5 Lessons The AEW Video Game Can Learn From Previous Wrestling Games

Speaking of living the fantasy. For a while there 2K was running the risk of making a fatal error with its created player focused career content. Obviously well versed in sports simulations, the company tried providing what can only be described as a Sports Entertainer simulator, especially in the last few entries before 2K19.

Instead of playing your created character through interesting story arcs, you were forced to grind in meaningless matches and slowly walk about backstage. Most of the interactions in this area were you talking to road agents about how much Triple H didn't like you. He still didn't in 2K19 but at least it focused more on a "kayfabe" story angle.

The SmackDown vs. Raw series certainly wasn't perfect but the career modes in those games had a lot of fun moments. The branching story paths meant that big wins and losses really mattered, and you really felt that your character was an important part of the roster.

Most fans respect wrestlers for the exhausting lives they lead just to entertain us, but we watch wrestling for the stories and play the games for fun. Nobody would pick up a Game of Thrones game and expect to have to control the actors as they traversed filming the show!

Hopefully with how playful AEW is with the concept of kayfabe they can produce a career mode that has just as compelling a story as some of their early on-screen products already have.