A lot of classic games can only be played on older consoles. While some people still collect these systems, most gamers have switched to newer technology.
Moving forward means leaving behind games that never made it to computers or modern consoles. This sadly traps many fantastic titles on older systems, leaving them largely forgotten and preventing new players from experiencing how truly good gaming once was.
We love remembering the classics! If you have some older game consoles gathering dust and want to revisit those retro games, this list is perfect for you. We’ll be taking a look at games that haven’t been played in a while, originally released on older systems.
8. Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel
A Different Wasteland
Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel plays quite differently from other Fallout games. While most Fallout titles emphasize open-world exploration, this one is more focused and direct. However, it still offers a good number of side missions and characters to interact with, so the familiar Fallout atmosphere is still present, even though the gameplay centers more on action and combat.
What sets this game apart is its cooperative play – back in 2001, it was rare to be able to team up with friends in a Fallout game. The action is quick and there’s a wide variety of weapons and characters to choose from. While it’s not a complex RPG, it’s a fun, lesser-known Fallout title that’s perfect for players who enjoy fast-paced combat and action.
7. King’s Field: The Ancient City
The Start of a Genre
King’s Field: The Ancient City was one of FromSoftware’s first games and a precursor to the popular ‘Souls-like’ genre. However, it feels quite different from later titles, with a distinctly western fantasy style – think classic swords and magic RPGs. Gameplay is slow and methodical, sharing similarities with both the early Dark Souls games and the original Elder Scrolls series, especially in its focus on exploring dungeons.
Prepare to battle skeletons with swords and shields while navigating challenging dungeons and increasingly bizarre enemies. This game is a bit rough around the edges – it was a foundational step towards the popular Souls-like genre. However, it features the intense combat and character development you’d expect, and despite a different atmosphere, it maintains a dark and unsettling tone. If you have a PlayStation 2 and are looking for a unique action RPG, this is definitely worth playing.
6. Summoner 2
Open World Before It Was Cool
| Developer | Deep Silver Volition |
|---|---|
| Release Date | September 23rd, 2002 |
| Platforms | PS2, Gamecube |
Summoner 2 was a truly innovative game when it came out in 2002. Before most games offered large, explorable worlds – something Grand Theft Auto had already pioneered – Summoner 2 delivered a surprisingly expansive experience. Even though the graphics haven’t aged well, it’s a fantastic action RPG with interesting towns, a solid main story, and plenty of side quests to keep you busy.
This game has remained largely associated with the PlayStation 2 because, while it aimed to elevate the series, it didn’t quite reach that next level. However, it’s still a fantastic experience if you have the original hardware and are looking to recapture the feeling of early 2000s action RPGs. It offers a variety of characters and playstyles, a compelling world to discover, and engaging combat with rewarding character development. It’s hard to find much to complain about.
5. X-Men: Legends
The Perfect Comic Book Game
X-Men: Legends stands out as one of the earliest and possibly the best comic book role-playing games ever created. It features a brand-new story with all your favorite X-Men characters, and the combat is both exciting and demanding, requiring thoughtful strategy and skill. The game’s environments are also well-designed and offer plenty of ways to defeat enemies. It’s a fantastic game that, unfortunately, hasn’t been updated for modern systems. Plus, it offers a great local multiplayer mode, letting up to four players enjoy classic couch co-op gameplay.
For its time, this game is surprisingly long and offers a lot of character customization – you can tailor their skills and equipment. While it plays like a role-playing game, it’s really a fighting game with some of the best action and gameplay of its era. The sequel is also good, but the original is the one you should experience first.
4. Folklore
Once Upon a Time
Folklore really captures the feel of games from around 2007. It’s a dark and mature take on world mythology, putting you in the role of either a detective investigating a murder or someone deeply impacted by it. Despite dealing with mythical creatures, it’s definitely not a game for children. The combat is excellent – fast-paced and action-packed – and offers unique ways to grow your power and abilities.
What really stands out is the atmosphere – it’s both grand and unsettling, capturing the true spirit of classic fairy tales. While drawing inspiration from darker stories, it also tells a compelling and original tale. The game definitely shows its age, and that’s noticeable, but if you can look past the older graphics, this PS3 title is still worth playing.
3. Marvel Ultimate Alliance
A Team Up For the Ages
Marvel Ultimate Alliance is widely considered one of the greatest superhero games of all time. It’s a multiplayer RPG, but unfortunately, it’s largely limited to older consoles like the PS3 and Xbox 360. A remastered version was briefly available on PC, but it’s no longer available for purchase, and there’s no backwards compatibility to play it on newer systems, leaving fans with limited options.
This game is a must-play for Marvel fans! It’s packed with characters, offers deep customization options, keeps gameplay fresh with changing environments, and features a really engaging story.
This action RPG boasts a fantastic combat system. Environments react realistically, and you can unlock powerful attacks that quickly devastate enemies. There’s a huge variety of heroes to choose from, each with tons of unique moves and combinations.
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
A Different Fellowship
The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age is arguably the best turn-based strategy game released on early next-gen consoles that wasn’t made in Japan. It clearly took inspiration from Final Fantasy 10, aiming to replicate its successful formula. This wasn’t a flaw at the time, and the game’s combat system ended up being very similar to Square Enix’s popular title.
Subscribe to our newsletter for retro console gems
This game features a team similar to the Fellowship, undertaking a parallel quest that directly impacts the main story. The action is engaging, and fans of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North will likely enjoy its gameplay. Despite positive qualities and surprising depth, it’s remained a hidden gem on consoles for years due to modest reviews.
1. Champions of Norrath
Ever the Quest
Champions of Norrath is a fun action RPG originally released for the PlayStation 2. It’s based on the popular EverQuest games, which were hugely influential in the early days of online gaming back in 2004 – really helping to popularize the MMO genre. However, Champions of Norrath plays quite differently than a typical MMO. It’s more similar to games like Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance, focusing on action and individual character control rather than large-scale online play.
Ultimately, this game delivers on exciting action, and it does so very well. It features a robust character creation system, several different classes to play, and full cooperative gameplay throughout the entire experience. Compared to other action games of its era, it stands out with a darker, more mature tone and surprisingly complex combat.
Okay, so this game really lets you build your character with a bunch of different skills for each class, which is awesome. There are so many different enemies, and the boss fights are seriously tough! Playing with friends is a blast too. Honestly, the story isn’t anything special, but it’s that classic, just-go-and-hack-and-slash dungeon crawler vibe we don’t see much anymore. The biggest bummer? It’s stuck on the PS2, and it doesn’t look like that’s changing anytime soon.
Read More
- United Airlines can now kick passengers off flights and ban them for not using headphones
- Gold Rate Forecast
- All Golden Ball Locations in Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties
- How to Solve the Glenbright Manor Puzzle in Crimson Desert
- How to Get to the Undercoast in Esoteric Ebb
- 8 Actors Who Could Play Blackbeard In One Piece Live-Action Season 3
- Netflix’s 4-Part Crime Thriller Is One Of Its Very Best
- How to Complete Bloom of Tranquility Challenge in Infinity Nikki
- Is Wuthering Heights a romance? Update on Margot Robbie movie controversy
- $2B AI cow collars use “cowgorithm” to herd cattle with no fences
2026-03-24 15:41