Multiplayer games they've always been incredibly popular because playing alone is one thing, but enjoying the world with others can make the whole experience that bit more interesting. Despite how popular some games are, that attention and love just isn't enough to keep them online forever, and as is the case with many live service titles, they eventually disappear and can even be taken offline.
8 dead games kept alive by community servers and fans
When a game has a passionate community and dedicated fans, it gets a lifeline to keep it alive even after its “official” death.
Yet even after staring death in the face, some of these games have risen and fought back, been revived and given new life by a small but dedicated fan base that wants to keep the fun going. It doesn't matter if the wider gaming world has moved on or if the developers themselves have tried to pull the plug; somehow these games are still kicking and ready to play.
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Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
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Quake Champions
Arena FPS that refuses to go away
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Small but highly skilled player base
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Pure movement gameplay keeps it alive
Quake Champions released as a modern revival of one of the most iconic FPS game franchises, but despite the initial hype, many players quickly moved on to other games in the universe. Arena shooter they are no longer the king of the genre, and as a result, what could have been an exceptional entry in the series became just another footnote that was written off before it could really fly.
But the game still has a fairly active player base that regularly logs in, meaning even newcomers can jump in line for some raw FPS action. It's also held up surprisingly well, giving players total control over their movements and shooting and ensuring that only the best come out on top, making it the perfect place for people to prove their skills against the die-hards who've kept the game going all these years.
Dirty bomb
The cult following continues even now
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A promising F2P shooter
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The unique class-based design still holds up
Dirty bomb officially discontinued years ago, closing the door on one of the most promising shooters of 2010. The game offered a fast but controlled pace that used class dynamics in novel ways without straying too far from the gunfight, meaning that virtually any shooter fan could jump right in and feel right at home.
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However, the closure did not mean total darkness; thanks to the community servers, the momentum never stopped. Now there's a small group of highly skilled players left, all running around proving that with a unique enough gameplay loop, a game can retain at least some relevance long after the developers have turned away.
Develop
Asymmetry at its best
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Cult PvP multiplayer
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Peer-to-peer access despite server shutdown
Develop introduced players to an incredibly polished and well-crafted asymmetric FPS world where giant monsters and veterans can compete against each other in a battle of wits and mechanical skill. As enticing as the game was, the aggressive approach to DLC and clumsy marketing led to a rapid decline in the player base, and despite being free-to-play, the dwindling numbers eventually led to the server being removed entirely.
This decision was clearly not enough for fans, as it didn't take long for players to find a workaround or simply continue playing locally, leading to a fairly large community dedicated to keeping the game's legacy alive. It's nowhere near as easy to queue and play as we saw at launch, but if players want to, they're more than welcome to return to the big, monstrous boots that so many once adored.
Toontown Online
Brought to life through love itself
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An iconic, colorful MMO
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Active player base supported by fans
Toontown is a name that many players will remember because the game was a pretty big name in the MMO world during the 2000s, but over time there was an internal shift in interest combined with an overall slower number of users, so the developers decided that the only solution was to shut it down. However, Toontown the name just had to live on and in a few years, Overwritten was released, bringing many players back to the enchanting world they had otherwise avoided.
In addition to adding community servers, the project also adds a lot of new content, which means players have even more reason to load it up and revisit a piece of their childhood. Very few MMOs stand the test of time, but Toontown proved to be a rare example that had enough players and passion to continue battles for more than a decade after its initial closure.
PlanetSide 2
Massive battles with seemingly no end
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Massive FPS war
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Consistent player activity
PlanetSide 2 raised the bar for how large battles can be displayed in a multiplayer game. Rather than small lobbies of a dozen or so players, the game's matches contained hundreds of slots, which meant that the battles were far more spectacular and epic than virtually every other FPS on the market.
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As impressive as it was, the focus just disappeared, much like many other FPS games that just couldn't find their stride. This keeps the servers up and running, and there's nothing stopping new or old players from re-downloading the game and re-entering the battlefield for some chaotic shooter action.
Starseige: Tribes
Unrivaled movement satisfaction
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High skill ceiling
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Community support keeps die-hard fans online
Tribes remains one of the most challenging shooters ever created, built on speed, momentum and precision. The original game is an example of a title lost to time, as with subsequent sequels and the evolution of the genre, official support completely disappeared, leaving its fate entirely up to the community.
Even with a smaller player base, there are still matches going on, led by those committed to mastering its systems and keeping a truly innovative experience alive in the modern age. Many forget how far the genre has evolved, but if they're willing to take a trip back in time, they'll be greeted by a loving group of individuals ready to relive the adrenaline rush.
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