A fun and captivating arcade variation to the more serious WWE 2K annual series, with entertaining gameplay and a solid fighters roster. It might lack a bit in variety, but it'll surely please wrestling lovers.

WWE 2K Battlegrounds is a good comeback for the saga, and leaving us with a fun game for fans and casuals. Much more arcade than any of its predecessors, a well-polished cartoon look and an entertaining combat make WWE 2K Battlegrounds a game you will want to try if you like fighting games.

The game will perpetually get compared to WWE All Stars and I think it’s fair. I have to admit that through my rose colored glasses, I remember All Stars as the better overall title at launch, but the lack of roster depth (including no women) and the fact that it died off because its parent studio did really hurt its potential. The fact that Battlegrounds still that potential to be discovered and 2K can do so much more with it makes this an interesting title to watch, and one I’d recommend giving a shot if it intrigues you enough.

WWE 2K Battlegrounds is the WWE’s big release for the year, but it’s taken a new direction after last years effort and is a decent arcade alternative to the previous WWE games. The gameplay is fair and different, but you always expect a decent storyline to play through as well. The comic strip idea is OK but with no voice acting anywhere it just feels a bit weak.

WWE 2K Battlegrounds on Xbox One brings a fast-paced arcade wrestling game to the market, which features a greatly diverse roster, a decent variety of modes and moves that pack a punch. Sadly, the bulk of the gameplay takes a while to get to grips with and even then, it becomes monotonous after a short length of time. The limited access to the roster doesn’t help in that sense, nor does the utterly bland narrative.

A simple but enjoyable party game that’s very easy to pick up and play with friends – and a considerably better video game than last year’s WWE 2K20.

As it stands, the implementation of grind and paid currency wring all the fun out of the experience, leaving a game with some potential that isn't worth the effort to see all the way through. Much like a modern-day RAW main event, the in-ring action is sound if not memorable, but it's the decisions behind the scenes that really ruin it for everyone.