WWE 2K23 introduces a lot of improvements on last year’s game, including updates to modes like MyGM and Universe, and more enjoyable match types being added. While WWE 2K22 was a great game in its own right, one aspect that seemed to draw some negativity from fans was its roster. This year, WWE 2K23 takes a few necessary steps to improve the overall roster in terms of both size and balance, giving fans a more realistic look at the current state of the WWE - despite a few notable absences.
The roster in any WWE 2K game is going to be one of its most important selling points, since that not only dictates who the player can control, but also how many options they have to keep playing into the future. Further, WWE rosters should include superstars that are no longer a part of the WWE like Hall-of-Famers, or other fan-favorites. Yet there's also a need to not have superstars currently working for a different brand, as it takes away from the realism these games try to achieve. While WWE 2K23’s roster is not perfect, it is a big step up from WWE 2K22, adding a good mix of superstars and legends that round out the experience well.
WWE 2K22’s Roster Issues
The two biggest issues with WWE 2K22’s roster was that its size and depth hindered the longevity of the game. WWE 2K22 had a little over 180 superstars at launch, which was one of the smallest pools in any WWE game and left out notable talents such as Paige, the Bella Twins, and Bron Breakker. This ultimately led to a more underwhelming MyGM Mode and Universe Mode compared to WWE 2K23, since players were not able to get the full experience of organizing a stacked show.
WWE 2K22’s roster didn't have depth in terms of alternate versions of superstars, and a general lack of legends. Characters such as Paul Bearer and Lita were notably absent from the game, preventing players from reliving some of the WWE's greatest rivalries. Further, a lack of alternate superstars means that fans were not able to plan out a PPV in Universe Mode that features characters such as Masked Kane, or older versions of Triple H and the Undertaker.
WWE 2K23’s Roster Makes Big Improvements
WWE 2K23 capitalized on the success of WWE 2K22 by introducing a more well-rounded roster that includes some of the most memorable past superstars, as well as up-and-coming talent. One such superstar is Bron Breakker, who was notably absent from last year’s game despite being considered one of the “next big things” in the WWE. Further, WWE 2K23's various editions include some great alternate versions of superstars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, Batista, and even The Prototype - the first iteration of John Cena on WWE.
This depth plays well into both MyGM and Universe Mode, the former also having more options for playable GMs such as Eric Bischoff, Kurt Angle, and Mick Foley. Universe Mode includes various new tag teams and factions that make match types like WarGames much more viable, and the legends - ranging from Andre The Giant to Trish Stratus - bring the possibility of reliving some truly memorable rivalries to life. WWE 2K23 seemed to have heeded the cries of fans, adding in all the right superstars and legends to offer a well-balanced roster.
WWE 2K23’s roster may not be a lot bigger than last year’s, but the inclusion of fan-favorite legends and up-and-coming superstars means many of its game modes have become more balanced. The depth in WWE 2K23's roster is its saving grace, giving a great mix of high-flyers, technical fighters, and heavy-hitters - not to mention the large list of factions and tag teams ready to set foot into WarGames. It is possible that future DLC may include many more WWE legends and superstars, yet even without any more additions, the game already feels well-balanced enough to play for months to come.
WWE 2K23 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
