RetroMania Wrestling

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 165 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
RetroMania Wrestling Game Cover
RetroMania Wrestling is a fully-realized throwback with a ton of heart and polish, delivering one of the finest 2D wrestling titles in decades.
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"RetroMania Wrestling" is the official sequel to the 1991 arcade game Wrestlefest, offering strategic, fast-paced action with 12+ unique wrestlers. Experience local multi-player fun for 2-8 players, with various match types, entrance animations, and crowd reactions. The game boasts beautiful 2D pixel art and animation, easy-to-learn gameplay, and additional content via DLC.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 165 reviews
story16 positive mentions
replayability1 negative mentions
  • Captures the nostalgic feel of classic arcade wrestling games like WWF Wrestlefest.
  • Fun and engaging gameplay with a simple control scheme that is easy to pick up.
  • Diverse roster of characters and well-designed arenas that enhance the retro experience.
  • The AI can be overly difficult, making the game frustrating for new players.
  • Limited roster size and lack of create-a-wrestler mode reduce long-term replayability.
  • The story mode is short and ends on a cliffhanger, leaving players wanting more content.
  • story69 mentions

    The game's story mode features an engaging narrative where players assume the role of Johnny Retro, making choices that affect their alignment as a hero or villain. While the story is entertaining and includes a tutorial, many reviewers noted that it is relatively short and ends on a cliffhanger, leaving players eager for future updates and expansions. Overall, the story mode is praised for its fun dialogue and nostalgic appeal, but it could benefit from additional content and polish.

    • “The story mode puts you in the boots and sequined tights of Johnny Retro, out to make a comeback after suffering an injury at the hands of Zach Sabre, Jr. Throughout the story, you’ll be given choices that will determine your status as face (hero) or heel (villain).”
    • “The story mode is fun and it really seems like your choices matter to the story!”
    • “The story mode had me so invested in the development of whether to turn heel or face; I will definitely play through again, and the '10 Pounds of Gold' is another awesome addition!”
    • “The story mode was lackluster.”
    • “A bit disappointing that story mode was so very short because it was too sweet.”
    • “But story mode is unfinished and has only about an hour of content right now.”
  • gameplay55 mentions

    The gameplay of Retromania Wrestling is characterized by its nostalgic arcade-style mechanics, reminiscent of classic titles like WWF Wrestlefest, while also incorporating modern updates for accessibility. Players appreciate the simple control scheme and addictive nature of the matches, though some find the grapple mechanics frustrating and the AI challenging. Overall, the game offers a fun, fast-paced experience that balances retro charm with contemporary gameplay elements, appealing to both old fans and newcomers alike.

    • “If you enjoyed the two WWF arcade games, WWF Superstars and WWF WrestleFest, then this game will feel very familiar in its arcade action gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly addictive and is the perfect recipe for always wanting to play 'one more match' before you have to turn it off.”
    • “The attention to detail in capturing both the gameplay and aesthetic of WrestleFest is truly a labor of love, but it updates the gameplay to modernize it enough that it's accessible to new and old gamers alike.”
    • “I wouldn't call this game 'bad', but I would say that it needs a lot of work, and is leaving out a lot of mechanics that even very old wrestling games included decades ago.”
    • “My moves would do nothing to either one of them and they would take out so much of my health in a short instant. The button-mashing grapple mechanic is so annoying; I have no idea if I have to push the buttons to a rhythm or just mash it like a madman.”
    • “The gameplay moves way too fast for a wrestling game.”
  • graphics28 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their retro aesthetic, reminiscent of 90s arcade visuals, while also being enhanced for modern appeal. Reviewers appreciate the comically exaggerated art style and attention to detail, which successfully captures the essence of classic wrestling games. Overall, the graphics contribute to a fun and engaging experience, complemented by a catchy soundtrack and solid animations.

    • “The art style is comically exaggerated without being parody, and this applies both inside and outside of the matches themselves; this is old-school pixelly goodness.”
    • “Like I said, this is a retro style game, so the graphics are a nice throwback to 90s-ish arcade graphics.”
    • “The attention to detail in capturing both the gameplay and aesthetic of Wrestlefest is truly a labor of love, but it updates the gameplay to modernize it enough that it's accessible to new and old gamers alike.”
    • “The artwork felt disjointed from how the rest of the game looked, and the dialogue left a lot to be desired.”
    • “The result is a game that is a throwback in the graphics department and presentation elements, but that doesn't insult its players by assuming we all want the same mindless skill-free gameplay of the original arcade game.”
    • “Despite its dated aesthetics, Retromania Wrestling can still bring the pain.”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its catchy and retro style, perfectly complementing the action and enhancing the overall experience. While the soundtrack is somewhat limited, featuring only a few tracks that can become repetitive, players still appreciate its quality and nostalgic appeal. Overall, the combination of good graphics and engaging music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack, while limited, fits perfectly with the action that’s happening.”
    • “The music is still really good and super catchy.”
    • “Great graphics and controls, good music, and commentary that can be turned down in frequency to avoid repetition, makes for a great wrestling game.”
    • “There's also only 4 fight background music tracks, so you'll be hearing the same four songs throughout the 10 pounds of gold and story mode.”
    • “Most old WWF games offered options to choose everything from looks, to finishing moves, to alignment, to ring intro songs and styles, but this game lacks that variety.”
    • “The music is infuriating and detracts from the overall experience.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted for being genuinely funny, with players finding the challenging gameplay to be entertainingly difficult.

    • “This game is hilariously hard to an entertaining level.”
    • “This can be pretty funny, though, to be honest.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The replayability of the game is considered fairly low after the initial week, primarily due to a lack of substantial downloadable content (DLC) to enhance the experience.

    • “The replayability is fairly low after the first week without decent DLC content.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Users express dissatisfaction with the monetization model, noting that after purchasing the game, the initial advertising promises were not fulfilled, leading to feelings of deception.

    • “But after buying it under that pretense, all of that advertising copy was removed.”
    • “The game feels like a constant push to spend more money, even after the initial purchase.”
    • “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game is praised for its exceptional stability, featuring minimal to no bugs or glitches, which is a notable achievement for a new release.

    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
    • “I experienced multiple bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
    • “The stability issues are frustrating; I often find myself getting kicked out of the game.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players express that Retromania Wrestling evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, allowing them to reconnect with their childhood experiences and emotions associated with wrestling.

    • “Retromania Wrestling made me feel like that kid again.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players express that the grinding aspect of the game can extend gameplay significantly, often requiring an additional 10 or more hours solely focused on earning trophies.

    • “The next 10+ hours is now just grinding for trophies.”
    • “The game feels like a never-ending grind with little reward.”
    • “I spent hours doing repetitive tasks just to level up, and it became tedious.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

67% average critic score

Buy RetroMania Wrestling

Play time

76hMedian play time
52hAverage play time
3-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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