There was once a time whereWWEvideo games were among the highest sellers in the sports genre. Unlike mostsports games, where they’re predominantly only played by fans of the sport,WWE’s scripted approach to sport and over-the-top match stipulations make for some great single and multiplayer gaming fun for all to enjoy, with ladder matches, royal rumbles, and backstage brawls providing hours of entertainment.
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Unfortunately, WWE games have suffered from a sharp decrease in quality in recent years, so much so that 2K Sports took a break from their yearly simulation-style games following backlash over the glitchy mess that wasWWE 2K20.With WWE’s rival brandAEW set to release their first game in the near future, Vince McMahon’s company may need to revitalize their gaming series sooner rather than later.
One way of revitalizing the series could be to remake a fan-favorite WWE game from the past, a strategy that has worked well for a handful of gaming franchises in recent years, most notablyCrash Bandicoot. If 2K Sports decide to go down the remake route, the following games would surely be prime candidates.
5WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2006
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2006is fondly remembered for one key reason: it was the game that introduced the fan-favorite General Manager mode. The game mode puts players in the shoes of a pro-wrestling booker and lets them sign wrestlers, book matches, and ultimately attempt to put on the best show possible.
Despite how much fans enjoyed the game mode, it was surprisingly shelved followingWWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008. However, after years of asking, fans have finally got their wish, as2K Sports have confirmed that the mode will be returning inWWE 2K22.Regardless of the mode’s comeback,WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2006is still an excellent candidate for a remake due to it being where the mode got its start, along with having one of the best story modes in the series' history. Suffice to say, revisiting the classic general manager mode and story modes with modern wrestlers would be a treat.
4WWE All-Stars
WWE All-Starswas released in March 2011, just a few months beforeWWE 2K12hit stores, which is indicative of how successful WWE games were at the time.
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WWE All-Starsditched the franchise’s traditional simulation style for a cartoony aesthetic and fighting gameplay with tons of over-the-top moves and animations thrown in. The game lets players create dream matches by implementing a roster of characters from past and present, including The Rock, Hulk Hogan, John Cena, Shawn Michales, and CM Punk.
Althoughfans and critics loved the game’s aestheticsand much of the gameplay, it did have a few significant issues, particularly with the lack of variety in gameplay and game modes. A modernized version ofWWE All-Starswould likely go down very well, especially if it fixed the original’s issues and stayed clear from the mistakes made with the recentWWE 2K Battlegrounds, which tried and failed to capture the magic ofAll-Stars.
3WWF No Mercy
WWF No Mercywas released exclusively on the Nintendo 64 back in November 2000 and is often cited as one ofthe bestWWEgames of all time.
The gameplay inWWF No Mercywas fairly similar in design to its predecessor,WWF WrestleMania 2000, as THQ, along with the development teams of Asmik Ace Entertainment and AKI Corporation, seemingly decided not to try and fix what wasn’t broken. Still,WWF No Mercyis fondly remembered as it fine-tunedWrestleMania 2000’s gameplay mechanics while making notable visual improvements and adding the fan-favorite Championship mode.
2WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game
WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Gamewas first released in arcades back in 1995, before coming to numerous home consoles, including the Sega Genesis, PlayStation 1, and SNES. Unlike most modern professional wrestling games,WWF WrestleMania’s gameplay was more akin to classic fighting games, where punch and kick combos are key to victory, rather than wrestling moves and sometimes even weapons.
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WWF WrestleManiafeatured a multiplayer mode and two single players modes, where players would challenge for the Intercontinental or WWF Championship. The game’s classic arcade fighting style may make the game seem like an odd choice for a remake initially. However, awell-designed fighting gamecould bring a whole new audience to the series and make it a popular competitive game online.
For anyone interested in a modern take on theWWF Wrestlemaniastyle of professional wrestling games, then RetroSoft Studios' April 1st, 2021 release (not an April Fool’s joke!)RetroMania Wrestlingis worth considering.
1WWE Smackdown! Here Comes The Pain
When fans list their favoriteWWEgames, the order of their top five will often be different, butWWE Smackdown! Here Comes The Painwill almost always be in there somewhere.
The sequel toWWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouthmade significant improvements to the grappling system while also including the Elimination Chamber stipulation and playable Legends for the first time. The game is fondly remembered for having one of the best wrestling rosters ever in a video game, as it was the last time that The Rock or Steve Austin appeared in a WWE game as active competitors, while Brock Lesnar, Triple H, Goldberg, Kurt Angle, Batista, and John Cena were all also featured.
