WWE 2K20 was recently confirmed with the release of its very first screenshots, revealing how Bayley and Brock Lesnar will appear in the game. A full WWE 2K20 gameplay reveal is set to take place on Monday, August 5, but the game itself will likely be unavailable until October, if past WWE 2K video game release dates are any indication.
That is a somewhat long time to wait for professional wrestling fans hungry for a new video game, but perhaps they can tide themselves over by revisiting some other wrestling video games from over the years.
Here are five wrestling video games for fans to revisit while they wait for WWE 2K20.
5 5. WWE 2K19
What better way to prepare for the next entry in the long-running WWE 2K series than by replaying last year's entry? As we noted in our WWE 2K19 review, last year's game is actually quite good, overcoming its tedious grinding by delivering a dizzying amount of content for players to sink their teeth into. It also somewhat moved away from the slower-paced, more simulation-like gameplay that the series had been delivering for years at that point. Plus, WWE 2K19's roster will most resemble the WWE 2K20 roster than any other professional wrestling video game on the market, so barring any significantly drastic gameplay changes, players should be able to use it to brush up on their skills for the next game.
4 4. WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 is far from the best professional wrestling video game out there from an in-ring perspective. However, the game stands out from the pack thanks to its General Manager mode, which is robust and actually a lot of fun. SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 was the last time we saw a true General Manager mode in the games, and it would be nice to see the feature make a comeback in WWE 2K20. Perhaps with Eric Bischoff now in charge of SmackDown and Paul Heyman running Raw in real life, maybe we will finally get a General Manager mode on par with what was on display here. Even if WWE 2K20 doesn't have General Manager mode, pro wrestling fans may want to revisit this game just to get a different kind of gameplay experience than what they can get in the many sequels that followed.
3 3. WWE Day of Reckoning 2
The GameCube-exclusive WWE Day of Reckoning 2 is a cult classic among professional wrestling fans, praised for its story mode and tight in-ring action. What makes the story mode in WWE Day of Reckoning 2 even more compelling is that it is one of the few pro wrestling video game stories that actually serves as a direct sequel to its predecessor, lending some extra depth to the experience. They don't make them like WWE Day of Reckoning 2 anymore, and while those interested in playing it will need to hunt down a GameCube, it's well worth the effort for anyone who is a fan of WWE video games.
2 2. WWF No Mercy
A list of pro wrestling video game recommendations simply wouldn't be complete without an appearance from WWF No Mercy. The Nintendo 64 classic is often called the best pro wrestling video game ever, with an incredible roster, branching story mode, and endlessly entertaining couch multiplayer. WWF No Mercy offers plenty of customization options as well, so players could potentially create WWE 2K20's roster in the game if they so desired. In the meantime, fans of the game may be interested to know that there have been rumblings that rival company AEW may be making a video game that takes inspiration from WWF No Mercy, but nothing official has been announced on that front.
1 1. WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain
WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain may be the perfect game for professional wrestling fans to revisit while they wait for WWE 2K20. It's clear by the current television product and the game's reveal that Brock Lesnar will play a significant role, and Here Comes the Pain is literally named after him. Earning widespread critical acclaim at the time of its release, WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain features a huge roster of over 50 wrestlers, the very first time that the Elimination Chamber was ever included in a video game, a compelling Season Mode, and more. It's worth pointing out that Lesnar was considered overpowered in the game, which is a trait that may very well carry over to his appearance in WWE 2K20.
WWE 2K20 is in development for unspecified platforms.