32 WWE Video games – The Greatest And Worst WWE Wrestling Video games Ever In 2024 – Inextricably linked for effectively over twenty years, it’s truthful to say that WWE video games and PlayStation go hand-in-hand, very like how chair pictures and concussions simply so occur to run in the identical circles. So it’s then, I’ve determined to delve into the historical past of this relationship and remind us all, for higher or worse, the calibre of the WWE licensed video games which have spanned the lifetime of PlayStation on PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4 and shortly PS5.
As well as, you can even catch the perfect upcoming PS5 video games in 2024, together with our 2024 PS5 launch calendar so that you don’t miss a single new PS5 launch. Whereas our greatest PS5 video games function boasts a variety of PS5 titles that every one of have scored 9 out of ten or increased.
The Greatest And Worst PlayStation WWE Wrestling Video games Ever In 2024
The Greatest And Worst PlayStation WWE Wrestling Video games Ever Made In 2024:
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Sport – PSOne (1995)
What good motive is there for this little OTT gem not being featured within the PSOne Classics line-up? No good motive, that’s what. Primarily the results of an unholy marriage between the normal wrestling video games of the time and Mortal Kombat (no coincidence provided that the WWE license and Mortal Kombat shared the identical writer), WrestleMania: The Arcade Sport performed as much as the gimmicks of the wrestlers with The Undertaker smashing Tombstones over the skulls of his fellow sweaty folks and Shawn Michaels… I dunno, doing one thing humorous with hearts.
Anyway, again then digitised sprites had been the in-thing, and seeing the precise real-life representations of Bret Hart, The Undertaker and Yokozuna doing their bit was considerably of a deal with given the overly gaudy artwork that outlined earlier wrasslin’ efforts.
Regardless of having a collection of wrestling strikes, WrestleMania arguably felt way more like a standard preventing recreation with the onus positioned on racking up excessive combos fairly than buying and selling holds or, y’know, using any kind of ringcraft. Nonetheless although, it was a very good little bit of enjoyable for what it was and remained a great way to distract oneself from the frankly horrendous reserving that was occurring in WWE on the time.
Notable for: Years after launch the developer confirmed a long-running rumor that mid-card expertise Adam Bomb was a hidden character, however maintained that the grappler in query was not current in a completely accomplished type. A bit like Reptile within the first Mortal Kombat then, apart from the truth that, effectively, a minimum of Reptile received over.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWF In Your Home – PSOne (1996)
The digitised sprite-based insanity continued with WWF In Your Home, the place a equally larger-than-life tact was taken with the characters and their moveset, The British Bulldog for instance really wraps his foes within the Union Jack flag and his head morphs into, you guessed it, a bulldog each time he headbutts his opponent. This time around the rings additionally took on the personas of varied wrestlers too; The Undertaker’s area as an example, has skulls adorned on the turnbuckles and the kind of backdrop that wouldn’t look misplaced in Mortal Kombat or an orphaned fourth grader’s scribble ebook.
Sadly then, the entire digitised, exaggerated wrestling shtick had already run its course by the point WWF In Your Home launched in late 1996, and folk had been already looking out for correct WWE video games that extra precisely represented the on-screen TV spectacle fairly than a Z-grade preventing recreation with grainy, digitised, rubbish sprite work. Time to maneuver on of us!
Notable for: In the event you had been born from 1996 or so onwards, you had been most likely lucky sufficient to keep away from taking part in it.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWF Battle Zone – PSOne (1998)
So as a substitute of that extra correct, extra nuanced wrestling sim that almost all of us craved, we sadly received this as a substitute. Barely a wrestling recreation of any description, the character fashions in WWE Battle Zone seemed like sentient, painted planks of wooden locked in an epic battle to fury-hump one another into submission.
With a completely paper-thin roster bolstered by a lame match model marketing campaign, horrendous controls and the worst animation routines this aspect of Primal Rage, it’s no stretch to say that point avoiding taking part in this abomination is time well-spent. After all, I’m certain you possibly can unearth it from someplace for subsequent to nothing however equally interesting (and low-cost) is the act of scooping your eyes out with a rusty spoon.
Notable for: Throughout the match wrestlers would spout stuff like “Hit the gymnasium fatass!” which clearly wouldn’t play as of late and even again then, made me cringe so arduous into my chair that I nearly fractured my backbone. Terrible enterprise.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWF Angle – PSOne (1999)
And they also did it once more. WWF Angle careened onto PSOne again in 1999 when everyone thought the world was going to finish, and this lump of cack did little to dissuade them of the actual fact. The identical shoddy visuals and animations returned and got new, fetid life as a supposedly new-fangled wrestling recreation that ended up being about as recent as Vince Russo’s reserving notes.
To its credit score, this explicit wrestling recreation not solely showcased full celebrity entrances for the primary time ever nevertheless it additionally really packed in a bunch of recent match sorts that folk hadn’t seen in a wrestling recreation earlier than equivalent to First Blood, I Give up and Survivor Collection to call only a few. The issue although, is that it nonetheless felt just like the second coming of WWF Battle Zone, which should you ever have had the misfortune of watching a canine vomit up its personal quantity two, will offer you a helpful level of reference.
New match sorts and comically wood wrestler entrances apart, there was nothing right here that steered any kind of actual or significant enchancment over WWF Battle Zone. I suppose you possibly can hunt it down should you wished to, however actually, wanting an horrendously botched, full-frontal lobotomy, why would you need to?
Notable for: An train in proving the notion that the longer you permit a dump within the solar the extra it stinks, the powers that be determined that inflicting WWF Battle Zone on the populace as soon as wasn’t sufficient so that they determined to do it once more however beneath a distinct identify. Thanks for that.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWF SmackDown – PSOne (2000)
Ah, now that is extra prefer it. The primary licensed WWE recreation to be unique to PlayStation after leaving the clutches of the now defunct Acclaim Leisure and falling into the loving arms of (now additionally defunct) writer THQ, SmackDown impressed with its ultra-responsive grappling and placing gameplay, a sizeable roster of superstars and story mode that was greater than only a in a different way skinned Mortal Kombat model match tower.
Certain, it wasn’t excellent and was completely held to account by the tech limitations of the PSOne platform with no-voice overs, commentary or any kind of deep creation modes, however SmackDown had enjoyable in spades and was a dependable go-to excuse for getting the previous Multitap out for some native sofa gaming.
Notable for: Being the primary WWF/WWE licensed wrestling title for the PSOne that really felt like a good tackle our beloved sport and never like sticking your face in a duffel bag full of scorpions.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWF SmackDown 2: Know Your Position – PSOne (2000)
SmackDown 2: Know Your Position not solely started that horrible development of suffixing the subsequent three WWE video games with catchphrases from the Rock’s sleeve notes, nevertheless it was additionally fondly, and fairly rightly remembered as the perfect wrestling recreation cash might purchase on PSOne.
Boasting extra strikes, a bigger roster (hello Kurt!), a raft of unlockables, and a deep story mode that allowed you to stroll about behind the scenes in first particular person, SmackDown 2: Know Your Position was a unbelievable little scrapper that every one however erased the faintly faecal style that WWF Battle Zone and Angle left in our collective mouths a few years prior. Splendidly, it was additionally the primary wrestling recreation on PlayStation to introduce a semi-decent Create-A-Famous person and Create-A-Taunt mode too, so there’s that.
Notable for: It had prolific girls’s wrestler and former DX enforcer Chyna in it. Sorry, that’s all I’ve received in the mean time. Nice recreation although!
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWF SmackDown Simply Carry It – PS2 (2001)
Seemingly drunk with the heady quantities of processing energy that Sony’s second dwelling console would deliver, SmackDown Simply Carry It felt like one step ahead and two Aptitude-flops again, as developer Yukes introduced the attractive graphics however forgot to incorporate the arguably extra attractive gameplay that so effectively outlined the collection remaining outing on PSOne.
With a narrative mode that was roughly as entertaining as binging on the match historical past of The Nice Khali, a decreased roster and subsequent to no Creation Suite capabilities, SmackDown Simply Carry It was just like the Nathan Jones of licensed wrestling video games; formidable to take a look at however in the end shallower than a puddle on a scorching Summer time’s day.
Notable for: Being the primary licensed wrestling recreation on PS2 that really seemed like a PS2 title and never a PSOne recreation that by chance shot itself up with botox on a crack bender. Oh, it was additionally the primary title within the WWE collection to function commentary too, from the staff of Michael Cole and Tazz (Taz?), no much less. Huzzah?
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWF SmackDown Shut Your Mouth – PS2 (2002)
In mainly each method that mattered, SmackDown Shut Your Mouth was the wrestling recreation that SmackDown Simply Carry It ought to have been. In addition to the same old smattering of enhancements equivalent to a bigger roster, extra strikes and so forth, Shut Your Mouth was the primary licensed title to include the unique model cut up into an outstanding story mode that ended up along with your chosen wrestler telling ol’ Vinny Mac to “shut his mouth” (geddit?) earlier than lamping the previous lad within the mush. Prime enterprise.
Away from the much-improved season mode, Shut Your Mouth additionally resurrected the creation suite the place gamers might extensively customise superstars and their movesets to be used in the primary recreation. Briefly, Shut Your Mouth was a worthy successor to the PSOne SmackDown video games of previous and definitely deserves to be remembered as such.
Notable for: Being the primary recreation to be launched beneath the WWE banner as a result of the WWF (often known as the World Wildlife Fund again then) cry-maxed over the truth that individuals with fully-functioning cerebrums would one way or the other conflate saving furry folks with sweaty lads wailing on one another with metal chairs, while adorned in spangled outfits. Or, it might have been that they simply didn’t need to be related to the ‘fed in any method, form or type, both method; unusual occasions.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE Crush Hour – PS2 (2003)
Roughly about as respectable as Eva Marie’s wrestling potential and twice as redundant, WWE Crush Hour was the fed’s try and department out their videogame enterprise into different genres, particularly the demolition derby model goings-on of video games equivalent to Twisted Metallic. The issue although, was that it was irredeemably horrendous and made you need to piledrive your face into the closest wall.
Blighted by ridiculously unhealthy dealing with, some critically shoddy physics and essentially the most insipid arenas the human thoughts might probably give you, Crush Hour was mainly the results of Carmageddon procreating with itself and making a ache child. It additionally seems that good ol’ JR offered commentary for the sport too, however actually, don’t maintain it towards him; everyone’s gotta eat proper?
Oh and the wrestler quotes factor from WWF Battle Zone returned right here too, placing the rancid cherry on prime of a rotting cake of sub-mediocrity. I imply actually, simply have a look at the state of it within the video beneath. You’re welcome.
Notable for: By no means getting a sequel, thank Cthulhu.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE Smackdown: Right here Comes the Ache – PS2 (2003)
Ahhh, SmackDown: Right here Comes the Ache. Nonetheless regarded by many as among the best wrestling video games on any era of PlayStation and whispered in the identical hushed tones as these of us/hermits that maintain No Mercy on the N64 in such excessive regard, Smackdown: Right here Comes the Ache was an actual milestone for the collection on PlayStation.
Along with a good profession mode and a creation suite being full of extra customisation choices than you possibly can shake a Randy Orton wellness coverage violation at, Right here Comes the Ache additionally had a rejigged grappling system which let gamers combine up a bigger quantity of sunshine and robust grapples ensuing within the largest transfer listing the collection had ever seen. This was absolutely the apex of the Smackdown collection at this level and an actual excessive level for wrestling video games as an entire. It was completely important, and stays so even as we speak.
Notable for: Not solely being genuinely among the best wrestling video games out there on the time however for additionally having a completely belting roster that included the likes of Kurt Angle, Goldberg, and Brock Lesnar. Prime, prime stuff.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE Smackdown Vs Uncooked – PS2 (2004)
The primary WWE recreation to kick off the entire Smackdown vs Uncooked naming conference that will endure for seven video games, WWE Smackdown Vs Uncooked didn’t fairly have such a very good roster as Right here Comes the Ache (at that time the likes of Brock Lesnar and Goldberg had already flown the coop, however that they had Bret Hart now so blissful days, I assume), nor did it really feel fairly so satisfying from a grappling perspective. Nonetheless, it did have a few neat methods up its sleeves to make it stand out a bit.
The primary was a brand new clear/soiled system through which gamers might select whether or not they wished to play their chosen wrestler as a face (good man) or as a heel (unhealthy man), with talents equivalent to comeback strikes and cheap-shots being out there relying in your desire.
The sport additionally included a neat submission system the place you possibly can maintain onto an unlawful maintain up till a 5 rely (this wants to return again, actually) in addition to introducing a slew of minigames from chop battles to a skit the place in bra and panties matches, the feminine wrestlers might spank one another. Wow. On the flipside although, the sport did allow you to craft your personal belt within the new Create-A-Championship mode, which was good.
Notable for: Being the primary WWE recreation on PS2 to let gamers go browsing and slam the poop out of each other. Alas, the match choice was restricted to a singles and Bra and Panties match which if it occurred as of late, would go over most likely about in addition to the debut of the Shockmaster.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE Smackdown Vs Uncooked 2006 – PS2, PSP (2005)
From the off, it was fairly clear that developer Yukes weren’t messing about with Smackdown Vs Uncooked 2006. Immediately we uncover that the grappling system has modified from the earlier 4 path, gentle/sturdy shtick into seven totally different faculties of offense that much more approaches simulation fairly than arcade model gameplay.
Maybe the perfect new function of this WWE recreation although, was the introduction of an optionally available stamina meter which might power gamers to be economical with their assaults, lest they tire themselves out en path to a well-deserved stomping. This was nice just because it marked the top of an period the place beforehand of us might simply spam extremely damaging holds, slams and strikes advert infinitum and to at the present time, arguably stays one of many higher parts of the collection.
Notable for: The PSP model of WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2006 was completely spanking and gentle graphical downgrade apart, offered a correctly genuine tackle the game which simply stood alongside its dwelling console counterpart. Not solely that, the PSP model of the sport additionally had Jake “The Snake” Roberts as an unique character who could possibly be ported to the PS2 model should you had the requisite USB cable to do it.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2007 – PS2, PSP (2006)
Evidently nonetheless sad with the grappling system from the earlier recreation, Yukes determined to revamp the grappling system in WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2007 by permitting gamers to make use of the analogue persist with direct their grapples and slams, changing the static digital D-pad inputs of earlier video games. For essentially the most half it felt like a step again, with the grappling and management system of Smackdown vs Uncooked 2006 nonetheless providing extra depth and a bigger moveset than the brand new system was in a position to present.
Sadly, as a result of the sport didn’t launch on PS3 however launched on Xbox 360, the PS2 model of the sport missed out on quite a lot of new options equivalent to elevated interactivity with ringside parts, improved visuals and way more apart from.
Moreover, the PS2 model of the sport was stricken by quite a few bugs, too. Most troubling of all had been a collection of commentary and saying glitches the place the sound would both trigger the speech to grow to be garbled, or, simply reduce out utterly. It wasn’t a very good search for the franchise in all honesty because it made the generational leap from PS2 to PS3. So yeah, not a very good displaying for wrestling video games on PlayStation all advised. Keep away from.
Notable for: Not really releasing on PS3 however nonetheless one way or the other managing to safe a launch on Xbox 360. One can solely guess that these rattling Genji crabs postpone THQ from porting the sport, the cowards. The flipside although, is that late Motorhead frontman Lemmy has his face within the recreation as a template for the Create-A-Wrestler bit, bless im’.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2008 – PS3, PS3, PSP (2007)
When WWE video games arrived on PS3, WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2008 boasted quite a few adjustments that had been each good and, effectively, not so good. Beginning with the previous, a brand new battle submission system was carried out into the sport (and would see itself crop up in numerous retooled varieties in later instalments), that allowed gamers to make use of the analogue persist with both placed on extra strain, or, escape from the maintain fully. It was a neat system as a result of it really felt such as you had been placing actual strain on an opponent everytime you had a maintain synched in and created a heightened sense of drama because of this.
What wasn’t fairly so good although (and by this, I actually imply completely, tossing abysmal), was the newly touted Combating Fashion System which divided up the roster between eight totally different types of grappling and placing. The issue although, was that these methods prevented wrestlers from utilizing sure strikes and holds that had been widespread to different characters; even when such strikes had been out there to those self same wrestlers in earlier video games. Extra troubling nonetheless was the truth that it made different wrestlers inordinately weak/sturdy, with ol’ Vinny Mac for instance, being as sturdy because the likes of the Large Present (look we all know he lifts, however c’mon).
One other factor that stunk like Bastion Booger’s jockstrap was that early in manufacturing, developer Yukes was supposedly up for redoing lots of the animations within the recreation. Sadly, this didn’t come to go as lots of the wrestlers nonetheless boasted animations that carried over from the PSOne period, making the sport look massively visually inconsistent as a direct outcome. Not good.
Notable for: Being the ultimate wrestling recreation to function the gimmick-tastic Buried Alive match. Simply as effectively actually, it was correct crap.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2009 – PS3, PS2, PSP (2008)
A qualitative shift up in gear from the 2008 entry within the collection, WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2009 wasn’t excellent by any stretch, nevertheless it did do a good few issues proper. First, it ditched that god-awful Combating Fashion System that was so face-clawingly unhealthy it made kittens cry, and as a substitute launched a brand new system that included potential primarily based traits and, for the primary time within the collection, signature strikes alongside common finishers.
When it comes to modes the sport didn’t disappoint both. A extra narratively pushed marketing campaign manifests itself because the Highway to Wrestlemania mode, the place gamers might observe storylines by way of with the likes of Triple H, CM Punk (come again!) and Chris Jericho, all of the whereas having fun with full cutscenes and a variety of particular targets to finish. This recreation additionally marked the primary time that the now defunct Create-A-Finisher mode made its debut; enabling of us to create their very own ending strikes, and although whereas it was simplistic in execution right here, it was nonetheless an intriguing function to have all the identical.
In all probability the perfect factor concerning the 2009 entry within the collection although, is the overhauled tag-team match which now allowed gamers to do scorching tags, blind unlawful tags and way more in a good effort to extra precisely signify the true factor.
Notable for: Together with a co-operative story marketing campaign the place two gamers might every take the roles of Rey Mysterio and Batista, respectively. It wasn’t earth shattering stuff to be truthful, however its inclusion represented a pleasant little bit of out-of-the-box pondering from a developer frequently lambasted with accusations of taking part in it secure. Extra of this sorta factor please, ta.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE Legends of Wrestlemania – PS3 (2009)
Eschewing the steadily extra simulation-like expertise that the SmackDown Vs Uncooked video games had been changing into identified for, WWE Legends of Wrestlemania took a web page from the previous, not simply with regard to its roster, but additionally from the distinctly extra arcadey grappling video games of yesteryear. Rather than SmackDown’s analogue stick primarily based battering, Legends of WrestleMania as a substitute restricted strikes to the D-pad and face buttons, whereas a combo-based preventing system put the exclamation mark on the sport’s full-tilt shift into the realms of the arcade.
Whereas lots of the modes that the SmackDown video games had been cultivating through the years had been lacking from the sport, Legends of WrestleMania compensated with an in depth single-player marketing campaign mode that allowed gamers to relive traditional WrestleMania matches as they occurred, change the choice by making an attempt to win because the loser, or, use a distinct collection of wrestlers and match sorts fully.
Certain sufficient, whereas the sport arguably lacked the depth of the core collection, its dedication to specializing in the best wrestling spectacle of all time (helped in no small half by some stellar presentation and reams of historic footage), actually helped to make the sport a cult favorite amongst followers when it launched a contact over seven years in the past.
Notable for: Boasting a considerably half-baked switch mode that allowed gamers to deliver throughout wrestlers from WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2009 into the roster of Legends of WrestleMania. The issue nonetheless, was that the Smackdown Vs Uncooked 2009 wrestlers saved their artwork model, and when in comparison with the distinctly retro look of the Legends grapplers, seemed about as misplaced as Bret Hart did throughout his ill-fated WCW tenure.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2010 – PS2, PS3, PSP (2009)
Sticking two fingers as much as the flawed grappling methods of the earlier two video games, SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2010 marked a return to the sunshine and robust system of assaults final seen within the collection 2007 instalment, and by gawd did it really feel all the higher for it. Away from the reintroduction of that a lot improved grappling system, SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2010 mainly took every part that its annual predecessor did and improved upon it in each method.
The Create-A-Finisher mode now has way more inventive freedom, and permits gamers to trend an excellent many extra unique strikes (Canadian Destroyer!) than earlier than. Elsewhere, The Highway to WrestleMania mode additionally returned together with a brand new good co-op marketing campaign state of affairs, this time with John Cena and Triple H, whereas the visuals took a bump up in high quality with much more newly crafted animations. Additional afield, a recent physique injury system was carried out that showcased improved blood, and redness on the chest of the wrestlers in the event that they ever received chopped there. SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2010 was most likely the perfect recreation within the collection since Right here Comes the Ache if I’m being sincere, and I’m, so it’s.
Notable for: Introducing the formidable ‘Create-A-Story’ mode that whereas flawed and considerably restricted, was nonetheless nice enjoyable to make use of and meaningfully prolonged the longevity of the sport tenfold. Alas, it has been sorely missed from present gen WWE video games; particularly when you think about the probabilities afforded by the infinitely shinier tech of the PS4.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2011 – PS2, PS3, PSP (2010)
Clearly realising that they had been onto a very good factor with SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2010, Yukes didn’t really feel the necessity to do a lot with the 2011 entry within the wrestling recreation collection and as such, SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2011 felt way more like an incremental replace fairly than the evolution that the 2010 recreation was over the trouble the yr earlier than.
One of many issues that was tweaked this time spherical was the physics system; now permitting gamers to relaxation ladders on ring ropes, break them in half and do all kinds of unmentionable issues to tables that you simply couldn’t do in earlier video games. On prime of that, a brand new tackle the WWE Universe mode boasted reduce scenes and correct rivalries between the wrestlers relying on the matches that passed off and their outcomes, making the entire thing really feel much more natural than it had performed earlier than.
Notable for: Getting everyone’s hopes up with its newly touted ‘Match Creator’ mode that not solely prevented gamers from making a Royal Rumble match with pinfalls and submissions (I’m nonetheless ready), but additionally one way or the other managed to really feel like a repackaged match choices menu that gamers already had entry to in years earlier. A missed alternative.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE All Stars – PS2, PS3, PSP (2011)
Eschewing the final ten or so years of extra simulation pushed WWE efforts, WWE All Stars marked a return to the extra frantic arcade-style grapplers of yesteryear with wrestlers boasting exaggerated, disproportioned physiques and gravity-defying movesets that appear to be they got here from a Marvel film fairly than a WWE wrestling ring. Simply have a look at it. LOOK AT IT.
Extra simply accessible than the simulation-focused entries that comprise the core collection, although WWE All Stars lacked the modes and creation suite capabilities of these video games, the sport is, even as we speak, an excellent little bit of enjoyable when performed with mates and represents a pleasant change of tempo from the same old wrestling fare.
Notable for: Being the final WWE recreation to be launched on PS2 which kinda brings on the sads a bit now that I give it some thought.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE ‘12 – PS3 (2011)
Going off the rails a bit right here, WWE ‘12 was one of many worst WWE video games for a number of causes. First, was a brand new countering system that not solely required *absolute* pinpoint timing, but additionally performed into the fingers of the disturbingly bipolar AI, that will at turns be milling concerning the place aimlessly one second, and countering your rear-end to the Moon and again the subsequent.
Subsequent was the marketing campaign, oh god. Right here, progress was dictated by your potential to drag off quite a few conditions equivalent to pinning of us (usually a couple of), in a selected trend or executing a set variety of strikes at a particular time. As you possibly can most likely think about, making an attempt to power these eventualities is a irritating ache within the rectum and is roughly as pleasing as watching the Montreal Screw Job.
Notable for: Utilizing a brand new animation engine known as “Predator Expertise” that was alleged to revolutionise the way in which wrestlers interacted with one another, however in actuality, turned out to be code for “Oh god, we actually must cease our character fashions getting caught within the surroundings and floating up into the sky.” FAIL.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE ‘13 – PS3 (2012)
Proper off the bat WWE ’13 scores factors on the power of its formidable marketing campaign mode. A collection of superbly offered matches with video footage and all the opposite trimmings that you simply may count on, gamers had been in a position get caught into the ‘Angle Period’ by the use of a brand new marketing campaign that cherry picked the perfect moments from the now notorious Monday Evening Wars, and spanned 65 distinctive matches over two years price of feuds from the time.
Sadly nonetheless, this being a WWE product and the forces that be usually being about as goal as a Metallic Gear Stable 2 apologist, this gameplay mode featured solely minimal involvement from the WCW aspect of the equation, which, to be frank, is a bit crap to say the least.
Moreover, a reworked WWE Universe mode now boasted design enter from Paul Heyman and ended up encompassing some 200 distinctive storylines that gamers might participate in, whereas improved physics resulted in a much more genuine and enticing trying recreation than no matter it was WWE 12′ was making an attempt to do the yr earlier than.
Oh and one final thing that WWE ‘13 launched to the collection, and has remained a staple of its in-ring motion ever since, had been the ‘OMG’ moments which should you had sufficient finishers saved, allowed you to carry out devastating strikes that leveraged the surroundings, equivalent to spearing some poor sap by way of the barrier, or, executing a squelching top-rope suplex to the skin.
A high quality collection swansong for THQ should you ask me.
Notable for: Being the final ever WWE recreation to be printed by THQ. *tumbleweeds blow within the distance*
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K14 – PS3 (2013)
The primary WWE licensed title to be developed beneath new franchise overlords 2K, WWE 2K14 improved a lot of what WWE 13′ had wrought the yr earlier than however this time did its finest work on the single-player aspect of issues. As soon as extra nostalgia is a key touchstone for the collection as WWE 2K14 supplied not one, however two fully-featured single-player marketing campaign modes along with the usual WWE Universe mode that we had all grown to like/hate.
The 30 Years of WrestleMania mode was a good sufficient proposition in that it let gamers expertise 45 matches throughout the historical past of the occasion, with bonus targets being out there that when fulfilled, unlocked further wrestlers, attires and arenas. It was fairly respectable for essentially the most half and, fairly not like WWE 12′ a few years earlier than it, the target pushed nature of this mode didn’t grate since most had been simply completed. The one downside with this mode was that should you performed the Legends of WrestleMania recreation years earlier, there actually wasn’t something new to see right here with lots of the matches (and match targets) merely being rehashed from that title.
Notable for: Really having a very respectable single-player story marketing campaign within the type of The Streak mode, which fairly than forcing you to compete in your birthday go well with, as a substitute permits gamers to both relieve or break The Undertaker’s then formidable 21-0 streak a yr earlier than that naughty boy, the Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar, would do in real-life.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K15 – PS3, PS4 (2014)
Ah, now this wasn’t good. The second entry within the collection after 2K took over, WWE 2K15 made all of the unsuitable strikes, culminating within the worst WWE recreation since Crush Hour (OK, perhaps not *that* unhealthy, nevertheless it was fairly terrible). The equal of watching Daniel Bryan getting mercilessly jobbed out to The Nice Khali after authoring his landmark championship title wins, WWE 2K15 couldn’t do something proper; whether or not it was the brand new chain grappling system which was about as a lot enjoyable as consuming a sandpaper burrito, or, the horrendous quantities of usually hilarious graphical glitches, WWE 2K15 failed in nearly each vital method possible.
A lot worse nonetheless was the truth that the Creation Suite performance, for which the collection had historically depended upon for its legs post-release, was pared again to the purpose of absolute insignificance with Create-A-Finisher and Create-A-Story utterly absent, and the Create-A-Wrestler mode lacking an excessive amount of customisation choices. One thing else that stunk was the MyCareer mode, which in being a particularly poor complement to the scenario-driven 2K Showcase mode, added little to the affair apart from mind-numbing tedium.
Briefly, the sport was a travesty, and whereas its ambition to drag off a extra thought of, tactical tackle the motion within the squared circle was an admirable one, the avalanche of poorly executed ideas that sat upon it did such a very good job of burying it that in the long run, no person actually gave a toss.
Notable for: Being the primary WWE title since Smackdown Vs Uncooked 2010 to function a licensed soundtrack. Curated by the Physician of Thuganomics himself, John Cena, mentioned soundtrack was predictably rammed to the hilt with ear-rending cack. Ah effectively, a minimum of the thought was there.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K16 – PS3, PS4 (2015)
Although not fully ridden of the quite a few (and hilarious) visible glitches that plagued its predecessor, WWE 2K16 nonetheless managed to carry its sweaty head excessive as not solely the perfect WWE 2K title so far, but additionally because the best wrestling title out there on PS4 (although given the truth that you possibly can rely them on one hand should you solely have two fingers, I’ll perceive your lack of enthusiasm within the face of such platitudes).
Immediately one of many good issues that WWE 2K16 introduces is a finite counter system which works effectively in two methods. First, it signifies that CPU and human opponents alike can now not spam counters indefinitely (a typical and frequent frustration with all WWE video games earlier than this), and secondly, it makes the entire affair way more tactical, impressing the necessity upon the participant to carry counters in reserve so that you simply don’t get caught with out one when the fists and slams begin raining down.
One thing else that WWE 2K16 did proper was spruce up the 2K Showcase mode with an entertaining Stone Chilly Steve Austin historic marketing campaign that charted the celebrity’s climb by way of the ranks from WCW to ECW, earlier than culminating in his legendary WWE run. Along with this, lots of the beforehand lacking creation suite modes returned (equivalent to Create A Diva, Create an Area, and Create a Championship), whereas even the much-maligned MyCareer mode re-emerged with enhancements and expansions to make it really worthwhile this time.
WWE 2K16 hadn’t fairly ascended to the heady heights of the collection finest instalments then, however like a promising NXT developmental expertise it confirmed that it was making all the appropriate strikes on its path in the direction of the primary occasion; setting the scene for this yr’s WWE 2K17 to hold that momentum ahead and provides us the WWE title that all of us deserve. Hopefully. Please.
Notable for: Pigeonholing the legendary Samoa Joe as a ‘future star’ in one in all its DLC packs even supposing the then 37-year previous veteran has been wrestling professionally since 1999 and tapped out extra dudes than you’ve had scorching dinners. Or one thing.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K17 – PS3, PS4 (2016)
Nicely, because it turned out, WWE 2K17 wasn’t all that unhealthy really – although ‘unhealthy’ kinda needs to be taken in proportion at this level. With a revamped grappling system and a neat collection of superstars (the returning Goldberg filling the legend quota for this yr’s recreation), that was just about the one issues that basically veered into the territory of ‘respectable’ so far as WWE 2K17 is worried.
When it comes to the unhealthy nonetheless, we’re considerably spoilt for selection. Although the roster of wrestlers is sizeable, it was immensely irritating to find that among the hottest wrestlers of the NXT period, equivalent to Shinsuke Nakamura, had been locked behind paid DLC regardless of having been within the fed for ten months by the point the sport launched.
One other shortcoming was how the single-player marketing campaign stuff was dealt with. Gone had been the 2K Showcases of earlier years and its place had been extra fleshy Universe and MyCareer modes which had been underwhelming to say the least. Oh! I nearly forgot! The 2K Showcase mode *did* return, however are you able to guess the twist? That’s proper, the one 2k Showcase you’ll be getting is the one you pay for as further DLC to the bottom recreation itself. Dick transfer, 2K, dick transfer.
After which lastly, WWE 2K17 finds itself infamous for the introduction of the brand new Promo Engine, which goals to seize the promo aspect of the enterprise in an horrendous little mini recreation the place no person would ever say half of the goofy crap that they’ve been scripted to say, and the entire thing simply feels as pointless as pissing within the wind. Don’t get me unsuitable; WWE 2K17 wasn’t terrible, it was simply… mediocre.
Notable for: Being the final WWE recreation on PS3. It’s unhappy, I do know however the present should go on.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K18 – PS4 (2017)
Ah, the curse of the even numbered WWE 2K video games being respectable continues as WWE 2K18 rocks as much as the present and reveals WWE 2K17 how enterprise ought to be dealt with (or ought to that be ‘picked up’?). Anyway, WWE 2K18 turned out to be actually good; I imply, certain, the horrifically pointless Promo Engine returned from WWE 2K17 like a very decided turd that received’t flush, BUT, we will forgive 2K for that little shortcoming given how effectively the remainder of the package deal shapes up.
Very first thing’s first; the single-player marketing campaign mode is again! Form of. You see, fairly than have the 2K Showcase coming again, 2K launched a brand new profession mode the place you’re taking a wrestler from NXT hopeful to WWE champion and for essentially the most half it was fairly alright; even when among the backstage bits had been cringeworthy past perception.
Ostensibly although, the largest enhancements that WWE 2K18 brings to the desk are these that are tied to its ringcraft. Apart from a brand new carry system which allowed you to carry out an entire new vary of environmental assaults, WWE 2K18 additionally boasts a retooled Royal Rumble match mode and, lastly, the flexibility to have eight wrestlers on-screen on the similar time.
Although WWE 2K18 was good, and it confirmed the advantages of leaving the final era of consoles behind with superior environments and character fashions, it nonetheless didn’t really feel like a real leading edge product as there is no such thing as a PS4 Professional assist and, fairly in truth, the sport nonetheless didn’t look one million miles away from WWE 2K17 from a visible standpoint. Right here’s hoping then that WWE 2K19 is the leap that we’re all on the lookout for on this regard.
Notable for: Having absolutely the largest roster of any WWE recreation ever made. No actually; it’s large. Like, correct large. It even has Kurt Angle in it too!
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K19 – PS4 (2018)
No sooner do I spout off concerning the even and odd curse of 2K WWE video games when WWE 2K19 rocks up and reveals me off to be a large asshole. Completely full of Andre the Large ranges of content material and a deftly judged collection of nips and tucks, WWE 2K19 is definitely among the best WWE video games that cash should buy.
The very first thing that can smash you within the face with all of the power of a sledgehammer is the truth that WWE 2K19 marks the return of the 2K Showcase, story-driven single participant marketing campaign. Higher but, the marketing campaign is one thing of a cracker as gamers get to play by way of the profession of the newly resurgent Daniel Bryan, nailing all of his key profession milestones alongside the way in which.
Past the great return of the 2K Showcase mode, WWE 2K19 additionally boasts the biggest roster ever (once more), a massively expanded creation suite and a raft of further match sorts.
The place WWE 2K19 falls down a tad is in the truth that the collection as an entire merely wants a bigger scale refresh – from the cringeworthy commentary to a variety of outdated animations, there may be nonetheless an excessive amount of change that should happen to ensure that the franchise to achieve its fullest potential.
Notable for: Having a mode the place all of the wrestlers have tremendous inflated heads. It’s kinda like NBA Jam and 1993 by no means occurred.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K20 – PS4 (2019)
The primary WWE title to not be developed by Yukes in twenty years(!) WWE 2K20 is, fairly frankly, an absolute travesty the likes of which we haven’t seen in fairly a while and a mahoosive, Andre the Large sized step again from WWE 2K19.
The place to start? Oh I do know – let’s begin with the bugs! Boasting extra bugs than Starship Troopers, WWE 2K20 is riddled from head to toe with the issues. From exaggerated variations of the collection conventional semi-hilarious physics glitches, to the frequent crashes (which STILL haven’t been addressed within the CAW mode some three patches later) – the sport is mainly a multitude.
After which we come to the visuals! Hoo-boy. Wanting like a PS3 recreation that’s making an attempt its finest to appear to be a late gen PS2 title at occasions, WWE 2K20 appears to be like horrific with poor texture work, low element crowds and a massively variable framerate throughout massive matches.
And THEN we come to the AI which appears particularly dumb this yr – both forgetting to remain on the apron throughout a tag-match, reversing every part you do like some Counter Terminator or utterly failing to barter itself a path from the skin into the ring, and getting counted out within the course of.
And *THEN* we come to the truth that sure CAW materials sorts are locked behind a progress wall (what a technique to annoy the CAW neighborhood from day one), WWE 2K20’s single most fascinating function, WWE 2K Originals is locked behind a paywall and adjustments have been made to regulate format for no motive apart from, effectively, to be totally different from final yr.
Come again Yukes! All is forgiven! (Nicely, perhaps not every part, however you need to begin someplace proper?)
Notable for: Having a MyCareer story mode that’s so catastrophically cringe, it shunts the earth off of its axis. Holy moly.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K Battlegrounds – PS4 (2020)
Within the absence of a simulation model WWE 2K title in 2020 (because of a studio reshuffle through which longtime collection dev Yukes! received the boot) we had WWE 2K Battlegrounds as a substitute, an arcade model effort that seemed just like the amalgamated offspring of Wrestlemania: The Arcade Sport and the criminally underrated WWE All-Stars.
Very a lot meant to be informal affair for people that don’t have a lot time, are 12 years previous or youthful, hopped up on Gatorade or all three, WWE 2K Battlegrounds sacrifices depth for a similar kind of excessive spectacle that WWE All-Stars pioneered practically ten years in the past.
Whereas WWE 2K Battlegrounds then proves to be apparently loud and instantly compelling fodder – it’s sadly simply that; because the enormously decreased transfer rely and nearly fatally stripped out inventive suite choices all detract from what’s in any other case a extremely pleasing affair.
Oh, and you can even F5 of us into the ready jaws of keen alligators too. Good, eh?
Notable for: Having a celebrity unlock part the place, as soon as bought, every celebrity kicks themselves out of blister pack as in the event that they had been motion figures. Neat.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K22 – PS4, PS5 (2022)
An absolute comeback story for the ages, WWE 2K22 made ample use of its prolonged growth time (thirty months versus the same old ten or so months that the collection affords every entry) to trend the perfect WWE 2K recreation we’ve seen in an age.
Beginning on the prime, the grappling system is so significantly better in WWE 2K22 than in any recreation earlier. Reversals are actually now not capped of their use, which now permits the kind of dramatic ebb and circulate you’d see in a real-life wrestling match as gamers fluidly commerce reversals, fairly than simply ready for the opposite participant to expire of reversals earlier than you begin wailing on their defenceless type.
Past the considerably improved wrestling mechanics, visuals have seen an throughout the board enchancment too. Boasting photograph scanned superstars that appear to be respectable approximations of their real-life counterparts fairly than drunk waxworks with a factor for arduous medication, WWE 2K22 lastly appears to be like, sounds and performs the half – and after years of failing to meaningfully evolve itself, it looks like a novel kind of reduction to have the ability to say that.
Sadly, if rumours are to be believed, 2K may quickly lose the WWE license to EA – making WWE 2K22 one thing of a bittersweet enterprise that stands as the perfect wrestling recreation in an extended whereas, but additionally one which could not have one other entry constructed upon its resoundingly sturdy foundations.
Notable for: Being the primary WWE 2K recreation on PlayStation 5 and actually being higher than ever WWE 2K recreation for the final decade in each single, conceivable method. Each. Single. Means.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K23 – PS4, PS5 (2023)
Definitively proving that WWE 2K22 was no fluke, WWE 2K23 managed to cement the notion in individuals’s minds that the comeback of the WWE 2K collection was not solely effectively beneath method however that Visible Ideas had now totally put their stamp on the franchise and knew precisely what labored and what didn’t when it comes to the collection overarching design.
For a begin completely every part that labored in WWE 2K22 makes a welcome return in WWE 2K23 – this implies the reworked countering system, the photo-scanned superstars – all of it – is current and accounted for in WWE 2K23.
When it comes to the novelty that this collection entry brings to the desk, WWE 2K23 introduces the fan-favourite Battle Video games match to the franchise for the primary time, whereas the 2K Showcase mode returns with a neat twist (see beneath) that will see it rank up there as among the best single-player campaigns ever in a restling tit
Notable for: Boasting a John Cena centered 2K Showcase mode which fairly than simply having you relive John Cena’s best victories, as a substitute had you reliving his best defeats as you took management of each celebrity that has bested The Physician of Thuganomics through the years. It was brilliantly subversive stuff that basically helped to clean up the 2K Showcase mode in a method that no collection entry had managed up till that time.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K24 – PS4, PS5 (2024)
With each the WWE/UFC merger, the unceremonious departure of Vinny Mac and the upcoming 2025 tv take care of Netflix now within the books, it’s truthful to say that the wrestling panorama (and particularly WWE itself) won’t ever be the identical once more. On this sense, WWE 2K24 feels very very like a celebration of the corporate’s largest historic spectacle – WrestleMania – and but it additionally looks like a celebration of the long run with feminine superstars Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair gracing the primary dual-female solely wrestling cowl in WWE historical past.
When it comes to trying to the previous, that is the place this yr’s 2K Showcase mode is available in. As soon as once more leveraging the identical Slingshot know-how which permits real-time visuals to seamlessly transition from live-action footage and vice-versa, WWE 2K24’s Showcase mode focuses in on among the largest WrestleMania occasions and milestone matches. From Ricky Steamboat’s iconic Intercontinental title conflict with the Macho Man, by way of to the thunderous, history-making conflict between Cody Rhodes and Roman Regins at WrestleMania 39 and all of the whereas slavishly replicating the audiovisual spectacle of every period, WWE 2K24’s 2K Showcase mode arguably scratches that itch of taking part in by way of among the most traditionally vital WWE wrestling matches which have ever been televised.
Past the 2K Showcase mode, WWE 2K24 additionally brings a re-worked MyRise secondary marketing campaign which incorporates separate embedded story modes for each female and male wrestlers, whereas particular referee matches have now returned alongside the brand new and extremely chaotic Ambulance match in addition. WWE 2K24 additionally will get quite a lot of the smaller issues proper, too. Stamina fatigue for instance has now been way more thoughtfully included with long-running matches leading to each superstars struggling to recuperate from even fundamental strikes equivalent to suplexes and powerslams – y’know, similar to the true factor.
One other new addition that WWE 2K24 brings is the brand new buying and selling strikes mini-game which has two superstars buying and selling blows in fast succession that once more does an excellent job of mirroring the real-life spectacle in a method that simply hasn’t been performed earlier than.
A style defining entry that reveals developer Visible Ideas working on the heights of its appreciable powers, WWE 2K24 is sort of merely essentially the most definitive wrestling recreation you should purchase proper now and it isn’t even shut.
Notable for: Having the only largest roster of any wrestling recreation ever that clocks in at greater than 200 selectable wrestlers (together with DLC choices that deliver notably excessive profile AEW refugees CM Punk and Jade Cargill into the fold). Ooof.
