Uncancelled games

Games that got cancelled/disappeared for their original platform of release or otherwise/dropped by their original publisher and then uncancelled or reworked, for better and for worse
Listing versions that came out is preferred, still-upcoming game revivals are given benefit of the doubt
Notes explain what happened to their original versions
Feel free to comment if you have any more and I'll add them

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
as Metal Gear Solid Rising (Kojima Productions developed internally)
Metroid Dread
Metroid Dread
for DS
Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64
initially planned as Super Mario FX for SNES
Fortnite
Fortnite
2013 version with completely different aesthetic
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid
as Metal Gear 3, for 3DO
Resident Evil Village
Resident Evil Village
as Resident Evil Revelations 3, the game originally planned as RE8 has become RE9
Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4
as Devil May Cry (PS2), Fog build, Hook Man build, and Hallucination build
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
as Metal Gear Solid III, the Roman numerals in the title were used to represent the three tallest skyscrapers in Manhattan, then-setting of the game
Overwatch
Overwatch
as Titan (MMORPG)
Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2
was vaporware since the late 90s
Mother 3
Mother 3
as Earthbound 64
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
for Vita
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
as DISTRUST for PSP
Psychonauts
Psychonauts
Microsoft exited
Doom
Doom
as Aliens
Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy XV
as Final Fantasy Versus XIII (PS3)
Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo: Combat Evolved
as an RTS for Mac
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
for 3DS, meant to push the New 2DS XL and was going to be bundled with that system, existence leaked around 2017 alongside a remake of Virtual Boy Wario Land that never materialized
Bayonetta 2
Bayonetta 2
dropped by Sega and saved by Nintendo
Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime
as an unnamed, unrelated to Metroid FPS
Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooie
as Project Dream (SNES)
Until Dawn
Until Dawn
for PS Move on PS3
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 2
original version commonly known as Resident Evil 1.5
Ico
Ico
for PS1
The Last Guardian
The Last Guardian
for PS3
Super Paper Mario
Super Paper Mario
for Gamecube
Sleeping Dogs
Sleeping Dogs
as True Crime: Hong Kong, Activision exited
The Silver Case
The Silver Case
remake initially planned for Nintendo DS, work repurposed for PS4/PC/Switch
Nioh
Nioh
PS3
The 25th Ward: The Silver Case
The 25th Ward: The Silver Case
remake initially planned for Nintendo DS, work repurposed for PS4/PC/Switch
Resident Evil
Resident Evil
Sweet Home (NES) remake
Resident Evil 0
Resident Evil 0
for N64
Dead Island 2
Dead Island 2
Sin and Punishment
Sin and Punishment
Original US release canceled
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
original version commonly known as Metroid Prime 1.5 and would've taken inspiration from System Shock 2
Jet Set Radio Future
Jet Set Radio Future
for Dreamcast
Shenmue
Shenmue
for Saturn
Conker's Bad Fur Day
Conker's Bad Fur Day
as Conker's Twelve Tales and later Conker's Quest
Pokémon Gold Version
Pokémon Gold Version
as Pokemon 2 for Game Boy
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
for Gamecube
Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend
Vivendi exited
Pokémon Silver Version
Pokémon Silver Version
as Pokemon 2 for Game Boy
Kirby Air Ride
Kirby Air Ride
originally for N64
EarthBound Beginnings
EarthBound Beginnings
Original US release cancelled due to PCB being too expensive
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
for N64
Prototype 2
Prototype 2
as Spider-Man 4
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
as Rayman 2 (2D sidescroller)
Red Dead Revolver
Red Dead Revolver
original Capcom version, studio sold from Capcom to Rockstar, prototype exists of Capcom version
Luigi's Mansion
Luigi's Mansion
3D functionality originally planned for Gamecube with glasses-free 3D addon
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
as Donkey Kong Plus, a more faithful remake of Donkey Kong 94
Star Fox Adventures
Star Fox Adventures
as Dinosaur Planet (N64)
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Rayman Raving Rabbids
as Rayman 4
Duke Nukem Forever
Duke Nukem Forever
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Evergrace
Evergrace
for PS1 (that's why it's in 60fps)
Dragon's Crown
Dragon's Crown
for Dreamcast
Trials of Mana
Trials of Mana
The Wolf Among Us 2
The Wolf Among Us 2
Let It Die
Let It Die
as Lily Bergamo (PS4)
Star Fox 2
Star Fox 2
Shenmue III
Shenmue III
for Dreamcast
Ghostbusters: The Video Game
Ghostbusters: The Video Game
Vivendi exited
Aliens: Colonial Marines
Aliens: Colonial Marines
originally for PS2
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2
for PS1 and Dreamcast
Evolve
Evolve
THQ exited
Okage: Shadow King
Okage: Shadow King
for PS1
Perfect Dark Zero
Perfect Dark Zero
for Gamecube then Xbox
Wet
Wet
Vivendi exited
Time Crisis II
Time Crisis II
for PS1 and Dreamcast
Kameo: Elements of Power
Kameo: Elements of Power
for Gamecube then Xbox
Monster World IV
Monster World IV
US release cancelled
Star Wars: Battlefront - Elite Squadron
Star Wars: Battlefront - Elite Squadron
as Star Wars Battlefront III (PS3/360)
M.U.G.E.N
M.U.G.E.N
cancelled in 2003, the Windows version was unfinished and leaked with a crack to disable the character limit (no-limit Winmugen) and then was subsequently revived in 2009 when Elecbyte returned to release 1.0
Folklore
Folklore
as Monster Kingdom: Unknown Realms, was intended as a companion piece to Monster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner for PSP
Too Human
Too Human
for PS1/Saturn, then Gamecube
Omikron: The Nomad Soul
Omikron: The Nomad Soul
for PS1
Dementium: The Ward
Dementium: The Ward
pitched to Konami as Silent Hill (DS)
Cubivore: Survival of the Fittest
Cubivore: Survival of the Fittest
as Doubutsu Banchou for 64DD and later N64
Outcast: A New Beginning
Outcast: A New Beginning
as Outcast II: The Lost Paradise
Earthworm Jim 3D
Earthworm Jim 3D
for PS1
Dragon: Marked for Death
Dragon: Marked for Death
for PSP, then 3DS, finally released on Switch
Project +
Project +
as Project M
Enemy Zero
Enemy Zero
for PS1
Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean
as Sea Dogs II
D2
D2
for Panasonic 3DO M2
Banjo-Pilot
Banjo-Pilot
as Diddy Kong Pilot
Them's Fightin' Herds
Them's Fightin' Herds
as My Little Pony: Fighting is Magic
Clockwork Aquario
Clockwork Aquario
Heavenly Guardian
Heavenly Guardian
as Kiki Kaikai 2 (Pocky & Rocky 2)
Devil's Third
Devil's Third
THQ exited
ToeJam & Earl III: Mission to Earth
ToeJam & Earl III: Mission to Earth
for Dreamcast
Neopets: The Darkest Faerie
Neopets: The Darkest Faerie
for PS1
Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style
Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style
as Thrill Kill, engine was reused for four-player combat
World in Conflict: Soviet Assault
World in Conflict: Soviet Assault
Vivendi exited
Homefront: The Revolution
Homefront: The Revolution
THQ exited
AeternoBlade II
AeternoBlade II
for 3DS
Zombie Wranglers
Zombie Wranglers
Vivendi exited
1993 Shenandoah
1993 Shenandoah
for Amiga
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
Vivendi exited
It's Mr. Pants
It's Mr. Pants
as Donkey Kong: Coconut Crackers

7 Comments


1 year ago

Dinosaur Planet -> Starfox Adventures?

1 year ago

RE1 was a scrapped "Sweet Home" remake that eventually became it's own thing

1 year ago

Star Wars Battlefront III was canceled during development, assests and plot were recycled in Battlefront Elite Squadron for the PSP/DS

1 year ago

There's a few examples of games that were cancelled for their original platforms and reworked for something more advanced (Shenmue for Saturn, ICO for PS1, The Last Guardian for PS3, Metal Gear Solid for 3DO). Not sure if they'd count.

1 year ago

great list idea, I love imagining what games like this would be like today if they were always only the version that was cancelled

1 year ago

added everybody's suggestions and some new ones too

1 year ago

as a child i would lay in bed and imagine how happy i would be if i had access to earthbound 64 demo


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