Forgotten but Beloved Games Publishers Need to Port to this Generation July 29, 2025

Summer is upon us and we are deep into a very powerful console generation where literally any kind of game is possible. Sadly, even with robust backwards compatibility features on the current generation of consoles, nearly an entire generation of games from the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii generation is at risk of being lost forever. Let’s be honest, the Xbox 360 had a nearly 90% failure rate back when it was new, and reports of hardware failures caused by age are also coming in for the PS3 and Wii U. Some of the finest games ever made were released on those platforms and today we’re going to highlight many of those exclusives that we feel deserve to be re-released on modern platforms.

Editor’s Note: For simplicity’s sake, we’re going to keep things to the Xbox 360/PS3/Wii/Wii U generation. Due to the current status of backwards compatibility this list will not include games that were already ported to the PS4, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch. That means classics like Heavy Rain, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, God of War 3, Halo 3, Halo 3 ODST, and Halo 4 will not be included. We WILL include games that were released on PC.

Metal Gear Solid 4 – The epic conclusion to Solid Snake’s story in the Metal Gear Solid saga has never been released on any platform other than the PS3, which is an absolute same because I feel the game’s graphics and art style still hold up perfectly against the games that are coming out today! It is possible we may see this game bundled in an upcoming re-release alongside other Metal Gear games in the form of a Metal Gear Solid Collection Vol 2, but only time will tell about that.

inFamous and inFamous 2 – These were the games that put Sucker Punch Productions on the map for me. In both games, you gain superpowers in a horrible accident that leaves massive repercussions for your home. These open-world games allowed you to play around with a destructible environment that lets you choose if you want to be praised or feared. I can’t think of a single reason why both of these games can’t be bundled for the recent consoles.

Mirror’s Edge – One of the best games EA ever published is also at risk of becoming its most forgotten. In this game you play as a parkour trained courier tasked with running across the rooftops of the city of glass. It also had hands down one of the best soundtracks of any game of that entire generation. Controls were also fantastic, binding the jump and duck buttons to the bumper and trigger buttons was a great way to comfortably exercise the complex moves the game required to stay one step ahead of your enemies. Honestly, if they’re going to rerelease it they may as well include the cloth effects from the advanced physics engine used the PC version and the exclusive maps from the PS3 version.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 – The follow up to my favorite game on the Wii, Super Mario Galaxy 2 featured more levels, more challenges…and Yoshi. Since the first game was bundled with the Super Mario 3D All-Stars pack, we’re going to leave that one off this list, but even back then gamers wanted to know why Galaxy 2 was left out. I can be counted to be among that list.

Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3 – A few years ago, EA did a fantastic remake of the original Dead Space for PS5 and Xbox Series….and then they stopped at just the first game, when most gamers argue that the second was the best of the entire franchise. Most people credit the third game as a disappointment, but it did conclude the original story, and did some interesting things with a cooperative multiplayer mode. The problem with it was it was hampered by EA’s poor attempt to integrate micro-transactions and paid DLC weapons. Regardless, I’d like to see both of these games come back.

Dante’s Inferno – The game Visceral made in between the first and second Dead Space was one of its most controversial. In it, you play as Dante as he fights his way down the pit of fire to save his love’s soul. To this day, I consider this game my favorite adaptation of the Inferno, and will regularly credit my understanding of the layers based upon this game’s interpretation of them. If this does return, I’d hope all the video content (particularly the documentaries) and DLC from the PS3 version are included.

Batman: Arkham Origins – The third game released in the Batman: Arkham Asylum series, Origins was a prequel set during the early days of Batman’s career and I don’t know what the story is about this game that makes WB feel it isn’t a part of the Arkham saga, but I sure consider it a big part of that series. and since it was never included in any of the ports and remasters of Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. If it does get a rerelease I would like for them to include all of the exclusive content for the PS3 version and the DLC campaign featuring Mr. Freeze.

Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition (2009) – The first canonical game to be released following the first reboot of the Mortal Kombat timeline, Mortal Kombat (2009) set the baseline for two hugely popular MK games that followed on the newer platforms by retelling the beloved stories of the original Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat II with just a few twists and turns thrown in.

Metroid Prime 3 – We’re mere months away from the long anticipated release of Metroid Prime 4, and we haven’t seen anything from the biggest game that made me purchase a Wii, Metroid Prime 3, since it was included in the Metroid Prime Trilogy re-release for the Wii. Nintendo chose to re-release the original Metroid Prime (in a fantastic adaptation) for the Nintendo Switch several months ago, but no follow up was made for the second or third game.