AEW: Fight Forever

 Switch
Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 11
  3. Negative: 4 out of 11
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  1. Pure Nintendo
    Jul 12, 2023
    70
    Fans of All Elite Wrestling should feel quite comfortable within the sometimes goofy but always engaging AEW: Fight Forever. Technically, there’s room for improvement, but the game nails the AEW tone and arcade gameplay that are the reasons many wrestling game fans have been seeking for quite some time.
  2. NintendoWorldReport
    Jul 5, 2023
    70
    There’s no question in my mind that AEW’s game debut is the best wrestling game we’ve had on a Nintendo console in more than a decade. But as a multiplatform game, the Switch is clearly struggling to handle it, which is odd as THQ Nordic ports on Switch tend to run on par with their counterparts on other consoles. Hopefully this isn’t an annual release and it gets some post launch support to clean things up, because as of now it didn’t meet the pre-launch goal of being a WWF No Mercy killer. It’s more of a WCW/nWo World Tour - a good first effort with potential to be a classic, but it needs a bit more work.
  3. Nintendo Life
    Jun 28, 2023
    70
    As a self-proclaimed spiritual successor to WWF No Mercy, AEW had big wrestling boots to fill. While it doesn't quite surpass THQ's classic N64 grappler in terms of pure gameplay, it's nevertheless a highly entertaining wrestling title with a pleasantly silly story mode and some frankly ridiculous weapons-heavy match types. Performance on the Switch leaves a lot to be desired, but it's still the best wrestling game on the system for now.
  5. Vgames
    Jul 10, 2023
    65
    While being a good first shot at the gaming market, AEW Fight Forever has too much mediocre parts to make it a good competitor for the WWE 2K Series.
  6. TouchArcade
    Jul 10, 2023
    60
    There’s a fun wrestling game at the core of AEW: Fight Forever. Probably the best licensed one in a couple of decades. I greatly look forward to seeing where this franchise goes in the future. I can’t say I didn’t get some enjoyment out of this Switch version, even. But the technical performance here really is below-par, and not just in the usual ways we’ve come to expect on the platform. Hopefully some updates can get things running the way they should, but I can’t guess at the future. I can only see how things are right now, and my advice would be to seek this one out on another platform if you can.
  7. App Trigger
    Jul 3, 2023
    60
    Behind a terrific and exciting wrestling system in AEW Fight Forever is some odd choices, unfortunate hiccups, annoying quirks, and dumb limitations. Yukes fulfilled their promise to make an arcade game that felt like No Mercy. The problem is that we should have been more careful about what we wished for because a game made in the 90s is lacking a lot of important stuff. A wrestling fan who is looking for a good AEW time is going to be serviced by this offering. Anyone who is looking for proper competition to WWE should hold out (or wait for much-needed updates). If you absolutely need to have this game be portable than you can rest knowing the Switch has your back. Everyone else should just get it on Steam.

Awards & Rankings

35
#35 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2023

User Reviews

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User Score
3.6

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 9 out of 16
  1. Dargonius
    Jul 4, 2023
    8
    I'm giving this an 8/10 only because of substance. No Mercy, which this is supposed to be somewhat of a spiritual successor of sorts, stillI'm giving this an 8/10 only because of substance. No Mercy, which this is supposed to be somewhat of a spiritual successor of sorts, still lacks what made No Mercy great. i will be breaking down every aspect of this game and complaints from fans that makes sense and also doesn't apply.
    Let's start with obvious complaints. Graphics. Playing this on Switch and while I do see some cartooney aspects to some characters, such as Aubrey Edwards ( Why Aubrey Why??? Why did you opt to become a cartoon version of yourself?) , I'm not a stickler for graphics. I still play my PS1/PS2 and other older consoles and enjoy it. Graphics don't make a game great. And some of the wrestlers and the audience look AMAZING in this game, but other wrestlers look kind of weird. Talking to you Cody Rhodes with your bulging eyes.
    Next, the bigger complaint is lack of substance. I can see that. With No Mercy having multiple routes for their story mode, including being able to select a current champ and play through their own unique story, or selecting a title and playing through that title's story mode. But the many match types in No Mercy couldn't be brought to this game because they've never aired on AEW, such as Steel Cage matches, or could they? For example the coffin matches from WWE were replicated by Darby Allin. Ambulance matches could happen. Special ref matches could happen so why not in the game?
    And one match type that NEEDS added into the game is handicapped matches because they're in the story, same as the gauntlet matches, which with Good Ol' JR there in AEW, could be called the Slobberknocker matches. Last man standing, dog collar matches, I could go on. Yes, the game lacks substance at the moment, and should've been held back a bit longer, BUT IT IS STILL FUN.
    Being a retro lover, I love being able to write down my matches before hand like I used to and then run exhibitions to make wrestler records and runs for the titles. But the roster also needs some older stars added. They have them in the Mobile GM game for AEW, so why not this game?
    Next to address other criticisms professionally, and NOT just as a wrestling fan, but as a fan of WWE and AEW, I love both games. They both have their fun and also downfalls, BUT, the mechanics in this game is a hell of a lot of fun compared to complex in WWE2k, and not to mention, this team seems to actually care about their fans as they ARE listening to us. They don't want an annual game, but instead probably left a LOT of code empty to add in more as the game and player base grows. Playing this on Switch compared to WWE2k18 and they actually made a smart move- 4 players in the ring at the same time for the Casino match instead of 6-8 for ladder matches (Money in the Bank) which was what corrupted WWE"s ONLY attempt. Yukes developed the Switch and other console games in house, rather than what 2K did with hiring another dev to make the Switch port. That's a major step in the right direction. When it comes to online however, we're not sure if the Switch can handle the rumored Stadium Stampede Online MP. Multiplayer is harder to find opponents on Switch, so we weren't able to test that, but will edit this review when we test out the PS5 version.
    Yes the game doesn't have as much substance, but give them time. It's ONLY AEW's first wrestling game. We have a long while before fully judging, but then again, we're taught to judge early, and we do it consistently especially with games.
    The story mode is short. You're basically doing 4 actions per week, 16 per month/PPV runs, and there's many different story choices that could send you to a different block, including beating the incredibly infuriating first match, Casino Battle Royal to challenge for the AEW World Championship. We have yet to try a champion as our selected star because you can't use any skill points towards current wrestlers. You can only improve CAWs and that mode is limited to very few choices for stars, but if you are like us and don't care what your CAW looks like, then you're bound to have a ton of fun.
    This game may not be worth full price. No Mercy wasn't worth full price either in our opinion, but at the end of the day, it's worth $40 for this game....and that's only when it includes more to the game. In it's current state, the game may not be worth it to you, but to us, it's worth it because we can barely put it down.
    If you want to see more reviews, check out @TheGamingWarriors125 on YT where we will be doing reviews of more games. And if you want even more, follow us on Twitch for live gamestreams @TheDatingWarriors    … Full Review »
  2. SSJGodku
    Jul 4, 2023
    0
    This game is a failure just like the promotion it's based on. They are trying to rob you if you think this is worth anymore than $20 bucks onThis game is a failure just like the promotion it's based on. They are trying to rob you if you think this is worth anymore than $20 bucks on any platform. I doubt anybody would even want to pirate it either since it's about as boring as the actual show… Full Review »
  3. 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 10It'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.… Full Review »
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