WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain similar games & best alternatives

WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain

PlayStation 2 • 2003

Should you play it?

WATCH YOUR BACK Relive the drama like never before in SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain. Create, play and develop your own Superstar through storylines developed exclusively by WWE writers. Track your progress with seasonal stats, earn money to build up Superstar abilities and unlock hidden elements. Featuring enhanced gameplay, new match types and better production values. The most electrifying brand in sports entertainment will ignite the Playstation 2 this holiday season. SEASON MODE Featuring comprehensive statistics, dynamic storylines and Superstar attribute building LEGENDS Sgt. Slaughter, The Million-Dollar Man, Jimmy Snuka and more ENHANCED GRAPPLING SYSTEM MATCH TYPES New match types including Bra-&-Panty and the Elimination Chamber

What works

  • Deep and engaging grappling system
  • Highly replayable season mode with branching storylines
  • Large and diverse roster including legends
  • Robust create-a-wrestler and customization options
  • Fast-paced, satisfying combat with impactful moves

Things to keep in mind

  • Limited story depth and voice acting
  • Some repetitive storylines in season mode
  • Graphics and presentation dated by modern standards
  • No online multiplayer support
  • Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

More intimate

Games that feels like WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain but with more focus on close relationships

More dominating

Games that feels like WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain but with more domination over others

Less social

Games that feels like WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain but with less teamwork and cooperation

Choose your own criteria ->

Similarity map

How to compare these games

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Each card is a nearby game on the similarity map, compared with WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain. Swipe sideways to move between games. Titles already listed in What to play next are left out.

  • Cover and title: open that game’s page.
  • What works / keep in mind: the same highlights as the desktop comparison panel.
  • Bars: the main motivational differences versus this game.
How to use the graph

Similarity map

Each dot is a game placed from its motivation profile relative to this page’s game. Direction shows which motivation differs most; distance along that axis shows how large the gap is.

  • Purple star: this page’s game at the centre — everything is relative to it.
  • Direction: each axis is a main motivational difference vs this game (e.g. more / less competitive).
  • Distance on an axis: how large that difference is (ring scales show +/− points).
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot to preview that game in the panel on the right; click to keep that comparison.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom.

How to read the map This is a polar difference map: direction = which motivation differs, and distance = how much (same units as the sidebar deltas).

Swipe to compare nearby games with WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain. These titles are not in What to play next.

WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Status, Competition. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Intimacy.

Last update: 02/09/2026