AEW: Fight Forever

 PlayStation 5
User Score
5.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 47 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 47
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 47
  3. Negative: 19 out of 47
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  1. Jay821425
    Jul 2, 2023
    10
    This game is soooo much fan a great start for the 1st ever AEW game it reminds me of the Glory Days of wrestling games
  2. jaytheone
    Jul 2, 2023
    9
    It's not perfect for the first time attempt it's not bad at all very fun game will definitely recommend
  3. Jt0429
    Jul 2, 2023
    8
    Good-
    Fun, fast-paced gameplay; Lots of minor details; Simple to learn but difficult to master; Branching career mode; Lots of things to unlock; Great roster.
    Bad- No complete entrance animations; Mid-tier graphics; No ability to download community creations; Few tag teams. Thoughts- AEW: Fight Forever feels like a return to form for pro-wrestling games. Long mired in the depths    Good-
    Fun, fast-paced gameplay; Lots of minor details; Simple to learn but difficult to master; Branching career mode; Lots of things to unlock; Great roster.

    Bad-
    No complete entrance animations; Mid-tier graphics; No ability to download community creations; Few tag teams.

    Thoughts-
    AEW: Fight Forever feels like a return to form for pro-wrestling games. Long mired in the depths of attempted simulation for the sake of “realism”, the genre has mostly been monopolized by a singular franchise. With the release of AEW: Fight Forever, however, we finally have a decent alternative for those among us who are more interested in the fast-paced, almost fighting game-esque gameplay of the WWE games of the past.    … Expand
  4. Stxrudeboy
    Jul 3, 2023
    10
    While the game is lacking depth, gameplay is fantastic and fun. Throwback to no mercy/AKI days, with a mix of day of reckoning. Easy enough to pick and play, deep enough for highly competitive matches.
  5. MandokPlays
    Jul 6, 2023
    10
    To be honest this a great surprise for me. I played the game at my friend's house expecting just to burn some hours before going out, but this game is actually pretty awesome, I arrived at my home and the first thing was buying it and I don't regret even a little
  6. RoystonCharmain
    Jul 19, 2023
    4
    The gameplay is great, if a little buggy. But the low score comes from the lack of content in a full price game. If this was half the price, I'd accept it, but at AAA price, this is far too thin on the ground. I'm happy to change this rating if they do a No Man's Sky over the coming months and years, but I don't find that likely.
  7. Pito22
    Jul 2, 2023
    10
    Me and my homeboy had a lot of fun with aew fight forever it reminds me of the SVR games and that is a good thing looking forward to the updates the his for the game
  8. Jaidenbrkl1
    Jun 30, 2023
    9
    Despite the lackluster “Road to Elite” story mode, the awkward controls, and a lack of match types, this is actually one of the funnest outings that All Elite Wrestling has ever done. If you are a fan of Here Comes the Pain or No Mercy, or an AEW fan, then this might be for you.
  9. raw603
    Jul 2, 2023
    7
    Let me say this right from the jump: For this game to have a critics rating of 65 while 2K Battlegrounds pulled a 60 just completely invalidates this rating system. 2K Battlegrounds was borderline unplayable in terms of gameplay mechanics, and in my experience only took maybe 2 hours of play time before every character felt exactly the same. But I digress...

    I cut my teeth on AKI & THQ    Let me say this right from the jump: For this game to have a critics rating of 65 while 2K Battlegrounds pulled a 60 just completely invalidates this rating system. 2K Battlegrounds was borderline unplayable in terms of gameplay mechanics, and in my experience only took maybe 2 hours of play time before every character felt exactly the same. But I digress...

    I cut my teeth on AKI & THQ wrestling games. I played basically every wrestling game on console, licensed by a major promotion or not, from WCW vs. the World through Day of Reckoning 2. And the last wrestling game I purchased was WWE 2K15 (Battlegrounds was a PS+ monthly free game). In short, I've played a lot of wrestling games, and a variety of them, at that.

    What I can say is, AEW: Fight Forever delivers one of my favorite gameplay experiences. In a lot of ways, AEWFF plays like a spiritual successor to WWF No Mercy with a lot of innovative enhancements to the classic AKI-like mechanics. The gameplay could use some fine tuning, but is absolutely worth trying out and, in my opinion, delivered EXACTLY what I expected from AEW's first video game entry.

    Getting to the "whole package," the best term I can use is inconsistent. If you're like me, you've got most of everything you want. There's tons of titles to defend in exhibition matches (plus a nice title management menu that shows title histories). Not every match type you might have expected (like tornado tag or iron man) is included, but there's still a fair assortment that provide surprisingly unique experiences. The exploding barbed wire death match in particular was a match I didn't expect to care much for, but was taken aback by how much fun and how unique of an experience it is. Leading up to release, I was bummed there was no cage match, but cage matches are really so much of just a visual gimmick most of the time. Whereas, the exploding barbed wire death match plays how, IMO every cage match in any game ever SHOULD have played but didn't, rending the cage match omission moot. And if you don't understand what I'm saying, play the match and you will.

    Outside of the versus menu, Road to Elite is more fun than the initial impression it gave me. But to be completely fair, for a full priced game, I don't feel the mode lasts long enough and/or has enough story scenarios. The mode will likely feel competitive sooner than later.

    And lastly, the oddest part of the overall game is, it seems to have been built in a way to support a lot of fun and interesting unlockable content, but it's just... not in the game? There's a store. There are systems in the game to unlock items and characters, etc. but there's so little that actually adds any value at this point its just a little concerning for the longevity of the game. It's not been a week, and despite life and responsibilities as a parent I've nearly unlocked everything in the store (that anyone knows exists at this point). So, it really begs the question how soon AEW/THQ plan to add more content, if at all. And that's probably just not a great vibe to give off again considering the Elite edition of this game was $70.

    I could keep going and going but I just want to be done with this review. Bottom line is, there are more than a handful of things you can scratch your head and say, "How does this game not have [XYZ] right now?" But at the same time, I've not been unable to put the controller down from the day the game was released, and don't see and end to that in sight.    … Expand
  10. easterfields
    Jul 1, 2023
    10
    Love this game! If Nintendo created some sort of Super N64 with HD graphics, and Asmik/AKI made a wrestling game for it, that game would be AEW Fight Forever. May not be a pretty as the WWE 2K games, may not have nearly as deep of a create-a-wrestler mode, may have a career mode that's just as hokey as 2K's titles, but dang if it's not like 10x more fun!
  11. CloudXz
    Jul 5, 2023
    0
    Somehow this is even worse then the WWE Games. Looks like it is from the PS2 and plays like that. I don't expect do look like Final Fantasy 16. But this here is awful.
  12. gustave154
    Jun 30, 2023
    10
    I rate wrestling games on fun and this game is alot of fun. Sure there is no commentary and short entrances but the game is fun with friends
  13. sixstardave
    Jun 30, 2023
    10
    Before anything else...this game is FUN! It's like playing pure nostalgia. If you're like me, you remember the glory days of wrestling games like No Mercy.

    Fight Forever lets you live out all those memories and make new ones! I've always wanted to be able to chokeslam women and now I get the chance. Being able to combine belts from all kinds of promotions, even ones I've never heard of,    Before anything else...this game is FUN! It's like playing pure nostalgia. If you're like me, you remember the glory days of wrestling games like No Mercy.

    Fight Forever lets you live out all those memories and make new ones! I've always wanted to be able to chokeslam women and now I get the chance. Being able to combine belts from all kinds of promotions, even ones I've never heard of, is way better than only having one main title that matters.

    Tony and Kenny actually LISTENED to fans and gave them a near perfect game.    … Expand
  14. MinePlay512
    Jun 30, 2023
    8
    While it has a few issues that could impact it, AEW: Fight Forever is a very fun wrestling game that can be a love letter to the old school days of wrestling.
  15. kman1014
    Jul 1, 2023
    0
    This looks like a PS2 game and has 6 matches. A pathetic joke that will be on sale in a month
  16. MyOwnOpinion230
    Jul 2, 2023
    0
    It's highway robbery they're selling this game full price with only 6 matches. The story mode is lazy and the game looks like it came out 10 years ago.
  17. VitaminJ19
    Jun 30, 2023
    0
    $60 for this game should be criminal. This game is mediocre in just about every way. The extremely limited roster, the 20+ year outdated gaming mechanics, the bare bones/barely existing creation suite, and an extremely lame/short story mode. This game failed at everything and did nothing great. The mini games are extremely lame and that time should have been used making the game$60 for this game should be criminal. This game is mediocre in just about every way. The extremely limited roster, the 20+ year outdated gaming mechanics, the bare bones/barely existing creation suite, and an extremely lame/short story mode. This game failed at everything and did nothing great. The mini games are extremely lame and that time should have been used making the game something people would actually want to play who are not die-hard AEW fans.… Expand
  18. Michaelhawj
    Jun 30, 2023
    0
    Boo this game. Awful graphics, poor content and poor control. Few match types
  19. dangyosabyss
    Jun 30, 2023
    1
    None of this game suggests that it is up to the standard of what is expected in a £50 PS5 video game. I know the superfans will bleat 'but it's fun!' and it may be but £50 worth of fun? Not in a million years. A butchered out of date roster, laughable animation, poor controls and graphics that are PS2 tier. In 2023. PS2 TIER. A CEO with unlimited funds ought to be giving us the secondNone of this game suggests that it is up to the standard of what is expected in a £50 PS5 video game. I know the superfans will bleat 'but it's fun!' and it may be but £50 worth of fun? Not in a million years. A butchered out of date roster, laughable animation, poor controls and graphics that are PS2 tier. In 2023. PS2 TIER. A CEO with unlimited funds ought to be giving us the second coming. Not something that could pass for an indie project. No Mercy this definitely ain't. Ignore the cultists on both sides and view this game for what it is - unpolished, lazy and embarrassing (kinda like the state of modern wrestling).… Expand
  20. OnlyOneHere
    Jun 30, 2023
    0
    This game is a huge steaming pile of garbage. The greedy developers are charging $60 for an off-brand WWE game. The graphics are a joke. There are too many clipping issues. The physics are beyond horrible. The controls are awful. The animations are laughable. There are too many bugs and glitches. Cringeworthy running animations. The customization is a joke compared to WWE 2K23. Just aboutThis game is a huge steaming pile of garbage. The greedy developers are charging $60 for an off-brand WWE game. The graphics are a joke. There are too many clipping issues. The physics are beyond horrible. The controls are awful. The animations are laughable. There are too many bugs and glitches. Cringeworthy running animations. The customization is a joke compared to WWE 2K23. Just about everything in this game is massively inferior to WWE 2K23, it makes WWE 2K23 look like a biblical game in comparison. No voice acting during cutscenes. The eating sounds are cringeworthy. The gameplay is boring and repetitive. You can only have 4 wrestlers in a match.

    I am getting real sick and tired of how greedy and lazy video game developers are becoming these days. So many games that once had AAA quality for their time are now using this art style stuff as an excuse to be cheap and lazy. The last off-brand WWE game TNA had "realistic" graphics. Same thing with games like the Olympics and Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader. They all had AAA graphics in the 360/PS3 era. Two generations later, these games have indie cartoonish mobile game graphics. This isn't a coincidence and just proves my point how greedy and lazy the industry has become. Lazy developers couldn't even make proper outdoor environments, so they use green screen 2D pictures for it. That's pathetic. I don't want to hear any excuses about the game trying to be old school. Did it cost $30? No, I spent $60 so I expect top-notch AAA quality.

    The multiplayer is complete trash. Too much freaking lag. The developers heavily advertised the minigames, which is nothing more than a gimmick that gets old fast. How about they spend time actually improving the gameplay instead of coming up with gimmicks. Chris Jericho and Jerry Lynn have cringeworthy faces on the cover of this game. This made me remove the cover paper off the game case and rip it into pieces. I don't recommend this shovelware at all, unless you want to support laziness.    … Expand
  21. The_kman
    Jul 7, 2023
    0
    The game is unfinished, buggy, and looks terrible. This is a very bad game and the fanboys can act like it's not but it is bad.
  22. mike-
    Jun 30, 2023
    10
    A lot of button mashing fun! Very easy for anyone in the family to pick up and start playing but also room to gain skill at timing reversals. Has a good number of the earlier roster as well as recent hires. Create a Wrestler option are on the limited side but not a big deal.
  23. MarkiplierCream
    Jul 5, 2023
    5
    AEW Fight Forever feels like a game that can’t get out its own way. While the gameplay itself is fun, the bugs, glitches, pitiful ‘story mode’, poor character creator and bad graphics turn a game that could’ve been fun into something that’s just painfully below par on what we expect from even indie games
  24. jj350
    Jul 7, 2023
    10
    This is basically a return to a No Mercy/WrestleMania 2000 style of wrestling game.
  25. Folks07
    Aug 30, 2023
    8
    Should have way more game modes and also a bigger roster, but overall, this is what the good old wrestling days were like.If they can improve next year, i´ll gladly buy it.
    PS: The Stadium Stampede mode is the dumbest thing i´ve ever played in a wrestling game and i love it. Hopefully they will add a tag mode one day!
  26. therock115
    Jul 13, 2023
    8
    The lights out and exploding barbed wire deathmatches are enough to keep you coming back for more. Very addictive. Support the developers, buy the game and let's hope they keep building on this.
  27. arostislavna
    Aug 13, 2023
    6
    Updated review: Multiplayer is hit and miss and entirely dependent on good connection, some latency just ruins the online experience. Additionally, the seasonal updates haven't started, and there's nothing to grind the in-game currency for... it has potential to be fun, still. But lack of updates has really hindered this game. I'm inclined to say this is in a state like Cyberpunk 2077 inUpdated review: Multiplayer is hit and miss and entirely dependent on good connection, some latency just ruins the online experience. Additionally, the seasonal updates haven't started, and there's nothing to grind the in-game currency for... it has potential to be fun, still. But lack of updates has really hindered this game. I'm inclined to say this is in a state like Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020. Yikes.

    It's AEW's first major console game & YUKE's expertise comes from the N64 arcade style wrestling games, which is forgiveable that it isn't a simulator game.

    Controls are easy to pick up but hard to master, I had to change the running controls to L2 and do training to figure out how to play. The default controls are not the best, and I would recommend changing them.

    This base game is NOT perfect, and there are glaring features missing upon launch.
    Difficulty is not scaled correctly IMHO, a 1v1 can be beaten on elite relatively easy, but a 4v4 on easy or normal will kick your butt.

    There is very limited voice acting for the story, and if you're wanting depth it's not there. Road to Elite basically exists to level up your Create a Wrestler, unlock the photo postcards, and convert your rewards to the grindable currency.
    It's a relatively short experience, and worthy of your time atleast once a week.

    Most of the minigames are cool, PENTA says is probably the hardest one to master.
    The weapon list and the overall craziness from all the matches with no disqualification is fantastic.

    There are 4-5 moves in the move list that just don't work, and need to be fixed ASAP.

    The Create a Wrestler & Arena modes are lacking in features and NEED an online ecosystem to keep the game alive.

    The in-game store is lacking in content currently, but will be updated in the future. Additionally, most clothing options and hair need an overhaul in colour selection. (It probably won't happen so it's unfortunate)

    In closing, the real draw to this over the WWE2K series is the gameplay.    … Expand
  28. BigDaddyAstro
    Sep 10, 2023
    6
    (bOOM!)
    LETS GO- IGNITE
    ELEMENTS COLLIDE
    AND A FLASH OF LIGHT
    AND YOU FEEL THE (BOOM!)
    THAT MEANS ITS TIME
    LIGHT THE FUSE- BRING THE (BOOM!)
    DYNAMITE!
  29. wcwmans
    Jul 13, 2023
    7
    This game is a sequel of day of reckoning 2, inspire by no mercy . It is inspire by smackdown vs raw series.
    The gameplay is great. the roster could be better (dlc every month will solve the issue). The carreer mode (rtte) is lesser long and good than no mercy and day of reckning 2. Unlock big show feel stupid. There are good modes but not enough, update and dlc could solve this    This game is a sequel of day of reckoning 2, inspire by no mercy . It is inspire by smackdown vs raw series.
    The gameplay is great. the roster could be better (dlc every month will solve the issue). The carreer mode (rtte) is lesser long and good than no mercy and day of reckning 2. Unlock big show feel stupid. There are good modes but not enough, update and dlc could solve this issue).There is no Bakstage fight. The tag team move are great and easy, weapon and move too. Create a wrestler is a shame not for the move part but for the body accessories etc creation.
    With imporvement by update or dlc ( creation, mode, wrestler, carreer mode) and the mode battle royal, it will deserve an 8 or 9. but we will need to pay... i like to play to this game but for me this game don't have enoug content at the time of my critic.    … Expand
  30. Kerusey
    Aug 3, 2023
    0
    This game is the worst. I wish all the people who were involved in this game the most pain in the world, they are worthless
  31. beer1983
    Aug 15, 2023
    2
    I don’t know where to begin with this appalling excuse for a video game. I might start with the fact I paid £50 for something that looks and plays like some I might have paid around £15 for as Xbox 360 arcade game around 2008.

    AEW Fight Forever is a very ugly looking game. The way the wrestlers look and move is horrible. I could look past that if the gameplay was up to scratch, but it    I don’t know where to begin with this appalling excuse for a video game. I might start with the fact I paid £50 for something that looks and plays like some I might have paid around £15 for as Xbox 360 arcade game around 2008.

    AEW Fight Forever is a very ugly looking game. The way the wrestlers look and move is horrible. I could look past that if the gameplay was up to scratch, but it isn’t. Matches are so rushed with no real back and forth. I know it’s meant to have an arcade feel to it but I would still like a bit of depth to the encounters, especially for the full price. Also, the lack of any real ring entrances is just lazy, nothing to do with trying to create an old school feel, just pure lazy. And the bugs, where do I start?! Have you, dear reader, performed the ‘Cody Cutter’? If not, well Cody leaps backwards in usual fashion but literally cuts through his opponent and then ends up back in front of him to perform the move. I mean, I’ve heard of a Cody Cutter, but this is ridiculous. I’ve also seen wrestlers on the outside of the ring end up walking through the ring with their heads popping up through the mat. It’s as almost as bad as WWE2K20 for game breaking bugs.

    Now, on to the gameplay options, or lack there off. This game is threadbare. The roster is small, ridiculously small when you think of the talent on the AEW roster. And if you want to try and create a Wrestler, good luck with that!!! The options are abysmal. I think there there are about 7 faces you can use and about 5 all look the same. Hairstyles are terrible as are outfits. And there isn’t even an option to create your PPV, so everything is pretty much left to just dull, buggy exhibition matches. The story mode, ‘Road to Elite’ is so dated it has to be played to be believed. And I don’t get the stupid mini games, they bring nothing to the overall experience other than feeling like filler for a game that has next to nothing going for it.

    I hate this game so much I feel like taking it back for a refund, but I hear there will be some big updates forthcoming so I MIGHT keep hold of it for now. If the updates do come and change nothing, I can at least trade it in for something else. As it is right now, DO NOT BUY this game. It looks cheap and plays nasty and isn’t worth the premium price tag attached to it. Avoid.

    Pros:
    You get to play as AEW stars like Kenny Omega, Punk and Cody(After unlocking him, which is easy).

    Some interesting match types.

    Controls are simple and fun.

    Could be a decent game with future updates.

    Cons:
    Lots of bugs and sub par graphics, even on PS5.

    Lack of gameplay options outside of exhibition matches.

    Pathetic attempt at create a wrestler.

    Looks and plays like a budget game, not worth full retail price.

    Awful story mode.

    No replay value.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2023

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 28 out of 45
  3. Negative: 6 out of 45
  1. Cubed3
    Jun 12, 2025
    60
    For what it is, AEW: Fight Forever is a simple, fun brawler. If you like simplicity and prefer your wrestling without the bells and whistles, pick this up. What lets it down is the lack of presentation and features. WWE does not own the monopoly on these things, and it’s a shame that after such a long wait, a lot is missing. The dedication to additions is commendable and bodes well for the future. Until then, this reviewer isn’t quite "All Out", but is definitely holding onto the turnbuckle.
    Read full review
  2. Meristation
    Aug 28, 2023
    60
    Its gameplay it's largely recognizable, we are talking about the studio that created the classic Smackdown vs Raw. It could be some worthy, but it's lack of content makes it difficult to recommend.
    Read full review
  3. TierraGamer
    Aug 24, 2023
    75
    AEW Fight Forever tries to return the old game mechanics of more than 20 years ago to consoles that no longer need them. This video game is entertaining. It has enough combat modes to feel part of a night with all AEW's action. However, the reality is that it is a product with a lot to improve, especially if it is going to compete with the WWE 2k games.
    Read full review
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