Few could doubt the global success of the WWE. It’s watched in more than 180 countries in up to 9 million households every weekend. Surprisingly, India beats the USA for viewers, with more than 4 million people tuning into RAW in January 2021.

Despite being so popular and viewed in 28 languages worldwide, the WWE hasn’t been used as much across game franchises as you might expect. When compared alongside other sports, it is obvious that wrestling deserves a lot more representation than what it gets now – especially on newer platforms.

What are the Best WWE Games to Date?

Wrestling games have had a strong presence on console games for decades, with the first title appearing on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989. This was WWF WrestleMania, developed by Rare and released by Acclaim Entertainment. Older players may remember the iconic cover picture featuring Hulk Hogan ripping off his shirt. The title only earned a score of 30% from Total!, though, and is hardly the most memorable wrestling offering ever.

Despite its lukewarm reception, the original WrestleMania game sparked a long-running series that spanned more than ten other games across various consoles. The latest was WWE Legends of WrestleMania for the PlayStation 3, Xbox, and iOS in 2009. Some of these titles are now considered classics in the WWE community.

The most successful series of WWE games for consoles in recent years has been the WWE 2K series, which is currently developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Sports. Since 2000, there have been 25 games in the series, with a new one ready to drop in 2022. WWE 2K22 was announced at WrestleMania 37, as fans were given a teaser of what to expect.

Where Else Could Developers Look to Use the WWE?

There is no doubt that the WWE has been represented well on console for the last three decades, but it could be argued that there is a lack of options on other platforms. For example, other sports like football and basketball have spread out into online casino games. Developers seem to view these as safe options, and often steer clear of WWE.

In the USA, though, WWE games could be a fantastic way to spread the word about the growing online casino industry in the country. A lot of states have just opened to the industry, and sites will be looking at ways to attract players. One way to do this is through bonuses. For instance, there are bonus codes for Betmgm that work in Pennsylvania, and these give players free playing money. These can be a fantastic way to allure people initially, but the quality of games is also a huge factor.

If players in the USA saw some games that they could relate to as well, this would give them an even greater reason to play. The first licensed WWE slot game was released only two years ago, showing how there is a lot more to be done to push the genre. Now could be the perfect time for this.

WWE has broken into pretty much every area of the gaming industry except gambling. If developers start making games based for sites that target the USA, they may find an influx of players in the country.