AEW: Fight Forever review: a worthy heir for golden-age wrestling games

Ask most wrestling fans, and they’ll mention the late ’90s and early 2000s as the best era, both for the in-ring product and the collection of video games that were released for Nintendo 64 and PlayStation. Games like WWF No Mercy, WCW/nWo RetributionThe early SmackDown! The series was easy to understand but hard to master. All Elite Wrestling wants to bring back that nostalgia and ease of use from almost 25 years ago. Fight Forever — and it comes pretty damn close.

Mechanically, Fight Forever is rooted in the golden era of wrestling video games, largely because AEW tapped developer Yuke’s, which made said games. The game allows beginners to button-mash and win, while also learning a variety of showy and impressive moves by varying the length and timing at which they press these buttons. AEW manager William Regal guides you through a series of tutorials to demonstrate how the game’s simple fundamentals can appeal to casual fans looking for a nostalgia rush, while the high skill ceiling holds unlocked potential for hardcore wrestling aficionados. As I spam taunts, I’m brought back to those years spent gripping my N64 controller. As I leap from the corner of the ring, I’m reminded of the days spent playing WWF No Mercy.

Stylistically, Fight Forever It also looks backwards, with its exaggerated, cartoonish style, in contrast to the hyperrealism that is found in WWE 2K. Some wrestlers’ faces do seem off or inaccurate on the character select screen, but look notably better in the ring. Each AEW wrestler has a distinct set of taunts and sound effects, along with unique move sets that encourage you to experiment — the better to discover every grapple and strike. Modern wrestling games can pack so many maneuvers that the characters’ identities become diluted. Because of this complexity, I haven’t felt as compelled to sift through their individual cartography, so to speak. But Fight Forever’s combination of simplicity and depth already has me hooked.

Image: Yuke’s/THQ Nordic

In Road to Elite, perhaps the most arcade-leaning mode on offer, you pick a wrestler and carry out an entire year’s worth of storylines. Every week you visit a new location to try to boost your stats while maintaining your energy. To do so, you can try the local cuisine or work out in the gym. You can also hold press conferences near famous landmarks such as the U.S. Capitol and Liberty Bell. Most of these actions require that you talk with NPCs. However, you can play minigames to increase your stats. Neglecting this regimen can lead to losses, burnout because you didn’t refill your energy through eating, or even injuries. You can take selfies along the way with the wrestlers that you meet on your journey. It doesn’t matter if you are playing as a wrestler who is just starting out or one that has been created.

AEW’s famous storylines can often be recreated in four separate pay-perview events. The real-world highlights from the event are usually shown after the completion of a story. This helps to explain the history for those who don’t know.

While this may seem like an easy journey for the pro wrestler, there are NPCs involved. Fight Forever They have eccentric personalities, and sometimes their answers border on absurdity. With a wrestler, you discuss art and the effects of gentrification. Sting can be found chilling at Venice Beach. In Los Angeles, a waitress tells you firmly that avocado toast deserves to be eaten. There’s a ton of self-deprecation and breaking of the fourth wall. The segments can be repetitive but it helps prevent burnout from playing 20 games without a rest.

Image: Yuke’s/THQ Nordic

Through it all, Yuke’s consistently demonstrates a fervid appreciation for the medium. When you try to pinfall, but do not get a 3-count it will display a 2.99 count. This phrase has become common in the world of wrestling. After creating a custom wrestler, you are greeted with a graphic that reads “[Your player] is all elite,” in keeping with how new AEW wrestlers are introduced in real life. There’s a gym in Austin, Texas, named Fang McFitness, a reference to Fang McFrost, one of the rejected names pitched before a certain wrestler decided on Stone Cold Steve Austin. There are too many of these little bits spread throughout the game to list here, but it’s worth playing dozens of matches just to uncover more.

Fight Forever It is not free of rough edges, which can seem like inexplicable and glaring omissions. Perhaps because it’s been in development since 2020, the initial roster is relatively small, considering how much the company has grown in just three years. AEW signed dozens of wrestlers and Tony Khan, the owner, even purchased Ring of Honor from its former rival, which is now a sister promotion of AEW. Even so, wrestlers like CM Punk who were signed in the middle, but made their debut in development, do appear in game. Other wrestlers like Evil Uno and Alex Reynolds who are with the company longer like Sonny Kiss or Alex Reynolds also don’t. The omissions could be remedied with unlockables and future DLC — AEW has already announced a season pass featuring six more wrestlers. Their absence is a bummer right now.

Image: Yuke’s/THQ Nordic

In general, different parts of Fight Forever feel a bit rushed. Most notably, the game features the first version of the AEW Women’s Championship, which has seen two new iterations since 2021. The lack of updates to the assets could be due to deadlines that were too tight, or they may have just missed opportunities for maximizing profits at launch. When loading, there are screens that highlight wrestlers who have a quote. However, the quotes usually come from old matches. You also won’t find most of AEW’s licensed theme songs in the game.

The core of the organization is its people. Fight ForeverThis is a tribute to the classic pro wrestling games of that golden era. It is not perfect, and on the content side, it’s slightly dated — but most of my complaints wash away every time I pick up the controller and start a new match. The nostalgia and finesse of those old glory years emanates from so many angles that it’s hard to nitpick the places that fall short. Fight ForeverIt is both a tribute to the past and an indication of what lies ahead.

AEW Fight Forever The game was released June 29, 2018 on Nintendo Switch as well as PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Windows PC. Xbox One and Xbox Series X were also available. THQ Nordic provided a code for a prerelease Xbox download. Vox Media is affiliated with other companies. Vox Media earns commissions from affiliate products, although this doesn’t influence the editorial content. This is where you can find additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.