WWE 2K20 is 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 that WWE 2K20 is definitely a bad game. The bugs are fun-ruining and game-breaking and 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.
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 May 6, 2021, by Jack Pursey: At Wrestlemania 37, wrestling fans were treated to their first look at the upcoming WWE 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.
13 Huge Roster Of Characters
One similarity between WWE 2K20 and WWE in real life today is that the amount of active wrestlers is considerably larger than ever before. WWE 2K20 was launched with a whopping 238 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.
12 Enormous 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 stars like 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.
Wrestlers aren't all that players can download from the Community Creations mode, as arenas, belts, shows, and more can be obtained.
11 Great 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 2K20 lets 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.
10 Back-and-Forth Gameplay
WWE 2k20 never lost its playability. The wrestling game is 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.
9 Devastating Moves
With every WWE 2k game release, there comes a new set of moves to add to 2k's move library. WWE 2k20's moves 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.
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.
8 Immersive Wrestling Experience
The combat system encourages players to think like wrestlers. It removes some arcadey elements and 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.
7 Various Fighting Styles
Each wrestler on the WWE 2k20 roster 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 have impactful strikes and bodyslams. On the other hand, playing as submission-specialist Daniel Bryan will give players an advantage when performing submission moves.
6 Authentic Character Feel
WWE 2k20 makes 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.
5 Most Bugs Fixed
Moving on to the primary reason why WWE 2k20 is so hated, it was virtually unplayable at launch. Bugs weren't funny anymore. 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 2k20 has 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.
4 Controls Are Easy To Get Used To
Another thing that infuriated long-time WWE 2K players are the revamped controls. All the way until WWE 2k20, the controls were the same. Now, 2K20's reoriented 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.
Years of WWE 2K games 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.
3 More Payback Abilities
Some payback abilities were added into the game to add some other various ways to turn the tides. For one, MyPLAYER exclusive abilities in 2k19 have made their way into 2k20 and can be used on all its game modes. Some of these payback abilities add arcade fantasy elements to a simulated wrestling game.
Though it may leave a sour taste for some, it's a great way to expand 2k20's combat system and customization options for creative players. New abilities have also been added, such as 'Fortify,' 'Rush,' and 'Hands of Fate.' On top of this, some existing payback abilities have been modified for gameplay balance.
2 Tons Of Weapons
An improvement from 2k19 is that now, players may customize what weapons would be under the ring in all match types. Yes, even normal matches with DQ in effect. There are tons of weapons that players may place under the ring, such as an enchanted bat, an oversized lollipop, a baguette, a glowing sword, and even the book of the dead.
With a bit of creative player input, this creates wacky and absurd extreme rules matches. Also, players may now grab multiple weapons from under the same side of the ring. This is a small touch of realism since WWE wrestlers are often seen getting four or five chairs under one side of the ring.
1 8-Man Matches/Improved Hell In a Cell
One of the most chaotic matches are 8-man matches. Players can even tweak the settings to include ladders, tables, sledgehammers, bats, and even the book of the dead under the ring. It's even more fun with the elimination option toggled to 'On,' meaning all seven other participants would need to be pinned or submitted to win.
On top of the 8-man wreck fest, there's also the added functionality of getting weapons from under the ring in Hell In A Cell matches. Tables, ladders, book of the dead, same deal. This makes the cell matches more like the actual WWE matches that take place.