Multiplayer game have always been incredibly popular, because playing alone is one thing, but enjoying a world with others can make the whole experience just that little bit more exciting. However, despite how popular some games are, the attention and love just isn't enough to keep them online forever, and as with so many live service titles, they eventually disappear and may even be taken offline.
8 dead games kept alive by community servers and fans
When a game has a passionate community and devoted fans, it gets a lifeline that keeps it alive even after its “official” death.
But even after staring death in the face, some of these games stand up and fight back, being 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; these games are somehow still kicking and ready to be played.
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Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
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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 very skilled player base
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Pure movement play keeps it alive
Quake Champions was released as a modern revival of one of gaming's most iconic FPS franchises, but despite the initial hype train, many players quickly moved on to other games in the space. Arena shooters is 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.
However, the game still has a fairly active player base that regularly logs in, allowing even newcomers to jump in and queue for some raw FPS action. It's also held up surprisingly well, giving players complete control over their movement and shooting and ensuring that only the very best come out on top, making it the perfect place for people to prove their mettle against the diehards who've kept the game going all these years.
Dirty bomb
A cult following even now
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Promising F2P shooter
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Unique class-based design still holds
Dirty bomb officially closed several years ago, closing the doors on one of the more promising shooters of the 2010s. The game offered a fast but controlled pace that used class dynamics in new ways, without ever shifting the focus too far away from the gunplay, meaning that virtually any shooter fan could jump in and feel at home in no time.
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However, the closure did not mean total darkness; thanks to community servers, the momentum has never really stopped. Now there's a small group of highly skilled players left, all running around proving that with a sufficiently unique 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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Iconic PvP multiplayer
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Peer-to-peer access despite server shutdowns
Develop introduced players to an incredibly polished and well-crafted asymmetric FPS world where gigantic monsters and veteran soldiers could compete against each other in a battle of wits and mechanical prowess. As enticing as the game was, the aggressive DLC approach and awkward marketing led to a rapid decline in the player base, and despite being free-to-play, the declining numbers eventually led to a complete server shutdown.
That decision obviously wasn't enough for fans, as it didn't take long for players to find a workaround or simply continue playing locally, with the former resulting in quite a large community dedicated to keeping the game's legacy alive. It's a far cry from the light queue and play seen at launch, but if players want to, they're more than welcome to step back into the big, monstrous shoes that so many loved back in the day.
Toontown Online
Revived by love alone
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Iconic, colorful MMO
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Active player base supported by fans
Toontown is a name that many players remember, as the game was quite a big name in the MMO world in the 2000s, but over time there was an internal change in interest, combined with a slower total number of users, so the developers decided that the only way to do it was to shut it down. But that one Toontown the name just had to live on, and in just a few short years, Rewritten was released, bringing many players back to the charming world they had otherwise been kept away from.
In addition to adding community servers, the project also adds a good amount of new content, which means players have an even bigger reason to load it up and return to a part of their childhood. Very few MMOs stand the test of time, though Toontown has proven to be a rare example that has had enough players and passion to keep the battles going for over a decade after its initial closure.
PlanetSide 2
Massive battles with seemingly no end
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Large scale FPS warfare
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Consistent player activity
PlanetSide 2 raised the bar for how large-scale battles could be displayed in a multiplayer game. Instead of small lobbies with a dozen or so players, the game's matches featured hundreds of slots, which meant the battles felt much bigger and more epic than virtually any other FPS on the market.
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As impressive as it was, the attention just faded away, much like many other FPS games that just couldn't find their footing. That said, the servers are still up, and nothing is stopping new or older players from re-downloading the game and once again entering the battlefield for some chaotic shooting goodness.
Starseige: Tribes
Unmatched motion satisfaction
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Roof with high skill
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Community support keeps die-hard fans online
Tribes remains one of the most mechanically demanding shooters ever created, built around 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 has completely disappeared, leaving its fate entirely up to the community.
Even with a smaller player base, matches still take place, driven by those committed to mastering its systems and keeping a truly innovative experience alive in the modern age. Many will have forgotten how far the genre has evolved, but if they are willing to take a trip into the past, they will be greeted by a loving group of individuals who are all there to relive the adrenaline ride all over again.
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