The Royal Rumble mode in wrestling games has always been a difficult match type to get right in games. There has to be a balance of fun and randomness to it without resorting to frustrating mechanics. These matches are often better when played with friends as the random nature of the match becomes hilarious instead of frustrating.
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The Royal Rumble has been a staple of wrestling game franchises whether it’s inWWEgames or as a Battle Royale mode in non-licensed wrestling games likeFire Pro Wrestling,past WCW games, and likely in the upcomingAEW Fight Forever. Until then, this list will include some of the WWE wrestling games that include the Royal Rumble feature.
7WWF Royal Rumble 1993
Released in 1993, Acclaim’sWWF Royal Rumblewas a direct follow-up toWWF Super WrestleMania. The gameplay remained the same except that it added new illegal moves tactics and new weapons. The animation and the characters still look great to this day and Royal Rumble mode was way ahead of its time.
It allowed up to 6 wrestlers to be in the ring at the same time and a new entrant would be added to the match after each elimination. There were only twelve wrestlers in the game but that was considered a big roster in its day. Wrestlers needed to be worn down but there was always the added risk that a hip toss could eliminate an opponent rebounding from the ropes.
6WWE 2K22
Most of the Royal Rumble modes in theWWE SmackdownandWWE 2Kseries have a frustrating element to them. That remains to some degree inWWE 2K22but this game borrowsgameplay elements fromWWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Painin terms of speed and action.
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There is always a chance that one could make it to the final four only to get eliminated by a simple clothesline. However, when playing in multiplayer the game is a lot of fun. The Royal Rumble finishing moves make a return but now it’s easier to store them and unleash hell on the other wrestlers by eliminating multiple wrestlers at once.
5WWE Smackdown! Shut Your Mouth
WWE Smackdown! Shut Your Mouthwas the first game to be released under the new WWE banner. This is the first game in the series that started to feel like a blend of arcade action and simulation that Yukes brought in from their Japanese wrestling games.
The action didn’t slow down when there were multiple wrestlers in the ring and players feel like they’ve got a fighting chance of winning instead of relying on luck. The action can still get chaotic and wild when playing multiplayer matches and as always this is another WWE game that’s at its best when played with friends.
4WWF WrestleMania 2000
WWF WrestleMania 2000is the first WWE game developed by AKI Corporation. The same studio is responsible for theWCW vs NWOwrestling game series andthe engine is still regarded as the best wrestling system in gaming.
The fantastic wrestling mechanics translate toWWFWrestleMania 2000’s Royal Rumble mode too. Surviving and winning the Royal Rumble match is a matter of skill instead of luck and the matches can go back and forth between the players and opponents. The Royal Rumble mode is fun whether it’s played solo or in multiplayer modes.
3WWF No Mercy
As a sequel toWWF WrestleMania 2000,WWF No Mercyhas similar mechanics and features to its predecessor. However, the gameplay ishighly regarded as an improvementin almost every way.
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WWF No Mercy’sRoyal Rumble modefunctions in a similar way to its predecessor, butWWF No Mercyalso benefits from a larger roster to choose from. In addition, players can now add the Team Battle option to Royal Rumble to shake things up.
2WWE Day Of Reckoning 2
Released in 2005 as a Nintendo GameCube exclusive,WWE Day of Reckoning 2was one of the best wrestling games of its generation. Even though it was developed by Yukes, the same studio behind theWWE Smackdown vs Rawseries, the gameplay was significantly different.
The wrestling mechanics fell somewhere between theSmackdowngames and AKI’sWWF No Mercy. Functionally, it plays similarly toHere Comes the Painbut with the implementation of a momentum meter. This can change the dynamics of a grappling war organically but also allows players to mount a comeback in the Royal Rumble match.
1WWE Smackdown! Here Comes The Pain
WWE Smackdown! Here Comes The Painis arguably Yukes' most popular wrestling game in the West. Even thoughWWEHere Comes the Painimplements familiar mechanicsit also has impactful arcade-style gameplay that makes the Royal Rumble matches as chaotic and as fun as they should be.
It can have 6 wrestlers in the ring at once and the action doesn’t suffer from any slowdown. Moreover, the matches are hilarious fun when played with friends and worthwhile as a solo experience too. Every move looks and sounds like it has weight which translates into the organized chaos that is a Royal Rumble match.
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