9 Amazing Video Games (You Can’t Actually Play Anymore)

5. Evolve

Evolve Game
2K

The problem with Evolve was mostly rooted in the problems of its publisher, 2K. From its very first announcement, it was clear the company was treating the multiplayer shooter as a way to get as much money from players as possible, with an egregious live service rollout of content planned that punished those who "only" paid the $60 entry fee for the base experience.

It was a shame, because at its core, Evolve was a damn solid asymmetrical shooter. The idea of a team of players coordinating and hunting down a player-controlled monster is awesome - and something other games have run with far better since this title launched - and it demanded tactical play. It wasn't perfect of course, but what live service game is? In the right hands it could have been moulded into something special.

The botched launch seemingly soured too many people though, and even a move to a free-to-play model couldn't convince players to jump on board, and the dedicated servers were shut down in late 2018. It is technically playable via peer-to-peer, but it's like stepping into the wild west.

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Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.