WWE 2K Battlegrounds

The characters and personalities of World Wrestling Entertainment have always been larger than life. WWE 2K Battlegrounds takes all of that and cranks it up to an 11, tossing any semblance of realism out the window along the way. Gone are the complexities and technique of the simulation-style WWE 2K games of the past. In its place is fast-paced button-mashing arcade mayhem that's simple to pick up and play but hard to put down. The characters have the look and feel of action figures, and Battlegrounds serves as a sort of interactive toy box fueled by a kid's imagination. As outrageously fun as it is to see the characters defy physics with exaggerated moves and flashy special effects, it's even more fun to play with the props outside the ring, like a remote-controlled goat you can use to smack opponents around, or a hungry alligator that's watching the match ringside with the rest of the audience, waiting for you to toss your foe into its jaws. One match even resulted in a barrel exploding, blowing the ring posts and ropes off, which completely changed the mechanics of the match. It's insane. It's chaotic. And it's entertaining as heck.

As much fun as WWE 2K Battlegrounds is, it does have a few botches on its wresting package. For starters, the reliance on microtransactions can get a bit frustrating. Many of the bigger Superstars and Legends are locked behind a paywall, waiting to be purchased with either currency earned in-game or with real-world cash. It's not difficult to earn money in the game, with every match earning players a small purse and daily challenges offering bigger rewards for specific actions. But the grind to do so can get a little frustrating. Also, the available options for creating your own Superstar or Battleground feel a bit limited, especially for anyone used to the hyper-detailed features present in the main WWE 2K games. Still, Battlegrounds does have a fair amount to offer WWE fans and serves as a great casual entry in the WWE game library.