AEW: Fight Forever

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 914 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
AEW: Fight Forever Game Cover
AEW: Fight Forever is a triumphant return to the wrestling ring for THQ Nordic and Yuke’s, recapturing the magic of their original, simple gameplay and amazing customization with yet a third wrestling organization.
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In "AEW: Fight Forever Elite Edition," wrestling fans can engage in fast-paced action with an impressive roster of AEW wrestlers, including special packs like Matt Hardy, FTR: Revival, Limitless Bunny, and Hookhausen. This game, developed by YUKE’S Co, Ltd., brings a nostalgic arcade-wrestler feel and features AEW-specific finishers and team moves. Experience the AEW energy with its unique blend of classic and innovative gameplay .

Play Modes

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 914 reviews
gameplay101 positive mentions
stability33 negative mentions
  • The gameplay is fun and reminiscent of classic arcade wrestling games, making it easy to pick up and play.
  • Road to Elite mode offers a unique and engaging experience with branching storylines, adding replayability.
  • The game features a variety of weapons and match types, including the exciting Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch.
  • The character creation suite is severely limited, lacking depth and variety in customization options.
  • The roster is outdated and missing many current AEW stars, which detracts from the overall experience.
  • The game feels incomplete with a lack of match types and modes, making it hard to justify the full price.
  • gameplay218 mentions

    The gameplay of the wrestling game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its nostalgic mechanics reminiscent of classic titles like WWF No Mercy, offering a fun and engaging experience. However, criticisms highlight a lack of content, polish, and depth, with issues such as clunky controls, limited customization options, and repetitive mechanics detracting from the overall enjoyment. While the core gameplay is enjoyable and accessible, it is often described as needing significant improvements and additional features to reach its full potential.

    • “The gameplay is incredibly fun and fluid for the most part.”
    • “The core gameplay is really good - I've been having a blast through every match I've played.”
    • “Gameplay is fun and generally quick-paced.”
    • “Smackdown vs Raw 2007 and onward ushered in an era of weak-looking animations and sluggish gameplay.”
    • “There was a lot of hype and potential (still is for a possible sequel), but the end product feels rushed with customization, career mode, animations, and gameplay variety inferior to some PS2 era games.”
    • “The gameplay is okay but not up to scratch with No Mercy, or any of Yuke's previous WWE games in the past 20 years; there's less depth and polish here than other titles.”
  • story133 mentions

    The story mode, known as "Road to Elite," has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it short, repetitive, and lacking depth. While some appreciate its lighthearted and fun approach, others criticize its limited branching paths and the randomness of story events, leading to a lack of meaningful progression. Overall, players feel that the story mode could benefit from more features, better storytelling, and a more engaging experience.

    • “The gameplay is fun, and the story mode is okay, but short.”
    • “Road to elite (the story mode) is a fun, breezy experience that doesn't take itself too seriously and has replay value via a handful of different storylines that can be unlocked randomly or by fulfilling specific requirements.”
    • “Each situation, decision, and outcome is said to alter the path of the story, thus providing you with a different experience each time you play.”
    • “The story mode, if you can call it that, is very random and not in a good way. You have to play the story 30 times to actually get a unique experience, and I got stuck with the same matches all four times. It's a cheap money grab; I would not recommend it. Your money is better spent on a WWE game, as bad as that sounds.”
    • “The story mode is very short and lacks much ability for the player to make decisions. It feels more like an on-rails season mode than a full-fledged story mode.”
    • “The severe lack of content in character creation, the linear story mode, and the fact that there are more interesting features in older wrestling games make this experience disappointing.”
  • graphics70 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the nostalgic, cartoonish art style while others criticize the visual quality, comparing it unfavorably to more polished titles like the WWE 2K series. Many users noted inconsistencies in character models, with some looking good and others appearing outdated or poorly rendered. Overall, while the graphics may not meet the high standards set by contemporary games, they are seen as acceptable by those who value gameplay and nostalgia over visual fidelity.

    • “I actually like the graphics and atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The art style is fantastic, and at a very light 18GB install size, this game is very well optimized.”
    • “Animations are clean, graphics are great, sound is awesome, and overall been having a blast playing single and multiplayer.”
    • “The graphics are beyond a joke.”
    • “25 matches in the custom career mode, a total lack of customization, a lack of content in general, graphics that are out of the late Xbox 360 era, the price tag of a fully developed game, years of delays, and still the emptiest wrestling game ever made.”
    • “The game is not in a good state right now, frequent graphical glitches, extremely clunky and poorly thought out controls and very poorly balanced AI.”
  • stability38 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and control issues that significantly detract from the overall experience. Players have noted frequent graphical problems, lag, and unresponsive controls, leading to frustration during gameplay. While some users find charm in the game's quirks, the consensus is that it remains unfinished and in need of substantial patches to address its many stability issues.

    • “The gameplay is amazing, the minigames can be fun when played during Road to Elite. It runs great on my PC and I only had 1 crash.”
    • “I can't get 2K games to run well on high-end laptops, but this runs great on the Steam Deck.”
    • “It runs great on the Steam Deck and play is fun and intuitive.”
    • “Constant missed collisions, weird UI glitches, and net code that combines with lag to produce some serious headaches: random loss of character control, and significant character teleporting and invisibility.”
    • “The game is not in a good state right now, with frequent graphical glitches, extremely clunky and poorly thought out controls, and very poorly balanced AI.”
    • “This game is unfinished, buggy, laggy, and has almost no content.”
  • music19 mentions

    The music selection in the game is praised for its variety and extensive library, reminiscent of classic titles like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, with a mix of new and nostalgic tracks. However, some users noted inconsistencies in volume and a limited loop of songs during gameplay, which can lead to monotony. Overall, while the jukebox feature and entrance themes are highlights, the short duration of entrances and repetitive soundtrack detract from the experience.

    • “Music selection was on point though, reminded me of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.”
    • “The music library is good; it's massive.”
    • “The jukebox is filled to the brim with theme songs and even 8-bit versions.”
    • “It's just odd that we have some new music and some very outdated entrance music; that might be a licensing thing.”
    • “The volume on the in-game music kept changing randomly. This game did not fill any void for me, nor did it bring me any fun.”
    • “The soundtrack seems to consist of about 5 songs that play on an endless loop, including during matches, so within an hour you'll start getting bored of them.”
  • humor16 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players praising its funny story mode, engaging dialogue, and amusing glitches that enhance the overall experience. Many find the comedic elements, such as the absurdity of the gameplay and the tongue-in-cheek narrative, to be charming and entertaining, making even the game's flaws enjoyable. Overall, the blend of action and humor creates a fun atmosphere, particularly in modes like "Road to the Elite," which is filled with hilarious moments and replayable scenarios.

    • “The story mode is hilarious.”
    • “Plus the story/career mode is tongue-in-cheek funny.”
    • “I find a lot of the negative aspects of the game to be surprisingly charming and funny, especially the glitches and the goofiness of the road to elite mode, and these aspects only make me enjoy the game more, strangely enough.”
    • “An unfunny, very expensive inside joke.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    The game's replayability is highlighted by its engaging "Road to Elite" mode, which offers various storylines and decisions that significantly impact gameplay, providing a fresh experience with each playthrough. While the mini-games and interactive sandbox elements add variety, the main story mode lacks depth in replay value. Overall, players appreciate the unique modes and unlockable content, though some feel that certain aspects could be improved to enhance replayability further.

    • “This wrestling game is top tier for sure, the grapple system is satisfying no matter the move & the smooth transition from one attack to the next is refreshing. The mini games are a breath of fresh air, stopping the game from being repetitive. There are lots of different unique modes to learn and master, and the road to elite can be quite the playthrough depending on your decisions, with lots of replayability and unlockable content hidden within.”
    • “The story mode (road to elite) is a fun, breezy experience that doesn't take itself too seriously and has replay value via a handful of different storylines that can be unlocked randomly or by fulfilling specific requirements.”
    • “Road to elite is also very fun to play and has great replay value; you encounter many different scenarios and make your own decisions which affect the playthrough.”
    • “I can get a better AEW game on WWE 2K24, and my 2 hours explains everything you need to know about how replayable this is.”
    • “Story mode has no replay value whatsoever.”
    • “I'll give the game a yes, but it's a very soft one because of the lack of replayability.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews. While many players praised its stability, noting no crashes or major performance issues, others criticized it for being clunky and poorly optimized, particularly on certain platforms. The game's relatively small install size and solid performance on devices like the Steam Deck were highlighted positively, but some users still experienced noticeable issues during gameplay.

    • “Not a single crash, major performance issue, save corruption, or any of the other hair-pulling issues I had in the 2K games showed up in this game for me.”
    • “Unlike many AAA games released these days, this one launched without crippling performance issues.”
    • “The art style is fantastic, and at a very light 18GB install size, this game is very well optimized.”
    • “This creative suite is actually quite laughable, the match types have a lot left to be desired and the main campaign is silly, but goodness could they have gotten a better performance from JR or just use Excalibur?”
    • “Bought the game on Steam and Switch, still waiting for pre-order content and bug/performance patches.”
    • “Game is incredibly clunky, poorly optimized and even struggled to play the introduction promo video without noticeable issues.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    Reviews highlight a mix of emotional responses, with some players feeling frustrated and disappointed due to gameplay issues and a lackluster story mode, while others express nostalgia and joy from the game's visually stunning moments. The emotional impact is further complicated by feelings of being ripped off due to underwhelming features and frustrating DLC practices, contrasting with the fun gameplay experience. Overall, the emotional reception is polarized, reflecting both joy and frustration.

    • “AEW's willingness to experiment and try new things paid off immensely, creating moments that were both visually stunning and emotionally resonant.”
    • “Which just made me feel young again.”
    • “The bare bones CAW is heartbreaking, the DLC practices are infuriating, but the gameplay is fun.”
    • “The emotional depth of the story is severely lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I felt no emotional investment in the narrative; it was just a series of events without any real impact.”
    • “The game fails to evoke any strong feelings, leaving me indifferent to the outcomes of the characters.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its vibrant graphics and a sense of excitement, reflecting a shared passion for professional wrestling. While it successfully blends nostalgia with modern elements, some players feel that it undermines the buildup to matches by diminishing the impact of entrances. Overall, the atmosphere is characterized by a mix of celebration and unpredictability.

    • “I actually like the graphics and atmosphere of the game.”
    • “AEW's commitment to its audience's enjoyment was palpable, and it created an atmosphere of shared passion and celebration of professional wrestling as an art form.”
    • “It has some nods to the old school N64 titles while existing in a more present atmosphere.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization model is criticized for its reliance on microtransactions, which some players find overwhelming, while others appreciate the absence of real-money purchases and the generous in-game currency system that allows for quick progression without feeling like a grind. However, the game's advertised features, such as branching storylines, are influenced by random number generation rather than player performance, leading to disappointment among some users.

    • “There's also an in-game shop where you spend in-game money, with zero microtransactions, thank goodness! The money is earned in such large amounts and so quickly that it never feels like a grind.”
    • “A post-COVID clusterfuck of microtransactions and abandoned hope.”
    • “- 'Branching storylines' are not affected by your win ratio as advertising says, but they're activated by RNG.”
    • “There's also an in-game shop where you spend in-game money, with zero microtransactions, thank Christ. The money is earned in such large amounts and so quickly that it never feels like a grind.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, citing limited rewards and tedious gameplay elements such as a lackluster story mode and poor menu design. However, some find the process of mastering controls and improving skills to be a challenging yet enjoyable experience.

    • “Why am I grinding through this thing to unlock... what?”
    • “Very limited functionality, limited game modes, tedious story mode, crappy menus; I can go on and on.”
    • “Learning the controls and mastering the game has been a tedious but fun challenge.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

67% average critic score

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Play time

6hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
4-13hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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