20 Abandonware Games That Deserve A Steam Release

Many beloved classic games are difficult to find on modern PCs because the original companies shut down or licensing issues arose. While dedicated fans continue to share knowledge and updates, there’s currently no official way to purchase these games on today’s popular platforms. Releasing them properly would improve performance, ensure legal access, and safeguard their place in gaming history. Below are twenty noteworthy titles that people frequently request, along with information about their creators and why they’re currently unavailable.

The Operative: No One Lives Forever

I still remember when No One Lives Forever came out in 2000! Monolith Productions really nailed this blend of spy action, cool gadgets, and a fantastic 1960s vibe. The main game and its expansion had a ton of content. It’s a shame it’s been so hard to play lately, though. After a bunch of company buyouts, the rights got really messy, and that’s kept it off digital stores for years. Thankfully, the fans have kept it alive with compatibility guides and fixes, but it’s frustrating there’s no official way to buy it today.

The Simpsons: Hit & Run

Radical Entertainment released this open-world game in 2003 for consoles and PC, published by Vivendi Universal Games. Players can drive around iconic locations in Springfield, completing missions and enjoying a large selection of licensed music and voices. While the game isn’t available on digital stores anymore – due to changes in ownership of the TV license after company mergers – fans have created projects to improve its technical performance. However, an official updated version for PC has never been released.

Black & White

Released in 2001, this PC game from Lionhead Studios – published by Electronic Arts – lets you nurture a massive creature, oversee villages, and use unique hand gestures to cast spells. Lionhead Studios closed down in 2016, and the game isn’t officially available on today’s digital stores. As a result, players often need to find unofficial methods to get it working on newer computers.

Clive Barker’s Undying

Released in 2001, this horror shooter was a collaboration between DreamWorks Interactive and Electronic Arts. The game, set on a haunted family estate, uniquely combines magic spells with gunplay, and its story was crafted with input from a well-known author. While it doesn’t have an official release on Steam, dedicated fans have created patches to improve its performance and make it compatible with modern computers. Unfortunately, the game still hasn’t received an official update to address these compatibility issues.

Driver: San Francisco

This game, released in 2011 by Ubisoft Reflections for PC and consoles, is known for its innovative feature allowing players to switch between cars during fast-paced chases set in a virtual San Francisco. Fans have pointed out that securing music licenses and vehicle rights likely proved difficult, and the game was removed from most digital stores some time ago. Currently, it’s no longer available for purchase new on Steam, despite ongoing player demand.

Scarface: The World Is Yours

Radical Entertainment created this crime action game in 2006 for consoles and computers, published by Vivendi. The game featured a dynamic city where players could control territory, own businesses, and enjoyed a soundtrack inspired by the movie it was based on. However, changes in the companies involved made owning the rights and music licenses complicated. As a result, the game hasn’t been re-released digitally and is now mainly available as a physical copy, making it hard for most people to play.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Electronic Arts released this action-packed game in 2003 for both consoles and computers. It featured cooperative gameplay, clips from the movie, and voice acting by the original cast. Unfortunately, the classic Middle-earth games from that era are no longer available for purchase on modern PC platforms because their licenses have expired. While interest in these games tends to spike around anniversaries, there’s still no official way to buy them on Steam.

The Punisher

This action game came out in 2005 for both computers and consoles, published by THQ. It’s known for its unique interrogation gameplay and settings inspired by Marvel comics of that era. Since its release, the game’s licensing has changed, and the original version is no longer available for purchase digitally. PC players usually depend on fan-made updates to keep the game working.

The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction

I first played this game back in 2005 on either the PS2, GameCube, or Xbox – Radical Entertainment really nailed the open world. What I loved most was how you could just run and explore, and even destroy parts of the environment! The boss fights were totally over-the-top and felt like something straight out of a comic book. It’s a shame it never made it to PC, and honestly, I’ve heard it’s probably because of the music and character licenses – getting those rights sorted for a modern release must be a nightmare.

MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat

Released in 1995 for DOS and Windows, this influential mecha simulator lets players control giant robots with detailed cockpit views, manage heat levels, and fight in a dynamic BattleTech world. Several expansions were also released. Unfortunately, the game’s ownership has changed hands multiple times, making it difficult to officially re-release the original versions. As a result, modern players typically rely on fan-made installers and original game discs to play.

The Movies

Released in 2005 for PC by Lionhead Studios and published by Activision, this game lets you run your own movie studio. You can hire staff and create scenes, then export them as short films. When Lionhead Studios closed down, the game was removed from digital stores and hasn’t been re-released. While some workarounds exist to make it run on newer systems, it’s no longer available for purchase on Steam.

James Bond 007: Nightfire

This first-person shooter, originally released in 2002 by EA for both computers and consoles, was developed by multiple teams depending on the platform. It featured a mix of unique levels, action sequences inspired by the James Bond films, and a well-loved multiplayer mode. While the rights to the Bond franchise have shifted, and EA no longer sells this game on modern PC storefronts, dedicated fans often use community-created patches to enable widescreen support and online gameplay.

Spider-Man 2

Activision’s 2004 superhero game allowed players to explore an open world on consoles and PC, though the PC version used different technology. The console versions are fondly remembered for their realistic web-swinging and how players moved around the city. Unfortunately, due to licensing issues and studio closures, the game isn’t available to buy digitally. A new version for Steam has never been released.

OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast

SEGA released this fast-paced racing game for computers and consoles in 2006, featuring officially licensed Ferrari cars and online play. It built upon traditional racing by adding missions and a wide variety of tracks. After the licensing agreements ended, the game was removed from digital stores, and the PC version became hard to find legitimately. While fans have created fixes to support modern controllers and screen resolutions, there’s no official, current version available for purchase.

Blur

Bizarre Creations released this fast-paced racing game for computers and consoles in 2010, published by Activision. It combined realistic cars with fun, over-the-top power-ups and had strong online features. When the studio shut down, the game disappeared from digital stores and hasn’t been re-released. Now, players can only access it using older game keys and servers run by fans, which makes it difficult for new players to join.

Split/Second

This racing game, originally released in 2010 by Black Rock Studio and published by Disney Interactive for PC and consoles, was known for its unique tracks that changed during races. However, it’s no longer available for purchase on most digital stores and hasn’t been updated to work with newer systems. While official online features are gone, players have created their own ways to keep the game running online.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron

Developed by High Moon Studios and published by Activision in 2012, this action game lets you play from a third-person perspective on both computers and consoles. It continues the story of the Cybertron universe with both a single-player campaign and a cooperative mode, separate from the movie-based games. Unfortunately, due to licensing issues, the game was pulled from sale and hasn’t been re-released with updates. Now, the only way most players can experience it is through existing physical copies or game keys.

The Godfather

This open-world crime game, originally released in 2006 by EA Redwood Shores for PC and consoles, featured real actors and a system where players controlled different territories. It recreated famous movie locations and put a new character into iconic scenes. Unfortunately, it’s no longer available to buy digitally due to licensing issues and changes to EA’s game library. Getting it to run smoothly on today’s computers often requires some technical adjustments.

Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed

EA’s racing game from the year 2000, designed for PC and PlayStation, centers around Porsche cars from different eras. It features career modes where players can experience classic vehicles and test their skills in factory driving challenges. Because the game is tied to a single car manufacturer and uses older technology, it’s not currently available in most modern stores. However, dedicated fans continue to create unofficial updates to support higher resolutions and modern controllers, hoping for an official re-release.

Peter Jackson’s King Kong

This action-adventure game, originally released in 2005 by Ubisoft, was created by Ubisoft Montpellier for PC and consoles. It’s unique for its lack of on-screen display and alternates between exploring in first-person and fighting creatures in third-person. The game is no longer available to purchase digitally due to expired licenses, and while fans have created fixes to make it work on modern systems, there’s currently no official or supported way to buy it on Steam.

Let us know which classic books, movies, or other works you think should be officially saved for future generations, and tell us which one you’d prioritize in the comments below.

2025-11-21 10:21