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The most iconic WWE games ever released

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For some WWE fans, when they aren’t following the latest news and watching weekly Raw installments, playing wrestling-themed video games is tempting. For instance, these days, WWE 2K26 is a title many diehard WWE fanatics can’t ignore. However, there is a strong argument to suggest that the good old days of wrestling games were far better, with many gamers still pining for some of the most iconic wrestling titles of all time. 

Enabling fans to play along as their favorite wrestling heroes and live out their sports entertainment fantasies through some seriously entertaining battles in the squared circle, we’ve been exposed to some exceptional products in this area. While games from other categories are also in demand, be it DraftKings Blackjack and other casino online games, plus hugely popular titles like Minecraft, we’re even seeing the re-emergence of classic WWE games, with some titles being modded and others still being playable on PC. 

On the whole, though, many WWE games fans adore have been consigned to the history books and are no longer accessible. So, with that in mind, below we briefly highlight some of the most iconic WWE games ever released. 

No Mercy

A much-loved N64 game that many members of the wrestling community explored in great detail, No Mercy was almost perfect. While it did have some issues, it’s a title that wrestling gamers adored on the whole, particularly when looking at the game’s career mode. A highly engaging part of the title, No Mercy was a seriously fun wrestling game that set the standard for many similar products that followed it. 

SmackDown 2 - Know Your Role

Smackdown 2 - Know Your Role is a classic game from this epic genre of gaming. While it probably wouldn’t stand up against some of today’s more sophisticated products, Smackdown 2 - Know Your Role was an undeniable masterpiece at the time of its release. The game's Ladder Match stipulation was a blast, while it also boasted a fantastic career mode that players couldn’t get enough of. For many diehard wrestling fans out there, SmackDown 2 - Know Your Role is a game they still reminisce about. 

WWE SmackDown! Vs. Raw

A title many wrestling enthusiasts will remember well, WWE SmackDown! Vs. Raw released in 2007 and received plenty of glowing reviews. Playable on the Xbox 360, it was perfect to play on joysticks and represented a clear evolution for the wrestling gaming genre, as players could finally enjoy a 7th-generation console’s power. A highly realistic product with Triple H on the front cover, WWE SmackDown! Vs. Raw was brilliant. 

SmackDown - Here Comes The Pain

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A PS2 masterpiece that garnered plenty of interest, Smackdown - Here Comes The Pain was a joy to session. Although many PlayStation games that came before it had bugs and a variety of other issues, Smackdown - Here Comes The Pain was faultless. A refreshing game to tuck into at the time, it was extensively detailed, as players could customize outfits, make the most of backstage brawls, and sample a title that offered an accurate depiction of wrestling. Overall, when assessing some of the most pleasurable wrestling games we’ve ever seen, Smackdown - Here Comes The Pain simply has to be right up there with the very best of them. 

WrestleMania 2000

WrestleMania 2000 is a release we simply couldn’t leave off the list. For many readers, we might’ve even saved the best wrestling game till last. In 1999, WrestleMania 2000 was being played in households around the world. From its detailed customization tools to the game’s massive database of move sets, WrestleMania 2000 was a delight. 

 

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