Top 10 Times Fan Games Were Actually Supported By Developers
Top 10 Times Game Companies Supported Fan Games
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Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 times game companies supported fan games. For this list, we’ll be looking at the games that were created by fans which were actually supported by official companies. To be clear, the companies supporting the games don’t necessarily need to be those of the original property. If you’re a fan of a fan game that didn’t get our official support, please leave us a comment about it below!
#10: “PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds” (2017)
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Better known as “PUBG,” “Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds” is a battle royale game in which players are dropped into a map with the goal of being the final player standing. The game came about as the result of several mods the titular Player Unknown created based on the “DayZ” mod for the “ARMA” series. South Korean studio Bluehole took notice of Player Unknown and reached out to him, allowing him to create a fully original game based on the gameplay present in his original mods. Because Bluehole saw the mod’s potential, “PUBG” was able to survive and flourish.
#9: “The Stanley Parable” (2011)
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This mind- and narrative-bending game follows the title character as his life is narrated by an omniscient voice. Although gameplay is minimal, the decision to follow or ignore the instructions of the narrator leads to many different outcomes. Developed as a mod for “Half-Life 2” by its creator, Davey Wreden, “The Stanley Parable” was eventually remade and funded through Valve’s Steam Greenlight service. Wreden also received the go-ahead from the creator of another popular game referenced within “The Stanley Parable” and then went on to become popular the world over.
#8: “Team Fortress Classic” (1999)
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While its sequel might have been the one to leave the biggest mark on gaming, the original “Team Fortress” was remarkable too, if only for its origins. “Team Fortress Classic” was first created as a mod for the shooters “Quake” and “Quakeworld.” Its creators were then hired by Valve to make a version of “Team Fortress” as a mod of their own game, “Half-Life,” which also used the “Quake” engine. “TFC”’s class-based gameplay has become a standard part of many online multiplayer shooters and it all came about because Valve was willing to pay for a mod of their own game.
#7: “Castlevania: The Lecarde Chronicles 2” (2017)
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“Castlevania” is a flagship franchise for Konami, but the last decade has seen a notably slow output of games. This has led to a glut of fan games, one of the most popular being “Castlevania: The Lecarde Chronicles 2.” A sequel to a previous fan game, this installment has a level of polish unseen in most fan games, even featuring voice acting by actors previously involved in “Castlevania” games. Additionally, Konami have given their blessing to the game, provided it remains free-to-play. Former “Castlevania” lead producer Koji Igarashi has even been pictured with a copy!
#6: “Counter-Strike” (2000)
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Yet another “Half-Life” mod, “Counter-Strike” is an online military FPS that pits terrorists against counter-terrorists in death matches. The simple, yet addictive gameplay has helped keep the game popular even today, despite some now-dated graphics. However, another large part of its longevity is owed to the fact that “Half-Life”’s developers, Valve bought the rights to the mod and brought over its developers to help create a finished game. The resulting title has gone on to spawn a successful franchise and plenty of modding of its own (as well as plenty of hacking).
#5: The Fazbear Fanverse Initiative
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“Fives Nights at Freddy’s” is a franchise of horror games that has exploded in popularity in recent years. The combination of simple gameplay with creepy atmosphere and numerous jump scares clearly resonates. The fan community has taken to this formula with gusto, spawning many imitators and fan tributes. In an unprecedented move, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” creator Scott Cawthon announced in August 2020 “The Fazbear Fanverse Initiative.” This project will see him fund not only new sequels to previous fan games, but also support remakes of previous games using new assets and graphical upgrades, as well as merchandise based on the properties! While the project is still in its early stages, we look forward to seeing how it turns out!
#4: “The Elder Scrolls Renewal: Skywind” (TBA)
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“The Elder Scrolls” is a beloved franchise with some truly devoted fans. Among the game’s most dedicated fans, are those who have channeled their passion for the property into remastering “The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind” in its entirety. The aim of the project is to get “Morrowind” to run on the special edition version of “Skyrim,” hence the moniker “Skywind.” Bethesda executives have acknowledged and complimented the project, which, while it may not seem like much, is much more than most other developers give to fan games.
#3: “Black Mesa” (2020)
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Valve and “Half-Life” have sure shown up a lot on this list, huh? Well, we saved the best for last! A complete remake of the first “Half-Life” game, “Black Mesa” is not merely a graphical improvement, like Valve’s own “Half-Life: Source.” “Black Mesa” also features improved level design, A.I., and changes to the story. This includes a reworked ending, which many fans embraced given that many found the original game’s last chapter to be somewhat unsatisfying. “Black Mesa” has been in development since 2005, but the wait was certainly worth it, and Valve clearly agreed, as they ok’d it for a commercial release.
#2: “Street Fighter X Mega Man” (2012)
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“Street Fighter” has crossed over with pretty much everything else, but an 8-bit style “Mega Man” game with “SF” characters as bosses? Only the mind of a fan could create something so epic. Developed by a fan from Singapore, “Street Fighter X Mega Man” began as a fan tribute, but after gaining the attention of Capcom executives, the company provided funds, QA, and marketing for the game; releasing it for the 25th anniversary of both franchises. Oh, and did we mention that it’s available for free online? Because it is, and you could be playing it right now! Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
#1: “Sonic Mania” (2017)
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Christian Whitehead, a frequent contributor to “Sonic” fan games, was approached by Sega itself to create remastered ports of older “Sonic” games. Following this, he was also contracted to create a new game in the older style. Whitehead and his fellow developers are fans of the series, and created “Sonic Mania,” which not only includes new levels, but also remixed versions of older ones. Their game has been one of the best received “Sonic” games in decades and while it isn’t exactly a “fan game,” it is a game made by fans—and one of the most successful ones at that.
