In 2025, gamers continue to see new releases across what many consider to be “outdated” gaming hardware.
The long-awaited *Hollow Knight: Silksong*, a title famously delayed throughout its development, is now accessible not only on modern systems but also on the Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. Given that we have just entered the era of the Switch 2, it’s probable that games for the original Switch will remain prevalent for some time.
Regrettably, Wii U owners will miss out on this game, having been promised a release following the initial Kickstarter campaign. Let’s take a moment to acknowledge that disappointment.
This moment provides an excellent opportunity to delve into the legacy of notable gaming consoles, exploring the final game released on each major platform. Together, we will stroll down memory lane and revisit the farewell titles from every significant Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft home console that no longer receives new game releases, along with a few other notable systems.
For fans of sports games, this retrospective will certainly resonate!
14 Atari 2600 – Klax
April 1990
My journey into gaming began with the Atari, likely a 2600 or 5200, unearthed from the attic by my parents. From that moment on, I was hooked.
Fortunately, my gaming experience evolved when a Sega Genesis took its place in the living room. But before we discuss that classic console, let’s focus on *Klax*, the last officially licensed game for the Atari 2600. Although retro gaming led to continued releases until 2024, *Klax* holds the title of the final game for this legendary system.
Originally a popular arcade hit, it now stands as a simpler puzzle game—a fascinating piece of gaming history.
13 NES – Wario’s Woods
December 1st, 1994
One might expect a Mario title to represent the final game for the NES, but instead, we have *Wario’s Woods*—a spin-off where players control Toad instead of Wario.
Rather than embarking on a platforming adventure, players engage in gameplay reminiscent of Tetris, with Birdo observing for reasons that remain unclear.
This game feels like an attempt to leverage the popularity of the Mario franchise for sales before the NES bid farewell. Though *Wario’s Woods* is part of the Nintendo Switch Online library, its value is debatable.
It is significant to note that while this was the last licensed NES game, independent games have since been developed for the system—none of which carry official licensing.
12 Sega Genesis – Frogger
1998
By 1998, the Sega Genesis had clearly lost ground to the Super Nintendo, yet its last game was a port of the classic *Frogger*, originally released in arcades.
I remember enjoying playing a variant of this game on PC as a child; however, I spent even more time engaged in multiplayer sessions of *Sonic the Hedgehog 2*, despite some frame rate issues.
To clarify: this version is a direct port of the arcade classic, not the 1997 remake released on PlayStation and Windows. Regardless, *Frogger* is a timeless classic, though by 1998, gamers were eager for innovation.
11 Super Nintendo – Metal Slader Glory: Director’s Cut
November 29th, 2000
HAL Laboratory, renowned for developing the *Kirby* series, had already made substantial contributions to gaming by the time *Kirby* debuted. Their final release for the Super Nintendo was *Metal Slader Glory: Director’s Cut*, an adventure game set in a futuristic 2062 where humanity inhabits the moon.
This game is notable for being one of the priciest Famicom games ever produced, with director Yoshimiru Hoshi considering it his magnum opus.
10 Nintendo 64 – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3
August 14th, 2002
Welcome to the section of our retrospective dominated by sports titles!
We begin with an exceptional game, even if it faced limitations due to the Nintendo 64 hardware.*Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3* skillfully blends the well-crafted levels of its predecessors with the broader exploration found in its sequel.
After experiencing newer titles like *Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4*, I might stir some debate by saying this is where the series began to feel excessive. Nevertheless, the third installment still manages to deliver plenty of enjoyable gameplay.
9 Sony PlayStation – FIFA Soccer 2005
October 12th, 2004
Soccer’s popularity in the United States took time to grow, still trailing behind sports such as American football, basketball, baseball, and hockey.
This highlights why the original PlayStation continued to host *FIFA Soccer* titles into the mid-2000s—soccer’s global appeal could not be overlooked. It was a savvy business move to keep releasing games on a cherished system.
This practice endures today, as evidenced by the prolonged game releases on the PS4 and Xbox One—driven by continued consumer demand.
8 Sega Dreamcast – Karous
March 8th, 2007
The last licensed game for the Dreamcast in North America was *NHL 2K2*, released on February 12, 2002—continuing the trend of sports titles concluding major consoles.
However, in Japan, the Dreamcast enjoyed an extended life as developers continued to recognize its potential. March 8, 2007, saw *Karous* mark the end of the console’s game releases. This vertical shoot-’em-up, which originally debuted in arcades the previous year, later found its way to the Nintendo Wii as part of a compilation.
7 Nintendo GameCube – Madden NFL 08
August 14th, 2007
The silver lining is that *Madden NFL 08* stands out as one of the better titles for the GameCube in 2007.
However, it’s worth mentioning that competition was hardly fierce. Although this version of Madden offered impressive gameplay, it can’t change the narrative of the diminishing relevance of its cover athlete, Vince Young. While the GameCube certainly deserved a better finale, *Madden NFL 08* is a reasonable send-off.
6 Xbox – Madden NFL 09
August 12th, 2009
A little anecdote about *Madden NFL 09*: Brett Favre, featured on the cover, was pictured donning his classic #4 Green Bay Packers jersey. Shortly after the game’s release, he made his debut with the New York Jets.
Subsequently, EA Sports modified the cover art, but let’s be frank: few remember his time with the Jets fondly.
This installment of Madden became infamous for gameplay problems, leading many to suspect that EA Sports rushed the game’s release. Gamers grappled with freezing issues, and remarkably, this was more prevalent on the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions than on those for outdated systems.
5 PlayStation 2 – Pro Evolution Soccer 2014
November 8th, 2013
Returning to soccer, we find *Pro Evolution Soccer*, Konami’s challenger to EA Sports’ long-standing franchise, FIFA.
Once a formidable rival to FIFA, the series has since shifted significantly in today’s gaming landscape, depicting the reduced competition in the sports genre.
*Pro Evolution Soccer 2014* serves as a commendable farewell to the PlayStation 2, marking its exit from the gaming scene with a strong title.
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