WWE 2K25 Nintendo Switch 2 Review – A Surprisingly Smooth Return to Portable Wrestling

It’s 2025, and WWE is back with a bang, this time making its return to handheld gaming with WWE 2K25 on the Nintendo Switch 2. After the notoriously rough WWE 2K18 port on the original Switch, I was cautious going in.

But after spending most of my time playing in handheld mode, I was genuinely surprised at how well this version runs and how close it feels to playing on other platforms. This is definitely the smoothest WWE experience Nintendo has ever offered.

All Out Action Gameplay With New Modes

Let’s start with the gameplay. It’s pretty much what I expect from a WWE title: the mini-games during matches, the way characters move in the ring, and the overall feel of the controls are all solid. Playing on the Switch 2, the experience doesn’t feel stripped down compared to other platforms, which is a big win in my book. The only thing that tripped me up at first was the button prompts. Since I also play on PC with an Xbox controller, switching to the Nintendo layout took some getting used to, but it wasn’t a dealbreaker.

The WWE 2K25 roster is stacked; you’ve got RAW, SmackDown, NXT, and returning legends like Mankind, Eddie Guerrero, and Bray Wyatt. All the usual match types are here, one-on-one, tag team, Money in the Bank, plus new ones. Bloodline Rules lets you call an ally into the fight, and Intergender Bout finally lets male and female Superstars go head-to-head. Yes, you can have Rhea Ripley (aka “Goth Mommy”) wreck anyone in the ring.

Beyond matches, there’s plenty to do. MyRISE (more on that later), Universe Mode for booking your own shows and creating your own storylines, and The Island, an online space where you can bring your custom Superstar into story-driven quests, fight other players, and progress your character, basically WWE’s version of NBA 2K’s MyCareer. The downside is that there’s no cross-platform play, which also means Community Creations is limited to Switch 2 players only. That’s a real shame because it restricts the amount of shared content you can access.

MyRISE Story Mode With Branching Paths

MyRISE is easily my favorite mode. You create your Superstar and rise through the ranks to become the face of WWE. It kicks off with your character being drafted into WWE, only for a rogue NXT faction led by Bayley and Kevin Owens to start invading other brands. From there, it’s up to you to defend your brand and navigate the drama.

What’s great is that MyRISE combines the men’s and women’s campaigns into one story, with branching paths and choices that actually matter. Your personality type, which you set when creating your character, influences dialogue and outcomes, making this mode highly replayable. If you like story-driven wrestling content, this is where you’ll spend most of your time.

Great Audio & Visuals With Strong Portable Performance

This is where I was most impressed. Visually, the Switch 2 version holds up really well. Sure, textures and detail aren’t quite on the same level as the PC or PS5 versions, but the presentation is still crisp and clean. You might notice some resolution scaling here and there, but animations are smooth and never feel janky.

In handheld mode, matches run at a consistent 60FPS, which makes gameplay feel great. Cutscenes drop to 30FPS, which can mess with timing during mini-games or quick-time events, but it’s not game-breaking or jarring. Docked mode bumps the resolution and texture quality, gives better shadows, and feels slightly more stable in both matches and cutscenes.

Loading times are lightning fast. Jumping between menus and matches feels almost instant, to the point I sometimes forgot I was playing on a handheld console. Battery life is the main limitation; I got about 2.5 to 3 hours per charge in handheld mode, depending on the match type. Heavy modes like 8-Man or Wargames drain the battery faster.

The soundtrack is another highlight. It’s got everything from metal to rap, and BABYMETAL’s “RATATATA” had me stopping mid-menu just to vibe. I wish there were more metal tracks, but the current playlist still hits hard.

Verdict

After spending a good chunk of time with WWE 2K25 on the Switch 2, I can honestly say it’s the best WWE experience I’ve had on a Nintendo handheld. The gameplay feels full-featured, MyRISE is engaging and replayable, and performance in handheld mode exceeded my expectations.

It’s not perfect,  FPS dips in cutscenes, and the lack of cross-platform features do hold it back, but those are small issues that didn’t affect how much fun I’ve had with it. Whether you’re playing docked or on the go, this is a worthy addition to the Switch 2’s lineup.

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On Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, PS4 & Steam

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