WWE games have had a mixed history. These days a new WWE game is usually met with complaints about bugs and missing features. However, there was a time when the release of the wrestling company's yearly installment was a cause for celebration.
One of the most eventful periods for the series was during the PlayStation 2 era. Those years saw the end of the SmackDown! franchise, a larger commitment being made to realism, and the debut then eventual disappearance of the popular GM mode.
Some of the WWE games released on the PS2 rank among the best wrestling games ever made, whereas others are best forgotten. They were all remembered for this list though, as we've ranked them from worst to best.
12 WWE Crush Hour
Putting wrestlers into a game where they can't wrestle is silly, yet that didn't stop THQ releasing WWE Crush Hour in 2003. It was a vehicular combat game similar to Twisted Metal except with a WWE facelift (and less enjoyable).
To call the game outright terrible would be unfair as the gameplay was okay, it just seemed a waste of the WWE license, as while playing, the logos on the cars, and the occasional superstar's face popping up in the corner were the only reminders that WWE was even involved in the project.
11 WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2008
After some strong installments, the SmackDown Vs. Raw series took a step back with this title.
The beloved GM mode (rebranded as WWE 24/7 mode) was the biggest victim, as previously you'd ran Raw and/or SmackDown and competed against the other, but this title also included ECW, and they weren't enough wrestlers to properly fill all three shows. Other disappointments included the addition of a new fighting style system that did more harm than good and a dull story mode with few memorable moments to speak of.
10 WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It
As this game came out before the company changed its name, it's technically a WWF game, not a WWE one, but it still counts.
Being the first WWF/E game on the PS2 made Just Bring It an important title in the series. Its presentation was a huge leap forward for the franchise due to its beautiful (at the time) looking character models and arenas, plus it was the first SmackDown game to include commentary and full entrances. However, the gameplay still wasn't very good, nor was the uncompelling story mode. Overall, the game was a bit of a mixed bag.
9 WWE SmackDown! Vs. Raw
The first SmackDown Vs. Raw game had the impossible task of having to follow the beloved Here Comes The Pain. While it didn't live up to its predecessor, it was still a solid game.
The inclusion of some more realistic looking animations meant matches started to look a little more like what you'd see on WWE TV while still being exciting. Additionally, a new clean and dirty (babyface and heel) system added an interesting element to matches without getting in the way. Enjoyable gameplay enhanced an okay story mode and the underrated challenge mode (in which you played preset matches that varied in difficulty).
8 WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2011
This decent (at best) game was the last in the SmackDown Vs. Raw era. Its claim to fame was the introduction of the excellent Universe mode, where you got to play and control your own version of WWE. While fun in this first iteration, the mode was still in its infancy here and would be improved upon in later installments.
Likewise, the title's Road To Wrestlemania wasn't the best version of the story mode as the addition of an unnecessary open-world brought with it poor lip-syncing and numerous needless brawls. Although, neither mode was awful, and combined with some solid gameplay made for an overall okay wrestling game.
7 WWE All Stars
All Stars from 2011 was the last WWE game to also be released on the PS2 (WWE games in that period were usually released on both the PS2 and the PS3).
The arcadey gameplay was a blast and a nice change of pace to the more realistic style the SmackDown Vs. Raw series was known for. However, the game lacked depth, as it didn't take long to play through the Path of Champions story mode and the entire collection of dream matches featured in the Fantasy Warfare mode. Add to that the limited amount of match types, and you get a fun title that unfortunately lacked replayability.
6 WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2009
After the sub-par SVR 2008, SmackDown Vs. Raw 2009 was a step back in the right direction. It abolished the fighting style system that dragged its predecessor down, which made the game more exciting to play.
Although the title's best remembered for the debut of the Road To Wrestlemania mode, which gave players six completely original stories to play through. Tailoring them to specific superstars allowed the protagonists to show more personality, instead of having generic dialogue that fit everyone in the game.
5 WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2010
SmackDown Vs. Raw 2010 did what you expect of a yearly title, keep what worked before and build on it. It took SVR 09's strong gameplay and added some tweaks, including smoother animations, a better pin system, and the removal of the usual hud to give everything a cleaner look.
As for modes, Road To WrestleMania returned, and it was just as good as SVR 09's edition. Plus, the fantastic Story Designer was introduced, which as the name of it suggests, allowed you to create your own stories, and they give you an abundance of options to create some great stuff.
4 WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth
Shut Your Mouth doesn't get the credit it deserves for laying the groundwork for Here Comes The Pain as they're fundamentally similar games.
One of the best things this title did was make the gameplay a great deal more enjoyable than it was in previous games by including smoother animations and more varied move-sets. The lengthy season mode was another highlight, as it was filled with memorable moments (like an NWO invasion), while the addition of alternate paths and a substantial amount of unlockables gave the mode a lot of replayability.
3 WWE SmackDown! Vs. Raw 2006
SmackDown! Vs. Raw 2006 will always be remembered as the title that introduced GM mode to the series. It placed you in control of a brand of your choice, and you were tasked with putting on the best show possible to beat the other show in ratings and eventually win the GM of the year award. The whole mode was a joy to play.
As great as GM mode is, this game wouldn't be this high up on this list for one mode alone, as the game was also a delight to play, whether you were going through the compelling season mode or just playing exhibition matches.
2 WWE SmackDown! Vs. Raw 2007
SmackDown! Vs. Raw 2007 built on what the previous installment did to make a truly fantastic wrestling game.
GM mode returned with some key additions like hiring writers and be able to build up superstars' popularity on Heat or Velocity. Gameplay was also improved due to the inclusion of the ultimate control system that allowed you to carry around your opponent and smash them into anything nearby. To top it all off, the game featured one of the best season modes the series has ever had, which was filled with some crazy and interesting moments.
1 WWE SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain
While it's a predictable number one, Here Comes The Pain has earned this spot through its timelessly fun gameplay, that no wrestling game has matched since.
It was so amazing because of how diverse the wrestlers' move-sets were, whether they were big stars like Brock Lesnar and Goldberg or even people lower down on the card like Hurricane and Goldust, they all had different moves. You expect that variety with signatures and finishers, but in HCTP, almost everything they did was unique. That's just one reason why the game was great, its litany of unlockables, and outstanding season mode also helped the game become as beloved as it is.