AEW: Fight Forever

Flashes of Fun, Fumbled Execution

AEW: Fight Forever had the weight of expectation on its shoulders-billed as a throwback to the golden age of wrestling games like No Mercy and Here Comes the Pain, fans were hyped. The AEW brand brought energy, innovation, and a much-needed alternative to the WWE-dominated gaming landscape. Unfortunately, while Fight Forever has moments of greatness, it doesn't quite live up to the hype.

The Good: Stadium Stampede is a Blast

Let's give credit where it's due-Stadium Stampede mode is pure chaos in the best way possible. It captures the wild, anything-goes nature of AEW's signature match types and gives players something unique you won't find in other wrestling games. There's humor, absurdity, and mayhem-this mode is where the game shines brightest and proves what Fight Forever could have been if it pushed the envelope more consistently.

The Gameplay: Serviceable but Sloppy

The core gameplay tries to bring back the arcade-style combat of old-school wrestling titles. At times, it does feel fluid, simple, and satisfying... but too often it just feels clunky and unrefined. Animations can be stiff, hit detection is inconsistent, and matches can devolve into button-mashing chaos without much depth.

There's fun to be had here, especially in multiplayer, but the gameplay doesn't evolve or deepen the more you play.

The Meh: Modes, Roster, and Polish

Beyond Stadium Stampede, the rest of the game feels... undercooked. Career mode is barebones, the customization is limited, and the overall presentation feels more "budget title" than "next-gen wrestling experience." The roster, while filled with AEW favorites, is surprisingly thin for a company loaded with talent, and DLC plans feel like catch-up rather than meaningful expansion.

Final Verdict - 6 out of 10

AEW Fight Forever has heart, and it's clearly a passion project. It brings a fresh energy and a few great ideas-Stadium Stampede alone is worth checking out-but the game as a whole lacks polish and staying power. It's a decent first step, but AEW needs a stronger follow-up to truly contend in the wrestling game arena.

The Pros * Some fun match types * Some fun aspects to gameplay * No restriction to winning or losing matches in Road to Elite mode is a decision I appreciate

The Cons * Not allot of content * Clunky movement * Matches end too quickly * Bland Road to Elite mode * Barebones creation suite * Can't edit wrestler attributes or skills

Final Verdict: Playing AEW Fight Forever is fun for a bit but afterwards you soon realise how barren the game really is. And coming from experienced wrestling video game devs, Yukes (worked on WWE 2K14 and previous games), it's pretty disappointing.

Final Rating: 5.5 / 10.

It is certainly a fun game! There's no doubting that! But there are definitely flaws! One example is the immense difficulty of kicking out and breaking out of submissions. WWE games definitely did this better! They actually gave you a chance. Where as in this game if you're in a submission you are in it! You don't win. And if you are hit with a finished. That's it. You lose! It's kinda the worst part of the game by far! Is it fun to play. Well, if you know you're gonna lose within minutes of starting a 1 on 1 then no. Not at all. Rather disappointing! I still play it but it's rare that I truly have a good time when there is so much to complain about.