Summary
Many games come and go in our lives throughout the years,evoking a sense of nostalgia and joy when we think fondly of them from time to time,wishing we could go back and play them again. And, for the most part, you may access those games in a large variety of ways and begin making your way through them just as you remembered.
But what if those games were primarily online and have since been abandoned by their publishers? The vast majority of games will be dead the instant this happens, but some dedicated communities just may be crafty enough to keep it afloat with unofficial servers and passion!
Developer
Disney Online, SilverTree Media
Kicking things off, we have Pirates of the Caribbean Online, an MMO based on the titular franchise that ran from 2007 to 2013. While its official servers have been offline for 12 years, the community surrounding this title has kept it alive for essentially the entire time.
The Legend of Pirates Online is a dedicated fan recreation of the beloved MMO by a small team, allowing players to hop in and sail the high seas once more. There are roughly a couple of hundred players on at any given time, which is quite impressive for this project. If you loved this back in the day, you should check it out!
Developers
Disney Interactive Studios, Schell Games, Frogchildren Studios
A massive and generation-defining MMORPG titledToontown Onlineofficially launched in 2003 before closing its servers roughly a decade later in 2013, breaking the hearts of many who invested hundreds to thousands of hours in Disney’s charming and unique world with their friends.
Fortunately, thanks to the ongoing efforts of a small team of fans, this fantastic online experience is still alive via Toontown Rewritten, allowing players to log in with their old Toons and teleport themselves instantly back to their childhood. This is one of the best examples of a community coming together to save something they cherished for many, many years!
Disney Interactive Studios, New Horizon Interactive, RocketSnail Games
Speaking of another deeply cherished Disney Interactive Studios MMO that was taken offline after nearly 12 years of service, we have Club Penguin, one of the most easily recognizable and iconic games of its kind. To say players were devastating when it closed would be an understatement.
However, after several attempts to shut down fan projects and servers that kept it afloat, Club Penguin Legacy allows you to hop back in and become overcome with nostalgia. If Club Penguin was a part of your childhood and you thought it was long dead, this is a must-play!
Dark Comet Games, Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment
Stargate: Resistance is next in line and was a third-person shooter based on the Stargate SG-1 TV show, which had a surprising following of dedicated players. If you were one of them, you may be excited to learn that you can still hop in and play it online 14 years after its servers went dark.
Using a central server solution, fans have restored the online functionality to this niche shooter, which had only survived for a year after its release. Whether you were a fan of the show or this niche shooter, hopping online and getting into the action should be your top priority!
FromSoftware, Japan Studio
Yes, we know this is a bit of an odd one to have on here, but hear us out for a moment. WhileBloodborne’s servers are still alive and well, its online playerbase is dwindling every day, leaving its online aspects more of a ghost town than a thriving community.
So, if you’re expecting to partake in its PvP, read messages, or summon players for help in a grueling boss encounter, you will likely struggle with your endeavors. However,every year from March 24 to April 7,the community comes together for the annual ‘Return to Yharnam’ event, populating the servers once more as if it were the game’s launch day!
Proletariat
Another unique example comes fromSpellbreak, which had its official servers shut down in 2023, about three years after its launch. However, unlike the other entries on this list, the developers made a Community Version of this title, making it extremely easy to keep the game alive.
Yup, that’s right, Proletariat released an official Community Version of Spellbreak on itch.io, allowing you to host and join servers around the world, keeping the game alive well after its official development has ended. It’s very cool to see, and it has experienced massive spikes in player count since, which is always a plus!
Grigon Entertainment
Running from 2009 to 2013, FusionFall delivered a unique MMO experience thatshowcased nearly every Cartoon Network IPof the time, making it a dream world for its players and an instant classic for those who experienced it during their childhood.
Unfortunately, years after its shutdown, fans released a revival project of the title that split the game into two versions: the original release (Retro) and another that was the original game with additional content (Legacy). This was ultimately met with a DMCA takedown, forcing the project to go offline.
Luckily, things end on a positive note, with OpenFusion restoring the original release of the game, allowing fans to enjoy it once again. If this was a bright part of your youth, you absolutely need to dive back in and see what’s up!
1Discord Fighters
Down But Not Out
Lastly, we have ‘Discord Fighters’, which may or may not carry a negative connotation, depending on the circles you hang in. Overall,we love how passionate fighting game Discords are,as you can find an active and excited playerbase for just about any fighting game you think of, and find matches for them online.
While some of these titles still have their servers active (DNF Duel,Soul Calibur 6,Dead or Alive 6, etc.), you won’t have much luck finding matches online throughout the day. However, thanks to Discord, you may find hundreds of people looking to throw down and even teach new tech, keeping things fresh and lively.
Additionally,exceptionally niche fighting gameslike Arcana Heart 3: Love Max Six Stars, Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, Fighting EX Layer, and many more are given an extra breath of life, allowing you to find constant matches. While it is a shame to see some newer games become Discord Fighters, we love to see their communities rally around them and keep them afloat!
