← Feed

Posts

• Post #4426416

  Shutter Jack was an ambitious open-world photography game in development at RingZero Game Studios for PS3, Xbox 360, PC and Wii. Despite a promising concept and trailer, the project never secured a publisher and quietly disappeared. More details: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/08/shutter-jack/

• Post #4235373

  Our final Commodore 64 update for 2025, with some huge recoveries including full unreleased versions of Sooty and Sweep 2, Thomas The Tank Engine 2. Protos of Paddle Mania, Rooster Booster, Spindizzy and Kick Off 2 + a lot more. Enjoy! (1/7) https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/12/gtw64-christmas-update-2025/

• Post #4235366

  Second in our Commodore 64 update is the full unreleased game of Thomas The Tank Engine 2: The Race by Alternative Software that was due for release in 1992. Never released due to a publishing dispute, but now you can finally play it: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/thomas-the-tank-engine-2/ (3/7)

• Post #4235345

  First in our Commodore 64 update is the full unreleased game of Sooty and Sweep 2 by Alternative Software that was due for release in 1992. Not just one game, but two completely different builds which you can read more about and play: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/sooty-and-sweep-2/ (2/7)

• Post #4161837

  More Christmas goodies. Although unlucky with the C64 recovery - things have fared better for the #AmstradCPC edition of Hill 19. We are pleased to present a prototype of the long lost Gremlin game. Similar to Ikari Warriors, with strategy elements: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/12/hill-19/

• Post #4147513

  Today we've added S.O.S., a long lost 1993 Hungarian Commodore Plus/4 game where you pilot a rescue boat to save drowning people. Another small but important piece of gaming history preserved thanks to Csaba Virág: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/07/s-o-s/

• Post #4041943

  FREEZE issue 86 has arrived thanks to @FREEZE64@mastodon.world ! Can't wait to check out the feature on Chuckie Egg and interview with its developer Sean Townsend. Will be interesting to see what crap games Julian is covering too and more. Thanks buddy! https://freeze64.com/freeze64-issue-86/

• Post #4031112

  For our second Christmas update of today and thanks to a kind loan from developer Lance Abson, we're sharing Amiga source code, build disks and art assets from Sci-Fi (Digital Magic Software). Includes demos, alt builds and dev material to explore. https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/12/sci-fi-amiga-source-and-builds/

• Post #4031090

  The Polish edition of Games That Weren’t turned up this week. Quite surreal seeing the book take on a life of its own in another language and very cool with the extended chapter on Polish unreleased games at the end! More details can be found at: https://gknb.pl/

• Post #4031088

  Our next Christmas update today is the release of a long-lost Lady Bug–inspired Amiga game from the early ’90s. Mister Bug (aka Mr. Bug) is around 90% complete and now preserved today at Games That Weren’t with huge thanks to Guido Gouweloos and Galahad: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/12/mister-bug/

• Post #3804296

  Our next update is a special recovery of Tork for GameBoy Advance, approximately 60-70% complete (with no sound) and lots of levels. An impressive conversion, with Nebulus style and other 3D levels throughout - sadly never to see completion. Enjoy! https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2020/12/tork/

• Post #3804293

  GTW Highlight No.42: Then finally in November, a Polish edition of the Games That Weren't book (with extra content) was released. Never in a million years did we imagine seeing a translated edition: https://gknb.pl

• Post #3653354

  Did you know a brand new Gauntlet game was completed for the Nintendo DS... but never released? Despite being reviewed by magazines such as Retro Gamer, the game was cancelled before it reached the shelves. Thankfully it survives today.

• Post #3612518

  The original Commodore PET versions of Supersoft's Catacombs and Goblin Towers (1981), thought lost for around 45 years, have now been recovered, preserved and released by Marcel Lansing! Read the full story here: https://www.commodoregames.net/catacombs.asp

• Post #3541331

  Source code has been recovered for Imagitec's unreleased Raiden (Amiga/Atari Falcon), with sources suggesting around 8 Amiga levels and additional Falcon content beyond the known 3-level shareware build. We've also added early Space Junk (Atari Falcon) sources. Huge thanks to tomseddon for preserving the archive and dlfrsilver for the heads up! https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/07/raiden-space-junk-sources/

• Post #3026418

  Bounty Hunter (Amstrad CPC) is a new prototype release at Games That Weren't and quite advanced stage multi-screen platform action. There are possible links to Raffaele Cecco too - so was this one of his, or perhaps a game that inspired Exolon? https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/06/bounty-hunter/ With a huge thank you to Dean Hickingbottom for allowing us to preserve.

• Post #2957404

  Virtua Hamster is one of SEGA's more unusual lost projects. Think S.T.U.N Runner with rodents. Nearly finished on 32X, but cancelled before release, with a Saturn version never even started.

• Post #2957403

  At first glance, Streetbeat looks like an authentic 80s arcade game. But the reality behind it is a little more unusual. Learn more about this cool breakdancing game at Games That Weren't: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/05/streetbeat/

• Post #2957402

  Today, we take a break from unreleased games and instead preserve a series of titles that were 'Missing In Action'. Includes a long lost #ZXSpectrum utility and a few #VIC20 games not yet archived (including some that are). Enjoy! https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2024/12/vic-20-and-zx-spectrum-preservations/ It is with a huge thank you to Andy Spencer + the team at Retro Computer Museum in Leicester for the very kind loan of the tapes to preserve. A fantastic place to visit and...

• Post #2957401

  We've been going Snooker loopy! Today we released rare early prototypes of Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker - #PC tests, #AtariST versions, and behind-the-scenes magic. Plus, concept art + icons from the legendary Archer Maclean. Check it out at: https://gamesthatwerent.com/2024/12/archer-macleans-snooker-prototypes/

• Post #2957400

  Today we reveal early prototypes of Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker, including early #PC tests, #AtariST protos. Also showcasing concept artwork + icons from the game - created by the late and great Archer Maclean: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2024/12/archer-macleans-snooker-prototypes/ We have also produced a video which showcases the recoveries and findings of the early Jimmy White Whirlwind Snooker prototypes, with some commentary by the monotone webmaster himself: https://www.yo...

• Post #2957399

  A mysterious, unfinished project with strong Tir Na Nog vibes. Only early code and visuals survive, but enough to hint at something special. Today its been preserved by Games That Weren't: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/05/tarot/

• Post #2957398

  Today Games That Weren't take a look at rare, never seen IK+ development documents from the archive of the late Archer Maclean, including ideas and graphical concepts that led to creation of the famous fighting game. #Commodore64 https://gamesthatwerent.com/2024/12/ik-design-and-development-notes/

• Post #2957397

  Today is our final #Commodore64 update for 2024. Surprises include recovery of a completely different (and complete!) Wacky Races, Apprentice proto, Aladdin's Cave game, 666 Number of the Beast proto, Bundesliga 2 game, 8 new entries, 46 updates and more! https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2024/12/gtw64-christmas-update-2024/

• Post #2957396

  One of our big findings as part of our final 2024 #Commodore64 update is the recovery of a completely unknown development of Wacky Races by Enigma Variations for Hi-Tec Software. It's the full game, and source code is also included too: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/wacky-races-v1/

• Post #2957395

  Another highlight of our final 2024 #Commodore64 update is the recovery of the complete version of Aladdin's Cave, which was intended for release in 1985 by Artic Computing. An interesting clone of Tales of the Arabian Nights to keep you entertained: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/alladins-cave/

• Post #2957394

  Another highlight of our final 2024 #Commodore64 update is recovery of an early prototype of Rainbow Art's Apprentice. Although very early + glitchy, there's a sizable map to explore and lots of little features already. A shame it didn't get further: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/apprentice/

• Post #2957393

  '666: Number of the Beast' was another prototype recovery for our final 2024 #Commodore64 update. Due for release in 1989 by Alternative Software, a Feud-like arcade adventure with a sizable map to explore. A #ZXSpectrum version is confirmed as missing: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/666-the-number-of-the-beast/

• Post #2957392

  We'll be taking a short break next week for a much needed holiday, but we'll have more recoveries, updates and preservation work to share soon. In the meantime, if you'd like to help support our searches and preservation efforts, please consider sharing the archive or any posts/pages that interest you using the sharing tools across the site. Every little bit genuinely helps us reach more people who may have material, memories or leads to help preserve gaming history. ht...

• Post #2434436

  A lost Atari Lynx prototype of Monster Demolition has been recovered by the AtariAge community, offering a fresh look at this early take on what became Rampage on the Lynx (not the arcade). Featuring multiple levels and large scale characters, it is a fascinating glimpse at an alternate direction. More details: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/05/monster-demolition/ With thanks to Marty Goldberg, Mike Lee, Tempest and Dutchman2000 at AtariAge for the recovery, and Ross Sillifant for the he...