20 Games You CAN'T Play Without Retro Hardware

20 Games You Can’t Play Without Retro Hardware

Welcome to MojoPlays and today we’re lamenting that the only way to play some of our favorite games is to dust off our old hardware and hope that everything is still working. Game preservation is a serious matter, people.

“Star Wars: Obi Wan” (2001)

Star Wars games have a tendency to get lost in the past as you’ll see later in our list, but Star Wars: Obi Wan is an especially egregious oversight. Due to its exclusivity to the OG Xbox, many fans aren’t even aware of its existence, let alone it being canon chronicling Obi Wan’s time before and during the events of Episode 1. The Obi Wan game took a unique approach to lightsaber combat, having most of it tied to the right analog stick outside of Obi Wan’s force powers. The game itself is mostly “alright” by Star Wars game standards and future titles would vastly improve on the combat mechanics, but for die-hard fans of Star Wars, this title being not only mostly forgotten to time but locked on a console that is becoming increasingly difficult to find is almost as bad as Disney overseeing Star Wars. Almost.

“Turok” (2008)

2008’s Turok might have been the reboot no one was asking for but damnit if it still wasn’t a hell of a good time. During a time when every shooter took itself too seriously and was swimming in the piss yellow filter, Turok originally looked like your standard Call of Duty style shooter but with dinosaurs, which is true, and it was great! The over-the-top and completely stone-faced delivery of the game’s dialogue along with the absurdness of the game’s entire premise just endeared it more to players who gave it a chance and has since become a time capsule of mid-2000s culture. The graphics still hold up surprisingly well today as does the gameplay, even if the “stealth” gameplay is a bit broken, but by far the standout is the dinosaurs. It’s just a shame no one without a PS3 or Xbox 360 will ever be able to experience this gem again.

“Maximo: Ghosts to Glory” (2001)

Fans of Dark Souls don’t know what they’re missing out on with Maximo: Ghosts to Glory and its sequel “Vs the Army of Zin”. Perfectly translating the tough as nails gameplay of the Ghosts ‘n Goblins series to 3D, Maximo offered players a greater challenge than the typical 3D platformers of the time and was all the better for it. The feeling of satisfaction from clearing a level was already high, but being able to do it with your armor intact was next level. Everything worked together harmoniously, from the combat to the platforming, and boss fights, Maximo offered players a chance to “git gud” long before Dark Souls took over the “tough but fair” style of gameplay. To date, Maximo and its sequel are still locked to the PS2 or backwards compatible through PS3, and barring the much-demanded remake or remaster, will likely remain trapped in the past.

“Parasite Eve” Series (1998-99)

Out of all the Square series that got their start on the PS1, for whatever reason and despite a very vocal fanbase, Parasite Eve is treated like the black sheep of Square’s RPG catalogue. While more obscure titles are receiving full remakes or remasters, this classic turn-based RPG continues to get overlooked. Blending elements of Resident Evil with its own unique implementation of RPG elements and combat systems, along with gorgeous cinematics and presentation, this modern take on Square’s RPG formula and New York City setting remains a relic of the 90s that many modern gamers only know about from videos like this one. Parasite Eve and its sequel are some of the most beloved games on the PS1, and unfortunately, without a PS1, PS2, or PS3, you’re unlikely to ever experience these classics. Fan outcry finally got Dino Crisis on PS5, so hopefully the same can be true of Parasite Eve.

“Xenosaga” Episodes 1-3 (2002-06)

Much like its predecessor Xenogears, the only way you’re going to get to experience the ambitious trilogy of Xenosaga will be on an older console. Incredibly ambitious for the time, Xenosaga has since become one of the most sought-after collector games for the PS2, and with no other way to replay this classic trilogy, the prices and demand keep going up. Xenosaga continued the heavy science fiction mythology of Xenogears and expanded on it with deep philosophical questions about humanity and the existence of God with the game’s heavily featuring Biblical imagery. The series’ ambitious approach and cinematic presentation made it a standout on the PS2, but unfortunately the critical acclaim of the series didn’t lead to sales, leading to lower production of each entry and driving up the price for collectors, making it even more difficult for anyone looking to actually play the games two decades after release.

“Wet” (2009)

Revisiting the grunge look of the mid-2000s, no title better embodied this style of games better than Wet, published by Bethesda of all things. Combining slick and stylish gunplay, complete with slow-mo effects and a combo meter and third person gunplay, Wet leaned into its Grindhouse inspirations in everything from its presentation, complete with the grainy filters, to its over-the-top plot and characters. The ridiculous nature of the plot not only kept players laughing with its audacity, but its unpredictable nature kept it consistently engaging. The combo-based gameplay allowed players to replay levels for better scores which in turn led to better rewards, and the smoothness of the gameplay made replaying these levels more enjoyable, even if some of the level design worked directly against this mentality. Much like Turok, Wet is a time capsule of a different era in gaming and one that can only be experienced on the PS3 or Xbox 360.

“Vagrant Story” (2000)

Another of Square’s beloved classics that has been locked on retro generations, Vagrant Story is undoubtedly one of Square’s best games on the PS1 outside of the Final Fantasy trilogy, but for whatever reason, Square seems content to leave it and its legacy in the past. Another “experimental” RPG, Vagrant Story had a battle system reminiscent of Parasite Eve, but with a focus on targeting individual body parts and changing combo attacks together for additional damage, offering far more player engagement than the typical turn-based combat of the time. The use of fully 3D environments allowed players to more thoroughly explore their surroundings and puzzle solving. Vagrant Story was also by far one of Square’s most mature narratives of the time, full of political intrigue, backstabbing and brutal character deaths. The only explanation why Legend of Dragoon got a modern port but not Vagrant Story is because Square is allergic to money.

“Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader” (1998)

It’s Star Wars once again, and this time it’s arguably one of the best titles ever to carry the “Star Wars” moniker. While its predecessor can be played on PC, unfortunately its sequel cannot. The GameCube exclusive lets players live out their intergalactic fantasies of piloting numerous iconic Star Wars vehicles from the X-Wing to even the Millenium Falcon in all their glory. The fast-paced action set during fan favorite moments from the films alongside original missions, perfectly recaptured the feeling of being in the cockpit of these magnificent machines, complete with all the Star Wars sound effects you would expect. Not only is Rogue Leader still trapped on the GameCube, but so is the third entry in the franchise Rebel Strike, which even gave players on foot missions, giving them a rare chance to step out of the cockpit. Considering Disney’s handling of Star Wars so far, don’t bet on ports of these classics anytime soon.

“MechAssault” (2002)

Xbox has generally been pretty good about making the majority of their first party titles backwards compatible through the generations, but for whatever reason, one of their first absolute bangers is locked to the OG Xbox. The speed and precision of the mechs in MechAssault was unprecedented in a time when games like Armored Core and Mech Warrior made you feel the weight of the massive machines you were piloting. The fast and addictive arcadey combat made gameplay deep but approachable, and along with some truly impressive physics and mech designs combined with MechAssault being one of the first online games to utilize Xbox Live, MechAssault is still incredibly fun today if you can find a way to play it. Its sequel Lone Wolf is at least backwards compatible on Xbox 360, but that’s still three generations behind at this point.

“Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy” (2004)

We’d be lying if we said we didn’t miss the experimental times of the PS2 era. Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy combined not only an almost nonsensical government espionage plot, but some of the best physics-based powers in any video game, even by today’s standards. Giving players access to a wealth of powers that allowed them to do everything from control NPCs, ignite enemies and levitate objects and foes, Psi-Ops gave players a true power fantasy at their fingertips. While the game unfortunately never received a sequel to build off its frustrating cliffhanger ending, the game is endlessly replayable simply for its physics-based combat and puzzles, which makes it even more infuriating that many modern gamers will never get to experience all this chaos without a PS2 or an OG Xbox.

“Need for Speed: Underground” (2003)

The Need for Speed series might be going through something of an identity crisis these days, but back on the PS2 and OG Xbox, it knew exactly what it wanted to be and how to give players the pure adrenaline rush of racing around the neon-soaked city streets at top speed. Underground released at the height of Fast and Furious’ popularity in the early 2000s and perfectly captured the car culture craze of the time with countless customization options and the perfect sensation of narrowly crossing the finish line before your opponent in drag races. While the franchise would continue to build on these concepts, nothing really compares to replaying the tracks to beat your best time, something that was lost once the series went open world. Plus, not even Underground 2 is playable on anything beyond an Xbox 360 so the entire series is basically trapped in the mid 2000s.

“The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay” (2004)

One of the rare cases of a video game adaptation being far superior to the film series it’s based on, not only have many people nearly forgotten the Riddick series is a thing, but that there was an incredible video game that far outshined its source material. Developed by future Payday devs Starbreeze in tandem with Vin Diesel’s own game studio, Escape From Butcher Bay chronicled Riddick’s escape from the titular prison and was most notable for its immersive atmosphere and gameplay along with Vin Diesel’s direct contributions to the game’s creation. While the base version is only on the OG Xbox, the updated version Assault on Dark Athena was at least available on PS3 and Xbox 360, but the PC port has been delisted, meaning if you want to revisit one of the best first person shooter experiences of the 2000s, you’re going to need to track down a physical copy and a working retro console.

“Burnout 3: Takedown” (2004)

Speaking of racing games trapped in the past, we can’t believe one of the best arcade racers of all time can only be played on the PS2, OG Xbox or Xbox 360. With the series last entry Burnout Paradise releasing all way back in 2008, the best crash racer series has been dormant for a long time, but at least that one got a remaster while arguably the best entry in the entire franchise is unplayable anywhere but its native hardware. Even today, Burnout 3 remains infinitely replayable with its myriad of unlockable cars, tracks and crash modes, plus the immensely rewarding crashes. Why the far more popular Burnout series has been lost to time while the divisive and increasingly experimental financial failures of Need for Speed get to continue is yet another baffling EA decision in a long history of them.

“Prince of Persia: Warrior Within” (2004) & “The Two Thrones” (2005)

This one makes so little sense it could only be a decision made by Ubisoft. While the original Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is fully playable on the modern Xbox Series X with a physical copy, the sequels Warrior Within and The Two Thrones are not. This means unless you happen to have a PS2, OG Xbox, or the collection on PS3, you will be unable to play through the Prince’s entire trilogy of games that chronicle his entire adventure after The Sands of Time. For whatever reason, the failed reboot 2008’s Prince of Persia and the pseudo-sequel The Forgotten Sands, which also takes place DURING the Sands of Time trilogy mind you, are backwards compatible, but in their infinite wisdom, Ubisoft forgot to make the Prince’s final two games in his own trilogy playable on modern consoles or even PC. Brilliant. Definitely going to need the rewind for this one.

“Stranglehold” (2007)

Hard Boiled is without a doubt not only one of the best action movies ever made, but one of action director maestro John Woo’s greatest works and while an interactive sequel might have seemed like a strange idea, in practice, it worked incredibly well. Along with John Woo’s direct involvement, actor Chow Yun-Fat reprised his role as hardened inspector Tequila Yuen in an adventure that featured everything that made John Woo’s original film so iconic, right down to the spin move complete with doves. The player's ability to interact with nearly everything in the environment from rolling trolleys to pulling off increasingly outlandish moves made the gunplay endlessly entertaining, and each enemy shootout varied from one to the next. Unfortunately, with the closure of Midway, Stranglehold and many of Midway’s other classics remain trapped on the hardware they released on.

“The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” (2006)

Considering how beloved The Legend of Zelda series is, Nintendo is just leaving money on the table not porting all the series adventures onto the Switch and Switch 2 or even Nintendo Classics. While some of the heavy hitters like Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask and Skyward Sword have made their way to the Switch, other classics such as the beloved Twilight Princess or even Wind Waker have been trapped on their respective hardware or their now extremely rare Wii U ports. As fans of the series, we would whole-heartedly pay for the privilege to replay some of the games on our Switch or Switch 2, but for whatever reason, Nintendo seems uninterested in giving players what they want even when they’re literally ready to throw money at them.

“The Simpsons: Hit & Run” (2003)

It’s truly criminal how many Simpsons games have been lost to time that we’d love the opportunity to replay, yes even the “bad” ones. However, none of these are as in demand as The Simpsons Hit & Run and The Simpsons Game. While fans, us included, would love to revisit the fourth wall breaking meta that is The Simpsons Game, the fanbase has been much more vocal about a remaster or remake of Hit & Run. Essentially hitting copy/paste on the GTa formula and applying it Springfield, no Simpsons game has better captured the wit, the characters or the town better than Hit & Run and some dedicated fans have even taken to remaking the game themselves in an unofficial capacity, further highlighting the demand from the fans. However, once again, for whatever reason, EA seems to be perfectly fine with letting one of the most popular IPs on the planet languish in obscurity.

“Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots” (2008)

Konami has only recently begun to revisit the Metal Gear Solid series after their nasty split with Kojima, bundling the original Metal Gear saga and remaking Metal Gear Solid 3, but arguably the biggest and most requested entry is still stuck on the PS3. What was originally planned to end the Metal Gear series, Metal Gear Solid 4 pushed the boundaries of storytelling and graphical capabilities on the PS3 all the way back in the console’s infancy back in 2008 and remains one of the most stunning games in the entire franchise. Sadly, however, and likely due to Konami themselves, MGS4 isn’t even playable through the PS5’s PS3 streaming services, meaning anyone looking to complete the MGs saga after replaying the recent collection is out of luck without a PS3. Let’s hope rumors of a remaster turn out to be true sooner rather than later.

“Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions” (2010)

We truly had no idea how spoiled we were for choice back in the mid-2000s for Spidey adventures until the only entries we get these days are one every few years from Insomniac. While Web of Shadows is also an all-time classic as is Edge of Time, the one we most wish we could replay is without a doubt Shattered Dimensions. Long before Into the Spider-Verse, we got to play as four different versions of the web swinger, which incidentally introduced many fans to versions they might not have even realized existed. Each version had their own playstyle and perfectly captured their respective art with different graphical styles applied to each one making every Spidey feel unique. With Beenox being consumed by the COD machine and Activision and Marvel keeping these games firmly in Spidey’s rearview, you better start saving up if you want to replay some of the wall crawler’s greatest adventures.

“Transformers: War for Cybertron” (2010) & “Fall of Cybertron” (2012)

Another entry, another property abandoned to time by Activision. This time it’s the best Transformers games of all time War for Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron. Not only did the games offer a new perspective on the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons, but fans got to experience both sides of the war, filled to the brim with fan service and iconic Transformers along with the ability to transform at the push of a button. Everything about the games appealed to not only long-time fans but also newcomers and both were released at the peak of the property’s popularity during the Michael Bay film trilogy, and unlike most adaptations of the time, these games were not only well crafted, but also incredibly fun to play. Activision lost the Transformers license back in 2017, permanently delisting these epics from all storefronts and killing any possibility of a remaster or re-release. Licensing agreements are freaking stupid.

Which game do you wish you could pop into your modern hardware and relive any time you wanted? Share your picks in the comments.