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This week marks the twentieth anniversary of WWE No Mercy for the N64. Due to its accessible and fun gameplay, No Mercy is widely regarded as the best wrestling game of all time.
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Since the day of arcades, wrestling games have been a massive part of the wrestling fan culture. One would spend many hours queuing at the local video shop with a handful of coins eagerly waiting to get to play the classic WrestleFest.
As arcade games became video games, fans were able to play from the comfort of their sofas. As the consoles got better so did the games and soon fans were able to immerse themselves in some of the best ones ever made anytime they wished.
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In this article, we will look at five of the best wrestling games of all time.
Honourable mentions;
WrestleFest - The best wrestling arcade game ever and eater of many a coin.
WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game - A crazy and chaotic mix of wrestling and loony toons style violence.
WWE 2K 13 & 14 - Easily the best and most playable versions of the now flawed 2K franchise.
#5 WCW/nWo Revenge is a classic wrestling game for the N64
WCW/nWo Revenge was a mind-blowing wrestling game experience at the time. It was a welcome call back to the arcade games of the past and a far better version of the WCW vs nWo: World Tour game from the year prior.
In 1997/1998 WCW was the biggest wrestling company in the world and this game proved it. The roster alone shows WCW at the peak of its powers. Legends such as Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan and Sting were available with the likes of Diamond Dallas Page, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Jericho, and Rey Mysterio Jr.
The graphics were chunky and cuboid-like but aesthetically pleasing. The WCW sets such as Halloween Havoc, Bash at the Beach and Uncensored were bright and fun. The faces of the wrestlers cartoonish and gave the game a comic-book-come-to-life vibe.
The gameplay was a simple and easy pickup. Within seconds one could kick, punch and grapple and would be executing dropkicks, suplexes and working their way up to the signature finisher of their favorite wrestler.
WCW/nWo: Revenge was the last wrestling game developed by THQ for WCW
The game was such a huge hit that WWE would strike up a ten-year partnership with the game's developers, THQ the following year.
WCW/nWo: Revenge may be very dated now as the game possessed few options, modes, and special matches but it will always be remembered as WCW's best ever wrestling game.
#4 Fire Pro Wrestling World for the PS4 is one of the best wrestling games ever made
Fire Pro Wrestling World is a beautiful throwback to the retro wrestling games of its past but with an updated roster, amazing create a wrestler and gameplay engine.
The Fire Pro Wrestling franchise dates all the way back to 1989, and although the previous games are still well-loved and remembered, the latest version is the best.
Fire Pro Wrestling World is a stand out wrestling game
Although not as mainstream as the rest of the games on the list it is a high-respected wrestling game that boasts a unique gameplay style that one must master to play properly. The game's control system adds further challenge and gratification to an already satisfying game.
The 2D graphics make it stand out from today's other wrestling games and old school visuals are fun and nostalgic.
The game features an array of matches rarely seen in wrestling games these days. Stipulations such as death matches and barbed wire rope matches just add to the fun and entertainment from this awesome game.
The roster is more than impressive, featuring New Japan Pro Wrestling and Stardom wrestlers such as Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, and Mayu Iwatani is just another plus for this brilliant and expert game.
Fire Pro Wrestling World is a brilliant, challenging, and immensely immersive wrestling game and one every wrestling fan should own and play all of the time.
#3 SmackDown: Here Comes The Pain for PS2 was the best for that console
WWE Smackdown: Here Comes the Pain was the best wrestling game available on the Sony Playstation 2. Released in 2003, Here Comes the Pain featured Brock Lesnar on the cover, who was the biggest thing in the business.
The game had a brilliant mix of its N64 predecessors and the state-of-the-art technology of the time. The visuals were smoother and friendlier and the gameplay features were a lot easier than the other games in the SmackDown series that came before it, which instantly made for a better wrestling game. The grappling system was improved with fast and fluid movements, while the body damage icon and submission meter was another nice touch.
SmackDown: Here Comes the Pain is regarded as the best wrestling game in the franchise
It featured an updated and stacked roster of 70 WWE Superstars and legends. The game also boasted of awesome in-game features. Not only could players take the fights to the streets of New York City but they could also dive from helicopters and launch their opponents off buildings.
All of these improvements to an already thriving franchise made SmackDown: Here Comes the Pain, the best and therefore most favored edition of the SmackDown wrestling game series.
#2 WWE WrestleMania 2000 for N64 is one of the best wrestling games of all time
WWE WrestleMania 2000 was released in October of 1999 for the N64 and was the first wrestling game produced by THQ and it was an absolute cracker.
Much like the aforementioned WCW/NWO Revenge game, it was an easy and fun game to play and master. It was more up-to-date and boasted a lot more features than its earlier WCW counterpart and really brought the WWE experience right into the hands of the player.
WrestleMania 2000 was the first THQ wrestling game for WWE
The wrestlers were more recognizable but still kept that fun and cartoonish vibe to them. The action was smoother and had way more moves to use on your opponent. There were cage matches, weapons, and a huge WWE roster to choose from. Players could now drop the People's Elbow with The Rock or hit the Stunner with Stone Cold Steve Austin.
The 'Road to WrestleMania' career storyline mode was one of the best made. Going from a rookie to headlining WrestleMania 2000 was an enthralling and challenging experience.
The create a wrestler was fantastic. Every fan was able to create their favorite non-WWE wrestlers or even make themselves.
WWE WrestleMania 2000 still is an excellent wrestling game that any fan would be proud to have in their collection. It boasts a fun and accessible gameplay that all of the N64 wrestling games were known for.
#1 WWE No Mercy for the N64 is the best wrestling game of all time
WWE No Mercy for the N64 is undoubtedly the best wrestling game ever made. The game is so good that despite its age and retro status it is still played, loved, and applauded after all these years.
Since its release in 2000, there have been thirty-five other major WWE wrestling games provided across all of the mainstream platforms. Yet, there is something about WWE No Mercy that continually raises it above its more recent counterparts in the minds of the fans.
No doubt there are fond memories and nostalgia attached to those who played it in the past, but if one blows the dust from the cartridge and slots it into the N64 console, it would be hard to find anyone who would not enjoy playing today.
WWE No Mercy has stood the test of time
There are several reasons why No Mercy has stood the test of time. Firstly, it is easily accessible. One can pick up the control pad and with a few clicks of the buttons, the players would be dropping elbows and throwing hands with the best of the lot.
Secondly, there was a wide variety of matches and stipulations from which to choose. Royal Rumbles, Ladder matches, and bar room brawls were all available to test your wrestling game abilities.
The third point was that No Mercy was fun. The simple gameplay and career mode storyline in which your chosen wrestler would go from rookie to champion with all of the twists and turns along the way made the game an overall brilliant experience.
Finally, No Mercy had a state-of-the-art create a wrestler option. Wrestling fans could now create their favorite, WCW or ECW wrestlers to go against the Rock, Steve Austin, or Triple H.
WWE No Mercy is such a fondly loved and well-remembered game that AEW is using it as the blueprint for their new and upcoming wrestling game. AEW has even hired the services of No Mercy director Hideyuki “Geta” Iwashita to assist with their debut game.
WWE has never come close to replicating the fun and playability of No Mercy and until they or AEW do, then WWE No Mercy on the N64 will forever be the best wrestling game of all time.
