Given AEW’s rapid growth as a company, it was only a matter of time before the wrestling promotion received its own full-fledged video game. Unfortunately, 2023’s AEW Fight Forever was the definition of a mixed bag. While the core gameplay nails the pick-up-and-play vibes of early 2000s wrestling games that Yuke’s was going for, the title is lacking in several ways. The biggest points of criticism are its lackluster character creator, limited match and mode types, expensive DLC packs, weak presentation, and the forgettable Road to Elite story mode. It’s that final trait that could become a new game’s greatest strength, though, as AEW has a chance to do something its competition cannot.
To be clear, AEW would have a very tough task ahead of it if it wanted to match the WWE 2K franchise, as it would likely need to partner with a major sports developer like EA if it wanted something on par with the high quality of WWE’s video games. Still, even if AEW were to release another Fight Forever-like title that prioritizes fun gameplay over presentation, it could deliver an incredibly in-depth story mode that covers AEW’s entire history. Given how WWE has decades of history to its name, the most WWE 2K developer Visual Concepts could possibly do is hit the key points in the careers of specific wrestlers or shows like WrestleMania, which it has already done. With AEW only being 5-years old, though, the next game could hit nearly every major story arc and event of the company’s brief life.
Related
Kenny Omega New Theme Song Made by Final Fantasy Composer
Ahead of his NJPW Wrestle Dynasty match, AEW wrestler Kenny Omega reveals that his new theme song was made by a beloved Final Fantasy composer.
The Next AEW Video Game’s Story Mode Can Cover The Company’s Entire History
If the next AEW game were to embrace such a concept with its singleplayer mode, there would be some fun gameplay opportunities available to it. Players could constantly switch through the different stages AEW has had over the years as the story progresses, watching the company grow from its stint in Daily’s Place to medium-sized arenas to eventual high points like Wembley Stadium. New belt additions like the International title and concepts like the Continental Classic tournament could be introduced within the story exactly when they happened in the real world, too. Players would not only be seeing the evolution of the wrestlers they control, but AEW itself, with the story mode serving as a fun tour of its history that newer fans can use to catch up and older fans can appreciate for its heaps of nostalgia.
Given CM Punk’s controversial stay in the company, and his return to WWE making an appearance in the next game impossible, a “History of AEW” mode would need to skip over his feuds and matches. Cody Rhodes, one of AEW’s founders, would also need to be omitted.
A History of AEW Mode Could Let Its Biggest Stars Shine
Making such a concept work would mean that players would need to control existing wrestlers instead of creating their own, as a player-made character being inserted into the mode would instantly defeat the purpose of it. Fortunately, several members of the AEW roster have been given standout periods on top of the card, meaning that control could switch smoothly between certain stars as the years progress. The following wrestlers could be playable for each era of AEW:
- 2019 – Chris Jericho: With Cody Rhodes not being an option, Chris Jericho is the next best choice to cover AEW’s earliest days, as he was its first world champion and was integral to its initial popularity.
- 2020 – Jon Moxley: After shocking the world at the original Double or Nothing, the once-Dean Ambrose quickly won AEW’s world championship and went on a dominant run throughout 2020. Playing as Moxley would allow players to relive matches against fan favorites like Darby Allin and Eddie Kingston.
- 2021 – Kenny Omega: Widely recognized as one of the best wrestlers in the world, Kenny Omega’s belt collector gimmick saw him not only winning the world title in AEW, but major titles in other companies at the same time. While the full extent of this run cannot be shown, Kenny’s great AEW matches from that year can, and players could dethrone him as Hangman Adam Page to wrap up this chunk of history and smoothly transition to a new character.
- 2022 – Hangman Adam Page: While it would be awkward to work around Hangman losing his world title to CM Punk, as it may need to be addressed through a brief text description or time skip, playing as AEW’s main character for an extensive period would be a must. Matches against Lance Archer, Bryan Danielson, and Adam Cole could guarantee some variety in opponents.
- 2023 – MJF: While his championship run ended with the divisive devil story, there’s no denying that Maxwell Jacob Friedman had a stellar 2023, and it deserves to be celebrated within a video game. His 60-minute Iron Man match with Bryan Danielson would be as fun to play as it was to watch, as would the Four Pillars Four-Way match.
- 2024 – Bryan Danielson and Swerve Strickland: A unique approach could be taken to the latest full year of AEW history, as this time around, players could swap between two wrestlers. Swerve Strickland’s rise to superstardom thanks to his blood feud with Hangman Adam Page could be experienced, as could the final arc of Bryan Danielson’s full-time career. The story could even conclude by letting players pick who to control in the pair’s All In 2024 match-up, recreating Danielson’s real-life win or showing what could have been if Swerve was victorious.
Related
One Random Crossover Could Actually Be Perfect For Injustice 3
Injustice 3 would likely include a guest character like in past entries, and one seemingly random option could lead to a quality fighter.
AEW has managed to set itself apart from WWE by honing in on in-ring quality, as every PPV event it runs features match of the year contenders and gets the wrestling world talking. Its next game should take a similar approach, finding its own identity and offering something that WWE 2K does not. While gameplay like the wrestling titles of old was an interesting angle to take, and could be something to pursue further, the next AEW video game needs to be significantly deeper and more replayable. A huge story mode that highlights all the best moments from AEW would be a brilliant way to give fans more bang for their buck, so hopefully it’s something Kenny Omega and everyone else who oversees the company’s games consider prioritizing.