Games That Weren't
@gamesthatwerent.com
Covering cancelled/unreleased video games and prototypes across a variety of consoles and home computers. Preserving unreleased video game history online since 1999, and longer offline.
Check out our archive and more at: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com
Check out our archive and more at: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com
I loved the Romik games on the Commodore VIC-20, especially Moons of Jupiter. Thanks to Paul Stcyr, we learn of a title called Air-Sea Attack that was advertised but didn't seem to surface, or at least hasn't been preserved. Can you help us recover it?
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/air-...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/air-...
February 13, 2026 at 9:00 AM
I loved the Romik games on the Commodore VIC-20, especially Moons of Jupiter. Thanks to Paul Stcyr, we learn of a title called Air-Sea Attack that was advertised but didn't seem to surface, or at least hasn't been preserved. Can you help us recover it?
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/air-...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/air-...
Reposted by Games That Weren't
We've uncovered the start of a previously unknown 1991 #NES Super Kick Off conversion. Built on the original Kick Off code, it features updated titles and the beginnings of an overhaul that was never finished. Check out the prototype for yourself here!
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/11/supe...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/11/supe...
November 3, 2025 at 9:12 AM
We've uncovered the start of a previously unknown 1991 #NES Super Kick Off conversion. Built on the original Kick Off code, it features updated titles and the beginnings of an overhaul that was never finished. Check out the prototype for yourself here!
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/11/supe...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/11/supe...
Reposted by Games That Weren't
It's our tenth Games That Weren't #Commodore64 digest of 2025 with addition of Rocky Memphis and the Temple of Ophuxoff, and 5 other existing entry updates (more details in each history tab). A smaller one this month, but some big findings coming soon!
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/gtw6...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/gtw6...
October 31, 2025 at 2:12 PM
It's our tenth Games That Weren't #Commodore64 digest of 2025 with addition of Rocky Memphis and the Temple of Ophuxoff, and 5 other existing entry updates (more details in each history tab). A smaller one this month, but some big findings coming soon!
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/gtw6...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/gtw6...
Reposted by Games That Weren't
A few weeks ago, we did an interview for spillhistorie.no regarding our preservation work at Games That Weren't which you can find more details of below. Thanks very much to @retrogamingpappa.bsky.social for the interview.
We just published an interview with Frank Gasking from @gamesthatwerent.com about their preservation efforts. Interview by @retrogamingpappa.bsky.social .
Games that Weren't are doing a lot of really valuable work preserving video game history.
Games that Weren't are doing a lot of really valuable work preserving video game history.
Frank Gasking on preserving "lost" games - Spillhistorie.no
We spoke with the man behind Games That Weren't.
spillhistorie.no
October 25, 2025 at 8:05 PM
A few weeks ago, we did an interview for spillhistorie.no regarding our preservation work at Games That Weren't which you can find more details of below. Thanks very much to @retrogamingpappa.bsky.social for the interview.
Reposted by Games That Weren't
The Dreamcast project Quark remains a Unreleased with huge potential, the kind people still regret 25 years later. We explored its concept through Artwork and developer testimonies, revealing what could have been a remarkable game👇
www.sega-dreamcast-info-games-preservation.com/en/quark-dre...
www.sega-dreamcast-info-games-preservation.com/en/quark-dre...
A look back at the origins and genesis of Quark Dreamcast | SEGA Dreamcast Info
In the early 2000s, Quantic Dream was constantly communicating about Quark, one of the most coveted Dreamcast Unreleased titles, but there were still many grey areas surrounding it. This article, with...
www.sega-dreamcast-info-games-preservation.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:42 AM
The Dreamcast project Quark remains a Unreleased with huge potential, the kind people still regret 25 years later. We explored its concept through Artwork and developer testimonies, revealing what could have been a remarkable game👇
www.sega-dreamcast-info-games-preservation.com/en/quark-dre...
www.sega-dreamcast-info-games-preservation.com/en/quark-dre...
Reposted by Games That Weren't
I thought of KLON, but didn't the interview say "company K" also wanted to publish it? bsky.app/profile/ita-...
The interview also touches on the unreleased MSX2 version of Terra Cresta. According to the interview, development was outsourced to "K社" (Company K). If this "K" stands for the company name, it could refer to "KLON."
youtube.com/watch?v=kkjt...
youtube.com/watch?v=kkjt...
'TERRA KRESTA' (1988) MSX, beta version
YouTube video by neshagui
youtube.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:30 AM
I thought of KLON, but didn't the interview say "company K" also wanted to publish it? bsky.app/profile/ita-...
The Horde was reportedly around 90% complete for the Super Nintendo before Ocean cancelled it in 1995. Magazine previews praised it as a faithful conversion despite the loss of FMV. We take a closer look today with a new entry in the archives:
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/the-...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/the-...
February 11, 2026 at 8:20 AM
The Horde was reportedly around 90% complete for the Super Nintendo before Ocean cancelled it in 1995. Magazine previews praised it as a faithful conversion despite the loss of FMV. We take a closer look today with a new entry in the archives:
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/the-...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/the-...
Reposted by Games That Weren't
Back in 1991, Enigma Variations released Famous Five: Five on a Treasure Island for many platforms. On #AmstradCPC, magazines once showed a very different looking version of the game. Did this version ever exist, or were screens merely mock ups?
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/famo...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/famo...
Famous Five: Five on a Treasure Island V1 (Amstrad CPC) - Games That Weren't
Before you say anything, I know this game came out and that Amstrad Action gave away the game on their September 1992 cover tape as I have that tape and played it to death. But there is evidence of an...
www.gamesthatwerent.com
October 17, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Back in 1991, Enigma Variations released Famous Five: Five on a Treasure Island for many platforms. On #AmstradCPC, magazines once showed a very different looking version of the game. Did this version ever exist, or were screens merely mock ups?
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/famo...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/famo...
Reposted by Games That Weren't
Thanks to John Hardie contacting us, remains of a lost Earthquake game (with graphics by the late Jerome Domurat) were recovered in June 2025 for either #Atari2600 or #Atari8bit. We take a look to try and learn more about the game:
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/eart...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/eart...
October 15, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Thanks to John Hardie contacting us, remains of a lost Earthquake game (with graphics by the late Jerome Domurat) were recovered in June 2025 for either #Atari2600 or #Atari8bit. We take a look to try and learn more about the game:
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/eart...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/eart...
Reposted by Games That Weren't
Thanks to Csaba Virág, we've been given a rare bug report video from 1990 and for Novotrade's #PC Bugs Bunny's Cartoon Workshop package. This has been preserved by Péter Gyöngyössy, who found and digitized the tape.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cg2...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cg2...
Bugs Bunny's Cartoon Workshop - Novotrade 1990 PC game test video
YouTube video by Games That Weren't - Cancelled & Unreleased Games
www.youtube.com
October 14, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Thanks to Csaba Virág, we've been given a rare bug report video from 1990 and for Novotrade's #PC Bugs Bunny's Cartoon Workshop package. This has been preserved by Péter Gyöngyössy, who found and digitized the tape.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cg2...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cg2...
Reposted by Games That Weren't
Looking for something to watch while you wind down? We got you.
Here's 7 hours of Cancelled Video Games:
youtu.be/dgMI67ElQ7w
Here's 7 hours of Cancelled Video Games:
youtu.be/dgMI67ElQ7w
February 9, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Looking for something to watch while you wind down? We got you.
Here's 7 hours of Cancelled Video Games:
youtu.be/dgMI67ElQ7w
Here's 7 hours of Cancelled Video Games:
youtu.be/dgMI67ElQ7w
Reposted by Games That Weren't
Thanks to the efforts of collectors, preservationists, original devs and emulator authors, I can present to you a newly dumped RCA Studio II prototype: Space Explorer forums.atariage.com/topic/209519...
RCA Studio II GOLD MINE! An interview with the Studio 2 Production Manager!
forums.atariage.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Thanks to the efforts of collectors, preservationists, original devs and emulator authors, I can present to you a newly dumped RCA Studio II prototype: Space Explorer forums.atariage.com/topic/209519...
Amstrad CPC community: Unknown text adventures have surfaced and more information about them is needed. Were they commercially released? Who was the author Steve Ralph? Any info appreciated:
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/info...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/info...
Information Sought: Unknown Amstrad CPC Text Adventures
Several Amstrad CPC titles have been flagged up that appear to be completely undocumented. The games were discovered among a batch of CPC tapes and feature homemade labels and inlays. The titles are: ...
www.gamesthatwerent.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Amstrad CPC community: Unknown text adventures have surfaced and more information about them is needed. Were they commercially released? Who was the author Steve Ralph? Any info appreciated:
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/info...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/info...
Reposted by Games That Weren't
A little ROM dumping at work today
February 9, 2026 at 6:20 PM
A little ROM dumping at work today
Reposted by Games That Weren't
Today I’m sharing a U.S. Jet Set Radio Dreamcast prototype from Oct 6, 2000, just 4 days after the final build. Differences are minimal, mainly in the IP.BIN. Download link is at the bottom of this page with a pink “NEW” tag👇
www.sega-dreamcast-info-games-preservation.com/en/jet-set-r...
www.sega-dreamcast-info-games-preservation.com/en/jet-set-r...
February 9, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Today I’m sharing a U.S. Jet Set Radio Dreamcast prototype from Oct 6, 2000, just 4 days after the final build. Differences are minimal, mainly in the IP.BIN. Download link is at the bottom of this page with a pink “NEW” tag👇
www.sega-dreamcast-info-games-preservation.com/en/jet-set-r...
www.sega-dreamcast-info-games-preservation.com/en/jet-set-r...
Reposted by Games That Weren't
The Genesis lineup was really stacked! Ghostbusters, Thunder Force III, and Phelios were also displayed. A few games were shown but never saw release, like Vette by Spectrum Holobyte, Skull & Crossbones by Tengen... and a MD version of R.C. Grand Prix by Asmik? Images: Mega Drive Fan.
February 9, 2026 at 10:49 PM
The Genesis lineup was really stacked! Ghostbusters, Thunder Force III, and Phelios were also displayed. A few games were shown but never saw release, like Vette by Spectrum Holobyte, Skull & Crossbones by Tengen... and a MD version of R.C. Grand Prix by Asmik? Images: Mega Drive Fan.
Today, we are releasing two early prototypes of Magician's Apprentice for PC DOS. Originally due as a Konix Multisystem game, it was eventually released on PC as a bonus pack-in game with Alien Olympics.
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/magi...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/magi...
February 9, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Today, we are releasing two early prototypes of Magician's Apprentice for PC DOS. Originally due as a Konix Multisystem game, it was eventually released on PC as a bonus pack-in game with Alien Olympics.
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/magi...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/magi...
Reposted by Games That Weren't
Waiting for kickoff… ⏳🏈
Go wayback & play FOOTBALL FOR WINDOWS (Windows 3.1, 1994), made by an ex-college player.
You're the Coach. Pressure's on 😬
📋 Call the plays. Try not to blow it as the clock runs out! ⏱️
Preserved and emulated in the browser ➡️ archive.org/details/FOOTFW
#SuperBowl
Go wayback & play FOOTBALL FOR WINDOWS (Windows 3.1, 1994), made by an ex-college player.
You're the Coach. Pressure's on 😬
📋 Call the plays. Try not to blow it as the clock runs out! ⏱️
Preserved and emulated in the browser ➡️ archive.org/details/FOOTFW
#SuperBowl
February 8, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Waiting for kickoff… ⏳🏈
Go wayback & play FOOTBALL FOR WINDOWS (Windows 3.1, 1994), made by an ex-college player.
You're the Coach. Pressure's on 😬
📋 Call the plays. Try not to blow it as the clock runs out! ⏱️
Preserved and emulated in the browser ➡️ archive.org/details/FOOTFW
#SuperBowl
Go wayback & play FOOTBALL FOR WINDOWS (Windows 3.1, 1994), made by an ex-college player.
You're the Coach. Pressure's on 😬
📋 Call the plays. Try not to blow it as the clock runs out! ⏱️
Preserved and emulated in the browser ➡️ archive.org/details/FOOTFW
#SuperBowl
Reposted by Games That Weren't
Did you know?
Half-Life Dreamcast was canceled at the last minute — printed manuals and covers already existed, and the devs burned a CD-R prototype using the remaining official packaging to celebrate the end of development. 👇
www.sega-dreamcast-info-games-preservation.com/en/half-life...
Half-Life Dreamcast was canceled at the last minute — printed manuals and covers already existed, and the devs burned a CD-R prototype using the remaining official packaging to celebrate the end of development. 👇
www.sega-dreamcast-info-games-preservation.com/en/half-life...
The Official Half-Life Dreamcast Manual to print at home and its souvenir disc | SEGA Dreamcast Info
The purchase of this official copy of Half-Life Dreamcast, with its user manual, inserts and label stuck on the souvenir disc, means that you can now print out, assemble and burn your own version of t...
www.sega-dreamcast-info-games-preservation.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Did you know?
Half-Life Dreamcast was canceled at the last minute — printed manuals and covers already existed, and the devs burned a CD-R prototype using the remaining official packaging to celebrate the end of development. 👇
www.sega-dreamcast-info-games-preservation.com/en/half-life...
Half-Life Dreamcast was canceled at the last minute — printed manuals and covers already existed, and the devs burned a CD-R prototype using the remaining official packaging to celebrate the end of development. 👇
www.sega-dreamcast-info-games-preservation.com/en/half-life...
Reposted by Games That Weren't
Half-Life Dreamcast isn’t the only known official prototype on CD-R. Agartha and Chakan for Dreamcast also exist on CD-Rs. Without being able to state it explicitly, one studio reportedly used CD-Rs for beta testing their games to avoid dealing with the Disc System 2 and the red GD-Rs!
February 8, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Half-Life Dreamcast isn’t the only known official prototype on CD-R. Agartha and Chakan for Dreamcast also exist on CD-Rs. Without being able to state it explicitly, one studio reportedly used CD-Rs for beta testing their games to avoid dealing with the Disc System 2 and the red GD-Rs!
We take a look at an unknown platformer with Creatures 2 vibes, and a title called Boszorkany (translating to 'Witch'). The first may sadly be lost forever, though with the other game, there is hope it can be saved:
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/unkn...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/bosz...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/unkn...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/bosz...
February 6, 2026 at 9:25 AM
We take a look at an unknown platformer with Creatures 2 vibes, and a title called Boszorkany (translating to 'Witch'). The first may sadly be lost forever, though with the other game, there is hope it can be saved:
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/unkn...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/bosz...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/unkn...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2026/02/bosz...
Reposted by Games That Weren't
Reposted by Games That Weren't
Something very special today with the release of Jeff Minter's 'Fastlife' for the ZX81 - based on Conway's 'Life', preserved for the first time by Steve Brown of the TZXVault and released by Games That Weren't today! More details and download here:
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/earl...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/earl...
October 13, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Something very special today with the release of Jeff Minter's 'Fastlife' for the ZX81 - based on Conway's 'Life', preserved for the first time by Steve Brown of the TZXVault and released by Games That Weren't today! More details and download here:
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/earl...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/earl...
Reposted by Games That Weren't
Thanks to LiqMatrix’s incredible preservation work (with support from @museumofplay.bsky.social and wcnews.com), the KATT Games Master Keyboard (obscure 90s gaming device) is archived. We've uploaded raw scans and files, + an unboxing video by LiqMatrix here:
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/the-...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/the-...
October 11, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Thanks to LiqMatrix’s incredible preservation work (with support from @museumofplay.bsky.social and wcnews.com), the KATT Games Master Keyboard (obscure 90s gaming device) is archived. We've uploaded raw scans and files, + an unboxing video by LiqMatrix here:
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/the-...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/10/the-...
Reposted by Games That Weren't
This week at Games That Weren't, we recovered a lost EA proto called Path of the Little Dragon (#Amiga) + added a lost preview of Blues Brothers 2 (Amiga), added entry for Conspiracy of the Deadlock Files (#PCDOS) and a lost Amiga conversion of EA's NHL Hockey. Links in replies.
October 11, 2025 at 10:27 AM
This week at Games That Weren't, we recovered a lost EA proto called Path of the Little Dragon (#Amiga) + added a lost preview of Blues Brothers 2 (Amiga), added entry for Conspiracy of the Deadlock Files (#PCDOS) and a lost Amiga conversion of EA's NHL Hockey. Links in replies.