8 beloved mobile games that quietly disappeared
New versions of Android and iOS come every year, making it hard for developers to keep mobile games up and running on that newer code—especially for titles that aren't bringing in enough revenue to justify the expense. With that said, let's pour one out for these top-notch mobile games that couldn't survive the hustle and are no longer available on Google Play or the Apple App Store.
The Cave
The Cave is a charming 2D puzzle platformer from creator Ron Gilbert, best-known for his work on early LucasArts adventure games such as Monkey Island . The game launched in 2013 across multiple platforms. I remember originally playing it on the Wii U before an Android port arrived by the end of the same year. A port even came to the ill-fated Ouya.
The adventure centers around a talking cave that attracts seven different characters from different time periods to explore its mysterious depths. As of the beginning of this year, it is gone from both Android and iOS, putting a capstone on a thirteen-year run.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episodes 1 & 2
The original Sonic the Hedgehog games for the Sega Genesis were a cornerstone of my childhood. The mainline series stopped at the third entry before venturing off toward other naming schemes like Sonic & Knuckles and Sonic CD . It wouldn't be until 2010 before Sonic the Hedgehog 4 ever arrived, and it was broken up into episodes. Episode 2 dropped two years later.
Both episodes came to Android and iOS. Interestingly enough, these games actually began development as mobile exclusives before expanding to other platforms. While you can still play earlier Sonic games on mobile, these two entries are now nowhere to be found.
Crazi Taxi
Crazi Taxi is one of those games that has always been a cult classic, due in large part to its origins on the short-lived but affectionately-remembered Sega Dreamcast. You play as a taxi driver delivering passengers to their destination in the most manic and Arcade-like ways. The game spent over a decade in mobile app stores before disappearing in 2025.
Jet Set Radio
I missed out on Jet Set Radio for the Dreamcast and its sequel, Jet Set Radio Future , on the original Xbox. So when this Tony Hawk Pro Skater-adjacent rollerblading grafitti game brought its cel-shaded graphics to Android, here was my chance.
Unfortunately, I never fully acclimated to the touch controls at the time. I've long wanted to give this mobile port another chance, but it was only available for a short time. This is one of many games you'll have the best luck buying on Steam for your PC.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles began its life as a Gamecube exclusive when it first appeared in 2003. This multiplayer action RPG was a success and went on to eventually land on other platforms, including smartphones.
Unfortunately, by the time I personally realized a mobile port was available many years later, it was no longer being updated for newer versions of Android. In 2025, Square announced it was pulling the game from app stores due to a bug.
Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition
I remember the release of Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition , which was not a straight port of the game available for consoles but instead a lovingly-crafted and adorable take on the title able to run on less-capable hardware. The design felt like what Final Fantasy XV might have been if it had come out on the GameCube instead and never became an open-world RPG. Now if you still want to play it in a mobile form, your best bet is buying it for the Nintendo Switch.
Hades
Many of the games on this list are classics that have been around for at least a decade (with most, make that multiple). That's not the case with Hades from Supergiant Games. This is a modern gem born just in 2020 on PC and consoles, and whose iPhone version launched to much fanfare in 2024.
Instead of eventually arriving on Android as many mobile ports often do, Hades has already disappeared from the Apple App Store. It is one of many titles that have gone away after Netflix pulled the plug .
Raji: An Ancient Epic
Not all beloved games sell millions or are well-known. Raji: An Ancient Epic is a lesser-known title that takes inspiration from Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time. It originally appeared on the Nintendo Switch before coming to other platforms. A sequel, Raji: Kaliyuga, was announced at the end of last year.
Unfortunately, if you want to experience the original on your phone, you don't currently have that option. Like Hades , Netflix published this port, and it has since unpublished it.
Most of these games, thankfully, aren't gone for good. You can find some spread across various consoles. Most are available on Steam for your PC, if you have one. Since I don't , many of these are effectively unavailable to me at this time. Their absence is a reminder of one of the worst aspects of mobile gaming .
