2. WWE ’13

'Coz Stone Cold says so!

The Celtic warrior introducing his opponent's head to the mat

Sequel to the excellent WWE ’12 is 2012’s equally impressive WWE ’13.

This title focuses on WWE’s epic Attitude Era, with a mode that lets players experience the period via six storylines. The game ramps up the nostalgia factor by recreating the Era’s most celebrated matches and rivalries. It even borrows actual video and audio clips from the show’s historical archives, and you’ll be playing several WWE luminaries such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mankind, Bret Hart, and Shaw Michaels. Though these matches are won by submission or pinfall, you can choose to achieve historical objectives for a variety of rewards, from special costumes to new characters.

D-Generation X!!!

The Creative Suite returns to let players create their own characters, as well as customize the environment, from the ring all the way to the audience and the entire stadium. Story Creation mode has been expanded to allow for as many as 500 matches and hundreds of branching options. You can even create your own finishing move under Special Moves.

Gameplay-wise, the engine has been tweaked to near perfection. The animations are more fluid, and little details, such as each brawler always striking towards his challenger, go a long way towards making the whole experience seem more authentic. Even each wrestler’s weight is taken into account, so that a smaller individual such as Rey Mysterio can’t lift bigger superstars such as the Big Show.

By offering a more realistic fighting system, and by highlighting WWE’s vaunted Attitude Era, WWE ’13 lands itself at spot #2 on our list of best WWE video games.

Sometimes, a good kick to the face is enough to end the match!

Whoever blinks first loses