7 Deserving Games That Never Got Backward Compatibility

Both the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, along with last-gen platforms, have a dedicated “backward compatibility” feature that makes it possible for them to run games dating back to a previous console, with Xbox in specific being capable enough to accommodate titles belonging to the original Xbox, but here’s the kicker: Not all old titles support this ability in the day and age of today.

I’m glad the functionality itself exists, though, but it’s still a tragedy that there’s no way to play these titles on new hardware. Hopefully, someday down the road, news starts to surface and revive the games I’m going to talk about in just a sec in modern-day fashion.

It’s A Missed Opportunity Letting These Titles Fade Away In Memory

The following entries are formulated via personal experience, considering that I’ve played them over time to be able to include them in this list. If you feel as if I skipped a good one, feel free to let me know about it in the comments section.

1. The Simpsons: Hit And Run

As iconic as this one is, I still don’t believe that The Simpsons: Hit and Run isn’t accessible on the Xbox Series X|S right now. Featuring Homer and the rest of the family with their signature antics, the game is adventure-based with simple controls, though the way it puts everything together is just beyond entertaining. 

The title got so popular that a certain content creator, specifically “reubs” remade the whole game, because, well, he got tired of waiting for somebody else to do it. It’s a cult classic, and a major amusement for gamers across the board, coming out all the way back in 2003 for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and the original Xbox. 

2. Wolfenstein (2009)

Although the Wolfenstein IP didn’t exactly get binned by the folks up high, there’s something about the original one from 2009 that’s just really a class apart. The earliest Wolfenstein game goes back to 1981, in fact, but the one in question really took the franchise to new heights with its great gameplay, eerie atmosphere, and gruesome combat. 

It’s not perfect by any standard, but you can’t just help keep playing it either. Definitely deserving of backward compatibility, this one. 

3. Singularity 

Coming across as a real mind-bender, Singularity is far from being your average first-person shooter. The game sports an intricate storyline that oscillates back and forth between the past and the future while ensuring that the gameplay remains tight and crisp, there’s never a dull moment in Singularity, I’ll reassure you of that. 

And just so you know, Singularity came out in 2010—a time when devs were allowed to go crazy with their ideas, and not succumb to draconian guidelines and everything that just sells well. Good times.  

4. Need For Speed: Most Wanted 

For those of you who are fans of the original Most Wanted, the reboot from 2012 isn’t pulling any punches either. I fondly remember bolting down the streets of Fairhaven in my hard-earned Nissan GTR without a care in the back of the mind, thanks to how well this game’s execution of a racing title was and still is. Such a shame you don’t get to play it on an Xbox One or a PlayStation 4 now. 

5. Army Of Two: The 40th Day

The ultimate co-op shooter from 2010, Army of Two: The 40th Day showcases great teamwork, and even better gameplay to keep you hooked to the third-person shooter in ways more than one. Its customization, for one, is beyond thrilling, considering the number of ways you could pimp out your character and weapons. Again, no current-gen console supports The 40th Day, and that’s just sad.  

6. The Saboteur

Pandemic Studios achieved something wonderful with the onset of The Saboteur, giving players a fantastic world to wreak havoc in that’s also simultaneously brimming with detail. Great combat followed by an intriguing storyline complemented the open-world gameplay of the third-person shooter, with the mission design coming off as second to none in that regard. As one Steam review says it, 

I’ve played thousands of games across decades. Saboteur is one of the few that can properly be called a ‘hidden gem.’ This game just nails the GTA-formula within a period piece.”

7. X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Finally, a personal favorite that you, as a casual gamer, can never go wrong with. X-Men Origins: Wolverine is one of the best superhero games I’ve ever played, though I will say that the title of “superhero” doesn’t fly too well with Logan. This is hack-and-slash at its finest, with the title also letting you bully every villain with the same move set that you use on regular enemies. 

I have an extreme appreciation for that type of stuff, and you know how it’s unusual for games to be that way. Here’s hoping that the Wolverine game Insomniac is working on borrows all of the good stuff from this legendary title.