On top of that, there is unique commentary for specific match-ups to make wrestling matches feel more life-like.
If Triple H goes against Shawm Michaels, the commentary will mention their time as part of DX; if Edge goes against John Cena, the commentary will mention their iconic rivalries. Even the fighting demeanor of the wrestlers are integrated into the opponent AI. Heels will roll out of the ring to avoid contact and would sometimes lose by DQ when frustrated.
5Most Bugs Fixed
Moving on to the primary reason whyWWE 2k20is so hated, it was virtually unplayable at launch.Bugs weren’t funnyanymore. They were actually breaking the game and interrupting good matches. This frustrated players. Some users have reported being unable to launch the game at all.
However,WWE 2k20has managed to fix everything that aggravates players about the game. A lot of bugs have been squashed, the targeting system has been reoriented, and the gameplay is much smoother now.
4Controls Are Easy To Get Used To
Another thing that infuriated long-timeWWE 2Kplayers are the revamped controls. All the way untilWWE 2k20,the controls were the same. Now,2K20’sreoriented controls feel like learning to walk again. The crucial and widely-spammed reverse button was moved from the right trigger to the right top button. This was a big hit.
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Years ofWWE2Kgames have developed an integral muscle memory among its community. Since there was no option to even change the controls, players had to fumble around matches before getting used to the new input. This left a sour taste for first impressions on the game, but once the controls are nailed down, everything is buttery smooth from there on out.
