Great FPS Games You Cannot Buy Anymore

First-person shooter games have been popular for many years, and occasionally, a truly exceptional game comes along that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in the genre. While we can still enjoy classic FPS games that helped shape the industry, not all games achieve lasting success.

Many excellent first-person shooter (FPS) games have disappeared from digital stores and mainstream retail, possibly because of low sales, licensing problems, or the developers moving on. These games were often highly regarded for their innovation and value, while others were simply enjoyable to play.

Okay, so some of these first-person shooters might still be around as physical copies if you hunt for them. But don’t bother looking in online stores – they’re not available digitally anymore.

8. Vietcong

A Definitive Vietnam-Era Shooter

After the release of Vietcong, many games attempted to become the leading realistic Vietnam War shooter. This even included Vietcong 2, the sequel, which wasn’t very successful. The game focused on realism and intense action, but also told a unique and gripping story about the brutal realities of the Vietnam War.

Vietnam War-themed games often get overshadowed by other Cold War shooters, but this one remains a great example of how detailed environments and smart tactics can make a truly engaging shooter. An expansion pack added a prequel story that deepened the game’s world and characters. And, fittingly for a game about this conflict, it has a rather sad ending.

7. Wolfenstein (2009)

A Really Solid Shooter That Feels Like It Has Been Erased From History

Most fans agree that Wolfenstein: The New Order revitalized the series after a long hiatus, significantly raising the profile of its protagonist, William. Before that, Return to Castle Wolfenstein successfully modernized the franchise for a new century. Sandwiched between those two popular games was 2009’s Wolfenstein, a solid shooter that didn’t quite make a lasting impact. It was removed from sale after only about five years and has been largely forgotten as a result.

This is a really well-made first-person shooter. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of The New Order or The New Colossus, it’s not a failure by any means. Raven Software has created a game with satisfying shooting and cleverly designed levels, and the new Veil mechanic lets you feel powerful without being unbeatable.

6. Prey (2006)

A Fairly Unique Game That Is Now Mostly Remembered As The Other Prey Game

The 2017 game Prey is fantastic, but it’s very different from the Prey released in 2006. Both games combine first-person shooting with exploration and science fiction, but the original Prey feels more like a traditional shooter, while the newer version is a horror-focused experience. The 2006 Prey was ambitious with its puzzles, open level design, unique weapons, and innovative gravity mechanics. It stood out from the many military shooters that were popular at the time, even if it didn’t quite achieve everything it set out to do.

It doesn’t look like we’ll see another Prey game, unfortunately, and that includes both the recent version and the original. While the newer game is still available, the older one is sadly becoming lost to time as it’s no longer supported. It’s a real loss.

5. Corporation

An Innovative But Obscure Cyberpunk Shooter

Despite being a lesser-known game from the early days of first-person shooters, Corporation is surprisingly deep and customizable for its time. It doesn’t just focus on the fast-paced shooting that defined the era, but also includes RPG elements, letting you further customize the six playable characters.

Many of the core ideas found in today’s popular sci-fi horror games—like battling terrifying mutants and hordes of monstrous cyborgs—are already present in this title. The game also features a beautifully crafted cyberpunk world that fans of the genre will love. It’s a shame this game isn’t available in stores now, as its relative unknown status actually makes it even more special.

4. Tribes 2

An Early Large-Scale Multiplayer Gem

Tribes 2 was remarkably innovative and complex for its time, setting a standard for multiplayer first-person shooters that many games still strive for today. Its use of jetpacks to create vertical gameplay was ahead of its time – it offered this freedom over a decade before games like Advanced Warfare introduced similar movement mechanics. Plus, Tribes 2 allowed for massive battles with up to 64 players on each team in huge, open environments.

You can’t purchase Tribes 2 anymore, but it’s easy to download. Sierra On-Line released it as freeware in 2015, making this unique game available to anyone interested in trying it.

3. The Operative: No One Lives Forever & No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.’s Way

Why Can’t I Buy These Games?

I was a huge fan of Monolith back in the late ’90s and early 2000s – they were on a roll! But for me, their best work was definitely the No One Lives Forever games. They were the perfect spy parody, really nailing everything you’d want at the time. And the shooting? It was surprisingly good for those early 2000s graphics, which makes sense when you remember they also made Blood!

The game’s levels were cleverly designed, and the enemies were surprisingly smart. While they don’t look as polished as today’s shooters, No One Lives Forever and its sequel remain fun to play, even now, and hold up better than many first-person shooters from that time. The main character, Cate Archer, is a fantastic and memorable female lead, and she deserves to be in as many games as Lara Croft.

Many older James Bond (007) games are no longer available to buy, and it’s a shame. 007 Nightfire was particularly great.

2. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (And A Slew Of Other Battlefield Games)

EA Delisted This FPS Masterpiece In 2023

In April 2023, EA stopped selling several of its older games digitally. This included both Bad Company games and Battlefield 1943, which joined Battlefield 2 as titles no longer available for purchase. While all these games are enjoyable, many consider Bad Company 2 to be the high point of the Battlefield series, even after 15 years.

The online multiplayer was a huge draw for Bad Company 2, and even if EA decided to stop supporting the servers, the game’s fantastic single-player story is reason enough to keep it on sale. While it would be great to see EA release a remastered collection of both Bad Company games someday, that’s unlikely to happen right now.

1. Unreal Tournament

A Monolithic FPS, Sadly Delisted

From the moment it came out, this fast-paced shooter became a hit, inspiring many other popular first-person shooters and creating a vibrant community with local multiplayer tournaments that lasted for years. Unfortunately, online support for the game ended, and Epic Games later removed it from sale on all platforms.

Currently, it’s unclear whether Epic Games will officially release Unreal Tournament on its own platform. It’s also uncertain if the new Unreal Tournament’s open alpha will be the only way for players to experience this classic game.

We’ve included the classic Unreal Tournament, though many games in the series are no longer available for purchase. Unreal Tournament 3 and the 2004 edition were also excellent titles.

2026-01-04 23:09