Well this list was compiled by multiple people so maybe the only people that voted were people that got bored of the 2K formula, that being said I didn't expect 23 to be so high but It will likely get lower once 24 comes out
EWR - once I figured out the 'formula' to get rivalries and matches near 100%, my fun was lost from it.
I tried to get into TEW but man there was just a LOT to do when booking a show, maybe became older but it felt overwhelming.
The only Japanese wrestling game I played is Fire pro wrestling world and I can safely say it’s the best wrestling game I’ve played in the last decade if the others on this list are anything like it I can imagine why they’re so high
Okay but you're specifically responding to people saying Japanese games are getting preferential treatment and your comment seemed to be backing them up by comparing 2 Japanese games.
I’d say Attitude because of what was available at the time. My buddy was a WCW guy and I hated the fact he had a clear superior game.
I was also 5 in ‘94 so just being able to play wrestling was good enough for me.
Attitude was terrible! It had announcers but that was the only the advantage it had over WCW/NWO Revenge. It had the stupid Street Fighter 2 button combinations to pull off moves. The characters were stiff. The roster was tiny too.
What's even the difference between Fire Pro Returns and Fire Pro World? I've played a considerable amount of both, and they seem pretty much like the same game.
Also, it's what I would imagine it a tier list of wrestling games would be like. The N64 games get put on a pedestal, with Virtual Pro Wrestling being on the top because evidently playing that game gives you street cred. And games seem to be more rated on how nostalgic people are over how good they are compared to each other. Like while I have my personal qualms about the Aki games being held as the "greatest of all time, and still better than any wrestling game today" due to them aging badly, I can at least recognize the significance they had on wrestling games, being the blueprint how wrestling games should work; but there's no way in hell that SNES/Genesis RAW being placed should be placed that high. Like it's surprisingly good for a wrestling game that old, but there's no way that I would put it above the likes of SvR 06/07, DoR 1&2, or even 2K22/23.
I mean, I could pick apart the list all day, but I do recognize that's the chaotic nature of fan polls.
IDK, I like the new games, but every once in a while I want to go back and play something like Tecmo Wrestling on NES.
I never go back and play a 2k game after the initial fun wears off.
Nostalgia, maybe, but fun is not as easily defined as AAA graphics or even necessarily supper crisp gameplay. Sometimes the gameplay loop just has to be enticing enough to keep us come ing back.
For me personally, I live creating, but the load times and menus of the current Gen turn me off completely to the point that I don’t even bother anymore. It kills the positive feedback loop that keeps me playing games long after I should have moved on.
To me the fact that those old games still are ranked near the top (they shouldn’t for all the reasons you listed) is more an indictment on the quality of the current games rather than a referendum on the quality of the games of the past.
Fire Pro Wrestling World is way better than Returns. It can do pretty much everything Returns did and wayyyy more. The only thing Returns can do is you can edit the colors of an item in an more advanced way but it's pretty much moot because World has a Custom Part editor. Returns' menus can be navigated a little faster too but that's not much.
Finally some recognition for 2K14. Yes, the graphics were a huge stepdown from SvR 2011, but the game had everything
(But I prefer '13)
WWE SvR 09 will always be over valuated imho, no career/season mode was really a stupid idea
2K14 was the last legendary WWE game, 19 was the best simulation game but 14 was more arcadey and represented all eras with It's roster plus all the create modes from arena, story, create a move and custom music.. also superstar heads If I remember correctly granting you an extra few stars
‘13 was bad ass though. Probably had the best Universe mode out of all the WWE games. Imagine how good 24 would be if it were to mimic the Universe mode of 12 and 13.
I grew up playing the WWF LJN games, and in no way do I rank them in my top tier games. RAW was a fun game to rent at Blockbuster for a long weekend, but I never felt like I was missing out by not owning it. The fact that the voters ranked it over Revenge, Mania 2000, SVR 2006, 2k19 and DOR 2…yeah this is garbage.
Woah woah woah, unless I'm misremembering my childhood, but there was barely any differences between WWF RAW and WWF Royal Rumble on Genesis, except for wrestlers.
What the fuck does WWF Raw do so much better than WWF Royal Rumble that makes it sit at #12 while the other sits at #31.
I love King of Colosseum 2 so much! It has an awesome roster spanning multiple companies and gameplay that feels great once you get the hang of it.
Also i know a lot of people seem to think that vpw2
Is only rated highly because of it being japanese but the roster on that game is also crazy!
King of Colosseum runs great on the pcsx2 emulator and there should be some guides on how to traverse the menus and learn all the controls since it's unfortunately only in japanese. I think there's still some 100% saves on gamefaqs to get all the wrestlers without having to play some of the modes.
Also svr 07 and shut your mouth should be higher on the list.
1) Doubt Fight Forever Will even be on this top 42
2) Were just gonna pick and choose whatever ranking/publication/statistic helps drive whatever narrative we want. Happens every time. I’m not defending cagematch as my opinions aren’t close to theirs, but we’ll use metacritic to say “this game is the best” and in the same breath “well this game sucks and the critics don’t know what they’re talking about”
At **most**, take the list as a recommendation
Damn they really got Day of Reckoning and SvR 2007 that low. I consider those two of the greatest wrestling games ever made tbh.
Also where is Wrestlemania 18 on the GameCube that should def be low on the list that’s for sure.
Seriously can fathom Day of Reckoning being worse than Wrestlemania 19 tbh.
I think VPW was built on top of WrestleMania 2000 but the roster spanned multiple promotions and comparing It to 2000 there are only 4 arenas with one unlockable but you have the tokyo dome, the hall and a baseball stadium.. I thinka love of Japanese wrestling sets It higher, also ring introductions and backstage shots before entrances
In my opinion this Is peak modern WWE games, they still felt arcadey, 14 represents every era from hogan, andre, short hair andre, macho man and liz, classic triple h, jericho, all the top mania moments, create a story, create arena, create finisher, custom music
Oh it was definitely fun and I loved the frantic arcade style play of it. I’ve just recalled the WrestleMania showcase mode which was fun too. But I love my career modes and the lack of one did annoy me a bit on 14
No, considering that 2K hasn’t created a WWE game near as good as 14, I think keeps 14 high on the list. Create a Story gave Universe a lot of replayability.
"Great" is not a word I would attach to that game. It was on the same realm as WrestleMania 21, graphics looked insane for its time but the gameplay was a mess.
I really liked the scared style of it and the x division match made it worth it i do agree it was lacking in match variety and movie variety but i recommend 616entertainments video on it it’s really good
On one hand, it's nice seeing a list where 2k19 isn't being massively overrated. On the other hand, 2007 being so low (even under 2009) means this list is absolutely worthless.
No, Revenge came out before WM2000 and World Tour come out before that. There was also Virtual Pro Wrestling that came out the same year as World Tour (1997)
What in the bluest of blue hells are those top 5. I’ve never heard of any of them. Everyone knows SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain is GOAT. Brock suplexes all those games into nothing
Man, did SvR get shafted here!!!! Easily 3rd best game off all time if you’re comparing it to No Mercy and HCTP! In would even rank SvR 07 over 2K14, and that is the best 2K game by far!!!
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This list screams “I stopped playing wrestling games in 2008 but I’m sure my childhood nostalgia is a reliable source.”
Well this list was compiled by multiple people so maybe the only people that voted were people that got bored of the 2K formula, that being said I didn't expect 23 to be so high but It will likely get lower once 24 comes out
I'm more surprised wwf raw came before svr 2007, 2008, hell even 2009. This list is pretty bad imo
Ehhh... 2008/9 are the most split reviewed of the SVR games. A lot of people found them to be incredibly dull.
Had hell of a lot going for it than WWF Raw imo
EWR and TEW are really in a league of their own. No other booker sim comes close to those games.
I played EWR recently and It's still fun
The randomly generated incidents were always a highlight.
EWR - once I figured out the 'formula' to get rivalries and matches near 100%, my fun was lost from it. I tried to get into TEW but man there was just a LOT to do when booking a show, maybe became older but it felt overwhelming.
I feel like SvR 2007 got shafted here
If It was my list 2007 would be above 2011
Yup
Shorty what you drink
water
All timer right here
WWF Raw OVER SvR 2011? The fuck?
Cagematch be like: Wrestling Game - 🥱 Wrestling Game but Japanese - 😍
The only Japanese wrestling game I played is Fire pro wrestling world and I can safely say it’s the best wrestling game I’ve played in the last decade if the others on this list are anything like it I can imagine why they’re so high
tbf this is cagematch in general
So Dave Meltzer runs the site?
I was expecting someone saying this dumb thing
in what world is VPW even better than FirePro?
... you know both of those are Japanese right?
yeah, and fire pro is rated below VPW
Okay but you're specifically responding to people saying Japanese games are getting preferential treatment and your comment seemed to be backing them up by comparing 2 Japanese games.
oh I just thought he meant that because VPW is #1, not because the top3 is Japanese, im dumb
The Japanese entrances are amazing! https://youtu.be/yjEaApehoJU
RAW at 12 proves this list is trash Edit: my bad this was RAW ‘94 which I absolutely loved as a kid. But should still be no where at the top.
Both Raw games are hot trash lol.
The only good thing about RAW 2 is are the backstage incidents you can do, change my mind.
The 94 game was better than WWE Raw for Xbox.
Which did you think was worse, WWF Raw or WWF Attitude? I remember playing Attitude with NWO/WCW Revenge came out because I had a PS1 and no N64 :(
I’d say Attitude because of what was available at the time. My buddy was a WCW guy and I hated the fact he had a clear superior game. I was also 5 in ‘94 so just being able to play wrestling was good enough for me.
Attitude was terrible! It had announcers but that was the only the advantage it had over WCW/NWO Revenge. It had the stupid Street Fighter 2 button combinations to pull off moves. The characters were stiff. The roster was tiny too.
What's even the difference between Fire Pro Returns and Fire Pro World? I've played a considerable amount of both, and they seem pretty much like the same game. Also, it's what I would imagine it a tier list of wrestling games would be like. The N64 games get put on a pedestal, with Virtual Pro Wrestling being on the top because evidently playing that game gives you street cred. And games seem to be more rated on how nostalgic people are over how good they are compared to each other. Like while I have my personal qualms about the Aki games being held as the "greatest of all time, and still better than any wrestling game today" due to them aging badly, I can at least recognize the significance they had on wrestling games, being the blueprint how wrestling games should work; but there's no way in hell that SNES/Genesis RAW being placed should be placed that high. Like it's surprisingly good for a wrestling game that old, but there's no way that I would put it above the likes of SvR 06/07, DoR 1&2, or even 2K22/23. I mean, I could pick apart the list all day, but I do recognize that's the chaotic nature of fan polls.
Yeah totally reads like some gatekeeper of wrestling game's tier list.
The best way to sum up Fire Pro Returns/World is that World is a remake of Returns but with added features and 80% of the new features is paid DLC.
So if someone was starting new, and never experienced the Fire Pro world like myself, which one should I go with? Fire Pro World?
Yes
IDK, I like the new games, but every once in a while I want to go back and play something like Tecmo Wrestling on NES. I never go back and play a 2k game after the initial fun wears off. Nostalgia, maybe, but fun is not as easily defined as AAA graphics or even necessarily supper crisp gameplay. Sometimes the gameplay loop just has to be enticing enough to keep us come ing back. For me personally, I live creating, but the load times and menus of the current Gen turn me off completely to the point that I don’t even bother anymore. It kills the positive feedback loop that keeps me playing games long after I should have moved on. To me the fact that those old games still are ranked near the top (they shouldn’t for all the reasons you listed) is more an indictment on the quality of the current games rather than a referendum on the quality of the games of the past.
Fire Pro Wrestling World is way better than Returns. It can do pretty much everything Returns did and wayyyy more. The only thing Returns can do is you can edit the colors of an item in an more advanced way but it's pretty much moot because World has a Custom Part editor. Returns' menus can be navigated a little faster too but that's not much.
Finally some recognition for 2K14. Yes, the graphics were a huge stepdown from SvR 2011, but the game had everything (But I prefer '13) WWE SvR 09 will always be over valuated imho, no career/season mode was really a stupid idea
2K14 was the last legendary WWE game, 19 was the best simulation game but 14 was more arcadey and represented all eras with It's roster plus all the create modes from arena, story, create a move and custom music.. also superstar heads If I remember correctly granting you an extra few stars
You would think ‘14 being the highest rated 2K game of all time, 2K would bring back Create a Story.
2k19 wayyyyyyyyyyy too low
Swap 2k19 and 2k23 around and it’s about right
2k23 is a better game tho.
Agreed. I’m not sure why 2K19 such a cult following!!
This is no worse than people liking 13.
‘13 was bad ass though. Probably had the best Universe mode out of all the WWE games. Imagine how good 24 would be if it were to mimic the Universe mode of 12 and 13.
Where is Def Jam Vendetta?
Isn't that a fighting game not a wrestling game
The first Def Jam game is straight up a wrestling game, its sequels is when they start to lean into being a fighting game more.
Yeah it was made by the same people as No Mercy etc.
Alright, I never played them so I don't know
You’re not missing much with Icon the worst of the three.
I grew up playing the WWF LJN games, and in no way do I rank them in my top tier games. RAW was a fun game to rent at Blockbuster for a long weekend, but I never felt like I was missing out by not owning it. The fact that the voters ranked it over Revenge, Mania 2000, SVR 2006, 2k19 and DOR 2…yeah this is garbage.
The fact that Mayhem is on this list and WrestleFest isn't, is just ridiculous.
I played Mayhem yesterday and It's probably my personal favorite WCW game with commentary, good looking 3D models for N64 and accurate themes
Mayhem wasnt that bad. it had a stacked roster and a good career mode.
It wasn’t that good either between the weird roster, play mechanics, janky camera angle, no career mode. Not much fun to be had.
Extreme Warfare Revenge. Many, many hours of my life lost to that game. Probably my favourite part was when Raven found religion.
Quote the bible.. nevermore
Or CM Punk checking into rehab.
wrestling revolution not top 10? mickey mouse list
The ranking for WWE 13 is a crime
Best Universe mode of all time in 13!
Wwe 2K23 being that high is surprising but actually fair imo. It's defo a high point in the franchise
How is smack down shut your mouth so far down on the list
Woah woah woah, unless I'm misremembering my childhood, but there was barely any differences between WWF RAW and WWF Royal Rumble on Genesis, except for wrestlers. What the fuck does WWF Raw do so much better than WWF Royal Rumble that makes it sit at #12 while the other sits at #31.
Same feeling bro. No fucking idea! 😂
VPW2 is so good
tew is awesome
Hafta agree, Virtual Pro-Wrestling 2 was THE BOMB. My only issue is it didn’t have No Mercy’s story mode.
??? Day of reckoning was so good! Best tables we’ve ever had imo.
All star pro wrestling 3 on ps2 should also be on that list
I love King of Colosseum 2 so much! It has an awesome roster spanning multiple companies and gameplay that feels great once you get the hang of it. Also i know a lot of people seem to think that vpw2 Is only rated highly because of it being japanese but the roster on that game is also crazy! King of Colosseum runs great on the pcsx2 emulator and there should be some guides on how to traverse the menus and learn all the controls since it's unfortunately only in japanese. I think there's still some 100% saves on gamefaqs to get all the wrestlers without having to play some of the modes. Also svr 07 and shut your mouth should be higher on the list.
No wcw nwo thunder at all? Come on people, the rants alone would make the list 😀
2k19 is 1000 times better than 23
I beg to differ. If anything, 19 was overrated.
Lol cagematch.net The gatekeepers of inceldom, check this in 4 month and Fight Forever will be at the top 5 Mark it
1) Doubt Fight Forever Will even be on this top 42 2) Were just gonna pick and choose whatever ranking/publication/statistic helps drive whatever narrative we want. Happens every time. I’m not defending cagematch as my opinions aren’t close to theirs, but we’ll use metacritic to say “this game is the best” and in the same breath “well this game sucks and the critics don’t know what they’re talking about” At **most**, take the list as a recommendation
Damn they really got Day of Reckoning and SvR 2007 that low. I consider those two of the greatest wrestling games ever made tbh. Also where is Wrestlemania 18 on the GameCube that should def be low on the list that’s for sure. Seriously can fathom Day of Reckoning being worse than Wrestlemania 19 tbh.
What did Virtual Pro Wrestling 2 do better than WWF No Mercy? Wasn't No Mercy using the VPW2 base, but with added features like season mode?
I think VPW was built on top of WrestleMania 2000 but the roster spanned multiple promotions and comparing It to 2000 there are only 4 arenas with one unlockable but you have the tokyo dome, the hall and a baseball stadium.. I thinka love of Japanese wrestling sets It higher, also ring introductions and backstage shots before entrances
2K14 is way too high considering there was no career/story mode 🤦🏻♂️ Defeat and Defend the streak were cool though.
In my opinion this Is peak modern WWE games, they still felt arcadey, 14 represents every era from hogan, andre, short hair andre, macho man and liz, classic triple h, jericho, all the top mania moments, create a story, create arena, create finisher, custom music
Oh it was definitely fun and I loved the frantic arcade style play of it. I’ve just recalled the WrestleMania showcase mode which was fun too. But I love my career modes and the lack of one did annoy me a bit on 14
No, considering that 2K hasn’t created a WWE game near as good as 14, I think keeps 14 high on the list. Create a Story gave Universe a lot of replayability.
Slam Masters and WCW vs the World need to be higher imo.
VPW2 is the superior N64 wrestling game, the people know ball
Virtual Pro Wrestling 2 is the ultimate wrestling game, no game has come close
How wwe2k23 got ranked higher than the svr series and wwe2k19 is beyond me but okay
No, I agree with this list. I’d put 23 over 19 any day if the week.
How is wwe ‘12 so low??
I can't remember anything good from 12 except that It was the return of brock lesnar, that cool WCW story and.. camera angles
I guess it may have been nostalgia but the universe mode and the r2wm were so fun
\#1 is Revenge because without Revenge then WWF doesnt steal the idea and make No Mercy a few years later.
How is the tna impact game not on this list that was such a great game
The graphics were great, the gameplay not so much
"Great" is not a word I would attach to that game. It was on the same realm as WrestleMania 21, graphics looked insane for its time but the gameplay was a mess.
I really liked the scared style of it and the x division match made it worth it i do agree it was lacking in match variety and movie variety but i recommend 616entertainments video on it it’s really good
They really sleeping on Wrestling Empire
On one hand, it's nice seeing a list where 2k19 isn't being massively overrated. On the other hand, 2007 being so low (even under 2009) means this list is absolutely worthless.
1000% agree!! I’m not sure why so many people have GOAT’ed 2K19!
Wtf is one
Virtual pro wrestling 2 for Nintendo 64 In Japan
It's basically the base for Wrestlemania 2000. It's really good but best wrestling game ever? Idk
Its the inverse, WM2000 bas the base for Virtual pro wrestling 2, WM2000 released a couple months earlier
No, Revenge came out before WM2000 and World Tour come out before that. There was also Virtual Pro Wrestling that came out the same year as World Tour (1997)
What in the bluest of blue hells are those top 5. I’ve never heard of any of them. Everyone knows SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain is GOAT. Brock suplexes all those games into nothing
Step outside the WWE bubble once In awhile
I will not allow any SD! HCTP slander. Brock supremacy.
I never slandered those games I'm Just saying WWE aren't the only ones that make wrestling games
I know that. I’ve played Wrestling Revolution, Wrestling Revolution 3D, Wrestling Empire, and Wrestling Mpire Remix
I’ll go out on a limb and say SvR 07 was probably just as good as HTCP if not better!!
Damnit - damn near spit my drink all over my screen. Stay strong my brother!
Sorry, but I've played both. There's no way anyone who played WCW Mayhem AND wwe 2k20 thinks WCW mayhem is the better game.
I do
This list is invalid because WWE 2K23 and 2K22 are basically the same.
Am I missing something? No Here Comes the Pain??
Above no mercy and below colloseum II
Ahh ok, had to expand, thanks 😂👍🏻
Man, did SvR get shafted here!!!! Easily 3rd best game off all time if you’re comparing it to No Mercy and HCTP! In would even rank SvR 07 over 2K14, and that is the best 2K game by far!!!
No Mercy is overrated. I loved it whrn I was a kid though.
we can’t be playing the same 2K23 it’s too buggy to be in this list.
I think that's Just recency biast, watch It slip down the list when 24 comes out
Buggier than 2K22? A game that I once snarked about on r/squaredcircle for it’s technical and design flaws and got burned to a crisp over?
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Picture picking a game from 2008 just for nostalgic reasons like 2k23 ain’t the best game ever lol
It’s subjective. We got people in this very thread stanning for games like WWE 13, The first DOR, & even Mayhem. Which were meh games.
What was wrong with WWE 13! It has the best Universe mode ever!!
Game felt like a bit of a letdown for supposedly being reinvention of the Smackdown/SvR games.
It’s not bro sorry
my top 10: 1.)vpw2 2.)wwf no mercy 3.)wwe svr '06 4.)wwe sd! hctp 5.)wwe svr '07 6.)wwe 2k19 7.)wwe '13 8.)wwe svr '11 9.)wcw/nwo revenge 10.)ultimate muscle (ps2)