AEW: Fight Forever – CM Punk and Darby Allin doing their thing (Picture: THQ Nordic)

All Elite Wrestling has emerged as the closest thing WWE has had to competition in decades, and now the battle comes to the world of gaming.

AEW Fight Forever is the promotion’s first foray into video games and it’s been a long time coming since the initial announcement in November 2020, with fans clamouring to play as their favourite stars.

With gamer, wrestler, and EVP Kenny Omega leading the charge, along with referee Audrey Edwards, there were high hopes after they promised something more in line with the arcade feel of classics like WWF No Mercy from the Nintendo 64 days.

This is the first wrestling game developer Yuke’s have been involved with since WWE 2K19, while THQ Nordic are also back as publishers after a long history in the world of wrestling games.

The first thing that really needs to be said is that for sheer pick up and play fun, Fight Forever has hit all the right moves.

The controls are simple to learn and master, with a focus on an arcade style rather than the hyper realistic simulation of the WWE 2K series, with the momentum meter being a great touch with the way it impacts the likelihood of reversals.

The pinning and submission mechanisms are just simple button mashing, but there’s no real way to gauge where you’re at in the process if you’re desperately trying to escape.

AEW: Fight Forever – the action is fast paced and exciting (Picture: THQ Nordic)

The characters themselves have complex movesets, with added ways to damage your opponents including slams into – and leaps off – the ringside barriers, while the action is suitably fast paced and frantic.

Everything looks great too, with a more cartoony style to the wrestlers in the ring and slick animations when it comes to everything they’re doing. However, it’s got to be noted that despite the long development cycle, some wrestlers – such as Chris Jericho – have a very dated look, that’s out of sync by more than two years.

Others, like Kenny Omega, Jon Moxley, and Sting look fantastic, while there’s great attention to detail with things like the typically lethargic Orange Cassidy being able to put his hands in his pockets, complete with a unique moveset to match his real life style.

AEW: Fight Forever – the Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch is an absolute blast (Picture: THQ Nordic)

In terms of the matches, the Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch is an absolute riot, with a countdown clock to the explosion, and plenty of blood and guts on offer to create an over the top and delightfully gruesome experience.

Ladder Matches, Lights Out, and Falls Count Anywhere are also where the game shines, with weapon-based chaos, while other options include tag team, Triple Threats, and Fatal Four Ways – plus the 21-person Casino Battle Royale, which is basically AEW’s answer to WWE’s Royal Rumble, and keeps up the frantic action.

Unfortunately, a limited selection of match choices – we literally covered them all in the last two paragraphs – is a major problem when it comes to Fight Forever, which doesn’t quite offer enough depth for the promised months of replayability.

AEW: Fight Forever – Yuke’s were keen to recapture an arcade style (Picture: THQ Nordic)

The core roster is strong, with the likes of CM Punk, Britt Baker, Adam Cole, and MJF all there, but there are some glaring omissions with Jamie Hayter and others not making the cut. At the same time, the game feels outdated with William Regal (now back with WWE) providing the tutorial.

The game’s main story mode, Road To Elite, is truly a hit and miss affair, as it has the old school feel for a while but quickly begins to wear thin. There isn’t enough depth here to keep you going, even with the mode helping you unlock the likes of ‘The Big Show’ Paul Wight.

The mode effectively follows a pay-per-view cycle building to All In, with your time away from the ring taken up by repetitive choices such as heading to a local restaurant for food, or going to a tourist trap.

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Similarly, the creation suite is in desperate need of more depth, with incredibly limited options for your own stars, and no way to download community creations, which means adding to the roster is a struggle.

AEW Fight Forever does hit some of the right notes and it’s undoubtedly a fun game, but unless you’re going to be playing a lot with friends, to make the most of the arcade style, its longevity might not be worth the hefty price tag.

Formats: Xbox Series X/S (reviewed), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC
Price: £49.99
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Developer: Yuke’s
Release Date: 29th June 2023
Age Rating: 16

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Not quite as contender to the WWE 2K crown.