Summary
TheWWE 2Kgames have been going on for several years, with the series celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2024. Years of evolution and progress have gone on to change rosters, alter stories, and, of course, alter the covers and cover stars for eachWWEgame.
As such, there have been a multitude of different covers, ranging from unique and bright to simple and plain. To celebrate the years of changes and surpassing the ten-year milestone, here are the ten best WWE 2K covers, ranked. To make things fair and grounded, this list will only include the standard edition covers 2K has made, not any of the deluxe editions.
102K20
Featuring Roman Reigns And Becky Lynch
Though it’s a bland cover, 2K20 manages to still be a stronger cover than 2K Battlegrounds, and therefore, it makes the list. The cover has Roman Reigns and Becky Lynch on a bronze, very plain background.
At least the start of the 20’s led to more than one person on the cover, something that hadn’t been done in years. 2K20 may not have been a good game, but at least it revived a welcome trend for the covers.
92K14
Featuring The Rock
Starring The Rock as the cover star, WWE 2K14 was 2K’s first venture into the universe of wrestling video games. As of this day, it is still widely regarded as one of 2K’s best wrestling games.
Yet, the cover for this game is a bit on the simple side. 2K14 has the Rock with an extremely dynamic pose, standing in the corner. While this would probably put the cover higher on the list, the lackluster red background makes the cover feel bland.
82K19
Featuring AJ Styles
WWE 2K19 had the phenomenal AJ Styles as the cover star, a man who went on to play a major part in the game’s MyCareer story as well. Styles lookslike a superstar, with his hair flowing and hands glowing with electricity.
It’s nothing too out there, following a simple template now set for the WWE 2K covers. Yet, it’s elevated by its cover star, and it’s still shocking to see the once ‘“Mr. TNA” AJ Styles as the face of the WWE.
72K17
Featuring Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar’s time in WWE was a fluctuating situation, his WWE 2K17 cover remains one of the stronger covers in the series. It’s a very bright, very metal cover with an angry, dangerous beast on the front.
The fire, the sparks, the lightning, the bright colors, they can be a bit much, but fit the presentation well. The screaming, raging Brock Lesnar pose manages to perfect the cover, completing the image.
62K18
Featuring Seth Rollins
WWE 2K18 had Seth Rollins as its cover star, and continued the streak of black and red backgrounds with a wrestler posing on top. There’s a certain kind of energy emanating from the cover, feeling bright and electric.
Seth’s black and gold attire shines against the electric red background, and the colors manage to meshbetter than the 2K17cover. This also marked the return of afull-time top talentas the cover star, in the form of the architect.
52K23
Featuring John Cena As A Legend
WWE 2K23 marked the return of John Cena as the cover star of a 2K game eight years later. This time, Cena was commemorated as a legend rather than the high-ranking full-time roster member he usually was.
There’s a sense of warmth to the colors and textures of the cover, as Cena glows against the dark, dimly lit background. WWE 2K23 followed the style of 2K22 with bright colors and smooth textures, creating a unique cover.
42K15
Featuring John Cena
John Cena’s first time as a cover star manages to make it further than his last, thanks to a cover that has a stronger grasp of contrasting colors. Whereas 2K23’s colors and textures create a dynamic pose, 2K15 takes a simpler approach.
With a unique white and red background, 2K15’s bright colors and lighting glow in comparison to a variety of black and red backgrounds with basic covers. It’s a fun cover that should have started a trend of unique backgrounds based on the cover star.
32K16
Featuring Stone Cold Steve Austin
On the surface, WWE 2K16’s cover is like any other, this time with the legendary Stone Cold Steve Austin front and center. Yet 2K16’s smaller details bring out so much more personality than their other covers.
Instantly, the shards of broken glass elevate the cover and allow the cover to feel more connected to its cover star. The black and red cover is gritty and edgy, fitting perfectly with Stone Cold’s attitude and overall aesthetic.
22K24
Featuring Cody Rhodes
WWE 2K24 has Cody Rhodes as the cover star, but with an interesting twist. Rather than one simple image, 2K24 steps up in terms of creativity with a variety of poses and colorful Cody attires.
This multitude of dynamic imagery is what brings out the best in the 2K24 cover. It manages to encapsulate the return of Cody Rhodes, and manages to make The American Nightmare’s story feel that much more grand and fantastic.
12K22
Featuring Rey Mysterio
In terms of sheer cool factor, 2K22 manages to make it to the top. The dynamic pose, the bright colors and strong contrast, the fact that Rey Mysterio is on the cover, it all adds up. If anything, it feels like the cover of a comic book.
2K22’s colors and its legendary cover star are one thing, but the pose and the textures elevate the cover. Rey lookslike an action figureleaping into the sky, glowing against the dark backdrop as a beacon of dynamic, bright energy.
