Unplayable Co-op Games – Investment Policy

Playing games with others can improve almost any game, whether it’s amazing or not so good. Online connections make it simple to play with friends and family. However, when companies shut down online servers or stop selling games, those co-op experiences can disappear, and it’s more than just the game becoming hard to find – the ability to play with others is lost too.

Games like Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Sky, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, and Marvel Heroes Omega are fun co-op experiences, though some are difficult to find or no longer officially supported – thankfully, fans are still playing Marvel Heroes Omega. While those are all good options, let’s explore some truly unique and challenging co-op games.

Anthem

Soaring Low

BioWare, the studio behind popular games, released Anthem in 2019 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The game let players pilot customizable, mech-like suits called Javelins, allowing them to fly and explore large open environments. It was often compared to games like Destiny, but with the added ability to play as a flying, armored hero similar to Iron Man.

The game had a difficult start and lacked clear future plans, which caused problems for the development team. Although they attempted to support it, new development ceased in 2021. Surprisingly, the game remained online for another five years, until 2026, despite the lack of updates. Unfortunately, it required a constant internet connection, meaning players can no longer access it, which is disappointing given how well-done the flying mechanics were.

Rumbleverse

Battle Royale!

Rumbleverse was a free-to-play wrestling game that came out in August 2022 for PC, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Unfortunately, it was only available for a few months, shutting down in February 2023. Players could battle each other one-on-one online, or team up with a friend in co-op matches.

Like many Battle Royale games, the goal was to fight other players and be the last one remaining. While its large city environments and close-quarters combat set it apart from other games in the genre, it wasn’t enough to maintain a player base, and the game is no longer available.

White Knight Chronicles

An MMO-Style Co-Op Game

White Knight Chronicles came out for the PlayStation 3 in Japan in 2008, and in North America in 2010. Players can enjoy a story-driven adventure where they battle monsters with a team, similar to an online multiplayer game. They can also summon a large, mech-like knight to help them fight. The game also included an online mode where players created their own characters and completed separate missions.

Although the main story and cooperative play weren’t among Level-5’s best titles, the co-op experience was enjoyable for players who teamed up with good partners. It’s worth remembering that White Knight Chronicles 2 came out for the PS3 in North America in 2011, and it included the first game as well. Unfortunately, the online servers for both games were closed in 2013. The silver lining is that while it’s difficult to play on newer computers, you can still play the game on a PS3.

The Simpsons (Arcade)

Gotta Save Maggie!

Konami’s The Simpsons arcade game came out in 1991 and immediately became incredibly popular, drawing in a lot of players and their quarters. While many similar fighting games were released on home consoles like the SNES and Sega Genesis, The Simpsons arcade game never got a traditional console port—though surprisingly, versions were made for the Commodore 64 and MS-DOS. Players could choose to play as Homer, Bart, Lisa, or Marge and fight through various levels, all to rescue Maggie.

Man, it was a long wait, but we finally got to play it at home in 2012 when it hit PS3 and Xbox 360 digitally. But you had to be quick, because it was pulled from the stores just a year later! That’s super rare for even a licensed game. Now, it’s basically lost – the only way to play it legitimately is to drop serious cash on an arcade cabinet, or try and find a reproduction, which are getting hard to find themselves.

Dauntless

A Free-To-Play Monster Hunter

Released in 2019, Dauntless offered a free way to experience monster hunting similar to Monster Hunter, but with simpler controls and an easier learning curve. Players could team up online on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One (and later on other platforms). Groups of up to four players could customize their characters and battle massive creatures together.

Dauntless featured weapons like axes, swords, and hammers, each with unique ways to attack and special abilities. While many games try to copy Monster Hunter, Dauntless was fairly successful, lasting until 2025. However, because the game is no longer running, it’s currently unplayable.

Fable Legends

Almost Made It

Development of Fable Legends began in 2012, and it was publicly revealed in 2014 with the first beta test. A second, more extensive beta launched in 2016, acting almost like an early access release for a limited number of players who could even spend money in the game. Fable Legends was designed as a free-to-play experience where teams of four players would work together to complete dungeons, while another player acted as a kind of dungeon master.

The game had a promising concept as an action RPG, but connecting it to the Fable series might not have been the best choice. Microsoft ultimately canceled the project during the 2016 Beta phase, giving players refunds. Sadly, this also led to the closure of Lionhead Studios, the original developer, which was the most unfortunate part of the whole situation.

Magic: Legends

Magic Diablo

Magic: Legends was never fully released to the public. It launched as a beta on PC in March 2021 but was cancelled by October, along with plans for versions on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game was similar to Diablo, letting players explore areas from a top-down perspective, either solo or with friends, and battle waves of enemies.

The game let players customize their ability selection screen with collectible cards. Using a card triggered a cooldown, and a new card would then be drawn. While this system cleverly blended deck-building, inspired by Magic: The Gathering, with action RPG gameplay, it ultimately wasn’t successful enough to warrant continued development.

Lost Reavers

Treasure Hunters

Developer: Bandai Namco Studios
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Released: April 28, 2016 (NA)
Platform: Wii U

Most players have likely forgotten Lost Reavers, much like the Wii U console it was released on in 2016. Despite this, it actually lasted a surprisingly long time as a free-to-play game – its servers remained active until 2019, well after the Nintendo Switch had launched.

The game involved teams of four players exploring ruins to collect treasure, similar to a heist. They faced waves of undead enemies, and each of the four characters could fight using melee attacks or shooting. Although the concept was good, it didn’t receive much positive attention when it was released on the Wii U, so it’s unlikely to be revived in the near future.

2026-02-08 04:05