Every WWE SmackDown vs. Raw Game Ranked From Worst To Best (2024)

Throughout the latter half of the Ruthless Aggression Era, and into the PG Era, WWE's video game of choice was SmackDown vs. Raw. A concept that made a lot of sense as it came shortly after the company's roster was split in two for the first time. From 2004 until 2010, WWE and video game partners offered a total of seven games under the SmackDown vs. Raw banner.

Today we take a look back at the SmackDown vs. Raw series. Many fans remember this period fondly, as some beloved features that remain in place in WWE's games to this day were created throughout its run. To some, it is considered to be the peak of WWE gaming, and wrestling fans remain hopeful that 2K can deliver something on the same level in the future.

9 WWE 12 Dropped The SmackDown Vs. Raw Name

Changed The Grapple System And Improved A.I.

WWE 12 dropped the SmackDown Vs. Raw title as the brand split was no longer featured on WWE programming and members of both rosters just competed wherever. The gameplay did have some changes, such as improvements being made to the A.I. so that they didn't use the same moves over and over again, plus some tweaking on the grapple system; otherwise, it was quite similar to SmackDown vs. Raw 2011.

Road to WrestleMania was also taken in a new direction as players couldn't just start by choosing who they wanted to play as and take them into WrestleMania, instead, it was split into three acts with Sheamus, Triple H, and a custom-created wrestler named Jacob Cass. The most praised change has to be what was done to the Universe mode, as it now truly felt like something the players could control and customize to their liking, while also featuring enough randomness mixed in.

8 SmackDown Vs. Raw 2008 Was A Rough Change For Fans

The Game Ventured Too Far From What Fans Liked

SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 is most of the time rated as one of the worst alongside SVR 2009. This was the entry that introduced the concept of fighting styles, which gave a primary and a host of secondary abilities to a wrestler who had those styles. For example, a "showman" could steal an opponent's taunt to drain all their foe's momentum, and a "brawler" can make all their strikes stronger and unblockable for a time.

The gameplay in 2008 was strong and the game's 24/7 mode had some good ideas but suffered from half-baked execution. The soundtrack was killer as well, and you could use songs from artists such as Chevelle as the entrance theme for your CAW. This was also the first WWE game to include the ECW brand, so many legends of the brand like Taz, Tommy Dreamer, and Sandman made their returns to the series or debut for some. SVR 2008 was the third and final time that General Manager mode would be included in the series, now featuring a third brand in Extreme Championship Wrestling. The mode was highly regarded but would be removed with the next entry and wouldn't be brought back until WWE 2K22.

7 WWE 13 Revived The Attitude Era

Created What Has Become Known As Showcase Mode

THQ's final WWE title before facing bankruptcy and Take-Two Interactive acquiring the publishing rights to the future WWE series. WWE 13 introduced a mode that has now become a staple of 2K's series, the Showcase mode. Under the name, Attitude Era mode, players got to relive and play through some of the biggest moments of the Attitude Era and the Monday Night Wars between the WWE and WCW. The roster also focused on this change, as current names and prior versions of The Rock, Edge, Christian, The Undertaker, and more were included.

Besides the Attitude Era mode, there wasn't much that was changed between WWE 12 and 13 besides minor tweaks and some improvements in animations. Universe mode saw some changes in the stories that could play out as Paul Heyman took a role in the creation of the mode and helped Yuke's and THQ improve things a bit more. Yuke's would continue developing the WWE series of games, but now under the 2K umbrella after WWE 13's release, before Yuke's themselves left and started a relationship with All Elite Wrestling.

6 SmackDown Vs. Raw 2009 Did Not Add Enough To Stand-Out

SVR 2009 Changed Very Little

There's nothing inherently wrong with SmackDown vs. Raw 2009, but this and SVR 08 were interchangeable at the bottom. This one suffers from being just a bit too forgettable. The roster was decent enough, and the gameplay was fine, but matches sometimes felt like they went on forever. The promotional material for the entry heavily showed off their new tag team system that, in action, didn't feel much different from previous titles.

Former DX members Triple H and Shawn Michaels, adorned the cover, a stark reminder that the company failed to create any new stars that year. This wasn't a terrible game by any means, just not in the conversation for all-time greats. On the plus side, it was the first in the series to include the much-loved Road To WrestleMania mode, a replacement for the typical season mode. Another positive aspect of the game was how the series put a renewed focus on tag team wrestling. Features that WWE gamers are used to now, like double team finishers and hot tags, were introduced in this title. The Road To WrestleMania mode featured names like CM Punk, John Cena, Chris Jericho, Triple H, & The Undertaker, where players went through a scripted storyline culminating in a big WrestleMania match.

5 The Original SmackDown Vs. Raw Innovated The Franchise

Started The Series Off On A Great Note

The main reason 2005 ranks so low on this list is simply because it was the first. The graphics weren't the strongest, and the series was just establishing its identity. Honestly, the gameplay wasn't half bad, as it began to shift the series away from arcade gameplay into more of a simulation. The core of the gameplay was still heavily inspired by the previous title, Here Comes The Pain. The roster was decent enough with names like Eddie Guerrero and even Sable rounding it out.

One much-loved feature was the season mode had full voice acting for every playable character, leading to insane cutscenes between superstars who didn't get the chance to interact on television. The soundtrack was also one of the better ones in the franchise. This was the first WWE game to include mini-games at the start of matches, like a test of strength, or the first to throw a strike before the bell rings. Another interesting gameplay feature was how you could select if you wanted your wrestler to be a heel or babyface for a given match. Babyfaces would be rewarded for doing things such as high-flying moves and following the rules, whereas a heel would be rewarded for disobeying the referee's rules, using weapons, and generally being a jerk to fans.

4 SmackDown Vs. Raw 2010 Seemed Like A Safe Upgrade

Improved Upon Last Year's Title Just Enough

2010 was something of a groundbreaking year for the SmackDown vs. Raw franchise. Many of the modes were just updated or refined rather than overhauled. This included the Road to WrestleMania feature, which was updated with new stories for a few roster members, such as Edge, Shawn Michaels, and Mickie James. It was also notable for including a two-player story where you and a friend could control Triple H & John Cena.

Another decently big mode that was introduced was the Story Designer, which gave players the chance to create full feuds and promos. This served as the basis for the beloved Universe Mode, which is still a staple in WWE video games to this day. The roster was actually a little light on this one and was padded with odd characters such as the red and green dummies that are seen in the Create a Moveset mode. Not exactly something gamers were asking for at the time. This was the first in the series to get a mobile launch, but the iOS version sits at a lowly 42 on Metacritic.

3 SmackDown Vs. Raw 2011 Created Some Unique Mechanics

Re-Invented Different Match Stipulations

SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 ranks high on the list, mainly because of the introduction of Universe Mode, an open sandbox mode where players control WWE and create their own shows and PPV events. SVR 2011 was the first to introduce a much-revamped gameplay style compared to years prior, something that had a massive change in the way weapons were used and destroyed. The Road to WrestleMania mode was still the main story mode and was also updated to feature the ability to walk around backstage and speak with fellow superstars, leading to some secret Easter eggs in the mode. This year cranked up the ridiculousness with moments such as playing as an amnesiac heel Rey Mysterio and speaking to the ghost of Paul Bearer.

The roster didn't reach the heights that the 2K series has been offering just yet, but did decide to feature some legends and talents not employed by the WWE, such as Rob Van Dam and Ricky Steamboat. 2011 also marked the final time that ECW was featured as a third brand in the series. This would be the final installment in the series as the game released the following year was simply called WWE '12.

2 SmackDown Vs. Raw 2007 Was An Amazing Follow-Up

Can Often Be Considered The Best

SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 boasts the deepest roster up to that point in the franchise, with 67 playable characters. The gameplay was solid enough as well, albeit with updated controls that were a little different from the previous two games. This was the game that made the right thumbstick a crucial part of gameplay, as all your grapples were mapped to that stick. After a few adjustments, it was easy to navigate this new version of the game.

After being introduced in SmackDown vs. Raw 2006, GM Mode was massively upgraded and is a big reason fans still go back and play SVR 2007 today. This was also the first game that allowed players to brawl in the crowd (WWE SmackDown Just Bring It technically had it, but it was pointless). With names like Umaga and Mr. Perfect, this title will always be highly cherished by wrestling game fans. This was the first WWE game released on the Xbox 360, but the planned PS3 version was canceled.

1 The Peak Of The Series, SmackDown Vs. Raw 2006

A Perfect Balance Between Simulation And The SmackDown! Series

Ask most wrestling fans what their favorite SmackDown vs. Raw game was, and they will most likely point to 2006. Whether it was the fast-paced gameplay or considerable roster depth, SmackDown vs. Raw 2006 holds a special place in the hearts of fans. Graphics-wise, this was the most impressive wrestling game to date. With new features like Season Mode, you could take a large percentage of the game's roster through various storylines across the Raw & SmackDown brands.

This game introduced a stamina system which brought the game into a simulation-based system, making it more strategic than previous entries, but could be turned off for fans of that more arcade style that people were used to. SmackDown vs. Raw 2006 is the preferred choice among all other entries in the series. It was just that good. Plus, it was the very first game to include GM Mode, a mode that allowed players to control the General Manager of either Raw or SmackDown and compete to make the best weekly wrestling show. The mode was so beloved that it made a return in the WWE 2K series over 15 years later.