The 10 Best WWE Games (Ranked)

What are the best WWE games?

There is no shortage of wrestling games to choose from, but not all of them have been massive hits with fans.

In fact, WWE games seem to be waning in popularity in recent years, which is a shame, because there are some real gems in the series.

Today, we’re rounding up the WWE games that have stood out from the rest to become heavyweights of the video game world.

The 10 Best WWE Games

To create this list, we’ve considered the content, popularity, and sales data of each title.

This has allowed us to determine which games in the series are the most worth playing over all the rest!

So, get ready to jump in the ring with our list of the 10 best WWE games:

10. WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2010

Kicking off our list, we have WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010, the eleventh installment in the series.

One of the best PS2 games ever created, this game adds several new features focused on customization, which are certainly a bonus.

Among these was the Story Designer, which allows players to create their own storylines, and Create-a-Finisher mode, for creating custom finishing moves.

However, Story Designer was the most well-received addition, as it provides over 100 animations for fans to play around with.

Subtitles can be customized using the controller or a keyboard, so you can literally write any story you want.

Custom-made wrestlers have also gotten an overhaul, and each can have up to three alternate costumes to wear.

Best of all, this was only the tip of the iceberg in terms of updates, with others altering match gameplay, abilities, and the HUD.

While versions released for the iOS, Wii, and DS weren’t as well received as others, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 was an overall success.

9. WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008

Coming up next is WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008, which came to the PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP, and DS in 2007.

The ninth in the overall series, this game gives each wrestler two fighting style categories, each with advantages and disadvantages.

A new submission system was also added, which allows players to decide how much pressure is applied during submissions.

There are several different modes to choose from in this game, including a General Manager mode, which allows players to control a brand.

In this mode, you will have to draft a roster and work to make it as popular as possible while also scheduling events and managing staffing.

Additionally, players can either choose a wrestler from the game’s roster of superstars or create a custom character.

The fighting style system is also noteworthy as it boasts eight different styles to choose from, including Brawler, Dirty, Showman, and Powerhouse.

This system wouldn’t appear in another WWE until WWE 2K18, which is a shame because it is certainly one of the best additions to the game!

While reviewers upon release were mixed, in total, this game sold over 6 million units across all of its platforms.

8. WWE Smackdown: Shut Your Mouth

Released in 2002, Shut Your Mouth is the fourth game in the WWE Smackdown series and the first to have the WWE title instead of the WWF.

In this game, the season mode was made longer, now covering two in-game years, and players would be drafted to either RAW or Smackdown.

However, if the player character had a rating lower than 60, they would have to start out on Saturday Night HEAT instead.

This is also the first game to feature superstars from both RAW and Smackdown and features the first appearances of Brock Lesnar and Billy Kidman.

Shut Your Mouth was very well received by fans and critics, selling over a million units by 2006 in the US alone.

While its gameplay updates are a big reason for its popularity, the graphics were another, with each superstar model boasting realistic facial features.

Although it leagues behind the most graphically demanding PC games released today, in 2002, it was extremely impressive!

Despite only being released on the PS2, this game did extremely well, and it remains one of the best wrestling games ever made.

7. WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2006

Debuting on the PS2 and PSP, Smackdown vs. Raw 2006 was the first to come to the PSP and the last to be a PlayStation exclusive.

The main focus of this game was to bring as much realism as possible to the players, which gave way to modes like Fulfill Your Fantasy and Buried Alive.

Wanting to feel less like an arcade game, Smackdown vs. Raw 2006 has overhauled a lot of its gameplay mechanics.

Some of the most important updates affect grappling, graphics, and match types, which include Buried Alive matches, something fans have long waited for.

Season mode makes a return, with the main objective being to win the series’ two biggest championships, the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship.

This game also has a ton of create modes, including Create-a-Belt, Create-a-Superstar, Create-a-Move-Set, and Create-a-Stable.

A new Create-an-Entrance mode was also added, allowing players to customize how their wrestlers enter the ring.

This includes customizable arena lights, camera angles, and even pyrotechnics, so you can enter with a literal bang.

Easily one of the best wrestling games in the WWE series, Smackdown vs. Raw 2006 really went above and beyond where it counts.

6. WWE Supercard

Now, WWE Supercard is a bit different as it’s a digital collectible card game, but hear us out; it is fantastic.

Unlike other games that only stay popular for about a year before the next installment comes out, this one managed to stand the test of time.

Released in 2014, WWE Supercard has remained consistently popular with several updates that are still coming out today.

Currently, Supercard is celebrating its 9th season, and it boasts several game modes you can explore.

These include Wild, King of the Ring, Ring Domination, Team Battleground, Royal Rumble, and Money in the Back, along with many more.

Playing this game is simple. The goal is to collect cards of WWE superstars and use them in the various game modes.

For example, in Wild Mode, players have to set up a group of four male and two female stars, along with two supporting cars.

Players can then choose an opponent and kick things off, with each game usually lasting three matches.

So far, WWE Supercard has been downloaded over 26 million times, making it easily one of the most popular games in the franchise.

5. WWE 2K19

WWE 2K19 came to the PS4 and Xbox One in 2018, and it is the twentieth game in the WWE series.

Unlike Smackdown vs. Raw 2006, which strived for realism, 2K19 strived to move away from being a wrestling simulator.

Instead, it was designed to be faster-paced and more fluid, as the slower-paced simulation had begun turning off fans.

This change of pace worked out perfectly, as did the new game modes, including the two new Tower modes.

In MyPlayer Tower Mode, players can take part in daily, weekly, and pay-per-view challenges, both online and off.

Similarly, in Gauntlet Tower mode, players have to complete the entire tower in one session, and losing or quitting resets the entire challenge.

Likewise, the MyCareer mode has been overhauled to focus more on a central story revolving around players starting out as an aspiring wrestler.

In this mode, players have to work their way through the ranks to Wrestlemania 34, where they can become the ultimate champion.

Along with being one of the best PS4 games, online support for this game was extended until March 2022 following the failure of 2K20.

4. WWE 2K22

After 2K20 proved to be an absolute trainwreck, the WWE series took a hiatus, skipping 2K21 and heading straight to 2K22.

The twenty-second game in the series, this was the first game to be released on next-gen consoles.

In this game, MyCareer was overhauled into MyRISE, focusing on different storylines for male and female wrestlers.

With created characters, players can form alliances with other wrestlers, make rivals, and explore the many subplots that branch out based on choices.

Universe mode also made a comeback with several improvements, including the ability to play as a single wrestler and change camera angles while spectating.

Similarly, Showcase mode has been updated, allowing players to now unlock new outfits, arenas, and superstars.

Players can also use a new mode called MyFACTION to build their own wrestling stable, collecting, upgrading, and managing their superstars.

All of these new additions and updates were highly praised upon release, and digital sales of this game ended up being 390% higher than those of WWE 2K20.

A fantastic followup to a previous failure, WWE 2K22 did a lot right and, as such, earned its place as one of the best wrestling games of all time.

3. WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2007

Heading back in time, we have WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2007, a PS2, PSP, and Xbox 360 game that exceeded all expectations.

Not only does this game have a new control system, but it excelled when it came to realistic fighting mechanics.

This includes a new grappling system that allows players to throw their opponents anywhere they want.

Smackdown vs. Raw 2007 is also much more dynamic, incorporating the ability to fight inside the stands.

Along with this, the Create-an-Entrance mode was improved to include a new preview mode and the ability to set the timing for different effects.

The Create-a-Stable mode was also added, allowing players to put together tag teams and alliances of up to five superstars.

Easily one of the best Xbox 360 games, Smackdown vs. Raw 2007 was highly praised for all the changes it made, both by fans and critics.

This game certainly puts its best foot forward, and it definitely stands out as one of the best WWE games ever made.

2. WWE SmackDown 2: Know Your Role

Know Your Role debuted in 2000 for the original PlayStation, and it was the second in the Smackdown series.

Building upon its predecessor’s gameplay, Know Your Role modified its Season mode to include more storylines and more matches.

Different wrestlers, moves, and arenas are now unlocked by making progress in the game, and up to four players can take part in a season via multiplayer.

This game also marked the debut of the Create-a-Superstar mode, which gives players to customize their characters with greater detail.

Prior to this, players had to make do with mix-and-match templates that were extremely limited.

Along with this, Create-a-Move-Set, Create-a-Taunt, and Create-a-Stable also made their first appearances.

Upon its release, Know Your Role received universal acclaim, even receiving a 90 out of 100 from Metacritic.

To date, Metacritic has never given a higher score to any other game in the WWE series!

Know Your Place is simply exceptional, and it stands out as one of the best PS1 games of all time, thanks to its innovations.

1. WWE Smackdown! Here Comes The Pain

Taking our number one spot is WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain, the fifth game in the series.

This game includes a more advanced grappling system that doesn’t compromise the fast-paced gameplay.

It also boasted new body damage and submission meters, along with character attributes such as endurance, speed, and strength.

Here Comes the Pain even expanded its roster to include over 50 superstars, all of whom were active at the time of this game’s release.

It also marks the first time that Batista, Rey Mysterio, and John Cena would appear as playable characters.

Other updates were made to season mode, allowing players to ask for brand switches and title shots.

Along with this, WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain greatly improved its graphics, character creation suite, and career mode.

At the time of its release, it was even called one of the best games in the wrestling genre, something that remains true today.

Overall, this game manages to merge realism and arcade-style fighting without feeling hokey or slowed down.

We know we’re still firing this game up on some of the best PS2 emulators because, despite its age, it’s an incredible game!

Summary

We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of the 10 best WWE games as much as we’ve enjoyed playing through all of them!

While the wrestling genre of games may be fairly niche, they definitely deserve more attention than they often get.

These titles, in particular, demonstrate just how incredibly fun the WWE series can be, and we highly recommend giving them a try!

Here’s a quick recap of the 10 best WWE games:

1. WWE Smackdown! Here Comes The Pain
2. WWE SmackDown 2: Know Your Role
3. WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2007
4. WWE 2K22
5. WWE 2K19
6. WWE Supercard
7. WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2006
8. WWE Smackdown: Shut Your Mouth
9. WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008
10. WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010

Which WWE game is your favorite? Leave a comment below.