Summary
As a company, theWWE(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 ismicrotransactions, 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.
10WWE Superstar Slingshot
Angry Wrestlers
The Finnish puzzle game seriesAngry Birdsis probably one of the mostrecognizable and popularfranchises 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 Slingshotis 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!
9Apptivity WWE Rumblers
The Plastic Tussle
Toys-to-life figures have been very popular, especially Nintendo’sAmiibo, and it seemed only natural for WWE to test the waters, since they have had great success with action figures for decades. That’s whereApptivity WWE Rumblerssteps 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 andApptivity WWE Rumblerscould not stoke the fires of success they were hoping for, so it remains an oddity that would even make Golga jealous.
8WWE WrestleFest
The Legend Returns
A remake of the classic 1991 arcade gameWWF Wrestlefest, this entry hadso 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 withWWE WrestleFestis 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.
Biker ‘Taker Returns
In 2003, WWE had their first foray into engine revving action withWWE Crush Hour, a demolition derby game akin toTwisted Metal. Over a decade later they releasedWWE 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.
6WWE Mobile Madness
Pixelated Scuffles
Bringing the action to the small screen,WWE Mobile Madnesswas 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 performsurprisingly 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: HardcoreandWWE 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.
5WWE Champions
World Puzzleweight Champion
Another detachment from the norms isWWE 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 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.
4WWE Tap Mania
Tapping Out
Idle tapping games, or incremental games, are something of a phenomenon for some players, allowing them to have the gameopen in the backgroundand gradually progress while they are busy with other tasks.WWE Tap Maniaallowed 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.
3WWE Immortals
Superhuman Abilities
InWWE Immortals, a crossover can be found that nobody knew they wanted. The makers ofInjustice: Gods Among UsandMortal Kombatbrought their over the top action and superhuman powers to the WWE roster. Players fight in three-on-three battles withvery 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.
2WWE Presents: John Cena’s Fast Lane
Not exactly a natural fit for the WWE, but here we have a racing game once again.WWE Presents: John Cena’s Fast Lanehas 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.
1WWE Presents: Rockpocalypse
Rock Bottom
Another game that seemingly attached WWE’s logo and this time The Rock’s likeness,WWE Presents: Rockpocalypseis a survival game, set in the studio where the People’s Champion is filming his latest movie. The crew are allbecoming mysteriously infectedand 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.
