Weirdest WWE Mobile Games

Key Takeaways

• WWE explored mobile gaming with odd copycat games like
  Superstar Slingshot
• Many WWE mobile games have unique premises but struggle for long-term success
• Some games like
  Racing Showdown
  have little to do with wrestling

As a company, the WWE (formerly WWF) has been known to ride the coattails of trends in order to make more money. One of the more lucrative markets to explore in recent decades has been mobile gaming and one of its most controversial aspects is microtransactions, which they have utilized many times.

In pursuit of profit, some of the mobile games with the WWE license have been utterly bizarre, seemingly having no fan demand or creative purpose. From copycats of app store favorites, to post-apocalyptic survival games and all the fun in between, the wrestling juggernaut has tried all sorts to follow the market and make a few bucks.

10 WWE Superstar Slingshot

Angry Wrestlers

• Platform: iOS
• Released: 2011-03-24
• Developer: Genera Interactive
• Genre: Puzzle

The Finnish puzzle game series Angry Birds is probably one of the most recognizable and popular franchises that started life as a mobile game. It seems only natural for other companies to cash in on that simple premise of catapulting something at something else, and many similar products have spawned over the years.

WWE Superstar Slingshot is certainly one of the strangest. Flinging one of ten fan favorite wrestlers at structures and other wrestlers, using the ring ropes to launch them, is very odd. Across 15 events and 135 matches, players launch their chosen grappler all the way to WrestleMania!

9 Apptivity WWE Rumblers

The Plastic Tussle

• Platform: iOS
• Released: 2012-07-05
• Developer: Big Bit
• Genre: Sports, professional wrestling

Toys-to-life figures have been very popular, especially Nintendo’s Amiibo, and it seemed only natural for WWE to test the waters, since they have had great success with action figures for decades. That’s where Apptivity WWE Rumblers steps in, bringing the small figures to life as on-screen avatars battling against one another.

The figure designs and art style in the game are an unusual creative choice, exaggerating certain features of the superstars. Sadly, the gameplay was not well executed and Apptivity WWE Rumblers could not stoke the fires of success they were hoping for, so it remains an oddity that would even make Golga jealous.

8 WWE WrestleFest

The Legend Returns

• Platform: iOS
• Released: 2012-02-21
• Developer: THQ
• Genre: Sports, professional wrestling

A remake of the classic 1991 arcade game WWF Wrestlefest, this entry had so much potential. They updated the roster to make it more contemporary while sprinkling in some returning legends from the original game, maintaining the fun gameplay of the original and even the slightly corny presentation.

The weirdness factor with WWE WrestleFest is that it was only ever released for Apple devices. Console releases were planned, but never materialized without explanation, and based on the nostalgia fans still have for the original game, this one would have been a smash-hit.

7 WWE Racing Showdown

Biker ‘Taker Returns

​​​​

• Platform: Android, iOS
• Released: 2020-12-11
• Developer: JetSynthesys
• Genre: Racing

In 2003, WWE had their first foray into engine revving action with WWE Crush Hour, a demolition derby game akin to Twisted Metal. Over a decade later they released WWE Racing Showdown, bringing the best wrestlers to high octane races on motorbikes.

Across multiple tracks inspired by big events and match types, and with myriad wrestlers to choose from, this is not just a standard racing game. Players are able to perform signature moves mid-race in order to slow down their opponents. Whether playing this game as a racing enthusiast or a wrestling fan, it’s quite a curiosity.

6 WWE Mobile Madness

Pixelated Scuffles

• Platform: Mobile
• Released: 2002-01-03
• Developer: NuvoStudios
• Genre: Sports, professional wrestling

Bringing the action to the small screen, WWE Mobile Madness was released in 2002, allowing players to take control of Kane or the Undertaker to battle it out in very pixelated action. Players were able to perform surprisingly many actions, from grappling moves to using the steel chair located outside the ring, but the extremely restricted roster, limited animations and unclear hit-boxes make this game quite erratic.

Two more games were released in the next couple of years, WWE Mobile Madness: Hardcore and WWE Mobile Madness: Cage, which introduced hardcore and cage matches, and even increased the roster to four wrestlers in each. Strangely, each game had completely unique rosters.

5 WWE Champions

World Puzzleweight Champion

• Platform: Android, iOS, PC
• Released: 2017-01-26
• Developer: Kung Fu Factory
• Genre: Puzzle

Another detachment from the norms is WWE Champions, a puzzle game with RPG elements and an extensive roster. While the gameplay itself is like a normal puzzle game, the player interactions will cause the wrestlers at the top of the screen to perform moves in order to defeat their opponents.

There are monthly events, one-on-one and tag matches, as well as unlockables and upgrading systems to keep players engaged. As with most of these games, there are microtransactions galore, but this is still a fun experience, even if it is baffling as to why they made the game.

4 WWE Tap Mania

Tapping Out

• Platform: Android, iOS
• Released: 2017-07-20
• Developer: The Tap Lab
• Genre: Tap game, professional wrestling

Idle tapping games, or incremental games, are something of a phenomenon for some players, allowing them to have the game open in the background and gradually progress while they are busy with other tasks. WWE Tap Mania allowed wrestling fans to tap their opponents out and upgrade their chosen squad of wrestling heroes, each with their own unique abilities.

Taking on giant versions of formidable foes, players had to keep tapping until they were defeated. Many of WWE’s signature events were available to play, and other game modes like boss rush were introduced, so players could take on only the most difficult opponents. It’s quite an outlandish deviation from their usual hands-on grappling action.

3 WWE Immortals

Superhuman Abilities

• Platform: Android, iOS
• Released: 2015-01-15
• Developer: NetherRealm Studios
• Genre: Fighting

In WWE Immortals, a crossover can be found that nobody knew they wanted. The makers of Injustice: Gods Among Us and Mortal Kombat brought their over the top action and superhuman powers to the WWE roster. Players fight in three-on-three battles with very exaggerated wrestling moves.

The premise in itself is remarkable, but each superstar also has a comic book alter-ego, becoming a typical superhero or villain matching their character. Once again, there were levels based on existing WWE events and championships, as well as special events and even a “Zombie Invasion” mode.

2 WWE Presents: John Cena’s Fast Lane

On The Road To WrestleMania

• Platform: Android, iOS
• Released: 2013-08-12
• Developer: WWE
• Genre: Racing

Not exactly a natural fit for the WWE, but here we have a racing game once again. WWE Presents: John Cena’s Fast Lane has players challenging 80 different competitors, including 10 “boss” racers, while upgrading their cars to get an edge in the following match-ups.

While players are not in control of steering or accelerating, merely shifting gears at the optimal moment in order to speed up, it does allow for a more cinematic experience. Overall, it seems more like a racing game that attached John Cena’s image and WWE’s logo just to gain more traction in the crowded app stores.

1 WWE Presents: Rockpocalypse

Rock Bottom

• Platform: Android, iOS
• Released: 2013-03-29
• Developer: Thruster
• Genre: Survival

Another game that seemingly attached WWE’s logo and this time The Rock’s likeness, WWE Presents: Rockpocalypse is a survival game, set in the studio where the People’s Champion is filming his latest movie. The crew are all becoming mysteriously infected and turning violent, and so the former world champion must save humanity.

There were upgrades to health, stamina, attack and slam stats as players advanced through the 18 progressively more difficult levels. It’s quite astonishing that WWE put their name on this game, since there is nothing really related to wrestling in it, and it left many fans raising their eyebrows in confusion.