7 Cancelled Games You Can Play: Lost Titles from PlayStation, Xbox, and Beyond
The world of gaming is filled with stories of ambitious projects that never saw the light of day-at least, not officially. Sometimes, however, prototypes and near-complete builds of cancelled games surface online, giving players a rare chance to experience what might have been. Here are seven fascinating games, cancelled during development but later leaked in playable form, that you can try today for preservation, research, or sheer curiosity.
1. StarCraft: Ghost (Xbox, 2004)
Status: Cancelled by Blizzard in 2006; prototype leaked in 2020.
Description: Blizzard’s stealth-action StarCraft spin-off, playable on modded Xbox hardware or emulator. Nova, a Terran Ghost, stars in this ambitious third-person action game that blends stealth and sci-fi shooting in the StarCraft universe.
Playable Build: StarCraft: Ghost (May 8, 2004 prototype) – Hidden Palace
2. Castlevania: Resurrection (Dreamcast, 2000)
Status: Cancelled in 2000; prototype leaked in 2021.
Description: A 3D Castlevania entry featuring Sonia and Victor Belmont, this pre-E3 build showcases five environments and a boss fight. It offers a glimpse into Konami’s vision for the franchise on Sega’s final console.
Playable Build: Castlevania: Resurrection (Nov 5, 1999 prototype) – Hidden Palace
3. Marvel: Chaos (Xbox 360, 2007)
Status: Cancelled Marvel fighting game; prototype leaked.
Description: A superhero brawler by EA Chicago for Xbox 360/PS3, featuring destructible environments and a roster of Marvel characters. The prototype demonstrates the game’s ambitious combat and interactive arenas.
Playable Build: Marvel: Chaos (Oct 17, 2007 prototype) – Hidden Palace
4. Thrill Kill (PlayStation, 1998/99)
Status: Cancelled due to content; full build leaked and playable.
Description: Notorious for its extreme violence, this 4-player fighting game was cancelled by EA but became a popular bootleg. Its dark, twisted arenas and over-the-top finishers make it a cult curiosity.
Playable Build: Thrill Kill (PlayStation ISO) – Archive.org
5. Glover 2 (PlayStation/Nintendo 64, 2000s)
Status: Cancelled sequel; prototype build available.
Description: The unreleased sequel to the 3D platformer Glover. The most complete prototype is for Nintendo 64, featuring dozens of accessible areas, a functional (though unfinished) story, and debug features. Builds are preserved for both N64 and PlayStation, though the N64 version is the most playable.
Playable Build: Glover 2 (Prototype) – The Cutting Room Floor (TCRF)
6. Star Wars Battlefront III (Xbox 360, 2008)
Status: Cancelled by Free Radical; multiple prototypes leaked.
Description: An ambitious sequel with space-to-ground combat, this prototype is playable on Xbox 360 dev/test kits or the Xenia emulator. It showcases what could have been a groundbreaking entry in the Star Wars franchise.
Playable Build: Star Wars Battlefront III (Mar 17, 2008 prototype) – Hidden Palace
7. Daredevil: The Man Without Fear (PlayStation 2, 2004)
Status: Cancelled action game based on Marvel’s Daredevil; early PS2 prototype leaked.
Description: This prototype features playable levels and early mechanics, offering a glimpse into the planned adaptation of the comic book hero. Experience the Hell’s Kitchen vigilante in a game that never made it to shelves.
Playable Build: Daredevil: The Man Without Fear – PS2 Prototype (Archive.org)