The process of creating WWE games is generally straightforward, although it’s not without its challenges. Every year, the developers at Visual Concepts strive to introduce a unique Showcase theme, an updated roster, and novel game modes to keep this series exciting and new. This isn’t an easy task to repeat annually, but they’ve been quite successful in doing so consistently.
Before I transformed into a gaming machine, my resilience was put to the test with WWE 2K22. After stumbling with 2K20, there was a lot of anticipation surrounding this latest edition. In fact, they chose to skip 2K21 entirely to ensure that 2K22 would be top-notch.
Given the unexpected cancellation and the turbulent year WWE has experienced, WWE 2K22 undeniably stands out as an unusual installment in the series. Just like the Daredevil: Born Again series on Disney Plus, there are moments when it seems that this game is being kept together by makeshift solutions rather than polished design. With a roster that appears older than typical, and some peculiar decisions regarding the Showcase and MyRise modes, this game presents an unusual experience.
It’s not surprising to find outdated lineups with the WWE series, as every game often features incorrect character personas, disbanded tag teams, and an unusual commentary team. Interestingly, 2K25 is yet to include Pat McAfee as a commentator, despite him being a playable character in the games.
As a die-hard fan, I’ve got to say that WWE 2K22 stands out for me. It’s amazing how they’ve managed to keep former wrestlers in the game even after they took a break from active service.
Remaining members of the downsized cruiserweight roster from 205 Live were unexpectedly present, including Ariya Daivari, Gran Metalik, and Buddy Murphy. Main event performer Braun Strowman had been dismissed before the game’s launch, making his appearance here a significant shock.
Fans of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) expressed satisfaction with the roster of WWE 2K22, as many wrestlers who transitioned to AEW were still included in the game. These included Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly, Keith Lee, an earlier version of Toni Storm before she was known as Timeless, Ember Moon prior to Athena, Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, and perhaps a few others I’ve forgotten. However, it appears that Daniel Bryan and Adam Cole were requested to be excluded from the roster to avoid having too many AEW wrestlers in the game.
Additional information has surfaced regarding certain storylines initially planned for the game that ultimately didn’t make it. One of these was a significant Fiend-themed narrative for Bray Wyatt, which unfortunately couldn’t proceed as he was let go from the company, with specific instructions to exclude him from this particular project. Furthermore, promotional materials were created for Rey Mysterio’s WrestleMania 22 match against both Kurt Angle and Randy Orton, but this encounter never materialized.
The Downloadable Content (DLC) experienced its own set of challenges as well. A member, Zachary Wentz (known as Nash Carter then), was abruptly dismissed from the WSK DLC alongside Wes Lee, due to a stir caused by social media issues. Unfortunately, they opted to replace him with one of those seemingly insignificant MyFaction cards that don’t seem to garner much interest.
Finally, let me mention Rey Mysterio’s Showcase Mode. Although not terrible, a significant number of matches were glossed over, presumably due to copyright complications. Following a match with Eddie Guerrero in WCW, we jump straight to 2005, bypassing many opponents he faced. There are no matches featuring Chavo Guerrero, Psicosis, Juventud Guerrera, Chris Jericho, or other notable adversaries from his career. Since they aren’t with WWE now, it’s understandable, but the representation of Mysterio’s career felt rushed and incomplete as a result.
Despite its flaws, WWE 2K22 remarkably managed to resurrect this game series from near oblivion. It was the game that introduced a new control system where you attempt to counter moves by mimicking the button your adversary presses. Moreover, it debuted the distinctive combo system that remains popular today. The wrestling simulator boasted impressive visuals, and one could even say that 2K25 bears a striking resemblance to 2K22 in terms of graphics.
It’s impressive that Visual Concepts managed to tackle the challenge of approving a seemingly dated lineup with unusual narrative decisions for each single-player campaign within the WWE 2K series. Their determination is truly admirable, and they’ve been skillfully guiding the WWE 2K franchise ever since.
Too bad that WWE 2K22 was removed from sale, as it’s a captivating piece of WWE’s historical puzzle. Luckily, gamers might still find copies of the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S versions available.
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2025-04-30 18:44