The Ultimate Showdown: AEW Fight Forever vs WWE 2K23 - Unveiling the Ultimate Wrestling Game!

Content: Much like televised products, AEW Fight Forever offers wrestling fans a fun alternative game with unique appeal. Both titles feature talented upcoming stars and legendary wrestlers in their rosters, allowing players to experience dream matches and intense battles inside and outside the ring. However, it's inevitable to compare wrestling games between the two largest promotions worldwide, just like TV shows and pay-per-view events.

Despite visual disparities, AEW Fight Forever and WWE 2K23 share similarities. Players can easily grasp and master the mechanics of both games, leading to exciting and competitive matches. Additionally, these wrestling titles incorporate and draw inspiration from acclaimed games like WWF No Mercy and WWE Smackdown: Here Comes The Pain. Let's analyze and compare the two games to determine the ultimate victor.

11 Accessibility Settings: WWE 2K23

WWE 2K23 stands out as the ultimate choice for inclusive accessibility settings, catering to players from all walks of life. In contrast, AEW falls short in providing features for players who may face challenges with controlling the game.

Let's consider the pinning and submission system. In AEW Fight Forever, it often feels almost impossible for most gamers to successfully kick out after a finisher. Escaping becomes an arduous task, making it excessively difficult and rendering the momentum bar somewhat ineffective. Simply put, the pinning system in AEW Fight Forever is flawed and ineffective.

10 Pick Up And Play: AEW Fight Forever

- Limitations for Players with Mobility Issues:

Fight Forever's system may not be suitable for players who have conditions that restrict the mobility of their hands or movements. In contrast, WWE 2K23 offers wrestling fans the option to choose from two pinning systems and customize every aspect of the system using sliders, allowing them to tailor the gameplay to their specific needs.

AEW Fight Forever stands out from the classic AKI wrestling games by offering an accessible and enjoyable experience. The controls are not overly complex, allowing players to easily engage and have fun. In contrast to WWE 2K23, the signature and finishing moves in AEW Fight Forever are more straightforward.

The remarkable aspect of AEW's gameplay system is that it allows non-wrestling fans to easily dive into the game without needing to frequently pause and consult the moves list. Moreover, Fight Forever successfully accomplishes this feat without venturing into the realms of arcade fighting games, offering an abundance of moves and complexity.

9 Gameplay Depth: Draw

AEW Fight Forever goes beyond the typical arcade wrestling game. The developers at Yukes have struck a perfect balance between accessibility and depth. Whether you're a casual player or an experienced gamer, AEW Fight Forever offers engaging and competitive matches. The game's momentum bar and reversal system give players ample opportunities to counter moves, mount comebacks, and regain control of the match. However, it's worth noting that while AEW Fight Forever excels in these aspects, it falls short in comparison to WWE 2K23 when it comes to match duration. The pinning system feels lackluster and the gameplay options are limited, resulting in matches that can be cut short. Nevertheless, there is potential for improvement through future patches and updates to address these issues and achieve a better balance, just like in WWE 2K23.

WWE 2K23 offers a plethora of moves, attacks, grapples, and submissions, making it a more intricate game. Moreover, it provides players with easier reversals and counters, allowing for more opportunities to stage a comeback. On the other hand, AEW Fight Forever stands out with its seamless and speedy transitions, along with the inclusion of chain wrestling. This grappling mechanic, which fans have long desired since WWE 2K19, has finally made a comeback in AEW Fight Forever. While the WWE 2K series has removed various popular features, AEW Fight Forever has successfully brought them back. Both WWE 2K23 and AEW Fight Forever boast commendable aspects alongside some limitations. Striving for a middle ground between these titles would be ideal, but ultimately, the choice comes down to personal preference.

8 Gimmick Matches: Draw

Gimmick matches such as Ladder, Battle Royales, Back Stage Brawls, and Falls Count Anywhere, among others, are showcased in both WWE 2K23 and AEW Fight Forever. These matches provide players with a refreshing break from traditional wrestling bouts governed by strict rules. WWE 2K23 boasts a wider range of gimmick matches and even allows players to create their own, such as a Survivor Series match. However, some matches can be frustrating, particularly the Ladder Match and Royal Rumbles due to their annoying minigames. Nevertheless, there are plenty of enjoyable elements, like constructing ladder bridges, executing risky attacks by sprinting up inclined ladders, and more.

AEW Fight Forever may not match the versatility or number of matches found in WWE 2K23, but it has its own charm. The Ladder Matches, for instance, offer accessible chaos and can be easily accomplished through a simple button-mashing minigame. However, what truly sets AEW Fight Forever apart is its remarkable Exploding Barbed Wire Death Matches. These exceed the hardcore and extreme match types in WWE 2K23. It is unfortunate that AEW Fight Forever lacks a sufficient quantity of these matches. If they did, it would unquestionably be a triumph for them. Nonetheless, the wide range of match options available in WWE 2K23 makes it a close competition.

7 Tag Team Matches: AEW Fight Forever

When it comes to tag team matches in the WWE 2K series, they have consistently fallen short and paled in comparison to the AKI wrestling games on the N64. The execution of double-team moves has always been awkward, clunky, and limited in terms of when and how players can utilize them. However, AEW Fight Forever has smartly adopted the AKI mechanics, allowing two wrestlers to seamlessly execute double-team moves and finishers without any hassle.

As a result, the execution of tag team finishers, tandem moves, and matches with teams becomes significantly smoother. Multiplayer contests featuring 3-way and 4-way matches have the potential to plunge into chaotic hilarity. To execute most team moves, both members simply need to activate the grapple button. Furthermore, there are numerous hidden moves and finishers waiting to be discovered, enhancing the game's depth.

6 Presentation: WWE 2K23

Undoubtedly, WWE 2K23 emerges as the undisputed victor, surpassing any competition with its astounding visuals, animation, sound, and commentary. This remarkable game impeccably replicates the genuine atmosphere and appearance of a live WWE match, ensuring that wrestlers resemble their real-life personas and execute moves flawlessly.

AEW Fight Forever's brief entrances serve their purpose, but they pale in comparison to the awe-inspiring theatrical walkouts of Undertaker. While AEW lacks commentary in their game, fans can overlook this flaw considering the WWE 2K series took a considerable amount of time to reach an acceptable level. Although the AEW wrestlers possess unique taunts, the animations feel repetitive across all performers. It must be acknowledged that AEW Fight Forever's jukebox and music offer a wider variety compared to WWE 2K23, where the majority of fans opt to disable most licensed tracks in favor of the entrance music.

5 Multiplayer: AEW Fight Forever

AEW Fight Forever offers a pick-up-and-play experience that makes local co-op and competitive matches highly enjoyable. Even individuals who are not typically interested in wrestling will discover a great deal of excitement in AEW Fight Forever's matches.

4 Match Selection: WWE 2K23

: The intense hardcore matches in AEW Fight Forever are filled with amusing moments that will leave players laughing uncontrollably. From the chaotic barbed wire matches to the thrilling 4-way matches, the hilarity knows no bounds. Additionally, the game offers an impressive variety of weapons, and the inclusion of blood effects takes the madness to a whole new level when playing with multiple players. Those who enjoyed the street fighting/wrestling combat in the renowned Def Jam series will find themselves truly engrossed in Fight Forever's mechanics.

One major limitation of AEW Fight Forever revolves around its insufficient array of features and match types. While the matches offer enjoyment and are relatively accessible, players are unable to modify the rules of a match, as can be done in WWE 2K23. In contrast to the latter, AEW Fight Forever lacks the inclusion of tornado tag teams, 8-man tags, elimination Survivor Series matches, or even Iron Matches.

3 Brutality & Impact: AEW Fight Forever

Given the abundance of gimmick matches and 10-man bouts in AEW, it appears to be a missed chance not to feature more thrilling Iron Man Matches, Dog Collar matches, or massive tag team encounters. Additionally, WWE 2K23 showcases the exhilarating Hell in a Cell match, which provides enjoyment both in multiplayer and single-player mode.

For fans of WWE Smackdown: Here Comes the Pain, the memory of every powerful and ruthless big move and finisher still lingers. The impact they delivered was immense, providing a gratifying experience and contributing to the enjoyable and accessible gameplay mechanics. AEW Fight Forever offers a similar sensation, as even the slightest movements carry a satisfying impact and visually appealing execution.

2 Character Creations: WWE 2K23

Additionally, executing powerful slams on adversaries by crashing them into barricades and utilizing the surrounding environment is effortlessly accomplished and immensely gratifying. The awe-inspiring blood effects showcased in AEW Fight Forever surpass those in WWE 2K23, as blood not only leaves prominent stains on the wrestling mat but also results in visible cuts on wrestlers' bodies during intense barbed wire matches.

The character-creation tools in WWE 2K23 surpass those found in most other wrestling games, making it one of the best options available. On the other hand, AEW Fight Forever, the first installment in its series, falls short in comparison. However, the WWE 2K series boasts a loyal community of players who continuously engage with the game's character creation features until the next sequels are released.

Thanks to the available tools, the creative members of the WWE 2K community have produced impressive recreations of AEW stars such as MJF and Kenny Omega, which ironically surpass the character models found in AEW Fight Forever. Nevertheless, Fight Forever still offers valuable resources. It provides an extensive array of options for creating finisher lists and move sets, granting players the flexibility to customize both their own characters and utilize the official roster.

1 The Roster: WWE 2K23

AEW Fight Forever boasts an impressive lineup of wrestling icons and rising talents. Among the featured names are Sting, Chris Jericho, Owen Hart, Paul Wight, and many more. Meanwhile, the WWE showcases a powerful roster that includes notable figures hailing from NXT, Smackdown, and Raw. This includes legendary individuals like Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, Vader, Goldberg, The Ultimate Warrior, and Harley Race.

{{h1_placeholder_11}}WWE 2K23 boasts an extensive selection of 240 wrestlers, providing players with a diverse range of options. On the other hand, AEW Fight Forever currently offers approximately 50 wrestlers, with the possibility of expanding through downloadable content. However, when it comes to the breadth of its roster, WWE 2K23 emerges as the obvious frontrunner, featuring a captivating combination of legendary icons and current rising stars.

WWE 2K23 surpasses AEW Fight Forever in its impressive debut within the wrestling genre. While AEW Fight Forever shows potential for a successful series, the decision by Yukes to enhance the game through patches and DLC rather than annual releases promises to deliver additional content, improved accessibility options, and gameplay refinements. Nonetheless, at present, WWE 2K23 remains the superior wrestling game experience among the two major promotions in the United States.

You can find AEW Fight Forever on various platforms including PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

WWE 2K23 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.