Wrestling is the ultimate form of modern entertainment. Combining soap opera-like storylines with pure athleticism there's a reason it's one of the biꦿggest sports in the world. The independent scene is as healthy as it's ever been but World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) still rules the wrestling world. The only thing better than watching is being involved. But if you're like me, possessing little sporting prowess ﷺor ability to actually get in the ring, the next best way of competing is through video games.
Since the 80s when wrestling became a cultural phenomenon there have been dozens of video games created for fans to enjoy. During the 90s the battle for supremacy between WWE (then called the World Wrestling Federation) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) was also reflected in the number of video games created by both companies. The WWE eventually claimed the crown and went on to purchase their rivals and continued to release new wrestling games every year, improving on previous efforts with new features and control systems. But just like wrestling itself, sometimes the product isn't all it's cracked up to be. For every quality release such as WWE Smackdown! Here Comes The Pain there's a terrible adaptation like WWE Crush Hour or WWF Royal Rumble.
With nostalgia at an all-time high people are forking out their cash for classic wrestling games along with the latest adaptations, but how do you know if you're getting the real deal or a stinker? To help we've picked out the 20 worst and 10 best WWE gܫames (plus a couple of WCW releases) on the market to her you lay the smackdown!
30 🌳 Worst: WWE All Stars
Unlike the usual lifelike simulation based wrestling games THQ has become famous for, WWE All Stars is a cartoon style arcade game pitting wrestlers from different eras against each other. It sounds like a great idea, with playe🍸rs able to create dream matches pitting the likes of Macho Manౠ Randy Savage against CM Punk or Ultimate Warrior versus John Cena.
Sadly WWE All Stars fails to live up to the hype.
The wrestler's entrances are fantastic to watch but once the action gets underway it's quite underwhelming. The two-button control system is way too easy to master and the reliance on silly combos (button mashing) lets the game down big time. The nostalgic factor is high with WWE All Stars but there just isn't enough⛎ action to keep gamers interested for 𒈔longer than a couple hours.
29 𓂃 Worst: WWF Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game 💙
Wrestlemania is known as the showcase of the immortals but WWF Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game is as far away from wrestling's much-praised showcase as humanly possible. Developed by Midway in 1995 the game features wrestlers in a fighting game based on the Mortal Kombat gam𝔉e engine. It's supposed to be a fast-paced fighting experience but comes off as a poor imitation of the games it's tryin🥀g to emulate.
Think Mortal Kombat with WWF wrestlers.
The graphics don't hold up well and the characters do this strange thing where they ooze objects, such as dumbbells flying out of Lex Luger when he's hit. It's one of the strangest things I've seen in a wrestling game. Even the additi🦂on of Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawyer on commentary can't save this one.
28 🅰 Best: WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007
During the 2000s THQ released a series of WWE games under the WWE Smackdown vs Raw banner, each receiving varying critical reactions. The thing that makes this alliteration of the game stand out is the high number of new in-game features. For one, there is an actual weight class, so if you play as the diminutive Rey Mysterio Jr. and try to power slam The Big Show, it just won't work because like real life, there's no way someone as small as Mysterio could lift such weight. This adds an element of realism to the game that's also helped by a new analog control system making grappling easier and fighting more fluid. But the best thing about WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2007 isඣ the career mode which enables locker room involvement with other superstars, allowing you to read text messages, make phone cal🔜ls and enter into backstage rivalries.
27 𒊎 Worst: WWE Crush Hour
Whoever came up with the idea for WWE Crush Hour must have been on the wacky stuff. The game isn't even a wrestling simulation, instead, it's a vehicle combat game similar to Twisted Metal. The premise involves the evil Vince McMahon taking control of all the television networks in America and wanting them filled with WWE content. H𝄹is latest idea is "Crush Hour," a show where WWE superstars are pitted against each other in vehicles instead of the squared circl🦂e.
Players choose from a variety of cars based on famous wrestlers.
They then battle it out in various arenas using special moves and power-ups to take each other out. Fans expecting a traditional wrestling game were let down by this creation, with WWE Crush Hour failing to match the standard ꦅof similar car games. This one's a stinker best left to rust.
26 ✤ Worst: WWF Steel Cage Challenge
As wrestling games started to take off in the early 90s developers were looking for an edge, and like wrestling itself, they often used gimmicks to attract players. WWF Steel Cage Challenge for the NES was no different. The use of a steel cage during matches was the games big selling point but proves to be the only highlight. With a roster consisting only 10 wrestlers (including Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Brett Hart, and The Undertaker) there isn't much variety and the move set of each competitor is just as slim, with around 5 or 6 different moves available for all the characters. There's also no finishing moves in WWF Steel Cage Challenge, which annoyed m💞any fans as dropping your opponent with a Tombstone from The Undertaker is one of the best things about playing wrestli﷽ng games.
25 Best: WWF Wrestlefest ꦗ
The sequel to arcade game WWF Superstars, WWF Wrestlefest captures the over-the-top vibe of late 80s and early 90s wrestling to a tee. The cartoon graphics are bright and vibrant and the button mashing fighting style perfectly suited to the arcade-style gameplay. Although the game only features 10 top tier WWF stars from that period, including Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Hulk Hogan, and Ultimate Warrior, each wrestler is able to perform their trademark finishing or signature move. The game even includes a Royal Rumble game mode that's tons of fun to play and I still remember dropping quarter after quarter into WWF Wrestlefest at my local video game arcade during my youth.
24 Worst: WWF Bet❀rayal 🧸
Another non-traditional wrestling release, WWE Betrayal is a Game Boy only platform scrolling game in the mold of Streets Of Rage and Double Dragon. The game revolv𒀰es around one of the most ludicrous storylines from the Attitude Era, Stephanie McMahon being kidnaped and Vince McMahon offering a title shot to anyone who can rescue her. You have the ability to play as either Triple H, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, or The Undertaker and must navigate a series of side-scrolling levels to save Stephanie.
It's another creative idea that fails in the execution.
The game is quite repetiti🍎ve as the levels hardly vary and mashing the same buttons over and over is the only way to defeat opponents. The graphics are poor even for the Game Boy so you're better off firing up the WWE Network and playing re-runs of RAW in 1999 and watching the events of the game take place in an actual wrestling ring.
23 🉐 Worst: WWE Aftershock 🍎
The N-Gage is a portable game system and mobile phone released by Nokia in 2003. If it doesn't sound familiar that's because the N-Gage was a huge disaster and only lasted two years before production ceased. During that time one of the games to get an exclusive release on the hybrid communication device was WWE Aftershock.
Very similar to the N-Gage itself, WWE Aftershock is a mess of a game.
The graphic capabilities of the N-Gage aren't on par with the Game Boy Advance, it's the m💙ain competitor, with the pixilated wrestlers hard to define. There's only a small number of moves each wrestler can perform and the lack of a story mode or campaign means longevity is not an option. If there's one redeeming feature it's the sound, with the wrestler's entrance themes coming through the handheld devices speakers crystal clear. Just a pity everything else is horrible.
22 🔯 Best: WCW/nWo Revenge
Ok, so this isn't strictly a WWE game but considering everything WCW related is now owned by WWE I think we can squeeze a couple into this list, especially when the game is so good. Released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64 WCW/nWo Revenge is widely recognized as one of the all-time great wrestling games. It features a massive cast of characters, with players able to control over 60 different wrestlers including big-time stars Goldberg, Hollywood Hogan, and Diamond Dallas Page. The game also integrates famous storylines from the previous year, including the rise of the nWo and Goldberg's undefeated streak. The control system is easy to navigate although the combo system a tad frustrating. Each wrestler's finishing move is clearly defined with WCW/nWo Revenge is the first wrestling game to include actual arenas into the game, such as Starrcade, Bash At The Beach, and Halloween Havoc. This is one of the few wrestling games I stil🍸l enjoy playing and says a lot about how good wrestling was in the late 90s.
21 Worst: 💎WWE Wrest✨lemania X8
The Nintendo GameCube didn't have much luck when it came to wrestling games, with WWE Wrestlemania X8 another horrible effort. The game includes the usual array of assorted match types (Steel Cage, TLC, Ladder) and story modes (Path of a Champion, Battle for the Belts) but looks more like a game that should have been on the SNES due to the terrible graphics and dull gameplay. The sound effects and music also don't vibe well and the fact only two wrestlers could be in the ring at the same time meant multiple wrestling matches such as the Royal Rumble just don't work. Unfortunately, things didn't get any better with the next game in the series, WWE Wrestlemania XIX, being just as bad as it's predecessor.