AEW: Fight Forever

AEW: Fight Forever is a licensed professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke’s Co. Ltd. and published by THQ Nordic, featuring the stars of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in fast-paced, arcade-style matches across various platforms including Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Players engage in 3rd-person direct control wrestling action in iconic arenas, with extensive DLC packs adding new superstars, arenas, and content like Stadium Stampede expansions.

AEW: Fight Forever: Review

Introduction

In the squared circle of professional wrestling video games, where titans like WWE 2K loom large with their simulation-heavy spectacles, AEW: Fight Forever bursts through the ropes like a high-flying dive from Darby Allin—audacious, nostalgic, and unapologetically arcade-flavored. Released on June 29, 2023, by Yuke’s and published by THQ Nordic, this debut title for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) promised to resurrect the glory days of N64 classics like WWF No Mercy, directed by none other than Hideyuki “Geta” Iwashita, the man behind that timeless masterpiece. As a game historian, I’ve witnessed wrestling games evolve from pixelated brawlers to bloated behemoths, but Fight Forever dares to rewind the clock, prioritizing pick-up-and-play chaos over photorealistic polish. My thesis: While it nails the visceral thrill of retro wrestling, delivering a breath of fresh air amid WWE’s dominance, its budgetary scars—evident in sparse content, glitchy execution, and limited depth—prevent it from suplexing into all-time greatness, positioning it instead as a promising foundation for AEW’s digital dynasty.

Development History & Context

Yuke’s Co. Ltd., fresh off their WWE tenure ending with WWE 2K19 in 2018, jumped ship to AEW in a partnership announced at the November 10, 2020, AEW Games 1.0 event. Tony Khan, AEW’s CEO and wrestling visionary, invested an eight-figure sum into the games division, enlisting THQ Nordic as publisher and Kenny Omega—AEW Executive VP and self-proclaimed “AEW Games Head of Creative”—as the creative linchpin. Omega’s directive was clear: emulate the AKI engine magic of No Mercy and WCW/nWo Revenge, shunning WWE 2K’s sim-style for exaggerated, arcade antics with intergender matches (a nod to SmackDown vs. Raw 2009) and tandem moves.

Development spanned over two years amid turbulence. Announced prematurely in 2020, the project ballooned over budget—reports pegged costs exceeding $10 million by mid-2022—sparking tensions between Yuke’s and AEW brass. Features like full cross-platform play were scrapped (only cross-gen remained), rosters from NJPW were dreamed but ditched, and motion capture yielded to hand-animated moves for stylistic flair. Delays pushed release from a hoped-for 2022 to 2023, with Tony Khan prematurely declaring it “complete” post-Revolution PPV, only for THQ Nordic to clarify ongoing prep. Cover art drama ensued: Initial featuring CM Punk was reworked after his 2022 All Out brawl suspension, adding Sting, MJF, and others.

Launched into a landscape dominated by WWE 2K23‘s feature-stuffed simulation (Metacritic 78), Fight Forever targeted nostalgia amid wrestling’s “Wednesday Night Wars” echo. Multiplatform (PS4/5, Xbox One/Series, Switch, PC), it eyed AEW’s rising star power—over 50 launch wrestlers like Omega, Jericho, and unlockables like Owen Hart (via Owen Hart Foundation partnership)—but budget constraints echoed indie vibes, lacking a THQ/2K-style publisher’s oversight. Post-launch DLC (four Season Passes through 2024, adding FTR, Hook/Danhausen, Swerve Strickland, Adam Copeland) and freebies like Stadium Stampede mode mimicked No Man’s Sky-style iteration, betting on longevity over launch perfection.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

AEW: Fight Forever‘s storytelling orbits the “Road to Elite” career mode, a roguelite-infused odyssey through AEW’s 2019-2020 formative blocks (All Out, Full Gear, Revolution, Double or Nothing). Players embody a custom wrestler or roster star, navigating four-week cycles: three Dynamite weeks plus a PPV climax, across 16 branching storylines triggered by wins/losses and choices. It chronicles AEW’s genesis—males enter the Casino Battle Royale for World Title contention, females a Fatal 4-Way for Women’s gold—interweaving archival footage, video packages, and daily sims (gym training, promo battles, Dark/Rampage dark matches).

Thematically, it’s a love letter to AEW’s underdog ethos: rise from indies to “All Elite” via grit, alliances (tag with Omega, rival Bucks in mini-games), and absurdity. Dialogue sparkles with kayfabe humor—goofy cutscenes riff on wrestler personas (e.g., Orange Cassidy’s sloth-like vibes)—but falters in repetition and opacity. Branching feels illusory; paths converge predictably, and non-custom play wastes upgrades on preset stars. Female arcs are sparse (one dedicated storyline), underscoring roster imbalances. Voices like Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, and Justin Roberts lend authenticity, but sparse commentary (entrances/matches) exposes seams.

Characters shine via motion-captured essence: Moxley’s berserker rage, Shida’s precision strikes. Yet, the narrative’s Yakuza-esque daily loops—mini-games like “Shida’s Slugfest” or “Penta Says”—prioritize whimsy over epic saga, thematizing wrestling’s grind as chaotic fun. It’s no WWE 2K‘s Showcase, but its irreverent chronicle cements AEW lore, flaws notwithstanding.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

At its core, Fight Forever thrives on AKI homage: fluid 3rd-person brawling with strike chains (punches/kicks in threes), grapples (light/heavy for Irish whips/suplexes), Irish whips, dives, and momentum-fueled signatures/finishers (prompted via meter). Reversal windows demand precision (RB/LB for strikes/holds), but inconsistent timing frustrates. UI is clean—direct control, radial menus for moves—but lacks tutorials for advanced tech (e.g., dive prerequisites via skills).

Loops revolve around Exhibition (singles/tags/3-4 ways/ladders/Exploding Barbed Wire/Casino Royale/Falls Count Anywhere/Lights Out), Road to Elite (upgrades persist: stats, movesets), and multiplayer (local/online co-op, tag sequences via simple inputs). Mini-games (15 base + DLC: quizzes, memory, spot-the-difference) add variety, unlockable via shop currency from challenges. Creation suite crafts wrestlers/entrances/teams/arenas (pyro/VFX customizable), but it’s barebones—no community sharing, limited parts—hindering depth.

Innovations dazzle: 40+ weapons (kendo sticks to exploding barbed wire), tandem tags, intergender viability. Flaws abound—AI cheesing pins, hit detection glitches, roguelite resets in Road to Elite erode progress. Switch/PS4 suffer 30fps/frame drops/crashes; PC/Xbox shine at 60fps. DLC expands (Beat the Elite arcade, Stadium Stampede Fortnite-esque battle royale), but launch’s mode paucity (no trios!) feels midcard.

Core Systems Breakdown	Strengths	Weaknesses
Combat Loop	Visceral grapples, momentum pacing	Reversal inconsistency, AI exploits
Progression	Persistent upgrades, shop unlocks	Roguelite resets, limited replay incentives
Multiplayer	Seamless tags, online chaos	Matchmaking woes, no cross-play
Modes	Wild gimmicks (e.g., Barbed Wire)	No trios/cage at launch, short career

World-Building, Art & Sound

AEW’s bombastic universe pulses through stylized arenas (Dynamite sets, beachside DLC), evoking N64 exaggeration over WWE gloss. Visuals: Hand-animated models yield action-figure charm—Jade Cargill towers imposingly, Cassidy oozes nonchalance—but dated textures/cloth physics (Andrade’s wonky face) and low-poly crowds betray budget. Switch port tanks hardest (crashes, pops); higher-end platforms pop with vibrant pyro/entrances.

Atmosphere thrives on chaos: Bloodless violence (ESRB dodge?), weapon sprees, absurd mini-games build whimsy. Sound design elevates—Jim Ross’s “BAH GAWD,” Schiavone’s heart, Mikey Rukus’s god-tier tracks (Dynamite themes)—but repetitive loops grate. Entrances hype via custom VFX, yet lack full commentary. Collectively, it crafts a gritty, funhouse mirror of AEW’s edgier vibe, prioritizing feel over fidelity.

Reception & Legacy

Critics averaged 65% (MobyGames), “mixed” on Metacritic (PC 68, PS5 64, Switch 57), with OpenCritic at 37% recommended. Highs: CGMagazine (90%) hailed “triumphant return to simple gameplay”; COGConnected (86%) crowned it “best since No Mercy.” Lows: IGN/GameSpot (6/10) decried “unrealized potential,” bugs/UI opacity; Push Square (5/10) slammed budget feel at $60. Players: 3.2/5 (sparse). UK #3 debut sales bode well commercially, but longevity hinges on DLC (e.g., Season 4’s Copeland/Joe).

Reputation evolved via patches/DLC: Stadium Stampede (30-player Fortnite-wrestling hybrid) and passes added 20+ wrestlers/modes, softening blows. Influence: Challenges WWE monopoly, proving arcade viable; Yuke’s indie pivot inspires. Yet, overbudget woes/scrapped features (cross-play, fuller rosters) tarnish as cautionary tale. Tony Khan teases sequels/Fight Forever 2, eyeing new devs.

Conclusion

AEW: Fight Forever suplexes nostalgia into 2023’s wrestling ring, its AKI-inspired combat and whimsical Road to Elite capturing AEW’s rebellious spark amid Yuke’s handcrafted charm. Yet, budgetary ghosts—meager creation, glitchy ports, content droughts—pin it midcard against WWE 2K’s main event. As a debut, it’s a solid base (fun locals, DLC evolution), but demands iteration to elite status. Verdict: 7/10—worthy N64 successor for arcade purists and AEW diehards, but history will judge it a scrappy challenger, not champion. Fight on, indeed.