80s Mania Wrestling Returns

About

80s Mania Wrestling Returns is a single player casual sport game. It was developed by Checkmate Creative LLC and was released on August 2, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

Wrestling GM mode game! Become a retro wrestling general manager and booker!

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,047 reviews

gameplay18 positive mentions

grinding13 negative mentions

Fun and addictive wrestling booking simulation with nostalgic 80s and 90s references.
No mandatory microtransactions, players can progress without spending real money.
Frequent updates and responsive developers improve the game with new cards and features.

Progression can be slow with a grind to earn in-game money for new wrestlers and upgrades.
High in-game costs and random shop offerings frustrate players seeking specific cards.
Lack of control over match results and some repetitive gameplay elements reduce depth.

gameplay
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
56%
6%
The gameplay offers a simple, addictive, and nostalgic card battle and booking experience themed around 80s/90s wrestling, with intuitive mechanics and regular updates adding new characters and features. While praised for its charm, ease of play, and lack of ads, some users find it repetitive and desire more depth, such as expanded feud mechanics and greater control over match outcomes. Overall, it appeals strongly to wrestling and pop culture fans who enjoy strategic collection and story-building elements.
- “Great game, I've been playing for over 12 months now and have become addicted to the simple gameplay and all the classic old references!”
- “The gameplay of card collecting and booking is both stimulating and simple, and the list of characters ranges from homages to wrestling legends to playful parodies of 80s/90s pop culture!”
- “Great mechanics, tons of gameplay and fun for hours and hours.”
- “Great concept and fun idea, but the gameplay loop gets very boring; charging to autofill just to remove the chore from something I'm supposed to be 'playing' for entertainment doesn't feel right.”
- “The gameplay itself is incredibly boring.”
- “The design of the game is charming but the gameplay is boring and tedious.”
monetization
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
33%
31%
The monetization is generally praised for being non-intrusive, with no ads and microtransactions that are optional and not required to enjoy the game. However, some users find in-game currency earnings slow and certain purchases overpriced or overly randomized, leading to occasional frustration over value and grind balance. Overall, the model is seen as fair and supportive of gameplay, though views on cost and accessibility vary.
- “No ads and purchases are 100% optional, but not necessary.”
- “I also enjoy how the game doesn't force microtransactions onto you.”
- “Games not greedy, you can beat it without forking out money for in-game purchases. They're there as an option, but it's comfortable and not a lot is blocked without having a subscription.”
- “The monetization model is terrible and offers little value.”
- “Microtransactions are horrendous in how expensive they are, sheer greed for what the game actually is.”
- “Smh was almost a great game but it is ruined by microtransactions.”
graphics
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
57%
11%
The graphics feature a unique, retro 80s-inspired art style with nostalgic wrestling and pop culture references that many players find charming and enjoyable. While some praise the artwork and aesthetic for its humor and creativity, others feel recent changes clash with the original style, creating inconsistency. Overall, the graphics are simple but effective, enhancing the game's nostalgic appeal despite occasional critiques about quality and visual coherence.
- “The art style of a lot of the cards is really unique and it feels like looking at comic book characters, which fits well with the wrestling theme.”
- “This is an amazing wrestling booking simulator with awesome trading card game-like mechanics and original artwork that blends real-world wrestlers and pop culture icons, both real and fictional.”
- “The artwork is great and the references to wrestlers and pop culture are hilarious.”
- “Please for fuck's sake stop ruining the graphics with the new artwork, it just doesn't fit with the retro aesthetic. If I wanted to play a game with modern artwork, I would play Modern Mania.”
- “If I was to complain about anything, it's that the new artwork jars with the original artwork, and clashes slightly against the 80s vibe.”
- “The graphics are simple, to put it mildly.”
humor
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is widely praised for its clever, nostalgic, and creative parodies of 80s-90s wrestling and pop culture, offering funny characters, witty references, and tongue-in-cheek skits. Players find it engaging and hilarious, especially if they appreciate wrestling cliches and fantasy booking with a comedic twist. Overall, the humor greatly enhances the game's charm and replayability.
- “The artwork is great and the references to wrestlers and pop culture are hilarious.”
- “The characters are clever and have just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek humor.”
- “Even if you aren't a fan of the gameplay (which I really am!) you have to admire all of the wrestling clichés included and I'm still chuckling at the 80's pop culture references.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
The music is widely praised for its authentic 80s and 90s wrestling-inspired style, effectively capturing the era's vibe and enhancing the nostalgic atmosphere. Many users appreciate the catchy, parody-infused tracks that complement the game's pop culture references, making it both fun and addictive.
- “The characters are clearly a loving tribute to the eras of 80s and 90s wrestling, the music is dead on, the gameplay is fun, the UI is intuitive.”
- “Loving this game so much I have the Modern Mania also, but being an 80s kid I love the feel and sounds and the many parodies from many 80s and 90s film music.”
- “Great game, great 80's themed music!”
- “The original 80s mania wrestling was better, better music.”
- “At least that one worked, plus it had better music.”
- “Same problem with this game as the other: it won't load. It plays the music on the loading screen but it never loads. Sad. Can you all fix this problem?”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
Grinding in the game is generally seen as a tedious and repetitive experience, requiring significant time and patience to progress, especially early on. While some players find the grind manageable and ultimately rewarding after unlocking key features, others feel it becomes overly time-consuming and frustrating, with random elements adding to the challenge. Overall, the grind can detract from enjoyment for many, though a few appreciate the long-term payoff.
- “Needing to just stumble across various features (feuds, tag teams, etc.) is tedious and the whole setup is just repetitive.”
- “Game is too grindy and already losing me.”
- “Waste of time... when I reinstalled, all my previous saves & collections were gone... I have to start over again... years of grinding all gone...”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The story aspect is appreciated for allowing players to create rivalries, feuds, and personalized wrestling storylines, offering engaging and addictive gameplay for wrestling fans. However, many users wish for more control over match outcomes, deeper narrative depth, and enhanced customization to build more meaningful and continuous story experiences within the game.
- “If you are a fan of wrestling, specifically the storytelling aspect, you have to give it a try.”
- “Great addictive gameplay, really fun for picking rivalries, building up wrestlers for title shots and making your own story for the booking.”
- “Love the game, I only have 2 issues that I wish I could do: be the actual booker and decide who goes over. I want to be able to pick who wins and loses the matches and be able to do the same match 2 or 3 shows in a row, as it would allow for a real story building experience.”
- “If I'm predetermining feuds, stipulations, surprise attacks, etc., then why do I have to leave the result of my carefully crafted storyline to fate?”
- “Love the game but I have two issues: I wish I could be the actual booker and decide who wins. I want to pick who wins and loses matches and be able to do the same match two or three shows in a row for real story building.”
- “Really enjoyed playing the first few years, but there isn't enough depth to hold my interest beyond that. Plenty of cards, but not enough story depth or anything significant.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
37%
The game offers high replayability with engaging gameplay centered around collecting cards of wrestler parodies and media icons, keeping players entertained for hours. While some characters have in-game costs, the enjoyable content and ability to save up enhance the overall replay value.
- “This game has great replayability; I've found myself sitting for hours in front of my TV and new game console still playing.”
- “I definitely support this developer and love the endless amount of content and replay value.”
- “Has hours worth of gameplay and great replay value.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from stability issues, including glitches affecting stat development and card categories, as well as frequent freezing on the loading screen despite good internet connections and reinstall attempts. These persistent bugs significantly hinder gameplay and frustrate users.
- “I love this game, I've been playing it for a while now and never gotten tired of it; however, every time I try to play, it freezes on the loading screen. It gets two bars and then nothing else happens. This is strange because I have good Wi-Fi at both home and work, and even with 5G and full bars, it still doesn't work. What can I do?”
- “The loading screen now freezes halfway through and never changes, despite reinstalling the game.”
- “Had glitches in the stats development, and when I emailed them for help, they just apologized for my frustrations.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Character development is praised for its fantastic writing and strong character design, evoking a nostalgic WWF era feel; however, some users note that certain new character designs clash with older ones, and the game could benefit from more in-depth tutorials.
- “Basic game flow could use some more in-depth tutorials, but fantastic writing and character design make up for a lot.”
- “Character designs look great, a real throwback to the WWF era.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with users describing it as poorly optimized and negatively impacting the overall experience.
- “What a horribly optimized game.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

80s Mania Wrestling Returns is a casual sport game.

80s Mania Wrestling Returns is available on Phone, iPad, iPhone, Tablet and others.

80s Mania Wrestling Returns was released on August 2, 2018.

80s Mania Wrestling Returns was developed by Checkmate Creative LLC.

80s Mania Wrestling Returns has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

80s Mania Wrestling Returns is a single player game.

Similar games include Magic: Puzzle Quest, Darkest AFK: role-playing game, Franchise Hockey: Pro GM, MARVEL SNAP Strategy Card Game, Gems of War - Match 3 RPG and others.

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