Games That Weren't: Cancelled & Unreleased Games

Covering unreleased and cancelled games and prototypes on both consoles and computers. We are a large archive dedicated to preserving games that were never released to the public. Sharing history and stories from the developers, assets and more before it is too late.

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.

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The Big End

Last updated: July 12, 2021 by fgasking

1994 The Hidden

Platforms: Commodore Amiga 1200 and CD32 (later A500)

I’ve always been a fan of racing games on 8-bit and 16-bit platforms, especially Slicks on the C64 and Micro Machines on the NES. So when Darren Gurney highlighted this long lost Amiga title, I was quite excited when I saw the screenshots.

The Big End (or The Big Engine, as it was known before that) was due for release on the Commodore Amiga around late 1994, mid 1995. Developed by The Hidden (who had created Donk! The Samurai Duck amongst others) and to be published by Supervision. Continue reading →

Posted in Amiga, Amiga CD32, Reviews | 3 Comments

Wrecked: A Psychedelic Adventure

Last updated: July 28, 2021 by fgasking

1994 Healthwise

Platforms: PC and Commodore Amiga

Wrecked: A Psychedelic Adventure was an Amiga and PC platformer, developed by KKOS and was apparently published by Healthwise. However, at present – only a shareware demo of the PC version currently exists.

Richard Cobbett covered the game within his Crapshoot column, where he talked about the strange edutainment game that had once appeared on PC Zone’s January 1995 covermount as a demo. It isn’t a particularly great game by any stretch of the imagination, but it is the content and story behind the game that inspires trying to find it in its final form.

The full game was described in the demo readme (re-quoted from Richard’s article) as consisting of “5 levels, 12 drugs and hours of Stoned action!!!!!!!“. The aim ultimately was to get as “high” as you can to be able to win and progress in the game. Continue reading →

Posted in Amiga, PC, Reviews | Leave a comment

GTW64 July 2021 update

Last updated: July 16, 2021 by fgasking

Slightly slower month as the days get hotter, but here is another GTW64 update for the month. This month we take a look at an Alternative Software game that never was, but has been out there for some time. Details of a strange planned reworking of S.T.U.N Runner with a Duck protagonist that was found lurking around in the code of Dreamraider. An obscure early German adventure game that is missing from GB64 and much more. Enjoy!

1991 Tomahawk (Coktel)

Platform: Amiga 500 (Actually released), Amstrad GX4000 (Unreleased)

UPDATE: Case solved – this was released as Cougar Force. See below!

Our next entry is not to be confused with the Digital Integration game of the same name, but was a completely different 3D shoot-em-up that was split into eight different stages and style of gameplay.

The basic storyline suggested that as a chief secret agent, you have infiltrated a series of small islands which are acting as the base for an infamous group of international felons. Lurking somewhere on these islands are the leaders of the organisation, and it is these that you must locate and assassinate. The levels would consist of a number of different styles, such as beat-em-ups, driving scenes and 3D piloting. Continue reading →

Posted in Amiga, Reviews | 4 Comments

Construxion

Last updated: July 7, 2021 by fgasking

1995 The Hidden

Platform: Amiga 500, 600 and 1200

Our next entry into the archives is an unreleased platform game called Construxion, which was being developed by a team called The Hidden back in 1995. Some sources suggest it was also called Construction and Constructor at some stage too.

It was described as a Tetris-y platformer, but inspired perhaps by titles such as The Lost Vikings and Devious Designs where the goal was to fill in designated areas with blocks – so you could build bridges and other structures. You would control one of three building contractors with different personalities and abilities, so cooperation is therefore key to solve some of the puzzles. Continue reading →

Posted in Amiga, Reviews | Leave a comment

Mancopter

Last updated: June 16, 2021 by fgasking

1984 Datasoft

Platforms: Atari 400/800 and Apple II

If you have never played Mancopter on the Commodore 64, then you are really missing out. It is one of the great early C64 games which feels like an extended version of Joust across across a treacherous sea. In the game, you fly your ‘Mancopter’ , peddling to fly and avoid others in their copters and pass as many as you can.

Thanks to a contributor, only known as ‘Dan’, we’ve been shown clear plans for conversions to the Atari and Apple platforms, as shown in a schedule in a Datasoft sales leaflet. The C64 version looked to be the lead edition, with the others following afterwards. Continue reading →

Posted in Apple II, Atari 400/800, Reviews | Leave a comment

Lemmings 3D

Last updated: June 30, 2021 by fgasking

1994 Psygnosis

Platform: Commodore Amiga 1200

A surprising entry for now thanks to Keith Gilliland for the heads up, after a post was recently made on Reddit about the Amiga being ahead of its time graphically.

From what seems to be an ex-Psygnosis/Clockwork Games developer (who wasn’t involved directly), there is mention of a version of Lemmings 3D running on the Amiga. However, it was cancelled as “the frame rate was so bad”.

When asked for more details, the developer suggests it was in early development and more of a tech demo. There were the basic fundamentals with 3D blocks and Lemmings wandering around, but no proper levels or anything at that stage.

The developer suggests they saw it running on a producer’s machine – an Amiga 2000, before it completely disappeared for good. There doesn’t seem to have been ever any announcement about an Amiga conversion at the time in the press unfortunately.

The likelihood of the prototype is probably slim, but we’re hopeful something could be recovered. Do you know anything more about this development?

With thanks to Keith Gilliland for the heads up and contribution.