Fun Mobile Games You Can't Play Anymore

Key Takeaways

Experience the whimsical world of mobile games while accepting the inevitable limitations of continually-updating games.
Cherish beloved mobile games like
Farmville
, even as they disappear due to changes in technology or platform support.
Dive into the captivating universe of
Metal Slug Attack
, appreciating its unique art style and occasional challenges.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming under my belt, let me tell you about my fond memories with these mobile games based on beloved franchises. I remember the thrill of swapping Bonbons with One Piece characters and strategizing my way through the narrative. The character progression and skills were a delight, even if it didn’t make it past Dressrosa Saga.

Mobile games offer an engaging form of entertainment, skillfully crafted to heighten users’ phone dependency. The convenience of easy-to-play, pick-up-and-go mechanics (though some apps may impose certain complexities) combined with their ever-evolving characteristics, make them an enjoyable pastime that can consume a few hours here and there. Regardless of this aspect, mobile games have their own set of problems.

The primary concern arises from the fact that numerous games which require frequent updates cease to exist after a certain period. Not only does this sudden disappearance bring about a natural sense of loss, especially when resources like time and money have been invested, but it also becomes frustrating when a enjoyable game can no longer be enjoyed regularly. Here are some mobile games that once provided great entertainment but are now unavailable for regular play, due to various reasons.

5 Infinity Blade

Shut Down: December 2018

Originally, Infinity Blade was rapidly gaining popularity as an action RPG, earning more than a million dollars within just a few days of its launch. The game’s unique selling point was the player battling numerous colossal adversaries by simply swiping their fingers across their phone screen to unleash the character’s sword. The game’s storyline followed a circular pattern, focusing on an anonymous player character and their lineage locked in eternal struggle against an immortal deity-king.

As a dedicated gamer, I once had the pleasure of wielding the mighty Infinity Blade. Over time, this epic saga expanded with two sequels and not one but two tie-in novels that bridged the storylines across games. Unfortunately, around 2018, the entire trilogy disappeared from the App Store due to the developers facing challenges in updating it for modern devices. To add salt to the wound, Epic Games’ developer account with Apple was terminated, and as a result, even my past purchases can no longer bring back this cherished game. Now, it seems that Infinity Blade has truly vanished from reach.

4 Farmville

Shut Down: December 2020

Farmville significantly influenced and paved the way for the evolution of mobile gaming, whether positively or negatively. This game involves players engaging in different farm-related tasks. Farmville contributed to the popularization of a type of gameplay that is now common among numerous mobile and online games, as it requires players to manage and expand their businesses. Two sequels of this game have also been released, and they are currently accessible.

At the end of 2020, Farmville was closed down because Facebook ceased to support flash games. This decision was prompted by Adobe’s choice to halt updates and distribution of Flash Player. The termination of Flash Player had far-reaching effects, causing numerous flash games, including Farmville, to become inaccessible. Unless these games were saved at a stage where the now obsolete browser extension was no longer required, they became unplayable. However, there’s some good news: Farmville 2 and Farmville 3, with the latter released post-shutdown, are still accessible.

3 One Piece Bon! Bon! Journey!!

Shut Down: April 2022

2020 saw the launch of a puzzle game featuring One Piece characters, but sadly it was closed down about two years after its debut. Similar to popular apps like Candy Crush and Royal Match, this game involved matching icons, yet it had a unique twist – it was set within the storyline of One Piece. Players could exchange candy-like representations of characters’ heads to clear grids in ways that followed the broader narrative of One Piece. A diverse range of characters were available for play, from the Straw Hat Pirates and their foes, to less commonly seen characters such as Boodle and Chou Chou.

Characters can advance and acquire stronger abilities in this game, frequently encountering tougher opponents that make progress challenging. The game advanced as far as the initial part of the Dressrosa Saga before being halted shortly thereafter. Currently, two games derived from the series, Bounty Rushand Treasure Cruise, are still receiving support and updates.

2 Dragalia Lost

Shut Down: November 2022

As a gamer, I found myself immersed in the world of Dragalia Lost, a game that was masterfully crafted by Cygames and graciously shared by Nintendo. This marked Nintendo’s debut of an original IP on mobile platforms. The game is set in a realm where humans and dragons live side by side, forging alliances to harness their collective power.

Through touchscreen controls, the game thrived on swift action sequences and boasted an extensive roster of characters. Additionally, it collaborated with multiple other franchises including Fire Emblem Heroes, Mega Man, and Persona 5 Strikers. Regrettably, despite earning millions, the game was closed down soon after finishing its primary storyline. It operated for merely five years. However, it amassed a dedicated (albeit not large) fanbase, who continue to hope that Nintendo may rejuvenate the series in the future.

1 Metal Slug Attack

Shut Down: January 2023

The game you’re referring to is a follow-up to an earlier title called “Metal Slug Defense.” Unlike its predecessor, which primarily stuck with the main characters from the series and didn’t stray much, Metal Slug Attack took a different approach. It introduced a host of compelling, although occasionally disconcerting, new characters to enrich the Metal Slug universe.

In a shift away from the traditional Metal Slug art style, these characters often took on a more anime-inspired appearance, giving the game a different vibe compared to previous versions. Newly designed weapons were also introduced alongside them. However, this change wasn’t without complications. One major problem was the power imbalance that came with frequent updates, where the latest character tended to outperform most of the others, creating an uneven playing field.

Even though the game stopped functioning in 2023, it was re-introduced on most contemporary gaming platforms in 2024 under the title “Metal Slug Attack: Reloaded” for just $10. However, an attempt to balance certain characters resulted in a significant portion of the original cast not being included in the game, despite visual elements of these characters appearing throughout the game (like potential player icons). This has left some enthusiasts hoping for an update that would bring the full version of the game back to life.

2024-08-24 18:34

Fun Mobile Games You Can’t Play Anymore