The N64 era was a golden time for wrestling fans, with a lineup of games that blended arcade-style action with simulation gameplay. From the iconic WCW to the beloved WWF, these titles offered a mix of unique features, rosters, and arenas, giving fans plenty to enjoy.
In this ranking of Nintendo 64 Wrestling Games, we will talk about each title, from the least impressive to the absolute best. Some games stood out with their innovative mechanics and exciting gameplay, while others struggled with clunky controls or missed opportunities.
Nintendo 64 Wrestling Games
The N64 era delivered some of the most iconic wrestling games, blending arcade action with simulation fun. But if you’d love classic gaming across different consoles you should also play best NES games that we selected from a long list.
WCW Backstage Assault
It is slightly better than WCW Nitro, but not by much. The game’s matches are set entirely in backstage areas, which feels more like a gimmick than a creative decision. This shift in setting makes it feel disconnected from what fans expect from a traditional wrestling game. The focus on hardcore matches is fine, but the lack of a wrestling ring is a major flaw.
While the game is technically playable, it doesn’t bring much excitement or fun to the table. It’s an improvement over Nitro, but still a forgettable title in the N64 wrestling library.
WCW Mayhem
It is a good WCW wrestling game before the quality dived. It’s a fun arcade-style game with decent graphics and gameplay, though I prefer the PS1 version. The controls are solid, and the roster is full of stars from the late ’90s and early 2000s. This game is the direction WCW games should have gone. It’s much better than WCW Nitro and WCW Backstage Assault.
Mayhem has a strong roster and improved mechanics, offering a more complete and enjoyable wrestling experience.
WCW/NWO: Revenge
The game improves on its predecessor, WCW vs. NWO: World Tour. While the graphics are mostly the same, the gameplay feels smoother, and the updated roster adds more variety. It’s a fantastic wrestling game, with great controls and easy-to-learn mechanics. This is my favourite WCW game across all consoles. It’s better than the previous WCW games and holds up well against other N64 titles.
WCW should have ended with this gam, as the others just didn’t match its quality.
WWF WrestleMania 2000
The WWF WrestleMania 2000 was an awesome game to revisit. It felt like the closest thing to the SmackDown games on the PS1, with great rosters, controls, and graphics. The career mode was simple but fun, and the game was a big upgrade over previous WWF titles on the N64.
This game was a massive improvement over WWF Attitude and Warzone. Though the N64’s hardware limited it, WrestleMania 2000 is still one of the best wrestling games on the console. I had a blast revisiting it and playing through its career mode. Gaming history is too old, Wrestlemania released in 1999, but if you want to know about games of 1980s there are multiple decent games of TurboGrafx-16 which are still available.
WWF Warzone
It is a solid arcade wrestling game that blends simulation and fighting game elements. While I prefer the PS1 version, the N64 version is still enjoyable, and I have a soft spot for it from when I played it a lot. It’s one of those games I spent hours on when it was first released. The biggest issue with the game is its frustrating menu system, which can be a hassle at first.
However, once you get the hang of the moves, the menus become easier to ignore. Despite these flaws, it’s still far better than the other games on this list, making it one of my favourites.
WCW vs. NWO: World Tour
It is one of the best WCW games, offering an accessible and fun experience. After playing through the terrible WCW Nitro and Backstage Assault, this was a much-needed relief. While the graphics are dated, the controls and roster make up for it. It’s easy to learn and a great option for newcomers to wrestling games.
Despite its dated graphics, it’s still an enjoyable game. If I’d played this in 1997, I would have loved it even more, and it stands out as one of the better N64 wrestling titles.
ECW Hardcore Revolution
ECW Hardcore Revolution is slightly better than WWF Warzone, but not by much. It shares the same controls, graphics, and gameplay. The game has a few extra modes, and though I don’t care much for the career mode, it does add some variety. While the career mode can feel tedious, other modes are more in line with what you’d expect from an ECW game.
Unfortunately, the developers couldn’t capture the wild energy of ECW’s TV shows. It’s a decent game, but not much better than WWF Warzone or WWF Attitude.
WWF No Mercy
The best wrestling game on the N64 by far offers fantastic gameplay, graphics, and story mode, making it hard to put down. It improves on WrestleMania 2000 with a much deeper career mode and more enjoyable mechanics. This game stands out as a true classic in the wrestling genre, providing an unforgettable experience for fans.
No Mercy would have been a top contender even on the PS1, and it rivals Smackdown 2 in terms of fun. Its career mode is one of the best I’ve ever played, and the gameplay is smooth and engaging. This is a must-play game for any wrestling fan, and I loved every minute of it.
WWF Attitude
WWF Attitude was one of my favorites on the PS1, but the N64 version left me a little disappointed. The career mode is decent but lacks a story and can get tedious. It’s best enjoyed with friends, but it still doesn’t compare to the other wrestling games on this list. At the time, WWF Attitude made huge strides in wrestling games with great graphics and a decent career mode.
As newer wrestling games came out, this one started to feel outdated. It’s still fun, but it doesn’t hold up compared to titles like No Mercy and WrestleMania 2000.
WCW Nitro
WCW Nitro is a bad port of an already poor game. The N64 version is even worse than the PS1, removing many of the fun features that made the original enjoyable. While the graphics are decent for the time, the lack of good gameplay makes it feel disappointing and uninteresting. This arcade wrestling game has no grapple system, which is a huge miss for a wrestling game.
Released a year after the PS1 version, it didn’t bring any improvements. Instead, it made the experience worse and nearly unplayable, failing to live up to expectations.
Conclusion
The Nintendo 64 Wrestling Games offer a range of experiences, from groundbreaking titles like WWF No Mercy to underwhelming entries like WCW Nitro. While the console’s wrestling library may not have had the same polish as modern games, it provided a nostalgic and fun experience for many fans. Whether you enjoy arcade-style action or simulation-based wrestling, there’s a game for everyone in this lineup.
