Although guest characters in fighting games are no longer as prevalent as they once were, that's not to say that the practice is completely dead. WWE 2K23 is a great example of this, as although the game doesn't feature guest characters in the traditional sense, it does allow players to download and fight with hundreds of popular characters from a wide variety of games and genres.

RELATED: WWE 2K23: How to Download Custom Superstars

This is all thanks to the game's fantastic Create a Wrestler tools, which offer players a ridiculous amount of control over the downloadable wrestlers that they create. As a result, some of the best custom Superstars based on video game characters are incredibly realistic, allowing WWE 2K23 players to put together their dream matchups with just a handful of button presses.

Dr. Eggman (Sonic the Hedgehog)

It's very rare to see Dr. Eggman getting his hands dirty, with the iconic video game villain typically using machines or hired labor in an attempt to get the job done. It's perhaps for this reason that the thought of seeing Eggman in the ring is so tantalizing, with ggthekiller's excellent CaW giving fans a chance to see exactly what he's really made of.

How to Download Dr. Eggman in WWE 2K23

Ellie (The Last of Us)

With HBO's The Last of Us having only just finished airing at the time of WWE 2K23's release, it's perhaps unsurprising to see so many The Last of Us-inspired CaWs popping up in the Community Creations menu. ANJELITO's Ellie is perhaps the pick of the bunch, with the talented creator doing an excellent job of recreating Bella Ramsey's version of the character in-game.

How to Download Ellie in WWE 2K23

Joel (The Last of Us)

There are quite a few different options when it comes to custom Superstars based on Joel, but Gta's attempt is probably the best, at least when it comes to matching the look and feel of the The Last of Us games, anyway. Joel's surprisingly effective in the ring too, making this one of the best custom Superstars based on TV show characters in WWE 2K23.

How to Download Joel in WWE 2K23

Kratos (God of War)

If ever there were a video game character that deserves to be created in WWE 2K23, it's Kratos. The iconic God of War is a perfect fit for the franchise, as he is capable of both dishing out and withstanding a ridiculous amount of punishment. TapOutCriticLive's CaW features attires for both young and old Kratos, allowing players to choose their favorite form.

How to Download Kratos in WWE 2K23

Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)

Lara Croft may be best known for wielding pistols, but she can still pack quite the punch when push comes to shove. thecomedian's attempt at recreating Lara in WWE 2K23 is perhaps more inspired by the Tomb Raider movies than the video games in which the character first made her debut, but it's an incredibly impressive effort on their part nonetheless.

How to Download Lara Croft in WWE 2K23

Liu Kang (Mortal Kombat)

When looking through both past and present custom Superstars based on video game characters, a clear and obvious pattern emerges. Characters from fighting games seem to be a lot more common, which, given the similarities between wrestling games and more traditional fighters, probably shouldn't be all that surprising. Jzero's Liu Kang is one of the best in this year's installment, with the iconic Mortal Kombat character feeling right at home in WWE 2K23.

How to Download Liu Kang in WWE 2K23

Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)

Just like in WWE 2K22, there are some excellent CaWs based on Mortal Kombat's Scorpion in this year's game. Jzero's is once again the pick of the bunch though, with the talented creator not only managing to recreate the character's iconic appearance but also his unique fighting style.

How to Download Scorpion in WWE 2K23

Solid Snake (Metal Gear)

There are a few different Snakes in the Metal Gear universe, but Solid Snake tends to be most people's favorite. Granted, he may not be the brightest bulb in the box, but it's with him that players get to experience some of the series' most exciting moments. With this in mind, it's easy to see why Karioblaze chose to create Solid Snake in WWE 2K23.

How to Download Solid Snake in WWE 2K23

Trevor Phillips (GTA 5)

When Alfred told Bruce that some men just wanted to watch the world burn in 2008's The Dark Knight, he was likely envisioning a man like Trevor Phillips. The GTA 5 protagonist is the personification of anarchy and thus a fine choice for a WWE 2K23 CaW. TheSecondNinja does a fine job of recreating him, with the default attire being particularly impressive.

How to Download Trevor Phillips in WWE 2K23

Zangief (Street Fighter)

Given that several of Zangief's attacks are inspired by real wrestling moves, it makes sense that someone would go to the effort of creating the Street Fighter veteran in WWE 2K23. Both the move set and the appearance of PhenomenalPhenomUK's creation are spot on, making this a must-try for fans of both the character and the popular fighting game franchise from which he made his debut.

How to Download Zangief in WWE 2K23

WWE 2K23 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S|X.