7 Lost Digital Games That Need a Re-Release Like Scott Pilgrim

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game Complete Edition is finally arriving on modern systems after much fan demand, but there are many more delisted games that should be brought back. From the city of Springfield to the wackiness of Driver: San Francisco, these adventures should be experienced by modern audiences or relived by those who loved them in the past.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is a treasured favorite of the fighting-game community. This is the game that brought EVO to the limelight as it has exciting visuals, fast-paced gameplay, and complex mechanics on offer. Back in 2009, Capcom and Backbone Entertainment brought this arcade classic to the Xbox 360 and PS3 with online functionality (that's still playable to this day).

The vibrant backgrounds were morphed into HD, and the game offered a new UI. According to Destructoid at the time, "the game has never looked better." It then had an iOS port in 2012. Unfortunately, due to licensing issues, the game was delisted from all digital stores in 2013, but there is some hope.

EVO 2020, before it was canceled, was originally going to have a special 20th-anniversary tournament, and fans were hoping Capcom had a surprise announcement during the show. Alas, that hasn't happened yet. Since then, Arcade1UP released a Marvel vs. Capcom machine with Marvel vs Capcom: Clash of Heroes, Marvel Super Heroes: War of the Gems, Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter, Marvel Super Heroes, and X-Men vs Street Fighter, so there's still hope. 

The Simpsons Arcade Game

Another beloved arcade classic was released on the PS3 and Xbox 360, and it featured one of America's most iconic families: The Simpsons. In a similar vein to Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game, this Konami release was a beat-em-up. Each member of the family had their own abilities and attacks in stages that match The Simpsons' zany style.

For example, Bart rode his skateboard and whacked enemies with it. Part of what made this game special in the arcade was that it featured four-player multiplayer, and in addition to the beat-em-up gameplay, you can compete in mini-games that broke up the action.

It was delisted from the PS3 and Xbox 360 a few years after its 2012 release, so it's been incredibly difficult to get a copy. D'oh! The next best thing is to find an arcade that has it, which is very rare. If you want to buy an arcade board for yourself, it will cost you around $500. Hopefully, Konami can re-release this for current systems and keep it there. 

Driver: San Francisco

There has been a realistic Mario Kart clone called Blur, cars made of Lego, and a Garfield-licensed kart racer, but Ubisoft made the strangest vehicular game of them all in 2011. Driver: San Francisco gave players the special ability to ghost out of cars and shift into other vehicles in a snap, all while throttling your expectations with an evocative story.

Ubisoft, however, stepped on the brakes of this unique game as it was delisted in 2016. Intrigued gamers have had to rely on third-party websites to snap up a PC download of the game, but since a popular YouTuber named Nick Robinson covered the game, the prices have skyrocketed. It would be great if Ubisoft took a page from EA's book and brought back their old racing titles; Driver: San Francisco certainly should be on top of that list. 

Infinity Blade Series

Epic's Infinity Blade was one of the first mobile games that helped solidify the platform. It showcased the power of Unreal Engine on the iPhone with some impressive visuals for the time, and it came with some excellent gameplay that matched the promise of the touch screen.

Swiping left and right had your warrior slash bosses in front and holding down on the screen gave you a shield. It was simple but intuitive, making for some bite-sized fun on the go. It was delisted in 2018 as there weren't enough development resources to support the series on Apple's modern devices and maintain Epic Games' and ChAIR's standards. This news came shortly after the success of Fortnite, which requires quick updates to maintain interest. It would be nice if this series receives a remaster of some kind down the line. 

P.T.

P.T. was released as a teaser for what's to come with the Silent Hill series, but after a spat with the creative leads (in particular, Hideo Kojima), the game was scrapped. P.T. was taken down from the PlayStation Store. You can't even re-download it anymore or play it on the PS5.

It's a huge shame because it offered a unique horror experience that sparked the imagination of the gaming community. It seemed like the shot in the arm the genre needed, but Resident Evil VII was able to pick up the slack shortly afterward. Hopefully, someday Konami will be able to open their eyes and see that P.T. is a huge opportunity for the studio. 

Twitch Sings

The takedown of Twitch Sings is a huge blow to the karaoke community, especially on the streaming platform. It provided an innovative way for streamers to interact with the fans as it allowed for duets on the platform. You could easily stream from within the app as well, providing an accessible option for those who aren't as technically savvy.

The selection of songs was unparalleled to other karaoke games on the market. It had popular Christmas songs, Disney songs, and mostly everything that a local karaoke bar would offer. It's a huge shame that Twitch couldn't make this last until the end of the pandemic, as it gave would-be singers a place to safely perform without fear of catching the deadly virus. 

TMNT: Turtles In Time Reshelled

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game wasn't Ubisoft's only beat-em-up during the PS3/Xbox 360 generation. They also remade the arcade classic TMNT Turtles in Time in 2009. The new visuals were impressive at the time, as it carried the original vibe of the game perfectly. It sold relatively well for a digital release, but some were frustrated by the game's repetitive nature. That criticism, however, comes hand in hand with the genre, unfortunately.

You can no longer buy the game on any digital platform, so it's impossible to get a copy. It's unfortunate as with the most recent Streets of Rage 4, Battletoads, and now Scott Pilgrim, there is more appreciation for beat-em-ups than ever before.

Are there any games you wish would come back to life on modern systems like the PS5 and Xbox Series X? Licensed games are infamous for being taken down shortly after being released, due to copyright issues. We'd love to hear from you.