Great Strategy Games You Cannot Buy Anymore
Many veteran gamers agree that vintage strategy games are among the best in the genre’s catalog. Not only do they offer a feeling of nostalgia, but they also have great mechanics, especially for their time. The 90s and early 2000s saw the birth of many franchises that are still successful and releasing games to this day.
Unfortunately, many of these timeless classics now live only within players’ memories, as they can no longer be bought through traditional means. No online outlet sells them, and while there are a few “free” sites where they can still be downloaded, they’re not official and can be dangerous. Here are some strategy games you cannot buy anymore.
To be considered, a game needs to be delisted and cannot be officially purchased except for second-hand copies. Yes, there might be ways to play these titles, but that’s beside the point for this article.
We didn’t include MechCommander 2 as the game is available as freeware (legally since Microsoft released it).
7 Best Strategy Games From The 2000s That Need Remakes
During the 2000s, there were many amazing strategy games that would benefit from being remade and brought into the modern era.
6
Black & White & Black & White 2
The Ultimate God Games Were Not Eternal
Lionhead Studios’ first series, and many would say its best, Black & White and its sequel are the gold standards for god games, and they have arguably not been topped over the last two decades. Ambitious and innovative, both games put you in the driving seat of a world that will hold you accountable for your actions. Whether going down the good or evil route, your decision and practices will inspire dynamic reactions from villagers, instilling love, fear, or anger within them. While primarily known for being part of the sim genre, Black & White is still a strategy game at heart, as your choices are vital in shaping not only the world and its inhabitants, but also that of your creature.
Both of these titles have been impossible to buy for a long time by this point, and that seems unlikely to change as they are both stuck in license purgatory. EA has the publishing rights for the franchise, and they haven’t done much with the property since Lionhead was purchased (and eventually closed) by Microsoft.
5
Universe at War: Earth Assault
(Dead) Games For Windows Live
Universe at War: Earth Assault
- Released
-
December 11, 2007
- Developer(s)
-
Petroglyph Games
Universe at War: Earth Assault is largely forgotten nowadays, which is a shame, as it was a very solid and impressive take on the strategy genre. Although not without its issues, the game had quite a few notable strengths, including diverse factions, environment-based battlefields, and a cinematic presentation. While far from shallow, the mechanics were fairly straightforward and streamlined, which not only made it suitable for novice players but also allowed for the development of a console version. Even the story was pretty decent, mostly because it framed an invasion from multiple angles, enabling you to experience things from three different perspectives (or four, if you count the human missions in the prologue).
Unfortunately, Universe at War: Earth Assault is a real pain to get running nowadays, as its multiplayer was directly tied to the defunct Games for Windows Live service. Consequently, the game stopped functioning, and even the single-player offline content can be a bit frustrating to get working. The game was ultimately removed from Steam, dooming it to relative obscurity.
4
Command & Conquer: Sole Survivor
A Risky Take On An Established Franchise
Command & Conquer: Sole Survivor
- Released
-
December 8, 1997
- Developer(s)
-
Westwood Studios
- Publisher(s)
-
Virgin Interactive
This game was daring in many ways. It stepped out of the classic Command & Conquer formula by only having multiplayer mode and incorporating a last-man-standing approach, similar to modern battle royales. In Command & Conquer: Sole Survivor, players take control of a single tank or soldier through different maps as they try to survive and defeat their competition.
While the game presented players with a completely new experience, it wasn’t very well received, as fans of the franchise were very comfortable with the old game mechanics. This led to poor sales and a limited fanbase, which quickly resulted in the title being discontinued. While the Command & Conquer franchise continued to thrive, Sole Survivor could never be part of its success again.
3
Dominion: Storm Over Gift 3
Four Factions Fighting To Control A Planet’s Resources
Dominion: Storm Over Gift 3 is a futuristic real-time strategy game set on Gift 3, a war-torn planet where four factions (Scorps, Darkens, Mercs, and Humans) are in control of its valuable resources. Heavily based on resource gathering and management, as well as large-scale tactical combat, this game’s storyline intertwines the perspectives of the four factions in their race towards controlling Gift 3’s precious resources.
8 Best Turn-Based Strategy Games That Require Deep Thinking, Ranked
Players need to make every turn and move count in these strategy games that will have them scratching their heads and weighing their options.
This title was also one of the few games that were already introducing 3D graphics into games of its genre, which made it visually impressive for its time. Unfortunately, when developer 7th Level closed down, the game was no longer available. These days, it can be purchased online through second-hand sellers, but new instances of the game are almost impossible to come by.
2
Dune 2000
Houses Atreides, Harkonnen, & Ordos Fight For Arrakis
Dune 2000
- Released
-
September 4, 1998
- ESRB
-
T for Teen
- Developer(s)
-
Intelligent Games
Dune 2000 is the remake of the original 1992 game, Dune 2. Like other games of this genre, Dune 2000 follows the story of three different factions (House Atreides, House Harkonnen, and House Ordos) as they fight over control of the precious spice planet Arrakis. This title will have players building bases, managing resources, and leading large armies into tactical, real-time battles.
Each faction in the game has unique abilities that help make the interesting storyline even more exciting. Dune 2000 paved the way for later real-time strategy games and helped keep the Dune franchise alive. Sadly, though, after a few licensing issues regarding the franchise’s IP, the game was pulled from stores, rendering it impossible to buy.
1
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth 2
A Strategic Take On The Franchise’s Epic Battles
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth 2 expands beyond the events of the film and includes precious material and lore from J.R.R. Tolkien’s literary masterpieces. Players will control different factions, including Elves, Dwarves, Goblins, and the forces of Sauron. The game also allows players to either defend Middle-earth in the Good campaign, or conquer it as Sauron for the Evil one.
With tons of customization options and iconic battle locations, including Dol-Guldur and Rivendell, The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth 2 is a great classic that many veteran players will surely remember. After the licensing agreements with the Lord of the Rings IP expired, the game struggled to keep selling due to legal issues. Players can still purchase a copy from several second-hand outlets, but they’re expensive, and the item’s condition can vary.
8 Great FPS Games You Cannot Buy Anymore
These FPS games are fantastic, but sadly, they were delisted and evaporated from the digital store shelves.