Ranking The Best Wrestling Video Game For Each Major Console

4. Wii - WWE SmackDown Vs. RAW 2011

mankind smackdown 2 know your role
THQ

Maybe a little surprisingly, the Nintendo Wii actually had a fair few wrestling games released on it during the console's run.

2011's WWE All Stars is worth a mention here, with the fun aesthetic, larger-than-life gameplay, and easy to pick-up controls of the release meshing nicely with the overall feel and style of the Wii. For the absolute best wrestling game on the Wii, though, it's WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 that wins out.

What made SVR11 stand out from its rivals is the extensive new linear single player modes. The WWE Universe mode was at that point something fresh to what had been seen in previous releases, with players able to embark on cut scene-laced story arcs in which meaningful decisions were at the gamer's fingertips. Similarly, there was the Road to WrestleMania mode which offered up multiple different possibilities as you try and carve your wrestler of choice's path to the WWE's annual Showcase of the Immortals.

The Wii came around at an awkward time for wrestling games, with it too late to enjoy the brilliance of the early SmackDown franchise, while likewise being too late to get some of the better entries of the WWE 2K series - but WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 was a solid release.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.