The world of gaming has always been defined by anticipation. Few things capture the imagination of players more than a long-awaited release, with years of speculation, rumors, and shifting development shaping expectations, with some delays becoming almost as famous as the games themselves.
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While Hollow Knight: Silksong has built its own reputation for being elusive, it is hardly the first game to leave fans waiting year after year. From ambitious sequels to troubled reboots, many releases proved that sometimes the journey to launch is just as dramatic as the stories within the games themselves.
8 The Last Guardian
A Decade In The Shadows
The Last Guardian
- Released
- December 6, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- JapanStudio, GenDesign
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
First announced in 2009 as the next project from Team Ico, The Last Guardian immediately captured attention with its striking imagery of a boy and his towering companion, Trico. Fans expected a release not long after, following the acclaim of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus.
Instead, years of technical setbacks, engine struggles, and studio reshuffling left the game adrift in development hell, and by the time it finally launched in 2016, The Last Guardian had been in development for over seven years. Despite the rocky journey, its emotional narrative and gorgeous aesthetics proved that some things are worth waiting for.
7 Cyberpunk 2077
Igniting Hype For A New Icon
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
CD Projekt Red first teased Cyberpunk 2077 in 2012, promising a dense, futuristic RPG that sent expectations through the roof. However, years of silence, shifting release dates, and ambitious promises created one of the longest hype cycles in modern gaming that left many wondering if it would ever be released.
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When the game finally arrived in 2020, it was met with both praise for its storytelling and criticism for its technical issues. Yet after many patches and expansions, the game has been brought closer to its lofty vision, now standing as one of the best open-world RPGs in recent memory.
6 Duke Nukem Forever
The King Of Delays
Duke Nukem Forever
- Released
- June 14, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Originally announced in 1997, Duke Nukem Forever holds the dubious honor of being the most infamous delayed game of all time. Promising to bring the wise-cracking hero into the modern FPS landscape, the game was rebooted repeatedly across multiple engines and development teams, being stuck in a loop from which it couldn't escape.
It wasn’t until 2011, 14 years after its announcement, that Duke Nukem Forever was finally released. Unfortunately, the game felt like a relic of its era, filled with outdated design choices, and while it failed to meet expectations, it remains a cultural touchstone for what “development hell” means in the gaming industry.
5 Team Fortress 2
Memed Into The Ground
Team Fortress 2
- Released
- October 10, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
Valve first revealed Team Fortress 2 in 1998 as a realistic, tactical military shooter, but over time, the concept shifted dramatically, with the game enduring silence and numerous engine changes before finally seeing it launch in 2007 with its now-iconic cartoonish art style.
The wait proved worthwhile, and the game quickly became one of the most influential multiplayer shooters of all time, popularizing class-based combat and setting the standard for live-service support. Gaben himself even joked about the development time, stating that "hopefully it was worth the wait," and for many, it certainly was.
4 Prey 2006/2017
Reinvented Twice Over
Prey
- Released
- July 11, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
The journey of Prey is unusual, as it involves both the original 2006 game and its reboot in 2017. First announced in 1995, with development dragging on for over a decade before finally releasing in 2006 as a sci-fi shooter, the game was then slated to receive a sequel, which unfortunately suffered from the same curse as the original.
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Instead, Arkane Studios reimagined the game entirely, launching a new Prey in 2017 after several years of development uncertainty. While radically different from its predecessor, it delivered a deep, immersive experience that justified the long road from the franchise’s initial announcement.
3 Skull And Bones
A Ship Lost At Sea
Skull and Bones
- Released
- February 16, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Singapore
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Weak
Ubisoft announced Skull and Bones at E3 2017, pitching it as a pirate-themed multiplayer experience inspired by Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Fans were excited to see the naval combat system evolve into a full game, yet after that announcement, the project became mired in redesigns, delays, and missed deadlines.
Years later, Skull and Bones still struggled to reach players, with multiple release dates pushed back, and when it finally arrived in 2024, the long development cycle had tempered some of the excitement. The game still has a long way to go, but with updates rolling in, the ultimate pirate fantasy is just around the corner.
2 Too Human
Missing The Hype Train
Too Human
- Released
- August 19, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Silicon Knights
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- Xbox 360
First revealed in 1999 as a PlayStation project, Too Human shifted platforms multiple times, eventually landing on Xbox 360. Promising an ambitious sci-fi action RPG that combined Norse mythology with futuristic technology, it was hyped as a massive trilogy that would revolutionize the gaming world.
By the time it was released in 2008, almost a decade had passed, and unfortunately, the game was met with a lukewarm reception and failed to spark the franchise it had promised. Its long road to release ultimately became more memorable than the game itself, and its legacy is more focused on the build-up than the actual launch.
1 Dead Island 2
Bringing A Franchise Back From The Dead
Dead Island 2
- Released
- April 21, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Dambuster Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Announced at E3 2014, Dead Island 2 immediately made an impression with its stylish trailer and continuation of a beloved series. However, the game quickly fell into development turmoil, shifting between multiple studios and disappearing from the spotlight for years, with many fans believing it to be canceled entirely.
Shockingly, Dead Island 2 resurfaced years later and was finally released in 2023, nearly nine years after its initial announcement. While not revolutionary, it delivered chaotic, gory fun and proved that even games left for dead can eventually find their way into players’ hands.
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The studio behind the highly anticipated sequel Hollow Knight: Silksong sheds some light on the game's notoriously long development process.