AEW: Year One

AEW: Year One is a professional wrestling video game, developed by Yuke's and published by Mad Man Ninja Studios. It was released for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Samsung Zeo and Microsoft Windows in 2020.

The game is based on All Elite Wrestling and many of the wrestlers who were on the AEW roster at the time of release were included as player characters. The game also features the option to create wrestlers, titles, and a General Manager Mode.

Gameplay
The game features a control system similar to that of AKI's Nintendo 64 wrestling games with weak/strong grappling attacks and strikes. Players are also able to counter their opponents' attacks with a timed button press. One of the game's unique features is the "Momentum Shift" move - a desperation attack that gives a character an instant advantage during the match. The game's Exhibition mode allows players to wrestle in various match types including Street Fights and Blood and Guts matches.

The game also introduces four types of submission options. While applying a submission hold, players can choose from one of four submission types: a Taunt submission depletes the opponent's momentum meter, a Rest Hold submission allows the player's character to regain stamina, the Drain submission drains the opponent of stamina, while a regular submission move causes damage to a particular body part.

Players can create wrestlers and customize each character's set of attacks. Each character can be assigned between one and nine finishing moves, one for each position an opponent is in.

The game's Story Mode allows players to take a created wrestler from AEW developmental's Nightmare Factory or the indies promotions to main event status by achieving various goals during matches.

Characters
The game features the following active roster of athletes during 2020 as playable characters: