WWE 2K25 is a major upgrade from previous editions especially when it comes to graphics and controls. Gameplay is fluid and combos and signature moves are satisfying to pull off if you can catch your opponent stunned or off guard. Several game modes keep things feeling fresh and a new open-world mode called The Island that introduces a new way to interact with your favorite WWE SuperStars. Overall it is one of the best wrestling games I have had the chance to enjoy in several years and the movement and gameplay when you are in the ring play a major part in that. This game also offers a lot of flexibility in the settings that can impact your overall gameplay experience from how smooth you can input combos to individual settings for Ai that can be excellent practice. 

Best Gameplay & Controller Settings for Maximum Control

When you first jump in WWE 2K25 I would highly encourage you to take the time to go through the initial tutorial, this is a great chance to get a true feel for the new gameplay and refresh yourself with the different moves and combos. This is also the best time to get familiar with the gameplay settings as you work through different playstyles and move sets that can feel confusing. The Performance Center is the best mode for you to test out settings and learn the best timing for moves and thumbstick control which is a key element in this game. A major performance boost recommendation is to turn off motion blur, this will eliminate any screen shaking and blur that can be a major distraction and will allow for more of a crisp gameplay experience. Especially if you prefer to play with a high thumbstick sensitivity, this setting can cause inaccuracy when a lot of quick movement is involved. Targeting Assist is a unique setting that allows you to select between semi-auto and manual and even toggle Teammate targeting if you feel the need to add friendly fire into the mix. Utilizing manual targeting will give you more control over which individual you are aiming for and I have found it can be quicker to make a last-second change than semi-auto which requires more movement accuracy. 

Another major update in WWE 2K25 is the new unlimited reversal system, changing the momentum of a match as many times as you want is a huge advantage if you can master this mechanic. Fortunately, you can turn on the reversal prompt setting to help you practice the best timing for hitting a reversal and it does not work for online play so keep that in mind when playing multiplayer. If you have been practicing with a specific character and noticed they are not always able to pull off the same move depending on who they are up against, that is because of the weight detection setting. When this is in simulation mode the game will take into account the strength and weight of the character to determine what moves are possible, switching it to Arcade will allow you to use any move possible. I have found the arcade mode setting is more enjoyable and better to have this mode selected if you are new to this franchise and want to learn timing and movement for key combos without character limitations. 

Master Control In The Ring With KontrolFreek Thumbsticks 

In WWE 2K25 there are several key movements and gameplay mechanics that require plenty of thumbstick control and precision while simultaneously hitting button combos. This constant balance between movement and control can create plenty of fatigue and with the wrong equipment can leave room for errors that can lose you a match. Most combat games can be boiled down to a series of repeated moves and combos that depend on timing but WWE 2K25 has a dynamic combat system that also depends on directional control and reactiveness. Players will have to make quick decisions when choosing the right type of attack or make a sudden movement to chain a grapple. When a game requires a lot of thumbstick movement the default thumbstick found on many traditional controllers will quickly grow frustrating as it lacks the real surface area needed to prevent slippage. Occasionally if your controller is older or heavily used the grip material and overall comfort can be a factor too as you constantly have to make the correct movement in tandem with the right button combo to pull off certain moves. 

KontrolFreek’s Omni Performance Thumbstick is the best-recommended option if you are looking for immediate results in-game and overall comfort. The large surface area is further emphasized with the concave design that allows for anyone’s thumb to fit snugly on their thumbstick. The new Cross-Hatch Design on the proprietary rubber material gives you plenty of grip to be able to make instant changes to direction without fear of slippage or inaccuracies. The Omni Thumbsticks are also low-rise thumbsticks so they are the perfect starting point for anyone new to the KontrolFreek brand as they are not too different in height compared to default thumbsticks. These thumbsticks come in 4 colors that closely match the different color themes of many SuperStars found in WWE 2K25 and will have your controller feeling brand new. 

How to Choose The Best Wrestler Based On Skill 

In WWE 2K25 you can break down combat and playstyles into 4 categories when it comes to accuracy and precision: High-flyers/Aerial Specialist, Technical Wrestlers, Strikers, and Submission Specialists. The high flyers and aerial specialists are going to require a lot of practice with in-air movement and accuracy so when you do take off from the top rope you make contact and land your attack. Aerial range and offense are the key stats that will show you how strong a wrestler is in the air. Executing a perfect aerial attack requires a lot of timing practice and being able sometimes to predict the direction an opponent may be headed if you do not catch them stunned beforehand. These moves can do major damage but come with a much higher challenge so spend time with superstars with high aerial stats to see if this play style is best for you. 

Technical wrestlers and Strikers are your more common play styles as they both rely on performing successful combos or chains to overwhelm an opponent to quickly max out the stun meter or create an opening for a finisher. Each of these will take time in the performance center to master due to there being plenty of combos and grappling chains that can be memorized per SuperStar. Some strikers may require targeting specific areas of the body on top of a specific button combo so I recommend sticking with 1-2 characters to start with so you can learn their combat advantages. Technical wrestlers will have an easier time when it comes to submissions and chaining grapples is an effective way to transition into a submission if you have worked to weaken a body part. Both of these require a level of accuracy to target key areas for building up the opponent's stun meter or doing repetitive damage to a specific area to make a submission move easier.  Submission Specialists excel in this area and usually have a higher level of strength or come from a more technical background or sport that makes them dangerous. If you like a more slowed-down approach or enjoy waiting for the exact moment to spring a surprise grapple or a finishing move this is the play style for you. Utilizing the unlimited reversal feature is another way to take full advantage of this type of combat style where you can turn a losing situation into a winning one within seconds. 

Each of these play styles and fighting techniques has its strengths and weaknesses so it is important to round out all of your skills when practicing because not every wrestler is available from the start so you may have to grind for a specific character at the beginning. Make sure to test out all of the modes offered in WWE 2K25 including competing online with multiplayer and I challenge you to try making a true name for yourself in the MyRise mode.