Dead game
A dead game describes an online game with either few or no other players. Being a dead game is a problem for online exclusive games because its competing against and playing with other players that makes a multiplayer game enjoyable. Also, games perceived as dead are is a death sentence since most players don't want to spend time in a game with no players.
How do I know if a game is dead?
If the game is available through Steam, viewing its stats on SteamDB gives you the player statistics and overall trend. If the game is not available through Steam, see if the available servers or player counts are available through the developers website. Finally, if neither suggestion is available, you can safely assume if the game is ten years old or older, it's likely a dead game.
How to find other players for a dead game
Try playing the game at different times. Some dead games may only be dead in certain countries, but still have players who play at popular times in their time zone.
Dead games with dedicated players may have fan web pages or Discord servers to help arrange times for when to play. Becoming part of these communities helps you meet and join up with others also wanting to play the game.
If the game was purchased on Steam, visit the games Community Hub within Steam to find these locations.
What if I bought a dead game?
If you've purchased a dead game you're interested in playing look for any of the following options.
- Does the game have a single-player mode?
- Can bots be added to the game to simulate other players?
- Does the game have any mods or modes that allow a different style of playing. For example, do people do speedruns or other challenges in the game?
If these options are not available and you paid money for the dead game through a platform like Steam, you can get a refund.
Abandonware, Dead, Game, Game terms, Obsolete, Single-player game