The Worst Wrestling Video Games Ever

Welcome one and all to another “Lucky Thirteen” countdown exclusively available at www.Cheap-Heat.com! My name is Mark Adam Haggerty and today we’re talking about pro wrestling video games! As I started compiling my list of the greatest wrestling games ever, I thought: “I bet a list of the worst games would be far more fun.” So that’s what I’ve done! Now before you start calling me out on burying your favorite game, allow me a chance to explain myself. I ordered this Top 13 list based upon Metacritic and IGN reviews, as well as my own personal experiences. I’m happy to say I played all of these games at some point, and although this is a list of the worst games of all time, I still have fond memories of them all.

Honorable Mention: A lot of people really hated WWF In Your House, but truth be told, that was among my favorite games as a kid. Not just wrestling games either—ALL GAMES! It went Metal Gear, Resident Evil, Mario, In Your House, and Star Fox. One of these things are not like the other—STAR FOX. Another unpopular title was the second installment in the Smackdown vs. Raw series, released for 2006. Once again, despite the terrible Amazon and Metacritic reviews, SD vs. Raw ’06 is another one of my favorite games ever. Now that I’m done defending two personal [guilty] pleasures, let’s kick this list off with number thirteen!

13. WWF Steel Cage Challenge
Released: September 1992
Metacritic Rating: 69/100 (Sega)
Pros: This marked the first time a steel cage could be seen in a WWE-licensed game. That’s about it.
Cons: This was one of the most frustrating wrestling games in history. Steel Cage Challenge forced players into a “button smashing frenzy” that resulted in kicks and punches. The cage—while a nifty concept—diminished any and all replay value. Maybe TNA Lockdown should take a cue from “WWF Steel Cage Challenge.” People don’t want to see that many cage matches, let alone play them.

12. TNA Impact!
Released: September 9, 2008
Metacritic Rating: 64/100 (PS3)
Pros: This game featured some of the most lifelike graphics to ever appear within a wrestling game. There were also a plethora of gimmick arenas, such as those found in Japan and Europe, as well as an outdoor venue in Mexico.
Cons: The control scheme was a little flimsy, but not to the point where it was unplayable. Applying finishers and securing pin falls are among the most frustrating aspects of the game. And while the idea of working an Ultimate X match is a cool concept, the gimmick matches in TNA Impact were dreadfully repetitive.

11. WCW Thunder
Released: December 31, 1998 
Metacritic Rating: 62/100 (PS2)
Pros: WCW and WWE were both producing incredible video games for the Nintendo 64, but very few titles crossed over to the PlayStation. Thunder was a PlayStation exclusive and was built on the same engine as the previous PlayStation flop, “WCW Nitro.” This led to a rerelease of Nitro later that year, with the inclusion of the entire Smackdown roster.
Cons: Like many post-AKI WCW games, Thunder suffered from a slow and uninteresting control scheme. Players were forced to memorize individual move sets, although most matches lasted less than 60-seconds due to the shoddy AI and complex pin system.

10. WCW Mayhem
Released: August 31, 1999
Metacritic Rating: 60/100 (PS)
Pros: WCW Mayhem gave fans the chance to take the action from the ring to the backstage area, almost seamlessly, for the first time ever. In addition to a larger field on which to play, WCW Mayhem introduced a passcode system which—upon proper completion—allowed players to play the recent and/or upcoming pay per view matches.
Cons: Mayhem was a decent enough standalone game, but when compared to previous WCW titles, couldn’t stack up. The game play was overly complicated, and the animated power moves made for a glitchy experience that I’m not keen to relive.

9. WWE Wrestlemania 21
Released: April 20, 2005
Metacritic Rating: 56/100 (X-Box)
Pros: The WWE released a Wrestlemania title every year from 2002’s Wrestlemania X8 to this specific title released in 2005. This was the final WWE game released on the original X-Box and was a direct follow up to Raw 2.
Cons: The Wrestlemania games were never very good, and existed at the same time as the PlayStation exclusive Smackdown series. The controls were easy enough to figure out, but glitches and inconsistencies made almost every match lose at least some of its luster.

8. WWE Crush Hour
Released: March 17, 2003
Metacritic Rating: 56/100 (PS2)
Pros: None
Cons: That it was ever made.

7. Legends of Wrestling: Showdown
Released: June 22, 2004
Metacritic Rating: 55/100 (PS2)
Pros: The Legends of Wrestling is without question the most successful third party wrestling game ever produced. Former WWE and NWA legends adorned the cover, and players were afforded the chance to play as wrestling greats such as Bret Hart, Hulk Hogan, and even the Ultimate Warrior.
Cons: While the overall series was a financial success, it created a divide between certain performers and larger companies like the WWE and TNA. This final installment was the worst of the trilogy, and contained impossible-to-master move sets.

6. WWF Betrayal
Released: August 7, 2001
Metacritic Rating: 50/100 (GBC)
Pros: WWF Betrayal was another wrestling game that lacked in—wrestling. Instead what we got was a side scrolling adventure wherein the player is searching for a recently kidnapped Stephanie McMahon.
Cons: The game was compared to Double Dragon and similar platform titles, but failed to live up to their replay value. Players could only play as four one of WWE Superstars—The Rock, Steve Austin, the Undertaker or Triple H.

5. WWE 2K15
Released: October 28, 2014
Metacritic Rating: 50/100 (X -Box 360)
Pros: The new generation of wrestling games are far more inviting to creative minds such as yours truly. Never before have fans been able to create, download and share their original works in such a fluid way. Not only is the creative suite revolutionary, but the roster of wrestlers is one of the strongest to ever be included in a standard WWE game.
Cons: This was the most recent game released by WWE, and is just another pothole along a path of promises that never come to fruition. The developers behind the 2K’ Series promised to fix simple errors from previous games, but didn’t. Not only did they not fix the problems plaguing 2K14, they further complicated things by including superfluous scenarios that nobody wants to play.

4. Backyard Wrestling 2: There Goes the Neighborhood
Released: November 16, 2004
Metacritic Rating: 46/100 (PS2)
Pros: There were a ton of otherwise unknown performers at the player’s disposal, including a roster comprised of The Insane Clown Posse, Vic Grimes, New Jack, and even a young Sonjay Dutt.
Cons: The creators of ‘Backyard Wrestling 2’ promised a revamped engine complete with a far more manageable way to play the game. Unfortunately there were no such changes and “Backyard Wrestling 2: There Goes the Neighborhood” was just as clumsy as the original.

3. ECW Anarchy Rulz
Released: August 8, 2000
Metacritic Rating: 43/100 (PS)
Pros: If you were a fan of WWF Warzone or Attitude, you’ll be pleased to know that this engine is exactly the same. The graphics were revolutionary for the turn of the century, despite not holding up in 2015. The game also introduced the mainstream audience to ECW Originals like Rob Van Dam, the Sandman, Rhino, and Tommy Dreamer.
Cons: If you were a fan of WWF Warzone or Attitude, you’ll be annoyed because this engine is exactly the same. The graphics were revolutionary for the turn of the century, but not so much in 2015. The game also introduced the mainstream audience to ECW wrestlers like Justin Credible, Dawn Marie, Little Guido and Tommy Dreamer.

2. WCW Superbrawl
Released: November 1994
Metacritic Rating: 42/100 (PS2)
Pros: This was an interesting game that worked in direct opposition to WWE’s Raw and Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game. Superbrawl featured a who’s who of WCW talent, and included real sound bites—an outstanding feat for 1994
Cons: The controls were confusing, but not nearly as confusing as the action on the TV screen. The graphics were below-par, even by mid-nineties standards, and the ring was situated on an angle so the player had a birds eye view throughout the course of the contest.

1. WCW Backstage Assault
Released: November 2003
Metacritic Rating: 40/100 (PS)
Pros: I had always dreamed about going backstage in a wrestling game, and using all of the necessary tools of the trade to defeat my opponent. So in that respect, this game improved upon the previous model presented by Mayhem.
Cons: Unlike WCW Mayhem, Backstage Assault only featured singles matches, which made it hard for more than 2 people to enjoy the game at once. Furthermore—there was no ring! All of the action took place BACKSTAGE. Hence the clever title.