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Licensing issues are the main reason these anime games were delisted.
Online-only features make games unplayable after server shutdowns.
Digital game preservation is essential to protect gaming history.
Anime games have always been popular because they offer exciting worlds and characters that people love. But some of the best games have been taken off online stores, so it’s harder to find and buy them now. Here’s a list of eight games that you can’t buy online anymore.
Jump Force stands for a crossover-type fighting game sharing characters from popular anime such as Naruto, Dragon Ball, or One Piece. The game came in 2019 and faced delisting from all digital stores on February 7, 2022, due to licensing issues. All online services and events, including multiplayer, were taken down on August 24, 2022. Hence, after these dates, the game is no longer being sold or played online.
Ray Gigant was a dungeon-crawling RPG that combined anime storytelling with strategic gameplay. It was removed from Steam on February 29, 2024, and from PlayStation Vita stores in North America and Europe on March 1, 2024. The publisher cited the end of their licensing agreement as the reason for the delisting.
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This RPG allowed players to collect and train Digimon in a digital world. It was delisted from the PlayStation Store in North America in December 2018 and worldwide by February 2019. The delisting was attributed to licensing issues, although the exact reasons remain unclear.
Based on the 2013 film, this fighting game lets players control giant robots battling monsters. It was available on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 but was removed from digital stores in 2016. The delisting was likely due to the expiration of the game's licensing agreement.
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A rhythm game where players form virtual bands with anthropomorphic characters. The original mobile version was discontinued in December 2019. A sequel, Show by Rock!! Fes A Live was launched in 2020 but had its servers shut down in November 2022.
An arcade game featuring 3D mecha combat and anime-style storytelling, while released in 2018, its servers were shut down in October 2021, thus making it unplayable. The game depended on online services for multiplayer and progression, and without those online services, the game simply cannot be played.
A niche game for PlayStation 3 in the Neon Genesis Evangelion series, it allows players to interact with the character Misato Katsuragi. Since the game used an online service model, it was shut down in June 2010 as it was no longer sustainable.
Valkyrie Crusade was a mobile game where players collected characters through a gacha system. It had anime-style graphics and combined strategy with fun gameplay. After running for several years, the game shut down on May 30, 2022. Many fans still remember and appreciate its special mix of game features and art style.
The removal of these games highlights the challenges of preserving digital content and the impact of licensing agreements on the availability of games. For fans eager to experience these titles, securing physical copies or exploring fan-made projects may be the only avenues to enjoy them.
It's a reminder of the transient nature of digital media and the importance of preserving gaming history.
