Summary
There are countless reasons why games areabandonedby their developers, includinglicenses expiring, sequel development, financial strain, and many others. It is, after all, the natural cycle of the gaming industry, with many titles being relegated to fond memories, rather than active experiences.
However, there are many cases in which passionate fans refuse to let their favorite games be forgotten, and labor to keep both the titles and their communities alive and engaged. With a ample range of different circumstances, challenges, and results, they all seem to share the same goal ofpreserving what was once great, and keeping it available for other fans to enjoy, questioning if the “abandoned” label is even appropriate.
The legendary first-person shooterDOOMhas been re-released on a staggering number of consoles and gaming services, and included in its entirety inside other games, enjoying enduring popularity.
With a talented fan base, it has even spawned a meme where fans will attempt to install and runDoomon any device possible, from calculators to smart fridges. Even more impressive, however, is the constant development and release of new mods, with many of them being far larger than the original game ever was.
Sonic the Hedgehogwas largely panned by critics and fans alike, and yet, it has found a group of dedicated developers that continue working on it, solely out of passion.
Recognizing that the potential was there, albeit wasted in the original release, a group of fans united to create Project 06, a complete overhaul of the original game that not only fixed its glitches but vastly expanded it, in a rare example of the community coming togetheraround an ideabehind the game, rather than the game itself.
The critically acclaimedBattle For Middle-Earthfranchise featured two RTS games and one expansionset in the world ofThe Lord of the Rings. Drawing from both the movies and the books, this series offered a diverse array of factions and gameplay mechanics that garnered a sizable community of fans and followers.
Although the games are no longer available and the official servers have long been shut down, the community is alive and well, not only releasing patches and maintaining servers for online play, but actively developing mods expansive enough that they could be considered sequels in their own right.
BeforeThe Old Republic, there wasStar Wars Galaxies, the critically acclaimed MMORPG that quickly became a beloved classic.
After its official closure, several emulator projects arose, with many of them still being active and offering servers to the sizable player base. Thanks to the dedicated community, fans can find new original content still being produced to this day.
6Fightcade
A Hub Of Classic Arcade Titles Exclusively Maintained By Fans
Rather than a game,Fightcadeis a platform that allows thousands of arcade games to be played online with other players. Its website boasts compatibility with more than 8000 games, making it a veritable force within fan communities looking to keep their favorite games alive.
A successor to the GGPO service—itself a response to another official service that many fans were unhappy with—Fightcadedistinguishes itself from other retro gaming services in that it is entirely maintained and developed by fans, with an active Discord community and constant updates to further expand their reach.
BeforeSkyrim, and even beforeOblivion, there wasMorrowind. With its sprawling lore and unique visual style, it solidified many of the lore and gameplay mechanics that are still present in the newest entries ofThe Elder Scrollsfranchise.
As with otherElder Scrollstitles,Morrowindboasts ahuge community of modders and developers, with thousands of different mods to its name. It is also the focus of at least one fan-based remaster and has not lost much steam throughout the decades after its release.
Although the title saw a remaster with its inclusion inThe Legendary Edition, there was one glaring omission for long-time fans of the series: the game’s multiplayer mode.Mass Effect 3offered the opportunity to experiment with other playable characters, from the Geth to the Asari, in an entertaining horde mode that pitted players against waves of enemies.
For players who thoroughly miss the teamwork-focused action, there’s still a dynamic community with whom to play, and it is even more active thanMass Effect: Andromeda, demonstrating its longevity despite its age.
Anindisputable pillar in eSports, this Blizzard giant has seen a long and varied history throughout the years. Spawning professional careers and hordes of followers, it was a decade before developers announced they would no longer release new content forStarCraft 2.
Although it has a stellar single-player campaign, it is indisputable that the multiplayer scene has been the lifeblood of this giant. It is difficult to see it ever going away, as it boasts a dedicated player base and still is the center stage of several tournaments throughout the year.
2Toontown
A Fan-Made Remaster Continues To Get Updates To This Day
The Disney-developed MMORPGToontowncaught a lot of players by surprise with its vibrant colors and playful atmosphere. The title soon became a cult hit, until its servers were shut down in 2013.
However, almost immediately afterToontownwas shut off, fan-basedToontown Rewrittenwas released by a group of volunteers. This new iteration has remained playable and updated throughout the years, with the community regularly organizing polls and posting new articles about the beloved game as they continue to enjoy it.
Another popular MMORPG,City of Heroesallowed players to createsuper-powered heroesand team up with friends in the fictional Paragon City. Highly celebrated as a fresh and engaging experience, it received multiple updates and expansions.
As with other popular games that were abandoned,City of Heroesspawned a multitude of fan-based servers that kept the community alive. However, it has found itself in a rather unique situation: 11 years after having officially shut down services, NCSoft—the game’s publisher—granted an official license to one of the most popular fan servers, so that they can continue their work.
