For decades, wrestling games have been a great source for letting off steam. For those of us who had the impulse urge to RKO our younger brother, wrestling games provided a way to do that without someone ending up in the hospital. And with over 50 games released in the genre, the RKOs have been nonstop.

That said, not all the 50 games deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. So, after careful consideration and a ton of arguing, here is our take on the top 10 best wrestling games of all time.

The 10 Best WWE And Wrestling Video Games Of All Time

WWE Day Of Reckoning 2 

Release date: 2005

A lot of people skip over the GameCube wrestling games and it shows. The WWE Day of Reckoning series was essentially the Gamecube’s answer to PlayStation’s SmackDown vs. Raw. With an immersive story mode that was deeply interactive, Day of Reckoning 2 instantly became a cult classic. And while it still had some flaws — like a limited roster and long load times — it made up for it with its gameplay. 

This was the game for anyone who loved arcade-style wrestling mixed with a dash of simulation. The strategic combat required players to do a lot more than just mash buttons, making the entire experience all the more enjoyable. Overall, it proved to be a successful sequel to its predecessor and paved the way for the SmackDown vs. Raw generation. 

WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2007

Release date: 2006

You can’t talk about the greatest wrestling games without including a SmackDown vs. Raw title. For some people, these games are associated with the greatest times of their lives. This series allowed players to live out their wrestling dreams, giving them the freedom to do whatever they imagined. 

However, within the series, SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 stands out as a timeless classic. From a huge roster to an overall great feel, SVR 2007 was the complete package. And with the addition of a ton of new modes and matches, the game never lost its playability. To this day, people dust off their Xbox 360 or PS2 just to play this title. 

WWE 2K14 

Release date: 2013

When it comes to the 2K series, they perfected the recipe in WWE 2K14. And that is not a jab at the current generation of WWE games; it’s just what the community feels. In retrospect, 2K14 had it all. From engaging gameplay to limitless customization, everything about this game was phenomenal. Of course, no game is perfect, and 2K14 had its fair share of flaws. That said, it was everything the fans wanted from a WWE game. 

Building on the structure of WWE ’13, the game had similar mechanics. However, the addition of the catch finisher, 30 years of Wrestlemania, and Defeat The Streak mode is what made it special. Even a decade later, 2K14 is regarded as one of the best wrestling games of the modern era.

WCW/NWO Revenge 

Release date: 1998

Wrestling games have been around for generations, with each console having a hit title, and WCW/nWo Revenge was the gem of the Nintendo 64. Built on the infamous AKI engine, Revenge had a personality like no other, and was the title that made everyone beg their parents for a Nintendo 64. With a roster of over 60 playable characters, including Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Sting, and Goldberg, Revenge was authentic to the vibe of WCW at its peak.

While it didn’t contain a traditional story mode, the Championship Mode enhanced the game’s overall replayability. That said, the real reason behind its massive success was its multiplayer mode. Revenge was the pinnacle of couch play. Supporting up to four players, the sheer fun of the multiplayer ensured that it was a staple at parties. And it’s the nostalgia of those memories that puts Revenge in a league of its own. 

WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth 

Release date: 2002

In the WWE community, Here Comes the Pain is considered one of the best wrestling games ever made. Well, Here Comes the Pain wouldn’t exist if Shut Your Mouth didn’t lay the groundwork. This game was leaps and bounds ahead of its time. And while it may not be celebrated as much as its successor, it pushed the genre of wrestling forward. 

Introducing new features like backstage brawl — which later on became one of the most beloved modes in WWE — Shut Your Mouth set the bar for WWE games. On top of that, the roster was stacked, including early 2000s stars like The Rock, Stone Cold, and Kurt Angle. If you loved the Attitude Era of wrestling, this was the game for you. With gameplay being smoother than ever, Shut Your Mouth paved the way for the future generations of WWE games. 

WWE All Stars

Release date: 2011

If you ever wondered what would happen if WWE superstars were turned into action figures and thrown into a ring, WWE All Stars was your answer. Released in an era where the Smackdown vs. Raw games were dominating sales, this game was completely unexpected. Combining over-the-top animations, cartoonish graphics, and arcade-style wrestling, WWE All Stars was unique, to say the least. 

That said, it all worked so well. While other WWE games were shifting towards simulation-style wrestling, WWE All Stars was a breath of fresh air. Everything about this game felt new. The roster? Amazing, Gameplay? Crisp. Fun? Extremely. You could counter an attack, and the opponent could counter your counter. It’s the type of game where you just had to be there, and if you missed it, we recommend grabbing a copy. 

Fire Pro Wrestling World 

Release date: 2017

The Fire Pro Wrestling games might not be for everyone, but every wrestling fan should give them a shot at least once. While this Japanese gem has been around for decades, the 2017 release is where they found the secret sauce. Building upon the series’ previous games, the game went all out on its limitless customization options, limiting the player only to their own imagination when creating a wrestler.

Players could create wrestlers using thousands of body parts, moves, and even personalities. And then, you could put them in a ring made of barbed wire and wrestle it out. So, this was the game for both the casual and hardcore fans. Fire Pro Wrestling World catered to all tastes and didn’t hold back. Overall, it stands as a love letter to the wrestling fans who wanted a canvas to let off their creativity. 

Def Jam: Fight For NY 

Release date: 2004

While Def Jam isn’t your traditional wrestling game, it’s a unique experience that embodies all the core elements of wrestling. Combining hip-hop culture with brutal, over-the-top street fighting, Def Jam was one for the history books. 

Featuring legendary hip-hop artists like Snoop Dogg, Ice-T, and Method Man, Def Jam offered a weird blend of wrestling, martial arts, and street culture that just hit the spot. The story mode was deeply interactive, the gameplay was crisp, and the customization didn’t hold back. You could customize your fighter’s style, moves, and even entourage. Additionally, the multiplayer couch play was just pure chaos and one of the main reasons for the game’s success. Overall, Def Jam was the perfect embodiment of the early 2000s rap culture mixed with incredible fighting gameplay. 

WWE SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain 

Release date: 2003

If there’s any game that defines the golden era of WWE games, it’s Here Comes The Pain. This title took everything great about Shut Your Mouth and dialed it up to 11. Released exclusively for the PlayStation 2, this game gave all Playstation users bragging rights. Especially when compared to offerings on other consoles at the time, such as WWE Raw 2.

New match types were added, including the Elimination Chamber, which was a game-changer and paved the way for future games. They also added a Bra-and-Panties match but the less said about that one, the better (the early 2000s were wild). Additionally, the roster was stacked, graphics were improved, and the season mode was deeper than ever. Selling more than 1.5 million copies, Here Comes the Pain had the entire wrestling community in a chokehold and was not only one of the greatest wrestling games of all time, but one of the most successful games of that era. 

WWF No Mercy 

Release date: 2000

This pick shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone. No Mercy is considered the best wrestling game of all time, and for good reason. Hands down, there is no other wrestling game that has had a bigger impact on the genre than No Mercy. Even after 20+ years, this game is still kept alive by the wrestling community. 

All of this isn’t just because of nostalgia, it’s because No Mercy was just that good. The gameplay was insanely smooth, the roster was iconic, and the customization options were way ahead of their time. On top of that, the championship mode — with its branching storylines and multiple endings — added a ton of replayability. Players could pursue seven different championships, each with its own unique narrative. Basically, this game took the formula of NWO Revenge and tweaked it to perfection. To this day, No Mercy has an active modding community, and fans refuse to let it die.