Preserving Cancelled & Unreleased Video Game History Since 1999
We are an Cancelled & Unreleased Video games archive with prototypes, developer history and assets for many computers and consoles of all ages. A non-profit large archive dedicated to preserving lost games that were never released to the public. Sharing history and stories from the developers, assets and more before it is too late. GTW has been preserving lost video game history since 1999.
Please Browse our archive and discover the many entries that we host for many different platforms.
GTW Highlight No.11: In May, we celebrated an incredible 25 years of Games That Weren’t, which was first born back in 1999. Covering the history of how the site first started and some of the key events and recoveries over the years leading up to 2024.
https://gamesthatwerent.com/2024/05/25-years-of-games-that-werent/
To accompany the page, we also did a video that talked through the early beginnings and some of the key findings from over the years.
GTW Highlight No.10: Again in April, another recovery was made – this time with Bushido Warrior on the Amstrad CPC. A neat oriental themed Gauntlet clone due for release in 1988.
https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2024/04/bushido-warrior/
GTW Highlight No.9: In April, we looked at Into The Shadows – an impressive 3D fantasy fighting game developed for Scavenger in 1996 for PC, PlayStation + Sega Saturn. Only a rolling demo currently exists, but something playable is hoped to be found.
https://gamesthatwerent.com/2024/04/into-the-shadows/
GTW Highlight No.8: Finally in March, we carried out a huge preservation project on Micro-Antics, the company that produced the amazing Chariot Race for the Commodore VIC-20. All titles were fully preserved, including dev materials + an unreleased game:
https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2024/03/a-tribute-to-micro-antics/
GTW Highlight No.7: Again in March, we released an early prototype of Prehistorik Kart on the #Nintendo #GameBoyAdvance for the first time – a Mario Kart clone due as a compilation bonus for the GBA release of Prehistorik Man by Titus in 2001:
https://gamesthatwerent.com/2024/03/prehistorik-kart/
GTW Highlight No.6: In March, preservation work of Archer Maclean’s disks continued with a look at many arcade concepts that Archer had created on the Atari 800 and sadly abandoned, including an early Robotron development.
https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2024/03/archer-macleans-atari-concepts/
As well as our page on the arcade findings on Archer Maclean’s disks, you can also see a video talking through the findings at:
GTW Highlight No.5: At the end of January, we presented a #PC demo of the lost Battle Bowls, a Puzzle Bobble clone due for release on #AtariST, #Falcon, #Amiga + #PC. Now you could see just how good this puzzler was shaping up:
https://gamesthatwerent.com/2024/01/battle-bowls
GTW Highlight No.4: In January, we took a look at a complex 3D space simulator called Tantalus for the Amiga, Atari ST and PC from 1991. Due for release in 1992 by Electronic Arts, it disappeared without a trace:
https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2024/01/tantalus/
GTW Highlight No.3: Our annual #Commodore64 Christmas update saw various International Karate and IK+ prototypes recovered, with other Archer Maclean materials and many other games preserved for the first time. What will we have this year I wonder?
https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2023/12/gtw64-christmas-update-2023/
GTW Highlight No.2: Also in December, we made a hugely important discovery from the disks of the late Archer Maclean. The origins of Dropzone were recovered in the form of Defender and Stargate conversions on the Atari 800:
https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2023/12/defender-and-stargate-discoveries/
In addition, we also do a video talking through the discoveries, including very early test concepts being discussed and shown:
DISCLAIMER: We are a non-profit digitisation project, aiming to digitally preserve software and history which would otherwise be lost for good. If for any reason there is anything that you do not wish to be on the website, please contact us for removal.
Games That Weren't® is the registered trademark of Frank Gasking.
